Author: Brian Connellan

Gog Magog Hills and spills

With much of the county lying at or around sea level, indeed, there are some places in the Fens that sit 3 meters below sea level, Cambridgeshire isn’t really known for its uplands. So when we find ourselves cresting a hill in South Cambs it is well worth pausing to take in the view – before it gets reclaimed by the North Sea.

Which is just what we did on Thursday when Jeremy’s route took us up and over the Gog Magog Hills. At 75 meters these aren’t exactly lofty, but nonetheless high enough such that, on a clear day, you can spy Ely Cathedral some 17 miles to the north.

Neil making adjustments ahead of the ride

Windmiller Charles scoffs at the notion of these being hills at all, residing as he does near Great Chishill which sits at 146 meters above sea level. While not quite at Munro-level it does win the accolade of being in the highest village in Cambridgeshire.

Views aside, the only other happenings of note were:

Martin B had an unfortunate encounter with a turnip – or maybe it was a sugar beet – causing him to fall off. We all stopped to assist, whereupon . . .
Charles, discombobulated by Martin’s mishap, keeled over and went sprawling nearby. Thankfully, neither sustained serious injury and were subsequently seen comparing flesh wounds over coffee.
We made our first visit to Gog Farm for coffee, which was very pleasant, though Paul was heard muttering about cake and a hot drink costing the best part of a tenner. Back in Yorkshire you can feed a family of four and a whippet on that sort of money.

So that’s South Cambridgeshire for you, flatish, with agricultural hazards and pricey refreshments. But hey, it’s home and we love it.

For the record, starting from Duxford’s Café 19, a dozen Windmillers rode a 32-mile figure of eight circuit south of Cambridge. Our runners and riders were: Alan, Brian, Charles, Chris, Geoff, Graham, Jeremy, Martin B, Neil, Paul, Ric and Roger.

Thanks go to Jeremy for planning the outing and getting everyone organised. Also Charles and Graham for the photographs.

Brian

Tags cycling, Cycling club

Ely The fens

Ely for lunch

It had been just over a year since our last visit to Ely when we lunched at Peacocks Tea Room on the way back from Kings Lynn. So it was high time for another visit, this time taking in a new lunch venue, The Prince Albert, a lovely old boozer hidden away on Silver Street.

Setting out from Trumpington Park & Ride, Brian had led the way via Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn to Anglesey Abbey where we met up with Martin, Simon and Neil, and enjoyed coffee and cake at the National Trust café.

Then it was on to Bottisham, where we picked up the Lodes Way, some 17 miles of roads, tracks and bridges crossing the six waterways (lodes) that connect the fen-edge villages to the River Cam. Dating back to Saxon times, the Lodes provided flood protection for the rich grazing land owned by the monasteries of Ely and Ramsey.

Cambridge Lodes, a Saxon water management scheme

It was at Wicken Fen that we pulled up to admire the large herd of Konik ponies grazing on the National Trust reserve. Along with Highland cattle, these help manage the vegetation growth across newly restored fen habitat.

Fenland cyclists will be all too familiar with the challenging footbridge at Burwell Lode. Known as the Cock Up Bridge, its steep steps provide quite a workout for e-bikers hauling their heavy machines up and over the waterway.

The last leg, some three miles along the Great Ouse, offered lovely views of Ely Cathedral and soon we were pulling in at The Prince Albert for a welcome pint with lunch in the garden.

Jenni admiring the hanging baskets at The Prince Albert

Keith on hearing there’s a train and he doesn’t have to cycle home

As for the return from Ely: Martin and Simon cycled via Wicken Fen back to their car at Anglesey Abbey; Brian led another half dozen to Ely Station where they caught the train to Cambridge; and Graham led the others on a cycle ride home via Cottenham. Well done, team!

Brian’s roundabout route from Trumpington to Ely, some 30 miles

For the record, the turnout was 14 Windmillers: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Geoff, Graham, Jenni, Jeremy, Keith, Martin, Neil, Ric, Rod, Simon and Tom.

Thanks go to Simon, Graham and Martin for the many photographs.

Brian

Tags Ely, The fens, Windmill cycling club

Uncategorized

Graham’s route & Ric’s round

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date Jul 18, 2024
1 Comment on Graham’s route & Ric’s round

Whether it was the prospect of a new route or the promise of free beer, we will never know, but Thursday morning saw a bumper turnout of 22 Windmillers. Gathering at The Three Tuns, Ashwell, were Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Graham, Hazel, Howard, Jenni, Keith, Ken, Martin B, Martin W, Nigel, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger, Simon, Tom and Victor. Phew! Good job it’s a big pub.

