Sunday ride to Rutland Water (2nd June)

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Using Brampton Hut Services as the departure point (a first for a Sunday ride) ride leader Peter Grant & tailer Phil Duffy are taking a maximum of 12 participants to Rutland Water on the 2nd of June

From Brampton Hut riders head north on the A1, but turn off at the first junction after just one mile). Thereafter they can expect to encounter very light traffic as they follow well-maintained, twisting B-roads through Clopton, Oundle & the Benefields, under the Welland Viaduct and into Rutland. The Rutland Nursery Café offers views of the south shore of Rutland Water. The indoor restaurant offers these breakfast options

The return route is equally scenic as it twists and turns way eastwards through Duddington, Polebrook & Glatton to the B1043 (before the A1 was constructed this was the Great North Road) then heads south to Alconbury. The ride ends where it began back at Brampton Hut, after another one-junction stretch on the A1

Start & end point  Brampton Hut Services (A1/A14)
Briefing 9:20am                  Ride departs 9:30am
Total distance 88 miles     Maximum number of participants 12

Request a place here    |   Events Calendar entry here

Sunday 19th May rideout to Pebmarsh

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This ride will be led by Patrick Ryan & tail-ended by Catherine Ryan

>This 88-mile loop starts & ends from BP Cambridge on familiar roads through Six Mile Bottom & the Thurlows to Sturmer and a brief ride on the Haverhill bypass
After a left turn for Steeple Bumpstead it’s through Finchingfield & Castle Hedingham to the Flame & Grill. Their website modestly describes the venue as set in ‘an idyllic converted stable in the beautiful village of Pebmarsh’

<The slightly shortly return journey first heads north through Sudbury then on to Cavendish and Clare, where the ride turns north onto the B1063 as it meanders its way to Newmarket. The final section of the journey is along the A1303 back to BP in Cambridge. Pillions are welcome on this ride

Start & end point   BP Cambridge (Newmarket Road)
Briefing  9:20am                     Ride departs  9:30am
Total distance  88 miles        Maximum number of participants  12

Use this link to request a place    |   Events Calendar for full details

Sunday ride to Wickham St Paul

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Try a new breakfast venue… on our next Sunday ride led & tailed by Catherine Ryan and Barry D respectively
Pillions are welcome on this ride, which is limited to 16 participants

>From BP Cambridge the route heads south-west in the direction of Sudbury via the Thurlows, Kedington & Great Yeldham before dipping south towards Halstead. The breakfast venue, Spencers FarmShop, is hidden away in the quiet village of Wickham St Paul. The owners are delighted to welcome us, and if the weather is fine will reserve the verandah for our use. To assist with their planning, please consult the menu and indicate when booking if you think you may wish to order a cooked breakfast
<After breakfast west again, through Finchingfield & Thaxted before veering north at Newport to end the ride at Fourwentways Services 

Briefing  9:20am                     Ride departs  9:30am       
Total distance  76 miles        Maximum number of participants  16

Request a place   |   Events Calendar for full details

Phil Duffy leads to the Silver Ball Café

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With the scheduled ride leader out of action with injury Phil Duffy has stepped in and, with Paul Norman in tail position, will lead next Sunday’s group-organized ride. Use the link which follows Phil’s description to request a place

1Setting out from Tesco Royston we head north on the A1198, turning west near Arrington for Wendy & Shingay (passing the excellent Pig & Abbot pub in the village of Abington Pigotts). We continue through Steeple Morden & Ashwell, where we take a tight left turn up through Bygrave, which has good views over the Weston Hills, and drop down into Baldock

Once through Baldock we take the A507 to Cottered, then take a left to follow back roads through to the A10. We briefly head north here, then turn right on the old road to pass through Wyddial, and south on the old Cambridge coaching road to Hare Street. We continue on through Brent Pelham, Clavering, Great Chishill & Barkway, then follow the ridge (the highest point in Hertfordshire, hence the radio masts) to the A10 & breakfast at the Silver Ball. Outward journey ~ 52 miles

2The return route takes us through Therfield, Sandon & Wallington, and south to Walkern. At Benington we pass the excellent Lordship Arms, on to Dane End & Munden and we arrive back at the A10 near Puckeridge. We immediately turn off the A10 and follow the B1368 north to Barley. We turn left here and follow the road back to Royston. Shopping will be in full swing at Tesco so we’ll finish the ride in the town-centre car park. Return journey ~ 35 miles

Click here to request a place

April 7th – Group-ride to the Skylark Café

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Many thanks to ride leader Mark Fox for providing the description below of our next Group-organised ride, which sets out next Sunday from Caxton and heads to the Skylark Garden Centre & Café just outside Wimblington

“Starting out from the McDonalds car park we’ll head across to St. Neots, Eaton Socon and west to pick up the B660 near Keysoe. We’ll follow the B660 north, through Kimbolton & all the way up to Ramsey St Mary’s. We’ll tick off a couple more Ramseys as we head towards Doddington and then to the Skylark Garden Centre just outside Wimblington where we stop for breakfast. Check out the menu here
“After breakfast we head turn south, back towards St. Ives – passing through Chatteris and Somersham on the way. Once round St. Ives we will head towards Boxworth and on to the BP Garage at Childerley Gate, where we will finish the ride.

