Cols, Caunton & Cows (replaces Wiggle To The Windmill)

Breeze Bike Rides in Newark and Sherwood

***PLEASE NOTE: this ride replaces "Wiggle To The Windmill" which has had to be postponed until better weather, and due to problems with the planned refreshment stop. All ladies who booked a place on "Wiggle To The Windmill" automatically have a place on this ride unless they decide to cancel***

We'll meet at the car park opposite Southwell Minster - please note this is a pay & display car park. We'll ride through the town centre and make our way off along Halam Road and out of town, climbing our first hill as we head for Halam.

Progressing through Halam, and turning into and through Kirklington, we'll then head up to the village of Eakring. On the way, we'll complete a Category 5 climb (200 ft in 1 mile) known locally as the Col D'Or Noir, as there is an oil museum at the top!

From Eakring, a gently undulating route will take us towards Caunton, but we'll just have time to take in a second, even steeper, climb - the Col De Kersall. We'll then cross the A616, meandering through Norwell and then Caunton itself, before turning back towards Southwell, making time to stop off at Newfield Dairy & Ice-cream Parlour at Hockerton Heights. We'll enjoy a hot chocolate or a home-made ice cream, or if we're being good, a Green Tea or Earl Grey, as we watch the pedigree herd of Holstein cows graze in the fields next to the Parlour. We'll then ride back down to Southwell.

This ride is around 20 miles in total with 2 steep hill climbs, so you'll need to be confident to ride uphill with your gears and stand up out of the saddle for the steepest sections. A road bike or hybrid would suit this course best as we'll ride at a brisk pace.

Although we are riding mainly on quiet country roads, this is nevertheless a road-ride all the way, so you'll need to be stable and confident on your bike as this route is not traffic-free.

It's a good idea to bring some water and you may also want to bring a snack if you think your energy levels may need topping up along the way.  Wearing a helmet is advisable. Please bring some money if you want to buy refreshments.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Our email address is breezesouthwell@gmail.com.

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Meet the Champions

• Louise Righton Hi, I'm Louise, your Breeze ride leader for Southwell and surrounding Notts villages. I love riding my bike but am too slow to ride with my husband and his mates, so am looking for some ladies to ride with socially at weekends! I hope you'll join me to pedal and chat, stop for coffee or a picnic, and maybe gain some fitness and friends along the way! Looking forward to riding with you.
• Angela Singleton Hi, Angela here!
  I have been passionate about cycling nearly all my life, and just love going out on a warm spring day and breathing in all that lovely fresh air. There is nothing better than riding out to a café for coffee and cake, or hot chocolate with a group of ladies, laughing and chatting about everything and nothing. Our little bit of escapism!
  I am a fully qualified Bikeability Instructor, and I have acquired the Ctc Trail Leader Award, Ctc Advanced Maintenance Award and City & Guilds Cycle mechanics, so don’t worry about getting the odd puncture!
  
• Mandie Elson I am, what some peeps have said, a fitness freak but one that likes to have fun too, but then again, I am a fitness professional so it's good to be passionate about health and fitness! I've always been a keen cyclist and was introduced to Breeze Network while searching for 'women only' cycling groups and have not looked back since. It made sense for me to train as a Breeze champion so that I can pass on my fun and passion as well as my knowledge onto women of all ages, experience and fitness levels.
  
• Rebecca Darrington I bought my first road bike in December 2011 through the ride to work scheme and then started doing Time Trialling in April 2012 with Newark Castle Cycle Club. In doing this I've realised there is a massive lack of female cyclists on the roads - of all levels so decided to become a Breeze Champion to encourage more females to get back on their bikes or to get on a bike for the first time! Cycling is good for the mind and body and is a very sociable activity and there is always a cafe or pub stop on all rides which usually means cake!! What more could you ask for? I look forward to seeing you on a Breeze ride soon! :)