Ride Report – Middleton Cheney – Sunday 25th August

Iain D went on this ride, led by Ian M, and writes:

First thing on Sunday morning, things were looking decidedly autumnal. The air was cool and damp and it hadn’t long finished raining. One breakfast later, I was headed over to East Hunsbury, not bothering to dodge the showers as they were very light and wondering whether we’ve been spoiled by all the recent sunshine. Crossing Northampton, it all dried up and, in fact, we didn’t see another drop of rain all day after that.

It was still quite cool though as the three of us assembled for a ride that promised some new roads, Banbury being an area we seldom visit.

Following Ian’s newly acquired Garmin box, we headed out through Tiffield and Greens Norton to Sulgrave Manor for elevenses (and received a much warmer welcome than last time!) and it was still autumnal enough to justify their “ye olde 16th century hot chocolate” – interesting blend – before heading on to Middleton Cheney and the local golf club for lunch, by which time, of course, the sun was out and it was getting rather warm and summery once more.

Note to webmaster: it’s worth adding the golf club to our list of food stops. All-Day veggie breakfast is great value.

Having navigated the hitherto unseen “Barley Hill” in Culworth on the return leg, we were FORCED by the heat to stop at Canons Ashby, where we ran into a couple making the most of the long weekend on their Pino tandem (if you’ve never heard of one, google web-search it. It looks like a sit-up-and-beg rear-ended a recumbent but they ride a lot better than that sounds), and Ian’s satnav then brought us back through Pattishall to our start point making a total trip of just under 48 miles with nothing, really, in the way of hills above the usual Northamptonshire rolling countryside. The Endomondo trace of the route is here, with the usual wandering around at tea stops: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/235886762/5180977

I’m sure Ian will be posting his GPS trace up as well, to see how the two compare.

I’m afraid the rest of you missed out on a rather decent ride!

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Ride to Middleton Cheney this Sunday!

Ian M will be leading this ride on Sunday and writes:

I had a good recce today of a route for Sunday’s ride.

You can see my meader to Banbury and back here  on http://www.ridewithgps.com.  (I just thought I’d have a change from Endomondo.)

I set off from Hunsbury at the usual time for a Sunday and reached Sulgrave Manor just as it was opening.  Same times on Sunday!

I then pedalled slowly to Middleton Cheney, thinking that that would be a better stop for lunch than Banbury.  And it has lovely Morris & Co stained glass in the church – a complete set from 1862.  But The New Inn is closed until next year and The Dolphin is just, well, closed!

So I pedalled on to Banbury, enticed by several signposts indicating I was on the Oxfordshire Cycleway.  I was led into enormous roadworks and a completely pedestrianised town centre.  Avoiding Debenhams tea room and a Pizza Express, I found the Banbury Cross – and a pub called “The Banbury Cross”.  Open but no food.  Will you have food over the Bank Holiday weekend?  No, mate – there’s no call for it here!

I struggled out of Banbury and pedalled back on a different route to Middleton Cheney.  The Dolphin was still closed.  I then pedalled a different route north and came across the Cherwell Edge Golf Club.  An A-board at the road advertised carvery lunches on Sundays!  At the entrance to the club house, bar meals were advertised!  A quick bacon butty later and I had learned that while the carvery might require booking for Sunday, the bar meals did not.  Seemed good!

I did have a tea stop in the afternoon at Canons Ashby.

If I’m not selling this route to you, may I say that the cycling is delightful and through many wonderful villages we don’t normally pedal through.  The villages are quite close together so that there’s always a feeling of moving on.  Helmdon was voted Best Northamptonshire Village in 2011.  So here’s the route for Sunday in terms of villages (with my timings from today):

Leave Overslade Close, Hunsbury (0940)

Milton Malsor

Tiffield

Caldecote

Duncote

Greens Norton

Brandon

Slapton

Wappenham

Helmdon

Sulgrave (1105-1125)

Marston St Lawrence

(edge of) Thenford

Middleton Cheney

Lunch at Cherwell Edge Golf Club

Thorpe Mandeville

Culworth

Moreton Pinkney

Canons Ashby (1440-1455)

Adstone

(towards) Blakesley

Cold Higham

Pattishall

Gayton

Milton Malsor

Back at Overslade Close, Hunsbury, at 1555.

That route is really delightful!

I haven’t reserved a table for the carvery at the Golf Club.  I’m assuming that on a warm August day (sunny day with isolated showers, high of 21 degrees C) colleagues would prefer a lighter bar meal.  We can always top up with tea at Canons Ashby – or not!

So, meet at Overslade Close, Hunsbury at 0930 for a splendid day.  We’ll go at a simple pace and so I can’t absolutely promise to be back for 1555.  Just over 50 miles.

Questions?  01604 843894 / 07960 302095 or ian.m@ctc-northampton.org.uk

I hope to see you there!