Sunday ride to Debden Barns (November 19th)

/0 Comments/in /by

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

October 1st ride to Hollow Trees Farm

/0 Comments/in /by

Finding Semer takes a little work, but draw a straight line from Cambridge to Felixstowe on a map and two thirds of the way along you’ll find this Suffolk village and our breakfast destination at Hollow Trees Farm. Our Group-organised Sunday ride there on October 1st will be led by Catherine Ryan, with Patrick Ryan in tail position

The route out follows B-roads and country lanes eastwards into Suffolk, passing Highpoint Prison & Melford Hall along the way. Heading west again after breakfast (and an optional tour of the farm shop) riders will pass within a stone’s throw of Claudia Schiffer’s Tudor mansion, directly in front of the Suffolk Regiment Museum & alongside Newmarket Racecourse

Use this link to request a place. This ride is limited to 16 participants

Sunday ride – departs BP Arrington

/0 Comments/in , /by

Our next Group-organised ride (on Sunday 17th) is led by Chris Curryer & tailed by Phil Duffy. This outing departs from BP Arrington

Chris describes his route –
“We travel through Guilden Morden & Edworth before passing RAF Henlow, which in 1918 became the RAF’s first operating base (you will see a Hawker Hunter on static display as you pass). Great views are on offer during the ride, but focus on the challenging roads as we continue on to Pegsdon & Hexton! Aircraft may be spotted taking off from Luton airport – at our closest we are 2 miles east of the runway.
“Following breakfast at The Coopers Inn in Stevenage we head through Cottered, then take a short ride on the A507 to Buntingford. Thereafter we follow Barkway, Barley, Barrington & Orwell, bringing us to the A603 and back to the start point”

Limited to 16 bikes   |   Email Catherine to request a place
Briefing 9:20am    |   Ride departs 9:30am   |   Events Calendar for full details

Sunday ride to the Giddy Goat

/0 Comments/in /by

Sunday 3rd September: our next group-organised ride – to the Giddy Goat Café in Riseley!

Led by Ian Dunckley & tailed by Steve Alsop, this ride sets out from BP Childerley Gate on an hour-long journey via Papworth, St Neots & Great Staughton to the Giddy Goat Café. After a leisurely breakfast riders continue westward to Sharnbrook, then follow the meanders of the Great Ouse to Great Barford. The route passes over the A1 and on to Abbotsley before finishing at Caxton Gibbet after ~84 miles in total.

Departure point:  BP Childerley Gate, St Neots Road, CB23 8AY   { what3words  ///pigtails.kilts.trucks }.
Ride limited to 16 participants. Please arrive fully fuelled ready for the 9:20am briefing

Email Catherine now to request your place on this ride!

Group ride to the Hungry Stag

/0 Comments/in /by

Less than a week until our next Group rideout, this time led by Paul Norman with Terry Jacobs in tail position. Paul will set out from Fourwentways Services on a route heading north of Haverhill, cross country to Lavenham and on to just west of Stowmarket, where riders will cross the A14 for breakfast at the Hungry Stag. The menu at this popular, America-meets-Suffolk diner offers something for everyone, right up to monarch of breakfasts: the Stagosaurus Burger! 

Following breakfast the loop continues north of Bury St Edmunds, finishing at BP Newmarket after an outing totalling ~85 miles
Rideout limited to 16 bikes. Email Catherine to request a place

Sunday ride to Elveden Courtyard

/0 Comments/in /by

Our next Group rideout is on Sunday 6th August, with Catherine Ryan & Alan Triggs taking riders to Elveden Courtyard near Thetford. The Elveden Estate has passed through wealthy, titled families since its purchase in 1863 by Maharajah Duleep Singh – read more about its history here. 

Departs BP Newmarket Rd, Cambridge. Ends at BP Newmarket.
Catherine outlines her foray into Norfolk:

The 86-mile route takes us south and around Newmarket, then north towards Brandon via Chippenham & Mildenhall. After breakfast we will ride east, crossing Knettishall Heath to Hopton, then turn westwards towards Great Livermere, the Fornhams & the Icknield Way. The ride ends after the long straight through Kentford at BP Newmarket

Use this link to request a place: sunday-rides@cambsiam.org.uk

July 2nd: Sunday ride to Hadleigh

/0 Comments/in /by

Sunday 2nd July: Patrick Ryan leads, with Keith Bartlett in tail position

Returning to the aviation theme set early in the year (when Mark Fox and Phil Duffy led rides to former or working airfields) our first July rideout heads for breakfast at Jet Lounge in the ancient Suffolk market town of Hadleigh. Read about Hadleigh’s rich history and its links to Danish King Guthrum & the Kray twins here

The route east passes through Sturmer & Castle Hedingham, around Sudbury, and then on to Boxford & Hadleigh. Checkout the inflight breakfast menu; homemade cake are also on offer. The return flightpath crosses Lavenham & Long Melford, then changes bearing for Newmarket & the A1303 back to Cambridge after a total of 93 miles

Click here to send Catherine a request for a place. Full details in the Events Calendar

A word of thanks

/0 Comments/in /by