Thursday, 11 July 2019
Edward writes: It was near perfect weather at today's start in Great Shelford where ten riders met, equally divided between men and women to show that we are doing our bit for diversity. Our trip today would visit Balsham for coffee and Clare for lunch under the stewardship of Sarah, who was fresh from her ride from Spain to the north of France (or maybe not so fresh!).
At the start we had the opportunity to welcome Anne, a visiting rider from Colchester. The landlord watched us depart with a passing comment that this was a bit mad - he didn't know what he would be missing. Sarah led us out on the conventional route through Little Shelford and Whittlesford, joined en-route by Mike B, and then onto the cycle path to Sawston and Babraham. At Babraham we crossed into Little Abington by way of the farm track, over the A1307 for the first of three crossings, and on to Hildersham.
Babraham-Abington bridge
Unusually, instead of going straight up to Balsham we went along Back Road, Linton and made the climb up to Balsham by way for Rivey hill. This brought us to the Old Butcher's Shop and coffee where we found the city riders already enjoying their coffee and cakes in the little enclosed garden. With an important cricket match at Edgbaston it also gave some of us time to check on progress and it all seemed pretty good, as long as you weren't Australian. Also at Balsham was Vic who had made his own way there and as ever it's always good to see him out.
The city group set off and Sarah issued her five minute warning (it used to be four minutes in the Cold War) and we were ready to leave. The temperature had risen considerably as we made our way to West Wickham where Richard and Edmund left us, with the rest of us going along to Carlton Green where we turned for the delightful two and a half miles to Little Thurlow.
Near Great Wratting
There followed Great Thurlow and Great Wratting and out to the A143 where we found Mike and Adrian sailing along (how did they get in front when they started after us?) Now we followed them through Barnardiston and the rolling Suffolk countryside via Hundon and down to Clare to the country park and our lunch stop at Platform 1. It's interesting to observe that some fifty years ago we could have caught a train from Shelford to this very station, so in some ways quite nostalgic. This break was was all very pleasant and the arrangements seemed to have worked well.
Clare
Clare
Another of Sarah's five minute warnings - it would be more than your life's worth to ignore it, and we were underway again at 1.50pm, but this time with a new leader; Andy by now had joined us.
A climb is necessary to leave Clare and this was taken via Ashen and Ridgewell where we joined the A1017 for a mile or two before turning off for Birdbrook. Now we were in more familiar territory as the route took us through to Steeple Bumpstead where we nearly lost Averil. She wanted to visit a friend but couldn't remember the correct house. Mike went to look for her and Andy went to look for both of them - while all the time she, now with Adrian, was waiting at the junction for Helions Bumpstead. Greg was asked for a quote on the situation but we can't put his comment in here!
Steeple Bumpstead
With all that confusion behind us we climbed up to Helions Bumpstead and then Castle Camps which put the last of serious climbing behind us. When we reached Bartlow, Andy and Sarah relinquished control and Greg took up the reins. This gave him the opportunity to brush up his leadership skills ready for his forthcoming Sunday ride to Wicken which promises to be the highlight of our summer season of cycling.
We were now into the final leg of our ride with just Linton, Hildersham (the second and third crossings of the A1307) and finally Sawston (the widened cycle path is almost finished) and back to Great Shelford, arriving at 4.30pm with 60 miles in our legs. Thanks to Sarah for the ride and another enjoyable day out.
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GPS track (GPX).