Thursday, 20 December 2018
Edward writes: A glorious morning welcomed thirteen members to Great Shelford for today's ride out to Balsham and Saffron Walden. It was bright and sunny and not enough wind to bother us. Once again it was Sheila who was our leader who must surely be the champion leader for 2018 as she always seems to be volunteering which must make Rupert's job much easier.
Photo-bombed in Great Shelford
The route to Balsham is pretty straightforward and always gives the village riders a sporting chance of arriving for coffee before the slickers - not often this happens. When we reached Whittlesford we were joined by two or three others but with the low, dazzling sun it was difficult to be exact. In Whittlesford we turned onto the cycleway to Sawston and beyond all the way to Babraham.
Sawston to Babraham cycleway
On approaching the A505 Ian hit a pothole and promptly punctured but with Mike C and Adrian on hand he could hardly have been in better hands. Everyone else pressed on along the A505 cycleway to the science park roundabout and then through Abington to the A1307 at Hildersham. Normally in Hildersham we go straight over the junction and the two mile climb up to Balsham but today Sheila varied it and took us along Back Road into Linton which gave us a different climb up Rivey Hill allowing us to arrive at the Old Butchers Cafe before 11am and, crucially, before the city slickers.
Hildersham
Since it opened we have visited this cafe on numerous occasions and with good reason. We always have a nice welcome with reasonable prices which makes it a popular watering hole and because of its popularity we found several others who had made their way independently; the good weather might have helped too.
Coffee at Balsham
As the weather was so good many were able to sit out in the courtyard where the sun was just high enough to peep over the surrounding buildings giving a degree or two of warmth.
Preparing to leave Balsham
After coffee, as expected, quite a few turned for home, but Sheila was still able to lead a fairly large group through Balsham and the hilly route to West Wickham and then Horseheath. We crossed the A1307 into Cardinal's Green where a very prominent notice was advertising the arrival of a new cafe which may be worth keeping an eye on for future rides. After Shudy Camps we faced the climb up to Steventon End and Ashdon but not as expected straight through to Saffron Walden, but instead a three mile detour along Water Lane to Radwinter. This put us on the busy B1053 for the last four miles or so into Saffron Walden arriving at a well timed 1pm.
Happy riders in Balsham
Today we used two lunch stops with the city group scheduled to go to the Temeraire and the village group to the Curious Goat and others eating sandwiches either in the market square or the Jubilee Gardens. With everyone newly nourished we set off home a little after 2pm and exited Saffron Walden on the road to Audley End mansion. By now we had lost the sun and although the clouds gathered there was never any prospect of rain and we made our way up Chestnut Avenue to Catmere End and Coploe Hill.
Coploe Hill
There was one last surprise in store as we made a left turn and headed for the notorious Royston Lane hill. Notorious not for the climb but the contrast with the excellent road surface of the part in Essex and the deplorable road surface on the descent which presumably is in Cambridgeshire, but in truth just like many of the other roads in our county. The ride was nearly at an end with Fowlmere next and a slight deviation from the planned route via the quieter road through Thriplow. After Newton and Little Shelford the ride finished in Great Shelford at 3.45pm and a predicted
49 miles. A special thanks to Sheila who so often steps into the breach to lead rides. This was the last scheduled Thursday ride for 2018 but we now have the extended daylight hours to look forward although winter might actually show itself in the new year.
Edward
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GPS track (GPX).