CTC Cambridge

Thursday 30 April 2026 

Yasmin writes: Today I am joined by eight riders; a good turnout for an adventure ride with very little notice. Most are Thursday regulars, plus one Saturday regular and one guest rider. Our guest is visiting from California; she had been finding riding round town completely mad, with cyclists everywhere, and was glad to see a ride onto off-road trails.

We are on a proper mix of bikes; steel touring bikes (modern and older), a e-bike, a hybrid bike, a gravel bike, a proper mountain bike with suspension front and rear, and a Brompton.

We wiggle round the hospital - don't forget the busway bridge closure! - and out to Babraham Road. I've chosen the track up the side of Wandlebury by Emma's Gate, rather than the climb up Wort's Causeway past the Beechwoods. We arrive at the Roman Road and take a quick photo. There is something about arriving at the top here, like when you get to the top of a pass and can see into the next valley.

We spread out on the Roman Road, allowing each other a bit of room in case riders suddenly decide to have a little lie-down; only one rider falls off, and he's up again quickly. There is joy in riding this ancient track; Iron Age history at every turn and benefiting from Roman engineering. Butterflies flit, hopefully Ian W will tell us more about them later.

We regroup at every crossing. At the last crossing, I warn that we will be turning left soon onto another Roman track, the Icknield Way. This track pops up perfectly at the back gate to The Old Butchers Cafe - and we arrive exactly at the same moment as the other City group who rode here on tarmac. Cake for all, and I get a bunch of local asparagus for tea later.

Everyone is ready to leave about the same time, and the off-road team head off to Fox Road, another gravelly track which runs parallel to the A11. Again, we regroup at crossings and at the tight corner by the pumping station. At Westley Bottom road we turn left towards the railway. I do like this road; it feels like a secret road, and reminds me of Jacob - a beloved CTC member who died a few years ago and who loved shortcuts like this. Coming up to the railway, we see a train passing through ahead of us - hooray, as this the single-track bit on the Cambridge to Newmarket line, it'll be ages until the next train and we'll be able to cross safely. On the other side, there are steps for horse-riders to mount and dismount. Someone suggests climbing up like it's a podium at the end of a race. No chance of lifting my bike up over my head, it's far too heavy!

We continue bumping on, over the A11. At the A14 bridge we meet some off-road motorcyclists, and stop for a quick chat. In Bottisham, a quick chat; one rider goes off in search of a Veloviewer square, and the rest carry on for a straightforward run to Fen Ditton and Cambridge. Gradually everyone peels off their separate ways. What a nice day out!

Please do join the CTC Cambridge mailing list (members only) for more info about off-road adventures - these may be organised quite last-minute, to take account of good weather conditions. Yasmin