Cycling in Northampton

[alasdairgf]

Just got a part-time job in Northampton, so going to be finding a place to stay in or near town, cycling onto the University campus two or three days a week. Just wondered if anyone can tell me what to expect cycling-wise from Northampton - what's commuting like, what's the terrain like, how well is the area stocked with cycle paths/tow paths etc for short-mid length on/off road routes, etc etc etc.

Any pointers gratefully received!

 

[psmiffy]

Northampton - neither cycle friendly or unfriendly - traffic can be heavy but not malicous - probably much thae same as most medium size towns

Nice countryside but not that interesting - Grand Union Canal to the South - flat and boring - Brampton Valley Way to the north even more flat and boring

 

[alasdairgf]

Thanks - "flat and boring" has its attractions, you know. Especially the "flat" bit!

 

[alasdairgf]

It's funny, most requests for information about Northampton have ended up a bit like this one - a tiny bit of info, and sod all interest from the rest of the world. Does no-one else know anything about the place? Is there a good LBS for instance?

(It's weird - it's like the town only just exists, on the periphery of our normal universe, and if it wasn't careful it would just disappear entirely and no-one would notice for about four months.)

 

[Tigerbiten]

I would call it rolling countryside around Northampton.
I tend to do 20-25 miles per 1,000 foot climbing.
And no silly steep hills ..........
If you see an ICE trike around town, its probably mine.

I use Pitford Cycles as my LBS.

Luck .........

 

[psmiffy]

It's funny, most requests for information about Northampton have ended up a bit like this one - a tiny bit of info, and sod all interest from the rest of the world. Does no-one else know anything about the place? Is there a good LBS for instance?

(It's weird - it's like the town only just exists, on the periphery of our normal universe, and if it wasn't careful it would just disappear entirely and no-one would notice for about four months.)

There really is not much to say about cycling in Northampton - Nothing special - I have just been doing it and there was nothing out of the ordinary about it - Middle sized midland town - likely nobody knows that much or has much interest about the place unless they have a reason to come here - pretty much bypassed by the M1, M6 and the A14

Pitford Cyles (Brixworth - Pitsford Resrvoir) is OK but a bit of a pain to just pop out to - Oakley cycles in Lutterworth road is OK for bits and bobs -I tend to pop down to Phil Corley Cycles or Evans in MK if I am window shopping for stuff

I have lived here for the best part of 25years and I cannot really say that I like the place or for that matter dislike it - as you said it is one of those places that is on the periphary of the universe as we know it