July Social Rideout

Cotswolds Capers 

Start: 9AM

Pace: Moderate, with the chance to make progress for those who wish.

Meeting point: Starbucks drive-through OX9 3SB (there is a petrol station here if people need to fill their tanks on arrival)

Morning coffee stop: ‘The Organic Farm Shop cafe’, Burford Road, Cirencester GL7 5HF

Lunch: ‘Blaze Inn Saddles’, Burdrop, Banbury OX15 5RJ (we will probably stop at a petrol station prior to this, to stretch legs and in case anybody has a smaller tank)

Afternoon coffee/finish: ‘The Harrow Inn’, Enstone, Chipping Norton OX7 4NF

Total ride time: 5hr

Distance: 190miles

This route should have something for everybody. Long sweeping bends as well as narrower, tighter corners. As much as possible I have tried to avoid main towns but there is only so much you can do in the south of England…

After meeting at Thame, we will ride through Long Crendon, along the B4011, before turning off towards Burford and then on to Bibury, passing the famous ‘Arlington Row’. There are one or two slightly awkward drop-offs so I will try and keep us together through Burford itself, as I expect it will be busy on a Sunday. After about 1hr30mins, near Cirencester, our morning coffee is at The Organic Farm Shop which should have plenty of space and nice views of the farm. From there we head north into the Cotswold’s on the longer section of the ride. This is about 1hr45mins-2hrs as we wind our way up and down through the Cotswold’s (look out for Diddly Squat Farm, before Chipping Norton), through Charlbury and in the direction of Banbury before diverting off to our lunch stop: The Blaze Inn Saddles. I am keeping my fingers crossed for good weather as it is an outdoor venue, hopefully with covers. On the last leg (about 1hr30mins), we head north to Leamington Spa and loop back down to Chipping Campden and finally end up in Enstone at ‘The Harrow Inn’.

The full route is approximately 5hrs of riding time so it should be a full day. I appreciate this is further north than some of the other social rides, so, I have left out a final leg after Enstone so people can get back earlier if they need to. Please help us keep the lunch stop informed and indicate if you are able to attend.