Sunday, 08 October 2017
John writes: Six members set off at 1.40pm. The ten-minute delay cwas aused by a front mech problem on Mike K's Mercian. I planned a figure-of-eight circuit to include the unadopted road from Langley Lower Green to Chrishall. This is a favourite of mine and is best negotiated from the Langley end making it predominantly downhill. We were rewarded by seeing a herd of deer (Muntjac, Fallow, Roe?) running parallel to us but too quick to photograph. There was a slight delay while Jeff disentangled a stick form his rear wheel.
At Brookside, adjusting gears and mechs
The outbound route crossed the A505 at Whittlesford where Phil joined us. John E left us before Elmdon for his long ride home to St. Ives. Passing through Heydon, Great Chishill, Nuthampstead, Anstey and Great Hormead we joined the B1368 for the final two-and-a-half miles to Braughing.
When we arrived, Mike S was just leaving the church hall and informed us that the day-riders had left 40 minutes previously. However there were plenty of cakes left! This will be our last tea at Braughing in 2017 and it was as splendid as usual.
Tea at Braughing
The return route encompassed all three Pelhams, Langley Lower Green and Chrishall with a splendid sunset to our left. By Fowlmere the twilight had turned to darkness and foolishly I led the four remaining riders on the dark track into The Lane, Hauxton. The so-called cycle track beside the A10 to the M11 crossing is nothing more than a narrow badly maintained footpath: it is the first and last time I will use it.
Near the A505 crossing at Whittlesford
This was a wonderful afternoon and evening ride but perhaps next year, in the Autumn, we should bring the start time earlier.
The bald statistics recorded faithfully by Strava were
58 miles, with 2360 feet of ascent over 5 hours 6 minutes of cycling, and a steepest gradient of 10.9% (near Nuthampstead).
John Ferguson
Download
GPS track (GPX).