Old Farts Cycling Club
'Age and Treachery Will Always Triumph Over Youth and Agility'

'The Middle Way Round'

June 2008


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All images ©2008 Laurie Wilson ,Ray Hudson, Trevor McAvoy

All images ©2008 Laurie Wilson ,Ray Hudson, Trevor McAvoy

Bon Voyage PartySundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday

The 2008 Old Farts Bike Ride started at Loughborough, travelling south through Market Harborough, Milton Keynes and Bicester.
Kiddlington just north of Oxford was the furthest south and we headed north again.  Shipston on Stour, Stratford upon Avon and Birmingham to Nottingham and we cruised into Worksop. 
A total of 370 miles, covered in five full days and two half-days riding.
 

Bon Voyage Party

As has now become tradition we start the ride with  a party.  Playing safe we hold it a couple of days before we start cycling!

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Sunday

Loughborough to Market Harborough

(44 miles)

Todays Route

Cycle south alongside A6 on cycle path and then into Leicester on minor roads.  Through the city and onto a traffic free track to lunch in the pretty village of Blaby.

Continue south meandering cross country on minor roads to Foxton Lock and then along the Grand Union Canal to Market Harborough


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Driving to Loughborough saves us riding a route that we know well.

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Four bikes on the roof need securing well!
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the 'groupies' are here

(George & Harry)
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Trev offers Federico a seat on top.
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The team ready to go
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Support Crew
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...we should have worked out the route before now....
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Smiley Miley's got a problem with his washers
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'RAC Carol' comes to the rescue
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...here we go...here we go....
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unloading at Loughborough
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...it's going to be a tricky  ride for Trev unless he finds his saddle
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ready for the off
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forming up on the grid....
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...and their off..
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The first wee coffee stop
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past the National Space Museum
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Derek's fallen off!
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..but still walking
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beer makes things better
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it's a bit better than last year
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we pause for an over
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Foxton's famous staircase lock flight was built in 1810. A masterpiece of 19th century engineering, it raised boats a massive 75ft up the hill from Market Harborough and linked the north and south of England by canal.
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the locals were nice!
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Union Wharf (formerly known as the Canal Basin), is a British Waterways development
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Market Harborough

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our overnight hotel
Monday

Market Harborough to Bicester

(81 miles)

Todays Route

15 miles of traffic free route along the Brampton Valley Way a linear country park that runs along the line of a former railway.  A mixture of roads and traffic free paths cross Northampton.

Continuing on a mixture of roads and traffic free paths shadowing the M1 we arrive in Milton Keynes to use a combination of Redways (shared use paths) Leisure Routes and roads.

South of Milton Keynes the route follows an ancient green lane and then small country roads through Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to Bicester.



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...the sun is still shining!
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Oxendon Tunnel (418 metres)
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coffee stop
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A train graveyard at Pitsford and Brampton
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we happen upon a house decorated to celebrate the Queen's birthday
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with the planned lunch pub closed Terry finds us the Navigation Inn
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                   © Copyright 2008 KEBLAWBEN - Laurie & Kairen Wilson. All rights reserved

Many of the images on this page are  copyright Laurie Wilson/Alamy

Stock photography by Laurie Wilson at Alamy
This page was last updated on 25-06-2008.