CTC Northampton

Local group of the UK's national organisation for cyclists

Welcome to CTC Northampton.

CTC Northampton is part of the Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes CTC (NMK)of the Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC) along with the Kettering and Milton Keynes sections. We are also part of the CTC East Midlands Region. Here you will find details of our rides, evening meetings and other cycling events (Events Guide).

What you can find on our website

There is cycling information and advice about joining in with our activities (Hints/advice), together with copies of our newsletter (News). Whatever type of bicycle you have you will be welcome to join us - just turn up at one of our cycle rides or evening pub meetings, or contact us for further details (Contacts).

There are also some links to other sites for cycles and cycling related accessories (Links).

A rides archive has been started (Rides Library). A selection of our cycle rides will be added and it is hoped to place intended routes here prior to our rides so that you can, if you wish, print out a map for the days ride.

The Technical Bit

This site uses a small amount of Javascript. Most of the site will work without Javascript enabled, but for maximum enjoyment you will need a browser that supports Java and have it enabled.

Recent Ride Reports
24th October
A small but select bunch of three riders met at Hunsbury Hill yesterday. After a few early showers the weather dried up, though remaining autumnally blustery. We took some interesting cycle paths through West Hunsbury and Collingtree and continuted to Milton Malsor, Gayton (where we looked the (in)famous closed landfill site) and Rothersthorpe.
We then tried to follow some newish cycle paths through the Swan Valley, with mixed success (they really need an off-road bike - and a compass...). Eventually we found a bit we recognised (!) and headed on to Upton. This environmentally friendly development is perhaps most striking for its range of interesting architecture, best viewed from Upton Mill lane, and the solar panels visible on many roofs.
We visited two Barratts show rooms and three show houses/ flats. All had solar thermal heating and, when sold, will also have cycle sheds (not present in the show home version - nor was there any attempt to mock up a home cycle workshop in the kitchen... most unrealistic...). They will also have garden water butts - by contrast, full rainwater harvesting systems are present in many of the homes in Upton. However some of the Barratts' homes are *relatively* "affordable" compared to some of the other sites. The show homes were seductively attractive inside and the site's attempt to reduce car dependency (regular bus service, reduced car parking etc) is laudable, though still fairly modest.
Sadly we ran out of time for the planned Super Sausage II experience. We will have to plan this into a future ride!
Philip
18th October
This was a brisk, enjoyable 50+mile tour of the Autumnal-looking north of the county for three of us admirably led by Brian- out through the villages of Walgrave, Old, Draughton and skirting the centre of Market Harborough where a third of the group (ie. me became detached and temporarily lost!) and on to Bowden for coffee and cakes.
We made sure we did cross the River Jordan before a few more brisk and `bumpy' miles along quiet wooded lanes of falling leaves brought us in a loop round to Kelmarsh for lunch at the Buddhist Meditation Centre- where we certainly meditated as to why our jacket potatoes were taking so long (still frozen apparently!)
After lunch saw two changes after John joined us for the ride back-1) the pace instantly went up about 10mph! And 2) a bird about the size of an Emu deposited a pot of `yoghurt' on Eleanor!
But it was a great ride, harder than I thought it was going to be-our thanks to Brian.
Phil
22nd August
We had a lovely ride with 7 people, including Phil & Haley (on tandem) and son Bill who were trying their first CTC ride. In nearly continuous sunshine with a slight breeze we set out on the BVW and the Gamboro Plantation track to Cottesbrooke.
As everyone still seemed fit, we continued on up a couple of hills to Naseby, the A508 and Maidwell. After one more big hill we reached Lamport, where we were rewarded with a fantastic view of the green valley and scudding clouds from the garden of The Swan pub.
Philip
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