Mountain Bike ride #1 Thursday 27th July

Morning All,

my first attempt at posting an event on the forum - I hope this works :-)

First Mountain Bike Ride is this Thursday at 6:45pm for 7pm, starting from the Swan Pool as usual.

I have not quite worked out how to put the route up on here via Garmin as yet, but I hope to work out how to do this later today!

The route is through Buckingham via a slightly quirky route up to Stowe, around the edge of the gardens and along to Silverstone, exiting the track and travelling back past Dadford on road, but leaving the road at Home Farm just after Dadford and rejoining the bridlepath at Stowe School, going up and down over the bridge, and then back on to the road to rejoin the cycle path along the edge of Stowe Avenue, and back to the Leisure Centre. I hope this is a nice mix of road and track with some fun bits included.

15.2 miles - 974 feet climbing - Estimate an hour and a half, depending on who (if anyone!) turns up...

It is meant to be fairly decent weather Thursday evening but will rain a lot of Wednesday, so expect some mud!

2 Attachments

• Swan Wheelers Mountain Bike 1.tcx
• Swan Wheelers Mountain Bike 1.gpx

@Phil hi matey have you ridden the proposed route previously at all?
I'm a bit concerned as to whether you can get around the south of the circuit for access out to the woods, worried as it is all appears to be gated up there, will they be locked/closed so no access?
Cheers. Paul

Hi @PaulW - a good question, I don't know. It's not a bit I've ridden, the only bit of the course I haven't, but it is a public right of way, a bridlepath, on my OS maps, and ought to be unobstructed.

I've just been having a look at the route on the map but there isn't an obvious alternative so I'll pop up to Stowe after dinner and have a look.

Phil,
I have very recently ridden tracks and bridleways around Stowe, brief summary;
Maids Moreton, Akely Wood lane and track, Tilehouse Wood, Silverstone east boundary, Hazelborough Wood loop, Silverstone south boundary bridle way, through Tilehouse Wood, Stowe grounds, Chackmore, bridle way adjacent the Rugby Club, Maids Moreton - 20miles
Be happy to advise.

David

Hi @paulw - thanks for the question :-)

In fact, it's absolutely fine, Silverstone have done a great job of preserving access through the public right of way, but I am very pleased you asked as I had an absolutely fantastic 45 minutes checking it out! Just what I needed after a long day.

It's worth saying to anyone coming along - learn from my mistakes - long trousers, long sleeves, and gloves will be the order of the day!

Thanks David, I got that too late as I've just ridden round it but I would love to meet up for a coffee/beer some time and have a chat about a few routes for the future.

If you're coming Thursday perhaps we could look at our diaries?

Thanks Phil

Phil,

OK, good, see you all on Thursday

David

@Phil - assuming this rain stops, is there a convenient time and place that I can intercept you guys around the top of the Stowe mile?

@PatH Yes, sure. I would say around 7:15, or shortly after, on the corner by the cattle grid. Depends a little on how wet and how muddy it is and who turns up. PM me a mobile number and I'll give you a call nearer the time.