CTC Cambridge

Tuesday 5 June 2018 

Greg writes: Flaming June lived up to its title for once as 8 of us gathered at Brookside for a Sunday afternoon jaunt. Go West young man was once the cry – and so Clive, Mike K, Mike CC, Rachel, Cheryl, Ray and Simon joined Greg for this adventure! Mike CC volunteered to be Tail End Charlie (thanks Mike!) as we set off bang on 2pm after the required departure photo.


We went across Lammas Land – was this the Zombie Apocalypse that has been long foretold? Bodies lay strewn about on the grass…..though it appeared on closer examination that actually people had merely decided to lay down in the heat and enjoy the sunshine. Glances in our general direction suggested many of these people wondered what on earth we were doing cycling off in such weather – the temperature was already some 25C and it was warming up…..

As we went along the Barton Road we cycled through the enticing aromas of BBQs – I counted at least four such 'Clouds of Delight'. We were not to be dissuaded from our task and we pressed on – ever Westwards!

We crossed the M11 at the Coton roundabout – the absence of any real traffic showed that most people were doing something other than being out and about – a good idea on such a glorious day! The vagaries of cycling around Cambridge were on clear display – the path up to the M11 was crazed with fault lines – yet once over the M11 we were on pristine new and wide tarmac where the cycle path has been upgraded. If only all the paths were like this!

Once past Barton we went onto the Haslingfield Road. Mike K and Keith set off ahead – would they realise that we were avoiding Chapel Hill today – there was some speculation. However, Phil was waiting at the Harlton turn and so we reformed as an expanded group of 9 and took the easier option through Harlton and Eversden. This is a beautiful route through some sleepy villages – with even sleepier roadworks! The water mains replacement in Eversden has been going on for weeks – can it really be that difficult? Again the traffic gods were on our side as we crossed the A603 – where was everyone?


We headed on up through Kingston to Bourn…Just as we turned onto the Caxton Rd Greg called a brief halt for sun cream top up and water consumption. He also chose to regale the captive audience with fascinating details of Economic history. We were stationary outside South Sea farm and so Greg gave a brief discourse on the South Sea Bubble (1720) and its links to the Bitcoin price…..Phil's eyes rolled – this was even more boring than watching Newcastle play! We mounted our bikes once more and pressed on Westwards.

Through Caxton we went and just before Gransden we turned left onto Sandy Lane to avoid the traffic. Bad call by our esteemed leader – as we were then promptly followed down this rural lane by a car and a van and then another vehicle came towards us – we should have stayed on the (deserted) main road!

We swept through Gransden – now Waresley was showing on the road signs the pace seemed to pick up. We duly came into Waresley via the tree - shaded hill – the shade giving much need coolness as the temperature continued to rise. We got to the garden centre at about 15.40 – just beating the remnants of the all day ride because Simon and Nigel turned up as we were locking our bikes.

The two parties sat together in the sunshine for half an hour – the still courtyard proving to something of a baking zone. Refreshed and relaxed and now very hot we needed to get going again. Simon led a group including Mike CC and the other Simon (the collective noun for Simons? A 'Says' perhaps) via Cambourne whilst Greg had Nigel join up for the continuation of our anti clockwise loop.

We set off to Gamlingay – where Greg managed to miss the left turn and we had to take the second left. The additional 200 yards on the total were hardly memorable nor noteworthy – so enough time has been wasted on discussing them here.

Now we were bowling along through Hatley St George with Nigel showing some much needed sartorial elegance with grass additions to his bike. Although not sure where this offending item was picked up it did appear most fetching – and many comments were passed.

Greg warned the group of the sharp left half way down Croydon Hill and we all made the turn safely with no one overshooting. We were now on the ridgeway and could (just) see through the very thick and lush hedges across the valley below. Now we were cycling along we were generating a cooling breeze for ourselves – but this was needed as the temperature was now showing over 26C on my Garmin.

There was some fragmentation of the group starting here – Nigel was streaking ahead occasionally in Audax mode – he even gave us the benefit (sic!) of his music choices as he put on his boombox speaker. Designed to keep him awake on all night rides here we had Louis Armstrong accompanying us for a short while.

The group paused and reformed at the entrance to Wimpole – again making it across the main road with no delay. The Zombie Apocalypse had consumed all the drivers, presumably.

There was some brief delay as Rachel avoided becoming entangled with some hot and cantankerous three year olds at the cattle grid and we duly went past the front of Wimpole House in the sunshine. Just after the stable block Ray made a bid for fame and a blog mention by announcing a puncture. After checking he had all the necessary tools and kit he bid us a fond farewell and the remaining few carried on.

As we left Wimpole Park it became clear that it wasn't a population wipe-out due to the Zombie Apocalypse that had meant there were bizarrely few cars on the roads – rather it was the Cambridgeshire Show. The showground was still rammed with cars though many were starting to leave – my recollection of this show is that they usually normally get a drenching. This must have been the sunniest in history – hence the crowds.

We headed off towards Orwell – and now there was some traffic to dodge on the A603. However, once safely crossed we wound our way through the village – taking a back street hitherto unknown the Clive. Well, we aim to please.

As we continued on towards Barrington the tail markers were starting to flag – a combination of heat and distance – and the pace slowed. Leaving Phil in Barrington we now avoided Chapel Hill by turning off to Foxton and picking up the new A10 cycle path. Nigel accelerated ahead as we passed through Harston – with Clive also soon turning off.

The faithful few rode on – now negotiating the horrendously overgrown cycle path up to M11 crossing. The group finally disbanded at the Guided Busway at Trumpington with people making their final way home to cold beer (or equivalent) and a chance to sit, Zombie-like, in the shade.

We enjoyed a hot afternoon in the saddle – some 40 plus miles in bright sunshine. Thanks to all who came out to play! Greg Tucker




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