Three sleeps 'til Christmas

Our final ride of 2025 was a short one - just 17 miles - followed by mulled wine and mince pies at Brian's. What better way to end the year!

17 miles clockwise from Shelford

A sunny winter ride

It's not often we have an al fresco coffee in December but, mid-way into Monday's ride, the sunshine lured us out on to the terrace at The Stove in Bourn.

And we had a pretty good turnout too, ten riders: Dominic, Rich, Jan, Jenny, Phil, Michele, Michael, Tiggr and two Brians

24 miles anticlockwise

Autumn rides

 Famous last words, it's been a mild autumn so far - and we've only missed one due to heavy rarin.

• 3 November: a windy 22 mile outing to Madingley Hall - 6 riders (and one involuntary dismount!)
  

  

  22 miles anticlockwise

  
  
• 27 October: 6 riders did a 24 mile circuit to the south, calling in at Duxford Community Centre for coffee. 
  

  

  24 miles anticlockwise

  
  
• 13 October: 8 hardy Spokers pedalled to Wimpole Hall and back: 24 miles
  

  

  24 miles anticlockwise

  
  
• 8 October: Just for a change, a Wednesday ride when 6 of us headed north to Histon for coffee in The Station House.
  

  

  25 miles anticlockwise

  
  
  

Missing the emu

A fine September morning saw nine Spokers heading out to Balsham for coffee and cake at the Old Butchers. Along the way we pulled in at the Abington Land Settlements hoping to see our old friend, the emu but, alas, it remained skulking in the bushes affording only a fleeting view. Maybe it only comes out for Brian H who wasn't with us today.

Emu whisperer, Brian H, back in November 2023

Returning from Balsham, we enjoyed the long descent downhill to Hildersham before hauling the bikes up and over the A11 footbridge and returning to Shelford in time for lunch.

Balsham and back, 24 miles

Biking back from Ely

Last summer we cycled there and caught the train home (see blog). This year, with a stiff wind from the north, it made sense to do it t'other way round. So it was that nine Spokers having ridden to Cambridge Station and put the bikes on the 09:05 to Ely, some 30 minutes later we were pedalling our way south alongside the Great Ouse.

A few miles out with Ely Cathedral still visible in the background

National Cycle Route 11 runs some 60 miles from Kings Lynn to Wendens Ambo, and it was the central section of this - from Ely to Cambridge - that formed most of our route home.

Along the way we pulled in at Wicken Fen for some very welcome coffee and cake. Refreshed and back on the bikes, we cycled on across the fen, the only real challenge being hauling our bikes up and over the footbridge across Burwell Fen. Returning through Cambridge via the airport and Cherry Hinton we were back home in time for lunch.

For the record, the turnout was: Michelle, Michael, Jan, Rich, Jenny, Hetty, Dominic, Eddie and Brian. Well done, team!

24 miles homewards from Ely

Waterbeach New Town

Five go wild on the Cam towpath

Monday's destination was Waterbeach, and specifically the lakeside café that Brian had reccee'd over the weekend and which, he had been assured, was open every day, nine to five. Alas, we found it all shut up! Fortunately, we were but a stone's throw from the much more dependable Evolve Coffee Shop & Bar where we pulled in for some excellent coffee and cake.

It was interesting seeing the New Town emerging on the old Waterbeach Barracks site where planning permission has been granted for 11,000 homes - and hopefully a café that keeps more regular hours.

25 miles anticlockwise

Longer than our average ride

Eddy had devised a novel route for Monday's ride and gave the Spokers two options. They could either cycle all the way around a 34 mile circuit or, they could catch the train to Great Chesterford and meet up with the others for a shorter, 25 mile outing. Either way, Eddy would show off his pride and joy, Great Chesterford Orchard with its 100 fruit trees, 14 different types of fruit and 37 varieties, planted and managed by Eddie and Carol.

Unfortunately, Gaynor took a painful tumble and ended up in Addenbrookes. We wish her a speedy recovery.

The outbound leg from Great Chesterford to Nuthampsted

The return leg from Nuthampsted to Shelford

To the hills!

25 miles clockwise

A figure of eight around the villages

23 miles - coffee at Hot Numbers, Shepreth

Along the towpath through Cambridge

Garret Hostel Bridge

A warm summer morning saw 10 Spokers heading for Cherry Hinton, Fulbourn and Fen Ditton from where we followed the towpath back towards Cambridge. Pulling in at the Technology Museum we enjoyed alfresco coffee and cake before continuing along the river into town. Crossing the river at Garret Hostel Bridge we headed out to Coton Country Park before heading homewards via Grantchester. 

22 miles anticlockwise - 10 riders - coffee at Cambridge Technology Museum

Land's End to John O'Groats

Hetty and Dominic

Shelford Spokes stalwarts, Hetty and Dominic, have just returned from an epic 1000 mile fundraising ride in aid of Parkinson's UK. Diagnosed with Parkinson's herself 3 years ago, Hetty was looking for something more challenging than our regular Monday morning outings around the lanes of South Cambs. How about Land's End to John O'Groats?

Accompanied by husband Dom and brother Paul, and supported by Paul's wife, Liz, driving their VW Camper, Hetty completed the ride in stages, the most recent being Wigan to John O'Groats, clocking up 50 to 60 miles a day.

"Believe it or not, the toughest bit wasn't Scotland but early on, labouring up the steep slopes in Devon. Maybe we just weren't used to it, but by the time we got to Scotland we were much fitter - so that was a doddle!" she says.

Hetty has form; since her diagnosis she has cycled long distances in Vietnam and Costa Rica, with Dominic following in her wake. They make quite a team.

Where next, Hetty?

Journey's end!

