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I've scared up some work near Banbury and will be residing in the Premier Inn there for 4 weeks.
Having been riding 6+days a week over the summer, it would be nice to keep some semblance of bike fitness going - so I'm thinking about taking a bike down with me for a few post work spins.
However the job is going to be highly physical, so I'm thinking in terms of an hour of so's gravel/quiet road bimble to stretch legs and back out, rather than full on gnar shreddage, especially as I won't have access to any proper cleaning facilities. I see there's a canal running through the town - is the towpath bike friendly?
Pointers gratefully received!
Thanks.
Canal is all good. There's some short and steep downhill tracks at Edgehill, and you can put a loop together across the top round local villages.
It's nice along the top of Edgehill.. Singletrack that goes quite a way.
Get on the canal is maybe the best option. You can go miles. Cropredy way is nice, maybe to Fenny Compton and have a beer at the Wharf.
Burton Dasset hills can be put into a loop too or just mess around on the hills.
I lived in & around Oxford for 20+ years & used to ride up to Banbury and beyond from time to time.
IMO gravel & road riding better nearer Oxford / Woodstock / Charlbury but still a decent amount of lanes & gravel trails around Banbury. Nice gravel routes NW of Banbury across to Shipston upon Stour, Ilmington Downs and onwards to Stratford upon Avon - have v fond memories of nice 100 mile day outs out and back that way. Worth taking your bike.
If you're on the canal, you're best off tubeless...
Newbottle woods are good for a spin around. Otherwise the Chilterns or Cannock or Woburn are all about the same distance away.
Cannock would be a good couple of hours away at least, it's be a killer after a day at work!
Lots of quiet lanes and gentle off road, but the bridleways are a lottery between nice gravel track and vague path straight across a freshly ploughed field.
Worth a look at NCN5 which runs to the south of Banbury. You can head out west on a mix of roads and gravel. Where it turns south above Swalcliffe, don't go straight on, but go left then right onto the BW through Blenheim farm then wiggle across to Ditchledge Lane, down to Traitor's Ford, and then follow NCN 5 back to Banbury.
Used to work in Banbury and use bikes to commute a bit, lots of decent road miles around there - Edgehill is pretty badass no matter which climb you take! Getting to Cannock was a ballache, unless you can dodge the rush hour traffic on the M40/42/6.
Never even spotted the canal!