A trip to Saturn

Sometimes we end up farther from home than expected. The return leg of Monday's outing to Oakington took us past Saturn where, naturally, we stopped for a photograph.

Jeremy, Hilary, Alan and Brian; way out in the solar system

It was one of the installations along the Our Place in Space art trail that's currently visiting Cambridge. Stretching some five miles along the river from Midsummer Common to Waterbeach, it provides some perspective on our little bit of the cosmos.

Saturn as viewed from the Chisholm Bridge

Back on earth we clocked up 24 miles and enjoyed coffee and cake at the Station House, Histon.

Maybe next week we'll tour the whole solar system.

24 miles (plus a space warp)

Ely by train

There was some consternation at Cambridge Station when the guard said he would only take six bikes. He already had two on board and our lot would bring his total to eight. Oo-er! But Jeremy's gifts of persuasion worked a treat and we were soon on our way to Ely, albeit with a warning not to test the guard's patience again. Our lesson for next time is to catch the more capacious London to Ely train rather than the smaller, more restrictive Cambridge to Ely.

Lewis and Hilary - with Ely Cathedral in the background

Disembarking at Ely we took to the bikes and turned southwards on Sustrans Route 11 which would take us all the way back to Cambridge, mostly on farm tracks and quiet roads.

It may only take sixteen minutes by train but you can imagine it takes a bit longer on two wheels, especially when you haves to hump the bikes up and over the occasional fenland footbridge; but at least it's flat.

Pausing for a breather at Burwell Lode

Along the way we stopped off at Wicken Fen for coffee and cake, returning home in time for a late lunch.

Chief negotiator, Jeremy

25 miles from Ely to Shelford

An amphibious outing

Why bother with the bridge when there's a perfectly good ford? So wondered Jeremy and Tom as, to prove the point, they pedalled across the stream not once, but three times while the rest of us looked on from the bridge.

Given the heatwave, Monday's ride was short - just seven miles - and really just an excuse to visit the superb new café at Stapleford Granary.

A shady spot at The Granary

Stapleford - Sawston - Babraham - Stapleford: a short, hot ride of 7 miles

Sculpture trail

Five miles into Monday's ride and Lewis, Jeremy, Tom, Philippe and two Brians were contemplating the new sculpture outside Cambridge Station. Ariadne Wrapped was unveiled only last week by sculptor Gavin Turk and his pal, Al Weiwei, as an exploration of a classical figure that invites the audience inside a larger metaphysical maze. Well, quite.

Ariadne Wrapped

Perplexed, we continued on to the river and followed the towpath to Milton where, over coffee at the country park café, we quizzed Philippe about living in Reunion - and Tom revealed he had visited the Indian Ocean island not once but five times, to compete in the scary sounding Megavalanche race down the mountainside.

Paddleboarders at Milton Country Park

Back on the bikes we headed for Cambridge North Station and our second art installation of the day, Hercules Meets Galatea. Less challenging than Ariadne Unwrapped, Galatea's poise and digital production imply power and perfection over Hercules' somewhat shakier manifestation. We kinda get that one.

Tom and Jeremy admiring Hercules while Galatea in the background looks on

Setting off homewards via the Chisholm Bridge we completed the return leg via Grantchester, Trumpington Meadows and Hauxton, from where we followed Jenny's Path back to Shelford.

We clocked up a total of 21 miles. Well done, team!

Brian and Philippe

21 miles anticlockwise

Madingley Hall

Ten miles in to a twenty three mile outing and it was high time to pull in for refreshment. And there's nowhere more attractive to sip coffee, munch cake and generally put the world to rights than the terrace at Madingley Hall. Its only drawback, magnificent place though it is, it can take the hard-pressed staff half an hour to serve eight coffees.

The terrace at Madingley Hall

The conversation over coffee was wide ranging: Trollope v Dickens, favourite poets*, and was Better Call Saul the best thing ever on Netflix?

Refreshed and back in the saddle, we made the return leg to Shelford via Comberton, Harlton and Haslingfield.

For the record our peloton comprised: Ann, Lewis, Janet, Jenny, Jeremy, Hilary and two Brians.

23 miles anticlockwise from Shelford to Hauxton, Trumpington Meadow, Grantchester, Coton, Madingley, Comberton, Harlton, Haslingfield, Harston and Newton.