Request a place  |  Limited to 16 participants  |  Events Calendar for full details

Sunday ride to Little Braxted (departs BP Whittlesford)

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Our next Group-organised ride, on Sunday 3rd March, will be led by Phil Duffy & tail-ended by Steve Rowdon. Setting out from a novel departure point, Phil will also be trying a new breakfast destination at The Braxted Bakery. The bakery is in a tiny Essex village which not many will be familiar with; Little Braxted boasted just 170 residents in the 2011 census.

Phil describes the outing: We will set out from BP Whittlesford, heading south to Saffron Walden and then south-east following mostly minor roads towards Braintree. Having skirted the town we will head south again, passing near Witham and to our breakfast stop at the Braxted Bakery (which serves breakfasts as well as cakes!). Our return route passes through Kelvedon, Halsted and Finchingfield – along some interesting Essex roads. We bypass Linton and finally head back to BP Whittlesford

Start/End: BP Whittlesford, A505/A1301 roundabout, CB22 3HD    what3words
Breakfast: The Braxted Bakery, Little Braxted, CM8 3ET                 what3words

Limited to 12 riders bikes   |   Use this link to request a place
Briefing 9:20am    |   Ride departs 9:30am    |    Events Calendar for full details

A proper breakfast at Springwood Grill

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Having negotiated a one-time only Sunday opening at the Springwood Grill in Braintree, ride leader Robin Freeman & tail-ender Mark Fox take participants for a CAM-only, proper truckers’ breakfast! Join Robin & Mark on this special Group-organised ride next Sunday (18th February), departing Shell Fourwentways & ending at the BP station in Newmarket

Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash

“Robin describes the route: leaving promptly at 9:30am, we head east to the new A1307 roundabout and turn for Ashdon, passing in front of Hideout Leather and on to Finchingfield, Wethersfield and eventually Braintree for breakfast at the Springwood Grill
On the way back we head west along the B1256 to Great Dunmow, then swing north on a route through Thaxted, Great Sampford & Steeple Bumpstead to Haverhill. On the final stretch we pass through Witherfield & Dullingham to Newmarket, where the ride ends after ~75 miles

Limited to 16 participants  |  Events Calendar for full details

Sunday ride to Café33

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Mark Fox & Steve Rowdon respectively lead & tail our next Group-organised ride, which heads to Stradishall on Sunday 4th February. Requests for places are coming in faster than food orders at Café33, but might get one of the remaining slots using this link

Mark describes the route from Shell Fourwentways: we’ll head east through Linton before turning south towards Castle Camps and then Cornish Hall End. We’ll loop around Haverhill, up to Sturmer & Kedington, then follow the A143 to our breakfast stop at Café33 in Stradishall

After breakfast we will resume our northerly direction through the Suffolk countryside to Moulton & Kennett, then cross to the Norfolk Brecks and a run through the King’s Forest, eventually taking us to Elveden. We’ll then turn for home, initially with a quick blast down the A11 to Mildenhall and then a tootle along the base of the Fens through Fordham, Burwell & the Swaffhams until we reach Stow cum Quy, where we will finish the ride

This ride is limited to 12 riders

Group-organised ride to Burton Latimer

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Following hot on the heels of a successful reconnaissance ride, Keith Tremeer provides the following description of the route he will be leading (with Nick Harwood bringing up the rear) on Sunday 21st January to Burton Latimer in Northamptonshire:

“The ride will depart at 9:30am from BP Arrington roundabout on a route along country lanes through Wrestlingworth, Gamlingay, St. Neots, Stonely & Rushden to the breakfast stop at Bosworth Garden Centre’s Aspen Café in Burton Latimer. After breakfast riders retrace the outward route as far as Rushden, then head to Yielden, Little Staughton, Great Barford, Gamlingay & Little Gransden before finishing close by Caxton Gibbet services after a total distance of around 90 miles.

“Please note: the Aspen Café has recently introduced a £5 deposit per person to assure a reservation. Ride leader Keith does not feel it is fair to request this from participants, given the midwinter possibility that the ride could be cancelled at short notice, and therefore this ride is limited to a total of 12 participants, a number the Café should be able to accommodate on a walk-in basis.

Request a place  |  Limited to 12 participants  |  Events Calendar for full details

Sunday ride to Debden Barns (November 19th)

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Many thanks to ride leader Mark Fox for his description, reproduced below, of next Sunday’s Group-organised ride to Debden Barns.

“Starting from  McDonalds Caxton Gibbet we head south on the A1198 before turning to Steeple Morden and on to Therfield, crossed the A505 on our way. After Therfield we cross the A10 heading to Barkway, where we drop south to Hare Street and then make our way across country, via Clavering & Newport, to Debden Barns for breakfast at the Elder Street Café (appropriately located alongside not one, but two, antiques shops)

“After breakfast we head towards Saffron Walden and Wendens Ambo to join the lovely B1039 to Barley. There we will turn for home (passing through too many villages, so bask in the glow of the first two thirds of the trip). The route is via Newton, Haslingfield & Comberton before a short burst back up the A1198 to Caxton Gibbet

“The roads are suitable for a late autumn ride whatever the weather. Mindful of the need to keep Catherine happy (she’ll be shadowing tailer Nick Harwood) I cut out the gnarly sections suggested by my SatNav (including an actual green lane and an unfordable ford!)

Request a place  |  Limited to 12 participants  |  Events Calendar for full details