Thursday, 29 June 2023
Greg writes: Whilst the Proclaimers said they'd walk 500 miles, did anyone in CTC Cambridge say they wanted to climb 3000 feet? I suspect not.
Well that's what we did on 29 June, and I have no one to blame but myself.
So it was that we assembled in Haslingfield in the rain. I was joined by Ed, Terry, Ian, Sharon, Sheila and Edmund. Sarah and Andy would join as at Chishill Grange and Susan had threatened to start the ride at lunch and do it in reverse so our paths crossed. All was set for the usual CTC Cambridge mishaps...
Terry stood there confidently at 9.27am saying the rain would stop by the time we started. We duly started 5 minutes later, in the rain.
We should give him some slack as the rain did stop after five minutes but, having made such a bold prediction, we obviously showed no mercy and ribbed him about his woeful meteorological accuracy.
The route took us initially through Harston, the first couple of miles being a reverse of the route Edmund had just done at top speed to get to the start on time. Such is life!
Onwards then through Newton, Thriplow and then over the A505. Remarkably as Chishill Grange hove into view so too did Andy and Sarah. They joined the peloton and we sped up to the ridgeway (sort of). From there we followed the usual ups and downs to Barley before swerving right before we got too close to the Silver Ball. It seems that you simply drop down from the ridgeway into Royston from here – at least that was what we remembered. The sad truth was that there are some steep little inclines – made more annoying for Sarah because her hanger was bent. Andy to the rescue at coffee meant that she was able to engage bottom gear for the remainder of the ride (phew!)
Eventually we came onto Royston town and negotiated the one-way system and out to the Heath. This is a fab coffee stop: plentiful benches overlooking the golf course, a vast array of cakes and even coffee served at the table, though only after the waiter had circumnavigated the venue a couple of times. Such silver service, coffee arriving pre-cooled is above and beyond.
A brief interlude here as Sarah threw out the question "Do you know how old Mel Gibson is?" She laughed at our ignorance. 65? 72? 75? Ha, she exclaimed, how wrong – we were stunned to hear that he was 98. Yes, 98! Amazing! Not quite as amazing though as further research established that the question should actually have been about Mel Brooks rather than Mel Gibson. So, one is 98, one is 65. The level of sparkling conversation proved all too much for Terry who decided to head home.....
Meanwhile the rest of us saddled up and headed off. Royston suffers from having just one safe route in and one route out for cyclists. The route out is up the hill to Therfield – and we mean up! A haul that warmed the legs and got the blood pumping or, in Ian"s case, the washing machine whirring. When his electric assist motor cuts in it does sound like a spin cycle. The old cycling term of "Going out for a spin" has never been more apt! Then it was off to Sandon and beyond – exploring new lanes, seldom used – probably because they are so steep!
Finally we made it to Weston in the certain knowledge that Royston sits below the Weston Hills. However, a nasty sting in the tail from the route planner meant that in order to avoid the main roads we did a loop – a lovely lane yet another fiendish little hill!
Remarkably we all made it to Tapps Garden Centre in Baldock in broadly good humour, albeit it was knocking 2pm, testament to the fact that we had by now covered some 40 miles and quite a few hills.
A pleasant lunch during which Susan let us know she had got as far as Ashwell on her reverse loop – where were we? Still lunching but heading off. Knowing how long it would take us to reach Ashwell Susan decided to return without waiting – she gets an honourable mention for coming part way.
Through Baldock and onto the (Max) Bygrave road. This lane wends its sorry way (much like the riders) up and up. At one crest Ed announced "That"s it, no real hills now apart from Chapel Hill). Turns out he had a bit of the "Terry's" - ie. inaccurate forecasting! We duly found a further couple of hills to climb before we whizzed down into Ashwell.
However, on home ground now and Andy and Sarah shot off as other tasks called. Sheila realised that there was a worrying possibility that she wouldn"t get a blog mention and she thoughtfully altered course the last minute just outside Meldreth to trap a passing wasp under her sunglasses. Said creature then stung her. Sheila deployed the Piriton – with some admirable suave style it has to be said and in a timely manner which meant she got her blog entry but no massive swelling in the face. Nicely done....
The group broke up shortly after – most opting for the A10 cycle path route back to Shelford. Greg led Sharon and Sheila on the original route back to Haslingfield which meant Chapel Hill. Sharon engaged afterburners and roared up the hill – an impressive feat at the end of such a ride!
We duly got back to the start after having done some 59.7 miles and 3105 feet of climbing. New lanes, good fun and perfect cycling weather – albeit starting some five minutes late. A fun day! Greg