Day 1 - We're Off - Destination Fowey

Sunny day for the start of the 1000 mile ride, after a night in Penzance severely disturbed by revellers in the early hours. Taxis to the start at Land's End, leaving there at 9 am.

Cornwall's hills are just as tough and frequent as promised but we made very good time, stopping for. Lunch at Perranwell provided by the support van, lots of carbs, bananas and liquids.

Continued after a decent break, crossing over the Fal via the King Harry Ferry, which crawls back and forward across the river using chains. Immediately the steepest climb so far, then some good fast and quiet roads to St Austell. With 4miles to go came the sting in the tail, a very steep climb before descending into Fowey and the night's stopover.

65 miles covered

Posted with Blogsy

21 May - Just around the block

Keeping in touch with riding with a small loop to Shepreth and round through Melbourn. The Ridgeback is very smooth but the hub gearing is a bit low.

Setting off for Penzance and the big ride tomorrow. Hope the weather improves, wet and windy today.

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19 May - With Hilary, Joining the A10 Corridor Campaign - 17 miles

Lovely day so did a circuit with Hilary through Orwell, Shepreth, Foxton, Fowlmere and back to Phillimore's Garden Centre.

The two groups of cyclists were congregating here after their rides from Trumpington and Royston to draw attention to the poor state of the cycle path. big trun out, probably over a hundred, with BBC and ITV camera crews there to record the event.

17 miles

16 May - My lead on CTC Ride to Horseheath & Thaxted.

Today was miraculously nice after yesterday’s foul weather and the promise of more to come.  My second go at leading and made a total hash of it so I wouldn't be asked again.  The destinations were Horseheath for coffee stop and Thaxted for lunch.

Twelve of us set of after the photoshoot in Greta’s garden ......

....   taking the Whittlesford road to the path leading to the church then through the oilseed rape fields to the level crossing just before the A1301. Arrived as the barrier came down but fortunately not a long wait for the train to pass.

On into Sawston and along the cycle path to Babraham, where I wimped out from going along the track to the footbridge after going over the handlebars  last time. Nice quite ride from here through Abington and Linton then over the A1307 to Bartlow. Gentle climb up to Streetly End and round into Horseheath and The Red Lion. Greeted there by several other riders and two enormous plates of chocolate brownies and other delicacies, yum.  

Suitably refreshed and re-energised we took the beautifully quiet lanes through Castle Camps, Helion Bumpstead and Little Sampford, cutting down past Bardfield End Green to Bardfield Road and soon after, Thaxted.

The sarnies folk respectfully ate their lunches on the steps of what a local said used to be the town prison, before joining the serious eaters on the tables outside Parrishes. 

Wonderful aerobatic display be the recently arrived swifts, and promise of a peloton of 50 Cypriot cyclists, sadly not appearing.

Hard to get going again after sitting in such a pleasant location and enjoying the moments of warm sunshine.  But needs must, and a route back through Debden and Newport before heading west to Great Chishill and down that lovely long hill to Flint Cross. At Fowlmere the Cambridge contingent went left for Newton and home while the local boys cut back down Mill Road and back to Meldreth.

The bike computer said 69 miles, leaving the unfulfilled thought of an extra mile for a round 70.

14 May - Solo to Therfield & Fowlmere - 23 miles

Shortish ride after calling in at the sports shop to collect some essentials for the Lejog ride.

Didn't realise how much of a slog it is up the Therfield hill past the golf course, but nice ride neverthless and good quick decent from Barkway.

23 miles

7 May - Tuesday Group, Southill, 54 miles

Promising to be a bright sunny day but not fully living up to this. Fine for shorts and cycling jersey though. Quite a few people at Waresley but not many went on for the rest of the ride.

In fact just Tony Ho, David W and I set off round through Blunham and Southill, stopping at the new Jordans Mill place. Then Adrian and two other appeared a bit later, so a breakdown in communication.

David W setting a fast pace throughout and leading to 14.8 mph overall.

54 miles

6 May - Solo to Horseheath and Thaxted, 63 miles

Superb day, sunny and calm most of the time.

Did another recce run in preparation for 16 May, out through Whittlesford, Sawston and Babraham.

Used the track and footbridge over the A11 but was very anxious about the deep ruts. With justification because the front wheel veered left on the roughest part, and I carried on. Straight over the handlebars then a forward roll with bike still attached. It landed softly in the ploughed field to the left, and I suffered just scratched on my shin and ankle.

Continued on to Horseheath with out mishap, then to Finchingfield and a stop at the Tea Shop. Loads of people on the village green, looking a picture in the sun. Loads of motor bikers too.

Nice route back, not the one on the map below but starting on the road beside the big pub. Back to Newport where I started down Wicken Road, right into School Lane and out along Bury Water Lane. It looked okay on the map but turned out to be another very deeply rutted track so was doubly cautious, walking much of it. Emerged at Clanver End then quiet route back.

63 miles.