Old Farts Cycling Club
'Age and Treachery Will Always Triumph Over Youth and Agility'
'The Middle Way Round'
June 2008
HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT
All images ©2008 Laurie Wilson ,Ray Hudson, Trevor McAvoy
All images ©2008 Laurie Wilson ,Ray Hudson, Trevor McAvoy
|
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 PartyAs has now become tradition we start the ride with a party. Playing safe we hold it a couple of days before we start cycling! |
 |
SundayLoughborough 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  Driving to Loughborough saves us riding a route that we know well. |
 Four bikes on the roof need securing well! |
 the 'groupies' are here (George & Harry) |
 Trev offers Federico a seat on top. |
 The team ready to go |
 Support Crew |
 ...we should have worked out the route before now.... |
 Smiley Miley's got a problem with his washers |
 'RAC Carol' comes to the rescue |
 ...here we go...here we go.... |
 unloading at Loughborough |
 ...it's going to be a tricky ride for Trev unless he finds his saddle |
 ready for the off |
 forming up on the grid.... |
 ...and their off.. |
 |
 The first wee coffee stop |
 past the National Space Museum |
 Derek's fallen off! |
 ..but still walking |
 beer makes things better |
 |
 it's a bit better than last year |
 we pause for an over |
 |
 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. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 the locals were nice! |
 |
 Union Wharf (formerly known as the Canal Basin), is a British Waterways development |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Market Harborough |
 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.  ...the sun is still shining! |
 |
 Oxendon Tunnel (418 metres) |
 coffee stop |
 |
 A train graveyard at Pitsford and Brampton |
 |
 |
 we happen upon a house decorated to celebrate the Queen's birthday |
 with the planned lunch pub closed Terry finds us the Navigation Inn |
 |
 |
 |
 |
