Midweek ride

Hello Midweek Swans,

      A lovely day for a bike ride. We will be heading North East to Olney to grab cake and beverages at Pastures farm shop. It's a mixed ability ride, so it's all about riding together and having a natter

Distance:46 liles
Parcour: rolling with a little climb to the cafe stop
Weather 23>27c, no rain light, NE wind
route:https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course­/122328328
GPX:

1 Attachment

• COURSE_122328328.gpx

How about an earlier start given the temperature?

The reason we leave at 9:30 🕤 is to miss the morning traffic, understand the idea but a difficult one to call, with route going through Stony/ Old Wolverton etc.. How early is early?

Just thought it might be a tad cooler. I take your point about traffic around Stony / Old Wolverton. Not sure how comfortable I am going down the A508 and around the roundabout with the A5 on the way back.

Hi Chris, just a thought, at mile 36 if we turn left instead of right and go through Cosgrove the loop cuts out a lot of the A508, its not a road I cycle, but looks an easier option.
The Stoney/A5 roundabout is traffic light controlled which should be less risky?

@PatH🚴🏻🍌 says that there is a way through from Cosgrove to Old Stratford avoiding the A508 altogether (inc. a bridge over the A5), although I've never ridden it myself

Mark, not only are you right that your idea would reduce the amount of A508 but in fact we can avoid all of it. A mile or so west of Cosgrove we could branch left to follow the old road which crosses a bridge over the A5 into the housing estate behind the Old Stratford traffic lights.

I led the Cs that way a few months ago (in the other direction) and it was fine, all tarmac. No A508, no A5 roundabout, no traffic. I use it often as a direct way between Stony and Castlethorpe via Cosgrove. Nothing however can persuade any software to include it in a planned route.

Tim, I'll be on the ride so I can show the way at that point if you agree.

Hi James, I've just seen your post, which says the same as mine. It is a very useful short cut and completely safe. I've used it many times.

Don’t be put off by the big steel gates at the Cosgrove end, the footpath goes around the side.

Please be prepared to give way to pedestrians as this is a footpath through the estate.

There are only two takers so far. I'd certainly be happy to start earlier for a cooler ride if it would encourage others to come out.
The argument that we should leave late to reduce traffic risk is always valid, but reducing sunstroke risk and discomfort by leaving early seems more so in present circumstances. Especially as there is no school run in August and no need to dice with the A508.
Would you consider an 8 or 8.30 start, Tim?

All we will doing the Croughton loop via Stratton at 36 miles with a 9:30 start time . I have commitments in the morning

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course­/104091743