Spinneys 92 Route
Berk Boyraz
We are situated in the heart of logging country. Our driveway is located off the Northern Rd/20 Mile Rd. which is an active, dirt logging route. Please respect the trucks and allow them the right of way. All dirt roads, our driveway included, is a Pass at Your Own Risk. Although the driveway is maintained, it is still a woods-road that changes every season!
Using a GPS or phone for directions? We highly encourage you to make a print out or take screenshots of your directions as many cell providers will lose service during your trip to our neck of the woods.
Cyclists of all skill levels will be able to test their endurance and push their limits as they tackle the picturesque routes that offer stunning views of Dubai and the surrounding desert landscape. The 13th edition will also see the return of the popular Outride with TotalEnergies as the presenting partner. The shorter 38km course, designed to encourage new members of the community and families, will join the main event field starting from Dubai International Stadium to take on the relaxed Expo City Dubai route before crossing the finish line.
All participants can look forward to a festive pre- and post-race experience in the Eat Well Live Well village, where they can find an array of delicious food and drink options. Riders can also win incredible lucky-draw prizes, including vouchers, stays at the Garda Bike Hotel in the beautiful Lake Garda Italy, and for the juniors a scooter, bike, and skateboard are up for grabs.
The 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will be part of the first-ever UCI Cycling World Championships that will combine 13 different UCI World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland between 3 and 13 August. The Gran Fondo events will be held on 4 and 7 August, 2023.
Taking part in the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge? We have an important update for you. After the official announcement that the races will take place in Expo City Dubai, as part of a new strategic partnership for the 2023-24 season, the brand new route has been revealed.
Previously, the challenge was slated to be held on the tracks of Al Qudra. With the new collaboration, riders will compete in a new location and on an improved route design. There will also be a reimagined Race Village venue, along with the new start and finish positions.
The 14th edition will also see the return of the popular TotalEnergies Outride and InstaShop Junior Rides, taking place a day before the main event. Also at site is the festive pre- and post-race experience in the Spinneys Eat Well Live Well village, where youcan find an array of delicious food and beverage options.
The Spinneys Cycling Team is extending an invitation to all the registered participants to join them and contribute to the endeavour. All you have to do is download the Active Giving app and use the provided special code.
The complete set of races of the Aster Pharmacy BIG 5 comprises of four build-up races and one mega race at the end. The races are spread out over several months and give the participating cyclists the chance to train, build endurance and prepare themselves for the 92-km finale, confirmed for Sunday, February 25, 2024.
The series of races will serve as a qualifier for the international UCI Gran Fondo World Series Championship for the third year in a row. The top 25 per cent of participants from each age category will come together to compete in the finals in Aalborg, Demark in September 2024.
The elite category cyclists will be competing for combined prize of Dhs36,000, with the winning male and female rider receiving Dhs10,000, while second place and third place riders will earn Dhs5,000 and Dhs3,000 respectively.
Registrations are now open for the Aster Pharmacy BIG 5 here. It is priced at Dhs535 which includes benefits like exclusive prizes, race packs, a leaderboard ranking, series leader jerseys, priority parking, and a finisher medal.
We're getting super excited about the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge! Are you ready? 2500 cyclists will take part in a 100km route around Dubai on Friday 29th November. If you're taking part or not we've got the essential road closure information for you here.
Motorists planning to travel this weekend in Dubai or across the emirate, on Saturday, February 24, and Sunday, February 25, are advised to be aware of significant road closures due to the annual Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, the oldest organised cycling event in the UAE.
The Roads and Traffic Authority of Dubai (RTA) has warned drivers to expect delays from 6 AM to 9:45 AM over the weekend on several key roads in the city, including Al Asayel Street, Al Qudra Road, Dubai Expo City, Hessa Street, Umm Suqeim, and more.
The Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge will take place from 6:15 AM to 9:45 AM on both Saturday, February 24, and Sunday, February 25. Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly and expect delays during these times.
