CTC Cambridge

Thursday 20 June 2024 

Greg writes: Yes it is I, Greg, writing this missive. Those who came on this week's ride to Clare will be eager to recall what a superbly led ride it was (!), those who didn't come will want to know what they missed.

However, this rambling intro. is me getting ahead of myself. The day started with some eight of us gathered at Great Shelford, eagerly anticipating the first proper Summer ride. The sun was forecast to shine all day and I had confidently predicted that the light airs would hold – such that even the turbines at Balsham would be stilled. We set off towards Whittlesford – Sarah, Andy, Ed, Richard, Mike CC, Ian, Gavin and myself.

The ride up past the church at Whittlesford is a summer treat – the view on the approach is charming and unchanged. It must have looked just like that back in the day when this was the local church to the fighter pilots of Squadron 19 at Duxford, some of whom are buried in the graveyard.

We took the usual route out of Sawston on the Babraham Road and turned right at the T junction. The dip there is always cause for reflection – if they hadn't dug up the rail line to Sudbury then we could be getting onto a cycle path on the old rail line and be in Clare, cycling on a pan flat route, within the hour. We'd be there before 11am, no sweat – literally! We can rail against Doctor Beeching ....

At the Granta Park roundabout there was some discombobulation – Richard was heading on the usual back road to Hildersham but Greg had opted for the 'Ian Variant' which took us briefly on the old A11 before joining up with the road into Abington that is usually gained via the footbridge. It was these tweaks during the ride that kept things interesting (aka confused everyone!)

There were further complaints – this time Andy was venting his spleen on the ride up to Balsham at my failings. He was feeling particularly hard done by since I had 'Promised' the turbines would be still yet there was definitely some movement, albeit slow. Yes there was a puff of breeze but it would not deter us...A good leader should take any criticism in his stride (I've heard). Can you take things in your stride when cycling?

At Balsham we found the Northern Splinter Group – a subset of fast riders – were already there. They consumed their coffee much like they rode their bikes – quickly – and they soon departed. However, we also found Ian W and Susan there and just when we were readying to leave Peter also turned up.

After a bit of sorting out we left as a group – sans Mike CC, Gavin and Ian – and headed off towards Clare. However, in keeping with the desire to keep things fresh & interesting I was tackling the classic club route to Clare – but in reverse. We headed off towards the Bumpsteads...

Yet shortly after Horseheath there was a definite pffft and a spray of white gunk as Ian's tubeless back tyre gained a puncture and started to self seal.

Started but didn't manage to completely. A couple of us stopped and assisted whilst the others headed off. After some tinkering and putting some more air in Ian, Richard and I set off on the chase. We soon found Andy and Susan who had also waited and we set off as a posse to try and catch Ed and Sarah. Some 4 miles into the chase Ian felt that he was still leaking (well his back tyre was) so he abandoned the ride and limped back under his own steam.

The rest of us kept up the pace. At Steeple Bumpstead Richard had expected to find Ed as they had planned to turn back together there. This did not happen and so Richard turned back alone whilst the rest of us carried on the pursuit.

We eventually found Ed and Sarah just after Birdbrook. The chase and the bright sunshine had made this fairly hot work but now the whole remaining group was reunited and we settled into a more gentle rhythm.

But not for long as Ed needed to get back and he too duly left to go home via Stoke By Clare. So it was that just after 1pm Andy, Sarah, Susan and myself emerged from the track by the river at the Clare country park and sat down at the station café for lunch.

By 1.58 we were up and away because we needed to keep the speed up to get Andy back in time for the cricket. We headed the wrong way out of Clare and set off. The usual ups and downs were now transformed into downs and ups but we made very good time. The countryside was at its sun speckled finest – it truly was a glorious day for a bike ride. 22°C, a (very light) wind on our backs and the lanes of Suffolk – glorious.

Yet soon enough we went past the Jelly factory and Andy and Sarah opted to head off on the West Wickham road – not before we stopped and briefly chatted to Peter who was approaching from the other direction. The chaos of who was on the ride when continued to the last!

We split up with Greg and Susan staying on the official route which went via West Wratting to Balsham. Andy would have been thrilled to see the stationary turbines at Balsham when we got there in the afternoon.....

Yet now Susan opted for the more direct route back rather than the Linton Loop as advertised. Indeed now there was just one person on the official ride.

I carried on alone – via Linton, Abingdon, Sawston etc. to complete a glorious 67 mile trip with some 2,500ft of climbing.

I was back in time to see England play Denmark. The ride was well worth the effort, the football less so.... Greg