Off road ride, Sunday 4th December

Phil L. is leading this ride and writes:

Start: Moulton Co-op, Stocks Hill, Moulton, NN3 7TB
Time: 9.30am
Distance: 32 miles
Pace: Steady-12mph
Café Stop: Delapre Golf Course Cafe
Estimated return: Around 1.30-2pm

This mostly off-road ride plans to explore the whereabouts and layout of the new MTB Bike Park adjacent to Delapre Golf course. The ride uses a variety of surfaces ranging from gravel track, grass canal side and tarmac so an MTB or gravel bike is required, not a road bike especially so for the time exploring the Bike Park, ideally a proper MTB would be necessary.

After leaving MCP we aim for Spectacle Lane and the causeway across Pitsford reservoir. We head via Brixworth down to BVW where we cross into Merry Tom Lane and travel via Chapel Brampton, the bridleway through Brampton Heath golf course through to Duston and Upton Park. Having negotiated Hunsbury Hill we use the regular cycle path to Delapre Golf course and arrive after 20 miles at the Golf Centre Cafe there which is right alongside the new Bike Park with a linking subway under the A45.

After refreshments, the intention is to spend some time exploring the Bike Park, seeing what it has to offer and maybe riding one or two of the trails.
We then head off on a shorter route (12m) back through Brackmills C.Pk, using the cycleway bordering the A45 Wetlands to the crossover point at Riverside.

Then it’s into Weston Favell village, back ways to Eastfield Park, Bradlaugh Park and returning to our start point Moulton Co-op making a total of 32m.

Here is the RideGPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41427228

You can book up via Genius or I’m on 07867388592
regards,
Phil Letts

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Ride report, Saturday 26th November

Viki was on Hartley’s ride to Orlingbury and writes:

Ten riders congregated at Moulton Co-op: eight on the moderate and two on the brisk ride. Hartley had stepped up to ride leader for the moderate group and whipped us all into shape setting an average of 12mph for us all to follow before being given permission at Loddington to get rid of all that pent-up frustration / energy up the roller coaster hills leading up to Great Cransley, where we all regrouped before the next set of slightly kinder hills and onto the cafe stop at Orlingbury.

We were soon joined by the brisk contingent made up of James C, who led the Brisks, and John C, who evidently had a great workout on the extra hills and John was certainly ready for that bacon sandwich.
John W was already in the cafe, which by the time we arrived was heaving and so Ian was relieved to bag the only spare seat inside – cheers John.

The rest of us were content to sit out in the late autumn sunshine, some of us taking advantage of the cushions provided by the cafe. Most of us opted for ‘Wythmail’s’ home-made sausage rolls – up to their usual standard, delicious I think all would agree.

The route back was short and sweet with plenty of opportunities to branch off. John C and Terry both opted to head back to their neck of the woods immediately after the cafe stop, which left the rest of us to amble back towards more familiar territory.

At Beckworth Emporium, Geoff ‘shorts’ took advantage of being able to head directly back to Overstone. We also parted company from James, Pete & Brian, which left Mark, Ian, Hartley and I on the magical mystery return ‘new’ route back to Moulton.

Of course, I was enticed back home once we got to Rectory Farm. But before this, we were treated to a ‘classic’ Ian style ‘Achtung bollard’ account, which also involved Philip G with CTC friends on the border between Belgium and Germany. I won’t spoil the story, but suffice to say that the group were literally straddling the two countries. 😃

Hartley did the honours by accompanying Mark and Ian back to the Co-op navigating the track across the crossing and into Moulton.

