Thursday, 03 January 2019
Mike P writes: The opening club ride of the New Year saw seventeen eager members arrive at Brookside on a typically dull and chilly January morning. Conditions were at least dry and settled with negligible wind to speak of.
The bumper turnout necessitated a split to form two groups. Alan T helpfully offered to lead out the first group whilst I led off the second a couple of minutes later.
Rather than taking the usual route westward out of the City through Newnham Common, I opted to head to Grange Road and then on to the Adams Road cycleway crossing the M11 to Coton. Thereafter, the route detoured further north to take in Madingley and Dry Drayton before turning south to cross the A428 at Hardwick.
With careful pacing the groups continued to keep a respectable distance. I occasionally glimpsed the back markers of Alan's group about 400m ahead so, all was well as we headed south through Caldecote before turning on to the B1046 towards Bourn.
Things started to awry on the stretch to Bourn village. As we pulled off the B1046 to pick up the back road to Caxton it became evident Ian W had dropped off the back of my group. We stopped at the junction to await arrival. Ian didn't show although, after some discussion, it was felt he had probably opted to head direct to Waresley and, as an 'experienced' rider all would be well, and we would pick him up there – MISTAKE (refer below)!
We pressed on through Caxton and onto the Gt Grandsen road by which time the two groups had largely formed into one as we approached the Waresley coffee stop.
Our arrival at around 10.50am put us behind the village start in the queue for refreshments. Led by David W, they had beaten us to the venue by a few minutes.
Nonetheless, the garden centre here is a popular stop and capable of handling a large number of customers swiftly, efficiently and with a most welcoming staff. Just as well given that there were now around 40 CTC cyclists on display not to mention another cycle group in Lycra and the garden centre's usual customers!
At this point Ian W reappeared having been picked up on the Bourn Road by Peter W and Greta who happened to be making their way to Waresley by car. It transpired that Ian had had a slow puncture and decided to stop only to find that his repair kit was absent. Fortunately, a repair was effected at the garden centre and Ian was later returned to his bike who subsequently decided to head home rather than make for lunch at Bassingbourn.
From my perspective, lesson learned not to assume anything if a rider drops off the back no matter how experienced! Apologies to Ian.
Those of city group (and one or two village starters) going on to lunch reformed at 11.30am to head south to Gamlingay before picking up the road to East Hatley and the B1042 beyond. Susan punctured here although, ably assisted by Rupert and Simon, a repair was swiftly completed, and we were on our way.
A short dog-leg crossing of the B1042 saw us on the rather long and dull stretch of unclassified road leading south west to Guilden Morden before looping back to Bassingbourn where we arrived at the Hoops Free House at 12.50pm.
It was the club's first Thursday visit to this venue which as recommended by several of the Tuesday 'senior' members. The menu is extensive and reasonably priced, catering for most tastes and budgets. Despite a seemingly small kitchen, food and drinks were served quickly for around twenty cyclists.
A 2pm departure from the Hoops took us along the well-trodden and relatively direct route back to the City via Meldreth, Shepreth and Barrington before tackling Chapel Hill and dropping down to Haslingfield.
Thereafter, several riders headed homewards whilst the remaining group of six pushed on to Barton to cross the M11 and join the Barton Road into the City centre.
We arrived at the M11 junction just after 3pm, having cycled
49.6 miles.
Mike P
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GPS track (GPX).
The ride on Strava