Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Tom writes: This was my first time leading a ride with the club and we had a small select group of riders ready to head out into the October darkness, Nigel joined me and, shortly afterwards, a very welcome guest rider, Vas, who was trying out one of our last evening rides of the calendar year. Vas explained that he usually rode with another Cambridge cycling club but he was looking for some evening rides - and ours had been strongly recommended.
We headed out of Cambridge and south down the DNA strip to Great Shelford, As we left Great Shelford we also left the traffic behind us and we had the chance to enjoy a very sociable ride.
The other side of Duxford we started our ascent to Great Chishill, turning right at the summit and making a quick descent to Fowlmere and our main destination - the Plough at Shepreth. We made it there in good time, arriving at 8.20pm.
Whilst we were waiting for our meals to arrive we chatted to a man on the neighbouring table who told us about the campaign to stop this pub being turned into houses after it closed in 2010. As a publicity stunt, the villagers converted a nearby phone box to "the smallest pub in Britain" and gave it the brilliant name "The Dog and Bone". Our drinking companion was the landlord: apparently the beer was served in suitably-tiny glasses. The campaign was a success, the local planners prevented the change of use, and in 2014 the pub re-opened under new owners. It has since become a firm favourite on our evening rides.
Leaving the Plough we headed back to Cambridge via Barrington and Chapel Hill, feeling well-fed and well-educated, with Nigel provided us with some night-time music to encourage us on our way.
A very enjoyable evening ride, the weather having been kind to us considering the inclement weather experienced earlier in the day. We hope to see Vas again!
Tom Nash
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GPS track (GPX).
2 comments from old website
Thursday 19th Oct 2017 at 8.51am
I note that Tom's burger was served on a plate. Not a breadboard, not a slate...
Thursday 19th Oct 2017 at 8.13pm
Tom thanks a lot for the great ride, lead and experience, and thank thank you both for the great companion. Have to say I felt jealous when I saw Tom's burger so will definitely go back soon to try it, until the next time take care...