Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Nigel writes: A cool but bright and sunny evening brought out eight riders for this evening's ride: John, Paul, Gareth, Jim, Chris, Ian, Phil and me. We set off south from Brookside, following our usual route along the busway and the DNA path to Great Shelford. As ever, Gareth was in the mood for a fast ride so he was soon disappearing into the distance on his own. A short while later he was followed by Chris, also speeding into the distance.
Brookside
The rest of us continued south through Little Shelford, Whittlesford and Duxford. By the time I reached Ickleton we had divided once more, with Paul and John taking a short-cut, Jim stopping for a puncture, Conrad riding back to keep him company, and Phil, Ian and me pressing on over Coploe Hill for a loop round Catmere End and Littlebury Green.
The sun had set by the time we reached Elmdon and it was beginning to get quite cold. There we met John, Paul and Conrad, and a short while later we caught up with Chris and then Gareth. The final descent to Chrishall Grange and then along the flat to Fowlmere and Thriplow were conducted at a rapid pace.
We reached Newton at about 8.25pm, where we stopped for a drink at The Queen's Head. Jim was already there, so our group was now fully reunited once more.
After a mug of brown soup and a pleasant half hour in the pub we all returned home, most of us heading back to Cambridge via Little Shelford and Great Shelford. The temperature had fallen further and I put on my jacket. I arrived home at 9.30pm, having cycled
34 miles.
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