Start time 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point Hunsbury Hill Library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, NN4 0RZ
Distance 47 miles
Refreshment stop The Skylark Cafe at Staverton at 27 miles.
Pace Steady
Time Expected Back Around 2.30pm
Tag Archives: Duncote
STEADY ride to Hogshaw – Sunday 20th August
Tim is leading this ride and writes:
Start: 9.30am, Sunday 20th August
Meeting point: East Hunsbury Library, Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ
Distance: 63 miles
Anticipated Speed: 13-14mph
Refreshments: Green Dragon Eco Centre Cafe
This Sunday’s ride heads south via Gayton Marina and the villages of Tiffield and Caldecote before a short section of A5 lets us gain the village of Duncote from where generally quiet country roads take us on our journey to the west of Buckingham and on to our lunch stop at the most southerly point of the ride at The Green Dragon Farm at Hogshaw.
Our return journey heads north east to Winslow and then on to Stony Stratford (complete with a nice downhill section for a couple of miles just after crossing the A421 south of Nash). Familiar roads then lead us to Hanslope and Salcey Forest before the final homeward leg along the Quinton Road and suburbs of East Hunsbury.
The ride is planned with a single stop at approx 33 miles, so it may be a good idea to bring an energy bar or two for any impromptu roadside stops. However if the urge for morning coffee or afternoon tea (or indeed both!) proves too strong there are options in the guise of Boycott Farm (at 20 miles) and Salcey Forest (at 57 miles).
We should be back at East Hunsbury library mid to late afternoon, depending on the number of stops we choose to make on the day.
The proposed route can be viewed (and downloaded as a gpx file) from the CTC Northampton group on RideWithGPS:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/23647762
Any questions please contact Tim – 07749 477231.
Ride Report – Sunday 20th December
Brian led this ride to Stowe Park and back. He writes:
Nine riders gathered at East Hunsbury on a spring-like morning. We had quite a mix of bikes including a Sully 29’er – 3″ tyres, pressure 12psi, ideal for snowy climes (climbs?). Did Andrew know something about the weather forecast that we had missed?
The ride took us out through Tiffield and onto the old road to Towcester. At the A43 we turned onto a well-surfaced bridleway and a specific crossing point across the dual carriageway, fine on a Sunday but not so good if it was very busy. At the other side a short section of ridable track took us back onto the old road into Towcester. Here we had to mingle with the traffic on a short section of the A5 through Towcester before we turned once again onto a quiet road up to Silverstone. There was not much activity as we passed the racetrack. We continued down to Stowe Park against a fresh breeze. By this time the sun was out and it really did seem like spring.
A pleasant coffee and cake at the NT café and then we were back on the quiet road to Syresham now with the wind behind us. We were joined by Geoff and his trike at Stowe who then rode back with us to Towcester. At Slapton the group now ten strong split into two, given the disparity of bikes and speed, to wend the short distance back to Northampton via Duncote and Tiffield.
Close to Northampton the sun disappeared and an ominous cloud appeared. I suspect at least half of us were caught by a very sharp cloudburst before we reached home.
Who could imagine a ride on such a day in late December?!
Ride report – Sunday 21 June
Brian, our Rides Secretary, led this ride and writes:
On the official first day of summer, four riders set out from East Hunsbury with a brisk cool westerly wind. We wound our way across to the A5 and over to Duncote, then Canons Ashby and on to our first visit to the café in the equestrian centre on the road approaching Woodford Halse. In the sheltered courtyard we enjoyed coffee and toast in the sun. We had arranged to meet Geoff from Wellingborough who joined us for the rest of the ride. John Dunkley arrived shortly after, just to join us for coffee.
We were running slightly behind schedule mainly because of the head wind the sun was out and the temperature rising. The route up to Napton was on unusually quiet roads. We skirted the “hill” at Napton-on-the-Hill and with the wind now on our backs headed for
Priors Marston. To get out of the village there is a 12% hill and then we were almost at Hellidon where we enjoyed a light lunch in the pub. Whilst there, a steam car arrived looking vintage but with pristine bodywork. The give away was the disc brakes. It was, however, definitely steam powered – and an internet search confirmed it was a replica US 1912 ‘coffin nosed’ Stanley steamer.We finished a welcome break and given a strengthening tail wind we “steamed” back to Northampton again on exceptionally quiet roads and with the warm sun on our backs.
It was 54 miles and quite hilly but the route took us through some of the most attractive parts of the County. A great day to be out on a bike and good company to boot with Rowan, Ken, David and Geoff!
Ride to Middleton Cheney this Sunday!
Ian M will be leading this ride on Sunday and writes: