Cycling Group 2020

August

On Wednesday 26th August, there were 6 members hoping to ride, however everyone had been watching the weather carefully as Tuesday had been very wet and windy with gusts over 45 mph. As storm Francis headed across the North Sea towards Scandinavia we were still left with winds WNW at 16mph gusting to 29mph, as Wednesday dawned. Consequently two members dropped out, but at 09.30 Jeff Dunn, Catherine Davighi, and Colin Rowe, set off from the George Public House car park at , heading for the Brampton Valley Way in the direction of Brampton Halt. A tree had been blown across the track on the section between the Road and Merry Tom's Lane but we managed to negotiate it. We cycled to along Welford Road where John Thompson joined the group. At this point one of the group had developed a front tyre puncture. The wheel was quickly removed, the thorn extracted and a new inner tube fitted. We were soon on our way. Just past the roadworks beyond and some temporary traffic lights, the chain came off another bike and we all assisted to lever it back over the chainwheel before continuing towards Althorpe. Soon another bike developed a fault with the sensor and magnet which controlled the motor on one of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPC) causing total loss of power. The fault was soon corrected and we were on our way to Great Brington and . The wind had dropped by now and the sun was out. The return route via the lovely hamlet of Brockhall (along the gated road), and Flore, we returned via , Upper , Church Brampton and Chapel Brampton. We covered a total distance of 28 miles. Despite the slight problems with the bikes all in all it was a very pleasant ride and we are all looking forward to the next outing. July

On Wednesday 15th July five group members, Mo Turney, Catherine Davighi (first time out with the group), Gabriel Leeming, Jeff Dunn and Colin Rowe met at the George Inn car park, Brixworth, at 10.30, to cycle round the quieter lanes and magnificent scenery of the area. We set off in drizzling rain with leaden skies in the direction of village to cycle along the gated road through the park. We crossed the A5188 (Welford Road) then headed into . All riders were using EAPC (Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles) so made good progress, coping easily with all the gradients on the route. Shortly after passing Coton Manor we took a break at Ravensthorpe Reservoir picnic site where we consumed our pre-packed food and drink, taking care to keep our social distances. The group returned to Brixworth via Ravensthorpe, and where one of the member`s bikes suffered a serious puncture. All hands to the pump, a new inner tube was soon fitted and we were on our way back to the George Inn, arriving after covering the 19 miles at an average speed of 11.7 mph. We all enjoyed a drink to celebrate the reconvening of our group, which hadn`t ridden together since February 19th.

February

John, Mo, Colin, Allan, and Jeff, turned out in cold and damp conditions for this 16 mile circular ride on narrow country lanes – many single track and/or hilly - starting from the Lower Harlestone Fox & Hounds PH and passing through Upper Harlestone, Great Brington, Whilton, Flore, and , before returning to the Fox & Hounds for lunch.