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.
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| Pausing for a breather in Toft |
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| 24 miles clockwise - 12 riders - coffee at Madingley Hall |
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.
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| 25 miles - 13 riders - coffee at Melbourn Hub |
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| 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!
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| 26 miles anticlockwise from Shelford - 11 riders - coffee at The Station House, Histon |
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.
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| Newton's postbox, with Hilary and Brian for scale |
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| Jeremy - with Tarka in tow |
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| 22 miles - 11 riders - coffee at Hot Numbers |
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.
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| Brian, Janet, Jenny and Paul atop the hill, with Rich behind the camera |
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| 23 miles clockwise - 5 riders - coffee at Duxford Community Centre |
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.
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| 29 miles - 6 riders - coffee at Wimpole Hall |
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.
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| 24 miles anticlockwise |
The first ride of the year was a cold one; barely 2°C as we set off and not much more than that when we got home. But that didn't deter five hardy Spokers, all well wrapped up against the cold. It's all about layers!
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| 25 miles anticlockwise - 5 riders - coffee at Melbourn Hub |
Monday again and only two sleeps until Christmas! A good excuse to keep the ride short and get back to Shelford for some festive drinks and nibbles chez Brian.
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| 12 miles clockwise |
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| 20 miles clockwise - coffee at Ruby's Room, Great Abington - 13 riders |
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| 23 miles anticlockwise - 5 riders - coffee at Mohak Café, Haslingfield |
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| 21 miles anticlockwise from Shelford - 8 riders - coffee at University West Café |
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| 25 miles clockwise from Shelford - 7 riders - coffee at Melbourn Hub |
Only 45 sleeps 'til Christmas - but it's already festive at Wimpole.
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| 25 miles clockwise - coffee at Wimpole Hall - 11 riders |
Brian thought it was high time we tried out Cambridge's newest bit of cycling infrastructure. Recently completed at a cost of £32M the Milton Road Improvement Scheme features dedicated cycle lanes and, most notably, a CYCLOPS "cycling optimised protected signals" junction separating pedallers and pedestrians from the traffic. It's really a fancy roundabout featuring a remarkable 36 traffic lights.
Glad to say, our thirteen-strong peloton negotiated it all with aplomb and the general consensus was that it works. Hats off to the transport team at The Greater Cambridge Partnership.
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| 24 miles clockwise - 13 riders - coffee at Kerb Kollective, Technology Museum |
Eight of us completed a 24 mile circuit taking us up the hill to Elmdon and back. Towards the end we stopped off at Duxford Community Centre for coffee (and repaired a puncture too!)
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| 24 miles anticlockwise |
Another ride featuring three Brians - though one had to turn back after suffering a broken spoke or two in his rear wheel. Otherwise, a lovely ride.
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| 25 miles clockwise - 7 riders - coffee at The Station House, Histon |
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| 24 miles - 12 riders - coffee at Day's Bakery, Newton |
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.
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| Brian supervises his puncture repair |
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| The notorious Cock-Up Bridge |
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| Alan |
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| Jenny |
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| Paul |
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| Hetty |
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| Hilary |
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| Dominic |
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| 25 miles from Shelford to Ely |
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| 22 miles anticlockwise - 14 riders - coffee at Pharmacie Café, Waterbeach |
