Mutiny in the peloton

Chapel Hill, eh? Probably the steepest hill in this otherwise flatish bit of South Cambs - and Brian insists we climb it at least once a year. So there was much muttering from the peloton as we exited Barrington heading for Haslingfield knowing the only way was up!

24 miles - 12 riders - coffee at Day's Bakery, Newton

Burwash Manor

 

22 miles clockwise - 8 riders - coffee at Burwash Manor

Ely by bike - and the train home

Mid-summer and the weather set fair; what better time to make our annual pilgrimage to Ely. Whereas last time we caught the train there and cycled back (see blog), this time with the wind from the south it made sense to do it t'other way round.

So it was that eleven riders set off from Shelford heading for Lode, gateway to the Fens. But we'd only got as far as Cherry Hinton when Brian pulled up with a flat tyre caused by a discarded drawing pin (possibly an act of malice by an ex-pupil, he thought). Brian looked on while Chris and Paul effected a repair and, fifteen minutes later, we were back on the road, Ely-bound once more.

Brian supervises his puncture repair

From Lode we took National Cycle Route 11, all empty roads, gravel tracks and bridleways, across the Fens. It's a lovely ride under wide skies, but there's always the challenge of hauling the e-bikes up and over the Cock Up bridge at Burwell Lode. Why did they make the steps so steep?

The notorious Cock-Up Bridge

Hetty, Dominic, Paul and Chris pausing for a breather on another bridge

Alan

Jenny

Paul

Hetty

Hilary

Dominic

Arriving at Ely, we made our way to the railway station and caught the train home. Well done, team!

 

25 miles from Shelford to Ely

Record turnout on a riverside ride

Fourteen riders is a record turnout for Shelford Spokes. The team roster was: Alan, Chris, Hilary, Jan, Jane, Jenny, Jeremy, Jim, Neil, Philip, Rich and three Brians.

22 miles anticlockwise - 14 riders - coffee at Pharmacie Café, Waterbeach

Bourn

 

25 miles anticlockwise - 7 riders - coffee at The Stove, Bourn

Up the hill to Balsham

 Lovely day for a ride - and it's always a pleasure sipping coffee in the little courtyard behind The Old Butchers.

24 miles anticlockwise - 7 riders - coffee at The Old Butchers, Balsham

Through Cambridge to Milton Country Park

 

21 miles anticlockwise - 7 riders - coffee at Grounds Café, Milton Country Park

Heydon and Great Chishill

 

26 miles clockwise - 6 riders - coffee at Hot Numbers, Shepreth

Anglesey Abbey

Madingley Hall

 

24 miles clockwise - 6 riders - coffee at Madingley Hall

Bee orchids and chalk pits

Lime Kiln Hill - normally a no-go route for the safety conscious cyclist - was closed to traffic, so what better time to enjoy the view from the top and take a peek at Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits.

Then it was on to Teversham, Fulbourn, The Wilbrahams, Bottisham and Lode, where we pulled in at Anglesey Abbey for coffee and cake. And it was here that eagle-eyed Tiggr spotted the bee orchids on the edge of the car park.

Bee Orchid, Anglesey Abbey car park

The natural world, eh? And so often it's hiding in plain sight, as with the knapweed broomrape Paul spotted near Newton some two summers ago.

Back on the bikes we made the return leg via Fen Ditton and the Chisholm Trail home to Shelford.

24 miles anticlockwise - 10 riders - coffee at Anglesey Abbey

Another bank holiday

A pretty good turnout - 10 riders - for another Monday bank holiday. Local roads were thankfully quiet as there was no school-run to contend with. Close to home, we got a soaking in Sawston and Alan nearly fell over wrestling with his overtrousers.

25 miles - 10 riders - coffee at Duxford Community Centre

Girton, Histon & Impington

 

23 miles - 7 riders - coffee at The Station House, Histon

Wimpole

 After last week's hills, we were glad of an easy ride out to Wimpole and back.

