Ride to Catthorpe – Easter Monday

Brian, our Rides Secretary, has planned a lovely ride for us this Easter weekend:

Bank Holiday Monday

Start: 9.30 a.m.
Start point: Brampton Valley Way (BVW) – Welford Crossing, NN6 8AA – near “The Windhover” – there is a BVW car park just up Brampton Lane
Distance: 47 miles
Refreshments: Catthorpe (lunch), Whilton Locks (possible tea stop)
Return by 3.00 p.m.

The ride takes us out through Guilsborough, Cold Ashby and Yelvertoft on mainly quiet country roads to Catthorpe (23 miles) for lunch at the Manor Farm Kitchen Café.

We return is via the outskirts of Rugby and through Barby and Norton with a possible tea stop at Whilton Locks.  Then through Great Brington and back to BVW.

Note that this is also the first ride of BRITISH SUMMER TIME this year !

Hope to see you there, Brampton Valley Way, 9.30 a.m. MONDAY morning.

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Ride Report – Sunday 2nd February

Brian, our Secretary, went on this ride led by Philip G.  He writes (with photos by David):

2014 has started really well for the CTC Northampton group with another good turn out for a ride on a cool but sunny day. A great day to be out on the bike; difficult to believe it was mid winter!

Ten riders left the Brampton Valley Way (BVW) / A5199 crossing point at 9.30 a.m. led by Philip G on an interesting route via Great Brington to Guilsborough for coffee.  We were ready for it as the route had taken us on several quiet roads sporting an OS map arrow, (gradients greater than 14% i.e.1 in 7), two down and two up !!

Passing the village church in Great Brington

A brief do-it-yourself coffee in the village shop and we were off to Catthorpe passing Cold Ashby and the highest trig point in the county, Honey Hill.  At 12.15 p.m. we arrived at the friendly Catthorpe Manor for lunch where our reserved table was awaiting. There was a good choice of food from snacks to Sunday lunch.

At Manor Farm, Catthorpe, after lunch

Suitably re-fuelled we set off into a strong west wind to Rugby, which we skirted with ease, before returning to quiet roads again, with a number of cattle grids on the most remote ones.  With good navigation from Philip via Barby and Norton, we were back at BVW at about 4.00 p.m. still in good light.

It was quite a hilly ride at times (3000ft of ascent in 48 miles) but it was through very pleasant cycling country and with good company.  What a great way to spend a winters day! Well done, Philip!

The route is here on RideWithGPS.

Ride to Catthorpe – Sunday 2nd February

Philip G will be leading this ride and writes:

This Sunday’s CTC Northampton ride takes us to the corner of Leicestershire and Warwickshire, with lunch at the Manor Farm Tearoom in Catthorpe. This is not a long ride (40 – 45 miles), but the route is quite undulating in places.  We start at 9.30 a.m. at the Brampton Valley Way / A5199 crossing.  There is a car park on Brampton Lane opposite The Windhover.

After a couple of hills there will be an early coffee stop at Seaton’s in Guilsborough (10 miles). The rest of the route includes Yelvertoft, Catthorpe and, after lunch, Barby, Long Buckby and Great Brington.

Currently the forecast for Sunday is relatively good: dry with sunny intervals, fairly cool (3 to 7 degrees) with a light wind from the south-west. Please keep an eye open and dress appropriately.

I look forward to seeing you.  Please let me know if you have any questions: 01604 720522; philip.g@ctc-northampton.org.uk

The Meriden Annual Gathering

Bill Simpson attended this event and writes:

Last Sunday’s annual gathering at Meriden took place as usual. Only this year it did not rain, despite the greyness of the day.  Though in recent years the numbers in attendance seems to be dwindling, it appeared this year that the gathering was up numerically as seen through the eyes of Max Scott and myself.
Other local riders to attend were George Stevens and John Dunkley, as well as Bob and Sue Hastings.  Any others that I may have missed from our area, apologies for the omission.

Both Max and I used the train to re-trace to Rugby, then rode the miles to the excellent Catthorpe Farm for afternoon tea.

For the benefit of any who may never have experienced Meriden, my journey from
Northampton with some train assistance was an easy 50 miles. Hopefully, if you thought that attending at Meriden is beyond your mileage capability, the above may help you to re-appraise.

Perhaps then the numbers who attend could continue to increase, and that the unique experience of Meriden (the centre of England) could be shared and enjoyed by so many more from our area.

This leaflet from last year’s event gives a flavour of the ninety year’s history behind Meriden Rally.

Ride Report – Youth Hostelling weekend, 10th & 11th March

David went on this ride and writes:

Saturday

We started out from Sixfields Football Stadium about 10 a.m.  It was overcast and coldish.  The first stop at Catthorpe was reached at 11.30 a.m.  Further north we cycled through Kirby Mallory and then Market Bosworth was a welcome break for me, having run out of water.  The cafe was hidden at the end of a courtyard.

Our destination – the National Forest YH at Moira, Derbyshire – was reached at 5.00 p.m.  Tired, an eco-shower was appreciated followed by a rest in front of the TV (Six Nations rugby) before ordering dinner.

Sunday

The return journey involved cycling down the A444 to Shenton for our first break at  “The Gallery” Tea Room and Antique Barns, a short distance from where we were just in time to see the steam train leaving at Shenton station.

We cycled up to the battlefield at Bosworth (1485 – Henry Tudor defeated Richard III – “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!”) to see the commemorative flag.

The weather improved and the wind was behind us so our rendezvous at Catthorpe for 2.30 p.m. with other CTC Northampton members was on time.

A trip of 120 miles.

At the National Forest YH, Moira, Derbyshire