Ian Macsporran led this ride and writes:
On a beautifully sunny morning, nine riders gathered at the Brampton Valley Way (BVW) crossing with the A5199 at 9.30 a.m. (and a tenth was waiting for the group at the Waterloo Farm Café). Iain D, Brian, David, Eleanor, Phil L were joined by Malcolm, Hartley and Vikki – these three being guest riders out to see what we were like. Bill was waiting at the café. I had chosen, in retrospect a bit of a leg-stretching ride: only 45 miles but plenty of bumps. I had no excuse, having recce’d it only two days earlier.
Before elevenses,the high spot (literally) was pausing at Naseby Church. Every route in to Naseby seems to involve a considerable climb. But the sunshine and the company made it pleasant work. We reached the café – at 18 miles – at 11.15 a.m. I’d booked a table for eight at the Foxton Locks Inn and, by phoning ahead at this stage, was able to increase it to ten. Through East Farndon (downhill for once – as Iain noted) and Lubenham was delightful. We reached the locks at 12.30 p.m.
The inn was fully booked for lunches, and there was a queue – so it was good to have a table set for ten waiting for us; and a helpful waitress bringing us drinks and meals.
Leaving Foxton at 1.30 p.m. we went on some lanes new to most of the group – to Theddingworth and Sibbertoft from the north. We climbed up to Naseby again and enjoyed the fast descent. Then the last big climb of the day was up into Guilsborough. One or two pimples brought seven of us back through Teeton and Holdenby to the BVW and the A5199 by 3.40 p.m. (Iain, Eleanor and Bill had peeled off at appropriate points.)
Everyone claimed to have enjoyed the route but, as a distinguished music critic once said that an orchestra is nothing without listeners, so a planned route is nothing without riders. My thanks are heartfully felt to my nine fellow pedallers. I hope that Malcolm, Hartley and Vikki join us again.