25 miles clockwise

Ups and downs on a bank holiday

Our annual visit to see the bluebells near Littlebury is by far the hilliest ride of the year. With the Shelfords at just 14m above sea level and Littlebury Green topping out at 118m, not to mention all the ups and downs in between, we end up climbing a total of 350m, or just over 1000 ft in old money. All the more reason to enjoy coffee and cake at Compass Courtyard.

Ann and her posse atop Coploe Hill

Wild garlic and bluebells at Howe Wood on the Audley End Estate

Enjoying a cuppa at Compass Courtyard

28 miles clockwise - the little purple blobs indicating the bigger hill climbs

Milton Country Park

Eleven riders was a pretty good turnout, considering the temperature was in single figures. Our destination was Milton Country Park and, given Brian's twisty route through Cambridge, we were fortunate to lose only one rider; sorry, Alan, but it was good to see you catch us up as we arrived back in Shelford.

Milton Country Park

The U's latest signing, seen here at Cambridge North

On the return leg Jim took us on a tour of the new and rather impressive Ironworks development just off Mill Road. Nearer home and on the busway, Brian H was heard shouting encouragement to the Cambridge United players we saw training at their new facility on Bentley Road. 

21 miles - 11 riders - coffee at Milton Country Park

Seven go to Duxford

 

Negotiating the puddles at Thriplow

23 miles - 7 riders - coffee at Duxford Community Centre

A twisty route through Cambridge

On Garret Hostel Bridge

22 miles - 10 riders - coffee at The Technology Museum

Grantchester, Madingley & Comberton

Coffee and cake at the Three Horseshoes, Comberton

24 miles - 11 riders

Comberton, Hardwick & Coton

 

24 miles - 10 riders - coffee at Coton Orchard

Wimpole Hall

 

25 miles  -  11 riders  -  coffee at National Trust Wimpole Hall

Anglesey Abbey

 

23 miles  -  10 riders  -  coffee at National Trust Anglesey Abbey

Bar Hill, Oakington & Histon

 

24 miles  -  9 riders  -  coffee at The Station House, Histon

Fowlmere, Elmdon & Duxford

 

22 miles  -  9 riders  -  coffee at Café 19, Duxford Community Centre

An emu encounter

We do occasionally encounter a deer, hare or fox during our rides, but large flightless birds are a rarity. So imagine our surprise on Monday when, cycling through the old Abington Land Settlements, we were brought up short by a loud grunting noise and there on the other side of the fence was an emu. As you can see, it wasn't camera shy. 

Which one is behind bars, Brian or the emu?

Leaving emu behind, we climbed the hill to Balsham where we pulled in for coffee and cake at The Old Butchers. Refreshed, we cruised back down the hill to Abington, hauled the bikes up and over the A11 footbridge and made short work of the return leg to Stapleford and Shelford.

For the record, the turnout was eight Spokers, namely Hilary, Jane, Jim, Jenny, Jeremy, Lewis and two Brians.

Balsham and back; 24 miles

First cold ride of the year

Three degrees above freezing made for a chilly start to Monday's ride, but that didn't deter Hilary, Paul, Lewis, Chris, Jeremy and Brian from setting out on a 24 mile jaunt around Cambridge, Milton, Impington and Girton, pulling in along the way at The Station House, Histon, for coffee and cake.

All wrapped up on Garret Hostel Bridge

Newly open in Newton

We don't give much credence to common gossip, but there is a rumour going around that we are more interested in coffee and cake than we are in cycling - a rumour borne out on Monday when we set off from Shelford with the objective of checking out the new café at Newton. 

Sitting in the sun at Days Bakery, Newton

This being so close to home, it seemed only right that we did a little cycling first, if only to dispel this gross slur on the club's reputation. So it was after some eighteen miles of pedalling that we pulled in at Days Bakery Café, newly opened and just opposite the Queen's Head.

As to our verdict on the new establishment, well, while not up to the standard of say, Hot Numbers down the road at Shepreth, it is nonetheless a welcome addition to our roster of local coffee stops.

22 miles clockwise