The weather looked promising for the weekend, and Sunday being the best option forecasting a high 18 to 20 degrees with rain coming in from the west later in the day, so an easterly ride for a ride out in the Cotswolds seemed the obvious choice. I logged on to that very good on-line route plotting website MotoGoLoco and did a search through all of the "Cotswold" routes, settling for an interesting figure of eight ride as far south as Bibury and almost as far out to Banbury. The route description suggested a stop at Hook Norton Brewery and a ride around Charlbury too. I modified the route slightly to place a start waypoint near Feckenham and ending in Henley in Arden then emailed the exported route files (both GPX and ITN) to Lindsay to load on his TomTom Rider.
With a 9am meet arranged somewhere in Feckenham, the biggest challenge for the morning would be finding a route from home to avoid the Birmingham Velo cycling event that looped around Kidderminster and parts of Droitwich with closed roads that affected parts of Bromsgrove too. Thankfully the A422 down through Rushock and Droitwich remained open so I soon pulled up at the village shop in Feckenham after a spirited bright sunny ride along those twisty lanes past Hanbury Hall, arriving around 8.50. Lindsay arrived a little after 9.00.
The intended Cotswold route shared on Motogoloco
While on the bike, it suddenly occurred to me how I hadn't started out with a ride in an easterly direction in a long time. With it being late September the sun was tipping below my helmet peak, almost blinding me at times as I lined up for an upcoming bend so I needed to give the old visor a good clean before we set off again. The route took us down through to Honeybourne, with Lindsay leading as he's more familiar with these parts to avoid the A roads cutting across country. Sometime after I took the lead again and the Garmin's interpretation of the route meant it cut corners between waypoints using country lanes running through the Cotswolds I had never ridden before. These incredibly scenic roads were quite 'choppy' even on my GS, poor old Lindsay on the Bandit was suffering more though, and just as I was thinking how uncomfortable it might of been on my last bike - a Harley Davidson Low Rider, I was quite surprised when at Burford Cafe, parked outside was a very nice looking 16 plate Low Rider in a blue and white two tone colour scheme.
Almost 'stock' Low Rider
Just as I was taking a photo, the owner, a guy with what sounded to me like an Australian accent appeared and we swapped a few stories of Low Rider ownership. This later version was slightly different to the one I owned with a black not chrome clock surround, different battery and filter box as well as bigger capacity engine. He had fitted T-bars and a two into one screaming eagle exhaust system. I do like the new Low Rider, and if I could own one again as a second bike for sunny days I would. They handle well for a heavy bike because of the Low centre of gravity and a lot of fun but could never swap one outright for my GS though!
My Low Rider near Riano in the Spanish Picos 2012 (click to enlarge)
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After our full English, and despite my dodgy u turn on the crossroads in Burford apparently (oops), and Lindsay's dodgy guts (urghh), our route just kept getting better and better as we took turn after turn across country up and down dale, passing through all of those farm tracks and valleys to more chocolate box villages. I don't get to visit the Cotswolds so often on the bike these days as they do get congested, yet this route has proved if you can avoid the main roads and get off the beaten track you won't see much traffic at all even on a sunny Sunday.
Hook Norton
Later in the afternoon after dodging squirrels and pheasants again in secluded forest areas (what is it with me and squirrels eh ?) and after seeing the most amazing Red Kite hovering over us, we arrived in Hook Norton. We settled for a drink at the Pear Tree next to the Brewery, and a rare thing on a bike ride I decided to make an exception and try a swift one of the local brew, while Lindsay tried to tame his grumbling constitution with a posh pot of Coffee. While sat outside the pub we got chatting to a young chap who showed us a You Tube video of his mate having a confusing 'off' while riding his GSA in Spain. We all agreed he was a lucky chap, and couldn't work out how he lost control of it.
Our route home via Stratford Upon Avon was accompanied by what seemed like the cast of bikers from the Mad Max film. I had been watching the original film in the week for the 'umpteenth' time and was sure I would see 'Toecutter' amongst them as these riders were overtaking cars at great speed causing the car drivers to brake sharply as two or more tried to get into the gap between cars. Personally, I think this is reckless, and gives the biker community a bad name, so best to hang back and let them get on with it. Never mind, apart from a crowded one lane Stratford town, a very pleasant day out, and made it home around 5.30 without getting wet this time and thankfully the Velo road closures had lifted too.
I'm definitely going to ride that route again - maybe in reverse next time. The Cotswolds are great and almost on my doorstep so there's no excuse. Thanks to Lindsay for his local knowledge too. 209 miles.
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