28 Jul: Evening ride to Fen Ditton

On a dull and overcast but warm evening, I arrived at Brookside to find Gareth, Cheryl and Rob waiting for this evening's ride to Fen Ditton. Gareth set a brisk pace from the start as we rode down Hills Road towards Addenbrooke's, but fortunately everyone seemed in the mood for a fast ride.

At Addenbrooke's we turned left onto Wort's Causeway and climbed the hill over the Gogs before dropping back down to Fulbourn. From there we continued to Great and Little Wilbraham and the road to Six Mile Bottom.


At Six Mile Bottom we turned left onto the main road for a short distance before turning right onto the unsurfaced road that leads to the level crossing at Westley Bottom.


After crossing the railway we continued along empty lanes to Dullingham where we turned back to Cambridge via Swaffham Bulbeck and Bottisham.

On the edge of Cambridge we stopped at The Plough in Fen Ditton, which has become a favourite on the evening rides. It was still quite warm so we sat outside with our drinks. By the time we had finished it was dark so we turned on our lights for the final few miles back into Cambridge. I was back home by 10pm, after having cycled 30 miles at an average speed of 13.4 mph.



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25 July: Day ride to Stradishall, Lavenham and West Wratting

Tom led us on a fine ride today, taking in some beautiful countryside and many quiet lanes. There were six riders at the start at Brookside, and then at coffee we lost Greta but picked up Adrian and Geoff, making seven, which made today the best-attended day ride for quite a while.

It was a hot and humid day (though mercifully the sun was hidden in the clouds for much of it), so we were glad to make an extra stop at Clare for ice cream after lunch and before tea.

On the hill between Six Mile Bottom and Brinkley.

Approaching Hawkedon shortly after coffee.

In the yard at the back of the Guildhall in Lavenham is this decorative armillary sphere bearing a quotation from the Queen’s 1952 Christmas broadcast: “Many grave problems and difficulties confront us all, but with a new faith in the old and splendid beliefs given us by our forefathers, and the strength to venture beyond the safeties of the past, I know we shall be worthy of our duty.”

The market square at Lavenham.

Tom checks the map at a junction between Borley and Belchamp St Paul.

Between Belchamp St Paul and Ovington we passed under this net stretched across the road. It must be there to protect the road from something falling from the power lines passing directly overhead. But what?

From Brookside to Lavenham and back to Cambridge was about 80 miles, but I did an extra loop to Dry Drayton in the morning before the ride, and another loop to Waterbeach afterwards, to make it up to 100 miles for the day.

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21 Jul: Evening ride to Dry Drayton

Damien Walsh writes: When I arrived at Brookside, Cheryl and newcomer Rob were waiting there. Before long two more rides arrived Daniel and John. We discussed routes and the route that I had planned seemed fine.

The route took us took us through Trumpington and Great Shelford to Little Shelford, so as John lives nearby he lead the first part of the ride.

We then rode through Newton where I took over leading the ride. We then went to Barrington and north over Chapel Hill to Haslingfield. When we got to the top of the hill it was about 8:15pm. I was a little concerned that we would not make our tea stop for 9pm. So I did a little ad-hoc re-routing. John made his apologies and left to travel back home.


We set off on our new route north to Barton then to Hardwick through Comberton. As we headed north from Hardwick to Dry Drayton we could see the sun setting. We got to The Black Horse in Dry Drayton just before 9pm.


After a drink and a long chat we discussed the route that we would take back whilst fending off the midges. We decided to travel back to Cambridge though Coton as Daniel was familiar with the cycle route from there to Cambridge.

We put our lights on and set off through Madingley to Coton, with Daniel leading. We then went into Cambridge using Daniel's cycle route. I took over being in front as it was very dark and I had the best lights, with Daniel giving directions from behind.

We arrived back in Cambridge after doing about 30 miles. Daniel split off from us to go home. Rob and I went back to Brookside and Cheryl went to the station. Cheryl did really well particularly since she was riding her little fold-up bike.

It was a very nice evening with a collaboration of leading and advising styles enjoyed by everyone. The following day Rob became a CTC member. Welcome Rob! Damien Walsh.

20 Jul: Senior Cyclists' Ride to Stechworth

George Rich writes: The Senior Cycling Group met on Tuesday. It was a hot sunny day. We started from the Newmarket Road Park and Ride site at 9.30am.

Our route was Quy, Lode, White Fen. We stopped here for coffee by the new cycle bridge. We continued through the Swaffhams to Dullingham Station to
Lunch at the Marquis of Granby, Stetchworth.


As it was a hot day we cycled home on the old Newmarket Road, Fen
Ditton and home.


The Senior Group is for members who would like a shorter and more easy
pace run than the Thursday Group. George Rich