*Checkout one of Lewis' favourite poems, The Sunlight on the Garden, by Louis MacNiece

Biking botany

Needing very little excuse to pause while puffing our way up a hill, this time it was Paul's yell of "Knapweed broomrape!" that brought us to a standstill on the - admittedly very gentle - ascent between Shelford and Newton. Dismounting, we gathered around as Paul pointed to a brown spikey plant on the vergeside, explaining that it was a parasitic wildflower. Containing no chlorophyll, it steals its nutrients from the Greater Knapweed host, without which it cannot survive. Fairly common in the dry, calcareous areas near Cambridge, it's often found in road verges, quarries and railways.

Knapweed broomrape

Hilary, Jeremy, Lewis, Paul and Brian had set out earlier on a 23 mile circuit taking in Newton, Thriplow, Fowlmere, Chrishall Grange, Elmdon, Ickleton, Duxford and Whittlesford.

The outing also saw us try out a new coffee stop, Duxford Lodge. Very keen to encourage the cycling trade, they even promised us free cake on our next visit. We shall definitely return there!

Brian

Wheeling to Willingham

 A sunny bank holiday Monday saw Alan, Lewis and two Brian's setting off on a 30 mile loop to Willingham and back.

Crossing the Cam on the Chisholm Trail bridge

Shelford - Trumpington - Grantchester - Grange Rd - Eddington - Girton - Oakington - Longstanton - Willingham - Rampton - Guided busway - Cambridge North - Chisholm Trail - Cambridge Station - Shelford

Take to the hills

There is no easy way to approach Elmdon. Eight miles south of Shelford and just over the Essex border, it's a stiff climb whichever way we go. Wikipedia sums it up nicely, 'the hilly topography of the area differentiates it from countryside to the north, which is predominantly fenland and flat'.

Brian and Alan, wobbling and panting their way to the top . . .

. . . but it's worth it for the view

Freewheeling back down the hill, we stopped off at El Cafecito for coffee and cake before returning via Thriplow, where the daffodils were still much in evidence.

For the record, Alan, Chris, Hilary and two Brians - Yorkie and Brummie - made it to the summit and back, clocking up 23 miles along the way. Well done, team!

23 miles anticlockwise from Shelford

Anyone for golf?

Monday morning saw nine riders head off from Winners for a 25 mile tour of the villages south and west of Shelford, visiting Harston, Haslingfield, Barrington, Shepreth, Meldreth, Melbourn, Fowlmere, Duxford and Whittlesford.

Five miles in and groans were distinctly heard from the rear of the peloton as we ascended Chapel Hill - but the reward was coffee and cake at Kingsway Golf Centre.

25 miles anticlockwise

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Hilary, Jenny, Jeremy, Paul and all three Brians.

To Balsham and back

Chris, Alan and two Brians slogged up the hill to Balsham for coffee and cake at the Old Butchers, pausing only to take a picture of Alan cruising past Linton water tower.

Caffeine levels restored, we freewheeled back down the hill to Abington, dragging the bikes up and over the A11 footbridge before returning via Sawston.

22 miles: Shelford - Stapleford - Sawston - Pampisford - Great Abington - Hildersham - Linton - Balsham - Little Abington - Babraham - Stapleford - Sawston - Shelford

New year, new route

What better way to kick off the new year than exploring the newly opened Chisholm Trail and its landmark features: the Newmarket Road underpass and the gleaming new bridge over the River Cam.

The new Cam crossing - with the old railway bridge in the background

So it was that seven riders set off towards Cambridge for the first outing of 2022. Picking up the new trail at Coldham's Common, we followed the impressively wide cycleway past the Abbey Stadium - Brian H here raising an arm in salute to his favourite team - before diving under the busy Newmarket Road and thence on to the magnificent new bridge over the Cam, where we paused for a photo opportunity.

Chris, Brian C, Janet, Paul, Brian H and Alan

With Cambridge North close by on the other side, it was here we picked up the guided busway heading for Histon and Cottenham where, alas, our leader pulled up with a puncture. Fifteen minutes - not to mention much effing and jeffing - later, Brian was reinflated and back on the road, leading the way to Landbeach and thence Milton.

Our plan had been to pull in for refreshments at the café in the country park, but as this was chock-full of families enjoying the tail end of their Christmas holiday, we thought it best to press on, retracing our route via bridge, underpass and common, before heading home by way of Cherry Hinton Hall Park.

25 miles clockwise

All agreed it was wonderful to have a new cycle friendly route across town - and we look forward to seeing the next phase of the Chisholm Trail materialise in the near future.

Look out for cowpats

Under a beautiful blue sky Janet, Jeremy, Lewis and three Brians set off for a 23 mile jaunt around the villages north of Cambridge. A flat ride, much of it off road and away from traffic, the only residual hazard being the occasional cowpat on Grantchester Meadow.