Further along the road a small rose bush was still in flower despite having lost most of its leaves to the early winter weather; the few pink blooms hanging on to life with a frosting like a sprinkling of sugar on the petals enhancing the prettiness rather than detracting from arguably one of the most attractive of flowers.
We now had to re-cross the B4642 main road to pick up a footpath heading off behind Brickyard Spinney (by crossing a stile beside a large metal gate). Weather-wise it had now started to cloud-in somewhat, shrouding the low sun which was desperately trying to resist, but only succeeded in creating a watery wintry grey. After maybe a hundred yards (if that) down the side of Brickyard Spinney, we had to cross a ploughed field. However, luckily for us, the farmer had only reached half way across the field, so giving us a harder surface to walk on, albeit over the stiff short stubble of the cleared crop. The route was now diagonally down across the field heading towards the right hand end of a line of trees in the distance (a telegraph pole in the middle of the field gives a rough direction marker).
Continuing through the woods we chatted, to emerge onto Cawston Lane at a small dirt lay-by by the side of the road (parking for a handful of cars) where we turned left along the narrow road and keeping well into the side as it can be quite busy with cars which often move far too fast for the size of road.
From our home on the Cawston Grange Estate we headed up to The Coventry Road, turned away from Bilton/Rugby and then took a left into Cawston Lane and set off down the country road. The fields on both sides behind the hedges were still pretty much bare, but one in particular had been tilled up into the very distinctive ridge and furrows of a potato crop. I like the strong lines that this produces, especially with the low evening sun casting shadows across the field, enhancing the perspective effect of converging parallel lines.
By dropping down to the pool the sun had disappeared from my view again, hidden by the dark mass of Cawston Woods (more correctly known as Cawston Spinney here) and the pool was completely in shadow. I figured that I might just get a sighting of the sun rising above the trees by heading over to the old disused Rugby to Leamington railway line that passes very close by, on a raised embankment. So, off I set, again at a brisk pace, skirting a field boundary, avoiding some very large frozen puddles on my way to where I could see a thin pathway up the side of the bank.
I used the perimeter path that skirts the outside of the new Cawston housing estate to reach what was the A4071 but has now been renamed the B4642 since the opening of the Rugby Western Relief Road and crossed over to head down Cawston Lane (towards Dunchurch).
I think the woods themselves are probably quite unremarkable in the wide scheme of things, but in this part of Warwickshire they are by far the largest grouping of trees for many a mile, a green island in a very gently rolling sea of fields. If you look at the Rugby and Daventry OS map there really is a dearth of green splodges representing woodland, so I suppose the resource really is quite important for both wildlife and humans alike.
Thurlaston is a very pretty village, with its converted windmill, leafy lanes and attractive cottages. Having been through here on numerous occasions before, I soon found my way through the village, taking Stocks Lane, passing the stocks themselves; Main Street and Church Lane.
This was a lovely spot, with mists hanging around over the placid waters and the winter seed heads of reeds and bull-rushes adding an interesting texture to the scene. I spent quite some time here enjoying the peacefulness and trying to capture at least a snippet of the tranquillity with my camera.
Therefore, I picked up another wide verge around the edge of the field heading south away from the pool. I was again not a right of way, but with no choice in the matter this time I felt much more confident in myself as the farm worker approached in his spraying vehicle.
For reporting or commenting on any path problems etc, [or I suppose equally to praise good way marking or the like] the contact tel-no. is 01926 413427, or email pa...@warwickshire.gov.uk ; I got these numbers from a signpost on another path in Warwickshire recently so hopefully will work.
Register (free) on the Ramblers website to view full details and download the route. A number of other short walks (under 3 miles) in Leicester are also available to download free. Longer routes are available to members only.
This lovely May morning I took a small sketchbook and a pen up to the Spinney to make some quick notes about the tree shapes. Most of the trees have their leaves now so I can identify which is which. I am looking for characteristics of each species which I can use for some prints. They are the trees I see, very possibly not typical of the species, but ones I know and can place along the route..a young beech, the tall alders and a cluster of limes etc.
c80f0f1006