Sunday, 24 July 2016
John F writes: Ideal cycling weather, one of our favourite tea stops (St Mary's church hall in Braughing), and our best cycling terrain enticed only four riders to join Ray at Brookside for the 1.30 pm start: Simon, Steve, Dimitris (a work colleague of Ray's who was trying out the Sunday afternoon rides for the first time) and me.
Ray had introduced the novel idea of publishing the route beforehand in the members' email group: this proposed owing a route of 58.5 miles, which is perhaps a record for an afternoon ride in terms of both distance and hills!
Brookside
At the A505 crossing near Whittlesford
We followed the well-worn route to Whittlesford and the A505 crossing just beyond, where Phil joined us; from Duxford we followed the quiet route to Hinxton with short delays at the railway and the river crossings and regrouped at Elmdon as the church clock struck three.
Level crossing between Duxford and Hinxton
Hinxton Ford
Elmdon
It was now downhill to Heydon, uphill to Great Chishill, down to Shaftenhoe End with fine views to the North across the flat Cambridgeshire countryside. The barley harvest was in full swing with a few combines busy. The quite lanes through Nuthampstead, Anstey and Anderton's Lane to Great Hormead brought us to the B1368 just south of Hare Street along which we sped to Braughing and reached the tea-stop at 4.20pm.
Tea at Braughing Village Hall
Jacob, who had come independently, was the only other Cambridge member there. After an excellent tea in quality, quantity and value-for-money we left at 5pm. Steve joined Jacob for a more direct homeward route whilst Ray led us through all three Pelhams, Langley Upper Green, Duddenhoe End into Chrishall. From there it was predominantly downhill with a following wind and a few scuds of rain to Chrishall Grange, across the A505 to Fowlmere, Thriplow , Hauxton and into the city.
I reached home in Cambridge at 7.40pm. after a memorable figure-of-eight ride on predominantly quiet lanes. Thanks to Ray for leading and route-planning.
John Ferguson