Social Leisurely Cycle from Bath to Bradford on Avon along Canal Path

Hello it’s that time of year to fight through the accumulation of old furniture and half empty tins of paint in the garage and get the bike back out for the summer months.

The thought can be daunting I know but the benefits are many and don’t need repeated here especially from me :)

I thought proposing a leisurely cycle between Bath and Bradford on Avon might be a good idea.

Now I know there are other cycling groups on Meetup for Bath and Bristol but they just seem too serious and lacking in interest for me. My idea of a social cycle is 5-10 miles at a relaxed pace with stops for a cuppa/drink and half a sandwich along the way whilst taking time to enjoy the beauty of the countryside. The other groups seem to differ in their expectations.

For those unfamiliar with the route I have cycled it often and it's a flat 9 miles taking in some amazing countryside once you get beyond the often busy George Inn pub area at Bathampton.

All time estimates assuming a leisurely average of 4mph. It's of course possible to join and turn back/leave at any point along the way.
If people are too tired to cycle back then there's a train service back to Bath Station and this is something i've done over the years.

The cycle from Bath Spa to the start point is a flattish cycle of about 1 mile.

I have attempted to summarise the route below

Start 11 am : The Canal Entrance on Warminster Road next to Sydney Gardens BA2 6NT.

Next Possible Join 11:15 : George Pub at Bathampton, Bath BA2 6TR. (About 1.2 miles from Start)

Next Possible Join 12:00 : Claverton Pumping Station, Bath BA2 7BH. (About 3.2 miles from Start)

Next Possible Join & a good stopping place for a rest 12:20-12:35 : Dundas Basin. (About 4.5 miles from Start)

Next Possible Join & a good stopping place for a rest 13:00 : AvonCliff Aqueduct. (About 7.5 miles from Start)

Destination Reached : Bradford on Avon 13:30 (About 9 miles from Start) - Stop for refreshments and a well earned rest.

Weather permitting i have a date in mind of Saturday 10'th May 2014 to try out interest in this. Happy to put this back/forward if majority request due to weather.

Looking forward to meeting others who think this is a good idea and who might want to suggest other ideas for cycle routes taking advantage of warmer times.

I can pick up 2 other people en route from Bristol to Bath (with their Bikes) as i have a 3 bike carrier somewhere in my garage :)
I'm happy to do this and maybe others can too.

Check out the website below created by a keen cyclist for more details http://www.paulspages.co.uk/bbcycle/kacycleclassic.shtml

Hope to see you there

Paul