CTC Cambridge

Thursday 9 May 2024 

With the sudden improvement in weather, I managed to persuade Rupert to let me lead an offroad ride I've thought about doing for a while: Roman Road to Balsham, coffee at the Old Butchers, Icknield Way to Westley Bottom road, along one of the four Heath Roads in the area to Bottisham, route 51 to Stow-cum-Quy and home. Lumpy-bumpy, arduous in parts, but quiet. And, hopefully, good fun.

The call went out on Wednesday morning. Within a few minutes, I'd had interest from Julian and Ian. On Thursday morning at Brookside, Niall was there waiting with other riders ready for Phil B's jaunt to St Neots and Perry. Adrian arrived, beaming from ear-to-ear at the prospect of an offroad club ride, closely followed by Julian. Game on!

Trumpington Road to Barrow Road is still like riding on the moon. Well, I promised everyone offroad. Wiggle through Addenbrooke's onto the Babraham Road cyclepath. Breather at the top of the hill by Wandlebury. I'd worried a bit about cycling up the track by Emma's Gate round the southern edge of Wandlebury - the loose gravel on a slope worries me. But I needn't have worried, and it's not long until we turn onto the Roman Road.

Roman Road group near Worsted Lodge

We can hear dogs ahead. An awful lot of them. As we approach - very gingerly - a woman rounds up about a hundred dogs and they sit obediently at her feet. I am extremely impressed, and thank her profusely. We spread out a bit, each finding our own rhythm, and regroup at Worsted Lodge.

For a ride that I'd organised on the spur of the moment, it seems remarkably historic. There's the obvious history of the Roman Road itself - what great engineers the Romans were. Oak trees line the path - although they can't be much more than fifty years old, the lines of the trunks emphasise the ancient track. Then there's thinking about rough stuff rides that clubs like ours have done for a hundred years, on sturdy steel tourers like ours.

The Roman Road

I offer everyone the option of going on tarmac to Balsham, but we agree to press on offroad. Our last bit of Roman Road before we turn off into the Icknield Way turns out to be slightly challenging: I run aground, one or two of us decide to have a little lie-down. But we're all fine, and everyone is in high spirits as we lump along the washboard tractor track into Balsham.

At the cafe, the villagers welcome us into the yard. Yay! Greg is surprised/pleased that we have zero war wounds between us, not even a tiny scratch, and then amazed that I've never ridden a mountain bike - possibly except for one time round Thetford forest with a baby on the back, which doesn't really count. We all enjoy our cake - it feels well-earned. The villagers set off, and it's not long until we ought to get moving again, lest we become one with the furniture.

John S and Ian W join us for the journey home. We're out of Balsham on Fox Road, which turns back into the Icknield Way. Thanks Romans, good job. The sky is blue and everything is just glorious; spring has been waiting until today. Ian warns that there may be mud at the corner just before Grange Road: there is, but it's easily avoided. Doing this much offroad makes the tarmac on Grange Road feel silky smooth.

Ian puddle-dodging on the Icknield Way near Grange Road

Then we're off down to Westley Bottom. I love this road - it feels like a real secret. It reminds me of a dear CTC member, Jacob, who used to take great delight in knowing all these odd shortcuts and sneaky offroad paths. A newt runs across the road. We hold the railway gate for one another.

I had worried that the next offroad section would be quite overgrown after all the rain lately. But it is just lovely; the grass tickles our ankles and the path is wide enough for me and John to ride side-by-side, catching up. It is no time before we're up and over the A14, and along into Bottisham. We stop to regroup and divide: Adrian, Ian and John are off for more offroad fun in the fens, while Julian, Niall and I go home along the NCN51 through Bottisham and Stow-cum-Quy. We all agree that a great day has been had by all, and we must do it again soon!

Selfie on Heath Road track between A11 and A14 bridges

Lessons learnt?

1. Got an idea you want to try out? Just drop Rupert an email with your ideas. He'll help you think it through.
2. We're up for offroad on ordinary bikes. Yet another bike might be nice, but it's not necessary - we're only doing what our club has always done.
3. Using the mailing list to advertise a last-minute ride is fine!

Yasmin