Any riders here around the Daventry / Weedon area ?
Interested to find some routes 'n stuff in the area, is there much ?
Any local bike shops offering weekly shop rides that anyone knows of ?
Cheers muchly, in advance
Sorry, nothing useful to add, just that my father and grandparents lived and grew up in Everdon. Wonderful childhood memories of that area. I’ve cycled there a few times in recent years, but only on road and a few local bridleways.
Not a whole lot to be had that isn’t bridleways round there I think and probably very muddy this time of year. I think there’s a tiny bit in Everdon Stubbs.
I’m based in Northampton and ride with the Rutland store rides when they are on (usually Sunday 9am) check the Pitsford store Facebook for the next one. Typically a lap of Harlestone firs and some surrounding bridleways. It’s nothing amazing but it’s a nice local loop
When I lived close by it was Harlestone Firs and the odd trip to Badby Woods.
I suspect the latter is off limits now.
Yeah we used to go up Badby woods but got into stick with the landowners minion.
Try Leisure Lakes in Daventry. They might know the score or even have a shop ride.
It's nearly 30 years since I asked the staff in Daventry Leisure Lakes if there was any decent local riding. The answer was "no".
Wed evening rides at 6pm from outside Leisurelakes in Daventry.
I used to live nearby, I've nothing to offer other my sympathies. I drove to either the Chilterns or Cannock.
I live in Daventry - moved here from the South Downs area and as per above it's true that this isn't a great area for mountain biking - you have to drive to Cannock etc. There are the woods at Harleston firs and a few other places. It is a good base for road biking though - rolling countryside with a different character in each direction and a lot of nice quiet country roads, a good club which is mostly road based (Daventry Cycle Club - look them up on facebook)
There is some local off-road riding to be had - mostly bridlepaths, canal towpaths, tracks etc which if you know enough of them can link up to make some decent loops. PM me if you want a strava link to my profile where you can at least see some of the routes from those rides.
I'd suggest making contact with Leisurelakes - there's the Wed evening rides I mentioned above and also groups heading out at the weekends, both for local loops and further afield - you'll get some good local knowledge that way.
Better of traveling to Cannock or elsewhere. Firs wasn't too bad years ago for a quick blast but the popularity of walkers and dog walkers imo makes biking they're a pain unless you go really really early or late and it's just getting worse with the housing going up around it. It was always dog shit alley so god knows what it is like now as I haven't ridden there for a few years and if the link road goes through not sure how much of it will disappear. And the bridleways this time of year are just sticky mud.
As markwsf says Northamptonshire is great for road riding with absolute miles of quiet country roads.