Off-road cycling in Lark Rise to Candleford country

The Lark Rise Bike Ride offers a choice of three off-road routes to suit all cycling abilities and is being held on Sunday 23rd May 2010 to raise funds for the charity Action Medical Research. Now in its seventh year, the event takes riders through the countryside that formed the backdrop to Flora Thompson’s Lark Rise to Candleford. If you have read the book or watched the recent BBC TV series, you can see for yourself where Flora lived, went to school and worked as postmistress! There is a choice of a 12.5-mile starter ride or tougher 25- and 40-mile trails. Best suited to mountain bikes and hybrids, the shorter ride follows tracks, bridleways and quiet lanes, and is ideal for families and occasional riders, while the 40-mile route offers some more serious sections to test regular off-roaders. The ride is fully supported with signs, maps and drinks stops, plus a back-up mechanic. The circular routes start and finish at Fringford (Candleford), north of Bicester, and wind through the beautiful countryside of Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, including the classic Stowe Estate. Action Medical Research is a leading UK medical research charity that is dedicated to helping babies and children. Cyclists participating in the event will be raising money to help fund vital work that aims to prevent, cure or treat conditions that devastate the lives of many thousands of babies and children and their families. Entry costs £38 for a family of four, additional children £8 and £15 for adults. Single children can register on the day for £10. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the ride. You will also need to raise a minimum of £25 in sponsorship. You can register for the Lark Rise bike ride online at www.action.org.uk/larkrise or telephone Chris Swallow on 01280 847721, or email [email protected].