CTC Cambridge

Thursday 3 October 2024 

These are the days we sometimes get at this time of year to remind us that Autumn hasn't completely taken over and there is some summer still left. Such a day was gifted us on Thursday when ten of us departed from Great Shelford for Balsham.

As well as yours truly we had the stalwart Adrian and his crew – Avril and Ed. Uwe was representing the International team whilst Mike CC. was making a welcome return to more regular riding courtesy of his quite fabulous electric steed. Also on electric assist was Ian, whilst Dave W was on a more traditional velo. Yasmin was out for a leg-stretch, though a ride to Balsham hardly counts as anything much for our resident "Audax Queen"...

Mike asked why we hadn't yet left at 9.30. I said I'd told the venue that there would be ten of us arriving. 'How did you know' he rejoindered as he counted up the nine herepresent. Just watch....and lo there appeared coming out of the East, Susan. She had got side-tracked by Sudoko – I promised not to mention her tardy arrival (clue: I lied!) Now we were ten we set off.

What fun we had as we swept on the cycle path from Whittlesford to Sawston. The welcome from the two dog walkers was heartfelt and we duly saluted their jaunty 'Hailfellowwellmet' with our own cheery hello. It seemed the summer sunshine was energising all and sundry. Indeed our hailing voices were required once more shortly after this as we crossed paths with the City Slickers who were cycling down towards the river path. We wondered if they too received the exuberant greeting from the locals as we had done....

We soon left the wastelands of Sawston (well the building site that is the Sawston extension as it creeps every closer to Babraham) and dared to take the track over the fields to the A11 bridge. Not as slippy and muddy as it might have been given the recent torrents, tbf.

Soon we were getting spread out on the haul from Hildersham to Balsham. Uwe made an early break for gold and was strongly leading the pack. However, the final result was not in his favour as he gained a puncture just as he came into Balsham. He waived us on and set about fixing it himself.

After a very pleasant interlude in the sunshine (briefly joined by Tony – a pleasure to see him out and about and John S who now tagged along with the group) I declared our departure just as Uwe arrived. His face fell as he was in need of both liquid and solid sustenance. I pointed out that this was just our English sense of humour and of course he could have ten minutes to refuel. We all sat back down and enjoyed the balmy interlude further.

Yasmin left us at this point but the rest of us saddled up and set off. We took a different route to Dullingham – through West Wratting and Brinkley and thence carried on via Stetchworth ultimately looping around the south of Newmarket until Moulton. This was a tease of a route as we continually passed turns signing Newmarket as three miles away but we ignored them each in turn or rather not in turn....if you get my drift. Indeed there were nine turns to Newmarket ignored before we took the tenth turn (oh turn it off, Ed.)

I say we but we were less we than we had been because we had lost Uwe (enough we too, Ed.) He had gained a second puncture and despite our insistence that we stayed and criticised his efforts (CTC-speak for helping mend a puncture) he again waived us away.

Once we gained Moulton we then had the two-mile haul up to the heath. Here as we swept majestically (the only way us village folk know of sweeping whilst on our bikes) down into Newmarket, Adrian informed us we were passing over the railway line in a tunnel below. It is a weird juxtaposition now that we learnt that the railway is beneath the gallops – man, machine and beast of burden topsides, man and machine below. A philosopher could make something of this. I couldn't as focus now was on lunch.

Very pleasant it was too as we sat in the glorious sunshine in the Horseracing Museum quad – sheltered from the wind. A relaxing 40 minutes ended only by the passing of the sun behind a cloud which was triggered by John S suggesting a round of ice creams – the power that man has! This offer was rejected since the moment necessitated some donning of jackets etc. and so prompted our departure.

The statutory lunch photo

We deviated from the usual exit from Newmarket – picking up the concrete horse path that loops round and takes you up Hamilton Rd and passed numerous studs (no, it would be too pathetic to make some predictable quip about a stud leading other studs past studs so I will avoid the obvious.)

Soon we were on NCN 51 and went through Exning and thence on the traditional route back via Swaffham, Bottisham and then Quy. Some departures from the group as we dissolved on approach to Cambridge. The few remaining successfully made it through the chaos of Cherry Hinton at school ending time and thence via Addenbrookes back to the start.

A glorious day of sun and fun – what's not to like? A bonus indeed! Greg