Great to see so many out and thanks go to James for leading the Brisk Group and Brian for the pictures – good to see you in the shots for a change. Hope to see you all again soon. 🚲

Viki & Hartley

Ride to Orlingbury, Saturday 26th November

Hartley is leading this ride to Orlingbury and writes:

Start: Moulton Co-op, Stocks Hill, Moulton, NN3 7TB
Time: 9.30am
Distance: Brisk: 38mls, Moderate: 32mls
Pace: Brisk 14 mph plus, Moderate ~12 mph
Café Stop: Wythmails Café, Orlingbury
Estimated return: Around 1.30pm

This week’s ride caters for both our moderate and brisk riders. The brisks’ route is 38 1/2m and the moderates 32m. See Rides’ Calendar for information on expected pace to gauge riders’ suitability. Both rides start at Moulton Co-op, plenty of parking off Pound Lane if required.
Both rides follow the same route northwards for the first ten miles where the moderates then head East to Loddington. The brisks carry on northwards for a further five miles before looping back again to Loddington.
Here we turn back south along the roller coaster road to Orlingbury and our café stop at Wythmail’s – 25 miles under the belts for the brisks, 19 for the moderates. With 2/3rds of the ride over we need not worry about over indulging on the cafe’s delicious sausage rolls.

The way back to Moulton allows those who have cycled from the other side of town an opportunity to branch off early or those going beyond Moulton to branch off even earlier.
All we need now is a nice dry day!!

Philip keeps (rightly) reminding us, COVID is not yet over, so please consider the usual precautions.

As usual, it is very helpful for our planning to follow this link to book a place on Signup: Group rides

Cheers H.

Links to route on Ridewithgps:

Brisk: MCP/Orlingbury/38mls

Moderate: MCP/Orlingbury/32mls

Ride to Geddington, Sunday 20th November

PeterB is leading this ride and writes:

Start: Moulton Co-op, Stocks Hill, Moulton, NN3 7TB
Time: 9.30am
Distance: 38 Miles
Pace: Steady – Around 13mph Average
Cafe Stop: Dovecote Buttery, Newton
Estimated return: Around 1.30 pm

This Sunday’s ride is from Moulton to Geddington.
The route takes us out to Holcot, Walgrave, Old, Loddington, Rothwell and Great Oakley. Our cafe stop is at the Dovecote Buttery in Newton.
The return route will take us through Geddington, Grafton Underwood, Burton Latimer, Orlingbury, and back to Moulton via Holcot again.
Philip keeps (rightly) reminding us, COVID is not yet over, so please consider the usual precautions.
As usual, it is very helpful for our planning to follow this link to book a place on Signup: Group rides

Link to route on Ridewithgps:

MCP/Geddington/38mls

Cheers Peter

Ride report, Saturday 12th November

Viki went on this ride and writes:

Eight riders had signed up for the Moderate ride and three for the Brisk ride from East Hunsbury to the Dairy Farm at Stowe. The weather was slightly overcast until Otavio got out of his car and then the sun came out and pretty much stayed out for the rest of the ride (thanks Oti).  I think we were all feeling blessed that we were out cycling in the middle of November in such pleasant weather. John Weller was even sporting his shorts.

Nick ‘no gloves’ was out again, as were Geoff and Ian MacSporran and Mark also made a return taking advantage of a free weekend. Alex joined the Brisks en route and met the rest of us at the café. 

I don’t remember this route to Stowe, but it was as undulating as ever and with beautiful scenery, especially in the autumn sunshine which made the leaves sparkle.

After 15 rolling miles, the Mods were soon at the café, where Hartley and I both ordered the highly recommended mango and passion fruit smoothie. We were lucky to get our orders in before 15 or 16 young fit-looking lycra-clad Milton Keynes cyclists rocked up seemingly planting their bikes in and around the garden only to be turned away! That was a first. We were, therefore, naturally concerned that our Brisk gang would suffer the same fate. I offered to share my smoothie, but they must have sweet talked their way through to getting served. 

We only had 10 miles to get back to base and fortunately we didn’t have either floods or the ‘p word’ to contend with, though we did have an unexpected rather steep hill to shunt up out to Dalescote. I for one had quickly run out of gears and just managed it to the top before I was about to keel over and land in a ditch at the side of the road.

Thanks to everyone who joined, and to Phil for sharing his cake with me, especially as Hartley had given me a mere corner of his bacon and egg sandwich!  