Baits Bite Lock

Pulling in for refreshment at the half way mark, we enjoyed coffee and cake at Histon Station House, before returning home via Milton and the River Cam towpath.

23 miles clockwise

Manning the pump

 A chilly November morning saw eight Spokers heading out of Shelford for a tour of the villages way out west. Barton, Comberton and Toft went by in a blur before we reached Kingston, where we stopped for a photo opportunity at the village pump.

All hands to the pump

Back on the bikes we turned south east, heading homewards via the Eversdens, Harlton and Haslingfield, where we pulled in for refreshment at the Mohak Café and jostled for service among a jolly crowd of builders and motorcyclists. It was good to see the place open again - seven days a week too - and doing a roaring trade.

Sugar and caffeine levels restored, we made short work of the return leg to Shelford - Gordon, Hilary, Janet Jeremy, Lewis and three Brians clocking up 24 miles in all. Well done, team!

24 miles anticlockwise from Shelford

Back to Wimpole

Monday morning saw half a dozen Spokers gathering on Winners forecourt for a 27 mile outing to Wimpole and back.

On the return leg we pulled up for a photo at the Orwell meridian marker

27 miles: Shelford - Newton - Thriplow - Foxton - Barrington - Orwell - Wimpole - Orwell - Shepreth - Fowlmere - Newton - Shelford

Flat tyres and waffles

An autumnal Monday morning saw our gang of eight heading out for a 24 mile loop around Cambridge, taking in Milton and Impington.

Pulling in for refreshment at The Station House café in Histon, most opted for coffee and cake while Jeremy, our doughty trencherman, stoked up on waffles, bananas, cream and syrup.

Back on the bikes - and having enjoyed a long run of puncture free rides - our luck finally ran out as Alan pulled up with a flat front tyre. There followed various attempts at a fix, albeit with wrong-sized inner tubes. Undaunted, and with a little help from a Cambridge bike shop, he was soon up and running again -  and pedalled off to visit his mum in Addenbrookes. The man is unstoppable!

24 miles anticlockwise: Shelford - DNA path - Cambridge Station - Riverside - Milton - Impington - Histon Station House - Girton - Eddington - Grange Rd - Grantchester - Trumpington - Shelford

A14 flyover

Bar Hill by car? There's no avoiding the A14. But Bar Hill by bike can be a very pleasant, traffic free experience - if you know where to find the local bridleways and cycleways. What's more, you can now exit Bar Hill via the gleaming new cycle bridge spanning the A14, which is ten lanes wide at this point. 

High above the traffic

So it was that Lewis, Alan, Hilary, Chris and two Brians explored a novel route to Oakington and Histon. And it was in Histon that we pulled in for refreshment at the Station House Café. Open these past two months, the coffee and cake were top notch and the service very good too; we shall return.

The Station House, Histon

Back on the bikes we followed the guided busway back to Cambridge and on to Shelford, clocking up some 25 miles in all. 

Lewis, Alan, Hilary, Chris and Brian

25 miles clockwise: Shelford - Trumpington P&R - Grantchester - Coton - Madingley - Dry Drayton - Bar Hill - Oakington - Guided busway - Histon Station House - Cambridge North - Riverside - Cambridge Station - Shelford

Anglesey Abbey

A fine September morning saw Chris, Lewis, Gordon, Alan and two Brians labouring up the hill to Fulbourn, en route to Bottisham, Lode and Anglesey Abbey.

Pulling in for coffee and cake at the National Trust tea room, we enjoyed the view across the Abbey Gardens before setting off on the return leg via Ditton Meadows and Cambridge Riverside.

25 miles anticlockwise: Shelford - DNA path - Worts Causeway - Fulbourn - Great Wilbraham - Little Wilbraham - Bottisham - Swaffham Bulbeck - Anglesey Abbey - Stow cum Quy - Newmarket Rd P&R - Ditton Meadows - Riverside - Cambridge Station - Shelford

Monday in Milton

 Alan, Lewis, Gordon and two Brian's - Yorkie and Brummie - set off for Grantchester, Cambridge and Milton, where we pulled in for coffee and cake at the café in the country park. 

Refreshed, we made the return leg to Cambridge via the towpath along the river, clocking up 22 miles as we returned to Shelford. 

22 miles clockwise: Shelford - Hauxton - Trumpington Meadows - Grantchester - Grange Rd - Garret Hostel Bridge - Market Square - Jesus Green - Chesterton Church - Cambridge North - Milton Country Park - Riverside - Cambridge Station - DNA path - Shelford