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Plans for our restarted club rides
As we restart club rides we are learning as we go and making a few changes. This is an update on our current plans. We welcome your input to help us plan and improve future rides: please get in touch.
We are still restricted to a maximum of six people (five riders plus the leader) on rides. For this reason all our rides will continue to be "booked rides" where you must contact the leader in advance of the ride to book a place. But we've simplified the other rules and updated our short guide to reflect these changes: please read our Supplementary Guide for Riders while Covid-19 restrictions apply.
There are several ride changes that you may have already noticed: we are trying new rides on new days of the week and with new start places. We are also operating with a much shorter timescale, with future rides appearing on the website 1-2 weeks in advance. See below for more details of these ride changes.
Providing more club rides is dependent on more leaders volunteering. So this also a gentle request to any registered leaders to email Rupert if they would like to lead a booked club ride in the near future. Leaders are also invited to help us design our future rides and to suggest the rides that they want to lead.
Lastly, please do continue with your informal rides. Although these rides are not organised by CTC Cambridge, members are welcome to use the members' email group to advertise them to others. We see benefits in cycling in small groups and we want to support your efforts and keep these informal rides as part of the mix.Here is some of the rationale for the ride changes:
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We are now organising midweek rides on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We are avoiding Thursdays because we know this is a popular day for informal rides, but we could add a Thursday ride if we get enough leaders volunteering.
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We will be planning more shorter "one-stop" rides, with just a single break for rest or refreshment. We have opted for one-stop rides because we know that many riders chose this option when we organised longer rides in the past, by leaving the ride after coffee. Having just a single stop avoids this split and makes best use of the limited places.
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Our rides will use a variety of outdoor rest/picnic stops (while the weather is good) in preference to cafe/pub stops. This is simply our choice and leaders can use cafe stops if they prefer (ideally stops with outdoor seating): just let us know when you volunteer.
The current situation is new to all of us and we are trying to find a formula that works for most people. Please help us improve our rides by letting us know what sort of rides you would like to do. Please contact Rupert, the runs secretary with your comments and suggestions.
Our next rides
Please read our guide for taking part in rides during Covid-19 restrictions. All our rides are socially-distanced and are limited to a maximum of five riders plus the leader. Booking is required for all rides: contact the ride leader to book and confirm your place.
Saturday 15th Aug: Saturday social booked ride (leisurelyThis ride is graded as "leisurely". We aim to go at a pace suitable for anyone who can ride a bike, slower than our "moderate" rides. More, 25-35 miles) Meet at 10.00am at Fen Ditton. Coffee is at Burwell, Elk Cafe. Booking essential: contact the leader to book your place. Note that this ride starts at Fen Ditton. Leader: Ian Wright (07907 774939).
Sunday 16th Aug: Sunday afternoon booked ride (moderateThis ride is graded as "moderate". We will go at a steady touring pace, averaging around 12 mph. More, 30-40 miles) Meet at 1.30pm at Haslingfield Green. Booking essential: contact the leader to book your place. Planned destination - a western loop to Hatley. Note that this ride starts at Haslingfield. Leader: Greg Tucker (07774 281591).
Latest ride reports
15 Jul: A loop from Swavesey to Gamlingay
John J writes: Birds flying high, you know how I feel; Sun in the sky,
you know how I feel; Breeze driftin' on by; you know how I feel. It's a
new dawn. It's a new day!
So sang Nina Simone as I left home... (full report)
12 Jul: The Ride Is Nigh: our first ride since March
Greg writes: And so it came to pass that CTC Cambridge emerged from the
lockdown – simply rejoice at that news!
Excellent – a Maggie quote to rile up to 50% of the audience – what a
way to start!
This is a Twofer Report... (full report)
Chasing the lockdown blues: solo riding during the Covid crisis
Peter writes: Throwing open the curtains at 7.30am, the cloudless, azure
skies promised that today would be ideal for a solo ride. Midsummer's
Day had just passed which meant the days were already getting... (full report)