Viki 

Images- If you are called Phil you get a special teapot!!

Ride to Upper Stowe, Saturday 12th November

Brian T is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point: Hunsbury Hill library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury NN4 0RZ
Distance: Brisk: 38 miles, Moderate: 25 miles
Café stop: Stowe Dairy Farm
Time expected back: Around 1:30 pm

The ride starts at EH and follows a familiar route along Banbury Lane before turning off to Bugbrooke, Nether Heyford and on to Weedon Bec with a few hundred yards along the A5. After Weedon Bec the brisk and moderate groups split with the moderate group taking the Farthingstone road with some great views over the valley before turning back to Upper Stowe and the cafe.
The brisks prepare to engage low gear as they make their way through Everdon and on to the single track road to Fawsley Hall and then round to Preston Capes. From there it is a climb up to the road to Stowe and on to the cafe where everybody should enjoy a well earned coffee. The route back is much shorter (10m) but will take the single track roads to Dalescote on to Gayton and then Milton Malsor back to EH.

Riding this recently with the Wednesday group the comment was ‘familiar roads from an unfamiliar viewpoint’. More information about the routes from Brian (01604 622073 / 07722 055149 )
Hope to see you on Saturday.

Please book a place on Signup if you can as it is useful for planning :Link Group rides or
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4da5ae23a3fdc61-group

RWGPS routes are below.
EH-25m Weedon Bec Moderate pace
EH-38m Fawsley Park Brisk pace

Ride report, Sunday 6th November

PeterB led this ride and writes:

Six riders met at East Hunsbury for the Steady ride to Stowe.  The weather, as we set off, was good – slightly cooler than we have been lucky to experience recently, but still dry and pleasant.

Great to see Nick out again, sporting a nice gravel bike that he’s just built.  And, he admitted, being used in preference to his road bike to give him a harder workout!

The route to Stowe uses quite a few small, quiet roads, and despite a slight headwind, the group made reasonable time.  Phil G, who was (unusually) late for the start, caught us up after half an hour or so, enjoying the harder work rate to catch us, I suspect.

One year ago, we rode this route in pretty awful weather, so bad that the winds had caused a problem with the electricity supply to the NT café at Stowe, and it was closed.  But no such disappointments this time, with coffee, cakes, sandwiches and pasties (which were particularly popular) tempting us.

The roads on the return leg were a little faster, and with the slight breeze behind us, we were enjoying life. That is until it started to rain with an hour still to go, becoming heavier as we pushed on.  Then I suffered a puncture – my own fault because earlier in the day I’d actually said I didn’t have many!  Well done to Hartley though for finding the offending lump of flint buried deep in the tyre, which saved me having a second puncture further up the road.

Thanks to everyone who joined, and to an unknown gentleman that joined us for a mile or two for a chat early on in the ride.  Brian tells me the sun came out as he arrived home.  Oh well.

Cheers Peter

Ride to Stowe, Sunday 6th November

Peter B is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point: Hunsbury Hill library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury NN4 0RZ
Distance: 46 miles
Pace: Steady – Around 13mph Average
Café stop: Nevillery NT Cafe, Stowe
Time expected back: Around 2.00 pm

This Sunday’s ride is from East Hunsbury to Stowe, near Buckingham.

We will ride out past Milton Malsor, Pattishall, Helmdon and Syresham.  Our cafe stop is the NT cafe at Stowe Gardens, which is around the 28-mile mark.

The return route will take us through Whittlebury and Stoke Bruerne.  The link to the route is below.

The last time we did this route was, as Phil J reminded me, just over a year ago, when we battled high winds and heavy rain.  The weather this year is forecast to be a lot milder.  Fingers crossed.

We look forward to seeing you, and as Philip keeps (rightly) reminding us, COVID is sneaking back, so please consider appropriate precautions.

As usual it is very helpful for our planning to follow this link to book a place on Signup:  Group rides

Link to route on Ridewithgps: 

EH/Stowe/46mls

Cheers Peter