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A record turnout for a short, hot ride

Given the heatwave, we opted for a short ride, a long refreshment break and an early finish. Which was just as well, the mercury hit 34°C later that day. But the forecast can't have been too off-putting as fifteen Spokers turned out for the ride.

10 miles - 15 riders - coffee at Duxford Community Centre

Girton, Oakington & Histon

25 miles - coffee at Oakington Garden Centre

Milton Country Park, again

Only a month since our last visit, but the beautiful ride along the river makes it well worthwhile .

23 miles clockwise from Shelford - 7 riders - coffee at Milton CP

 

A return visit to Burwash Manor

 Nigh on a year since we last stopped off at Burwash Manor, a return visit was well overdue.

24 miles clockwise from Shelford - 7 riders - coffee at Burwash Manor

Willingham - one of our longer rides

31 miles anticlockwise - 11 riders - coffee at Willingham Auctions

Coploe Hill and beyond

Michael, Michele, Eddie, Jeremy and Brian atop Coploe Hill

25 miles clockwise - 6 riders - coffee at Compass Courtyard

Wimpole Hall

25 miles clockwise - 10 riders - coffee at Wimpole Hall

Anglesey Abbey

23 miles anticlockwise - 9 riders - coffee at Anglesey Abbey

Milton Country Park

25 miles anticlockwise - 7 riders - coffee at Milton Country Park

Linton and Balsham

It's been a while since we cycled through the Abington Land Settlements and caught up with the resident emu - or rather emus - there seems to be two of them. Last time we managed to include Brian H in the photograph - to give a sense of scale.

 We somehow managed to lose Tiggr and Brian C along the way, only catching them up at The Old Butchers in Balshsam.

25 miles anticlockwise - 9 riders - coffee at The Old Butchers, Balsham

Waterbeach and Landbeach

Monday morning saw 13 Spokers pedalling along the river to Waterbeach where we pulled in at the Evolve Coffee Shop & Bar for refreshments.

On the towpath at Milton

Back on the bikes, we followed the excellent new cycleway from Landbeach to Kings Hedges where we turned on to the busway towards Girton. The return leg via Cambridge was going well until we got tangled up with the tourists thronging Kings Parade. So it was that Brian managed to lose half the peloton, but everyone knew the way home and all arrived back safely in Shelford in time for lunch.

26 miles anticlockwise

Madingley, Hardwick and Toft

Twelve Spokers set out on a glorious spring morning headed for Madingley Hall, where we pulled in for refreshments. Then it was on to Hardwick and Toft, where Brian H took the photo of Jeremy (with dog on board), Guy, Hilary and Dominic.

Pausing for a breather in Toft

24 miles clockwise - 12 riders - coffee at Madingley Hall

A daffodil outing

The Thriplow Daffodil Weekend was first held in 1969; the church roof was in need of repair so the villagers decided to raise funds by opening up their gardens and selling cakes. Since then they reckon they've planted half a million bulbs and the annual, ticket-only event now attracts some 12,000 visitors. This year they've raised £80,000 for good causes - and the church roof is looking good too.

So what better time to visit Thriplow than the morning after the big event when the crowds have gone and there's an unimpeded view of the daffodils.

So it was that 13 Spokers set off from Shelford on a 25 mile jaunt taking in Duxford, Fowlmere and Melbourn - where we pulled in for refreshments at The Hub - before heading on, via Meldreth and Foxton, to Thriplow.  Pulling over to admire the daffodils, we ran into three of Brian's and Jeremy's pals, members of the Windmill Cycle Club, similarly drawn to see the blooms.

25 miles - 13 riders - coffee at Melbourn Hub

St Patrick's Day outing

Spokers re-fueling at The Station House, Histon

A chilly Monday morning saw Alan, Dominic, Eddie, Hilary, Jenny, Jim, Michael, Phil, Rich and two Brians setting off along the DNA path bound for Milton, Histon and Girton. Both Brians have Irish heritage so it was only right that one was dressed in green for the day, the other having forgotten it was St Patrick's Day!

26 miles anticlockwise from Shelford - 11 riders - coffee at The Station House, Histon

Eleven riders and a dog

Knitted postbox toppers are popping up everywhere, they even have their own Facebook page, and Newton seems to make quite a thing of it, changing the topper to suit the season. This new one features spring lambs and daffodils.

Newton's postbox, with Hilary and Brian for scale

Monday's ride was notable in several other respects. It was five years to the day since Shelford Spokes' first outing. Secondly, we were delighted to be joined by new members, Michele and Michael. Finally, and another first for the club, a little dog came along for the ride - Jeremy's Tarka.

Jeremy - with Tarka in tow

22 miles - 11 riders - coffee at Hot Numbers

Up the hill to Elmdon

 A cold grey February day saw five hardy Spokers labouring up the hill to Elmdon and back. What better way to earn a reward of coffee and cake in Duxford Community Centre.

Brian, Janet, Jenny and Paul atop the hill, with Rich behind the camera

23 miles clockwise - 5 riders - coffee at Duxford Community Centre

To Wimpole and beyond

A cold February morning saw six well wrapped Spokers - Hilary, Jenny, Jeremy, Philip and two Brians - heading out of Shelford bound for Wimpole Hall. It must have been the chill factor that encouraged fast pedalling as, arriving at the hall early, we decided to add on the 5 mile loop around the National Trust estate, bringing our total mileage for the outing to 29.

29 miles - 6 riders - coffee at Wimpole Hall

A dry run to Histon

With the Met Office forecasting a 70% chance of rain, little wonder Monday's turnout was low. So it came as a pleasant surprise to stay completely dry for the 24 mile ride across town to Histon and back.

Pulling in for coffee at The Station House we somehow got talking about cathedrals, whereupon Jenny, ever the teacher, set this week's homework: what's the difference between a cathedral and a minster? Answers on a postcard, please.

24 miles anticlockwise