Graham led the way out of Ashwell, surely one of the prettiest of the North Herts villages, heading for Eyeworth, Potton and Waresley, with much of the route on the quiet roads atop the chalk scarp offering fine views towards Sandy Heath.

Mid-way round, we pulled in for coffee at the Bean Theory Café. This was our first visit and we were impressed. Hidden away on the 120 acre Waresley Park Estate, they welcome cyclists as you can tell by the presence of a Turvec Public Bike Repair Stand & Pump. Wouldn’t it be great if more establishments had these; a snip at £1275+VAT.

Back on the bikes, we made short work of the return to Ashwell, pausing only for a photograph in front of Great Gransden Mill.

Thanks go to Graham for mapping out a super new route, and to Ric, bless his cotton socks, who stumped up for a record breaking round of beers. Happy birthday, old timer!

Brian

Café 19 Cambridge Cambridgeshire Duxford Madingley Hall

To the manner born

Who knew, eh, that when it’s a leap year the longest day falls not on 21st but on 20th June? Maybe we knew this four years ago but, being in our dotage, we were surprised by it all over again. Such were the imponderables discussed over a summer solstice lunch at Café 19 following our outing to Madingley Hall.

In 1861 Queen Victoria rented Madingley Hall as a residence for her son, Edward, Prince of Wales, while he studied at Cambridge; I only wish my university digs had been as palatial. That said, Edward’s stay was brief and his departure sudden, due to the sudden and unexpected death of his father, Prince Albert.

Speaking of toffs, back in Duxford, while us plain folk were quaffing beer, Simon was to be seen sipping champagne. In truth, it may have only been Prosecco but, nevertheless, it was clear evidence of a class divide in the peloton. And we hear Simon’s staff, among them Maurice and Brian, had earlier fixed his puncture. To the manner born, eh?

Brian’s beer and burger. Common or what?

Punctures aside, we had enjoyed a splendid ride around the quiet lanes west of Cambridge, followed by an excellent lunch in Duxford. Moreover, it was Geoff’s birthday and he very obligingly bought the drinks.

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Charles, Geoff, Jeremy, Keith, MartinB, Maurice, Neil, Nigel, Ric, Roger, Simon.

Our thanks go to Jeremy for planning and leading the ride, and to Geoff for the beers, not to mention the fizzy wine.

The obligatory windmill-in-the-background pic

Brian

Uncategorized

Happy birthday, Ken!

Another year already? It seems only yesterday it was Ken’s special birthday and yet, here we were again enjoying the man’s generous hospitality and raising the roof with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.

We were back from a 30 mile jaunt around the lanes of East Herts and enjoying a long lunch in The Catherine Wheel, Albury, Maurice having led the way through scenic countryside on quiet roads. Mid-way, we’d stopped for coffee and cake in Buntingford where we were joined by Lyn, Maurice’s missus, who’d popped in for coffee en route to visit a friend.

We had our fair share of mud – not surprising given the remarkably wet spring

For the record the turnout was Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Graham, Howard, Jeremy, Ken, Martin, Maurice, Paul and Roger. Nobody fell off or got lost and there were no punctures; hurrah!

Our thanks go to Maurice for his expert navigation, Andrew for getting us all organised and, of course, Ken for the drinks.

Whose birthday is it next?

Brian

Uncategorized

Great route, Maurice!

After 13 years at the helm, we thought Maurice had shown us every possible route in the area. But that was to underestimate his uncanny ability to lead us into new and uncharted territory.

It was a chilly April morning that saw Maurice lead our party of twelve out of the Red Lion car park for a 32 mile jaunt along the Essex / Suffolk border.

This new route was up there with the best of them and memorable for its traffic free, hedge-lined lanes, fine views, birdsong, spring flowers – and the occasional barnyard whiff.

Milling around at Gibraltar Mill, Great Bardfield

Mid-way, we pulled in at Tarka’s Café, Baythorne End, to fuel up with enough coffee and cake to get us back to Great Sampford. Setting off on the return leg, it wasn’t long before Roger pulled up with a puncture. Unaided, he could have fixed this in 10 minutes but with the help of eager friends it took half an hour. We do so like to be helpful.

Arriving back at the Red Lion, we were delighted to hear that Howard would be buying the beers. Happy birthday, Howard!

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Jeremy, Maurice, Nigel, Roger, Victor, plus Ken who joined us for lunch.

Thanks go to Maurice for leading the way on this new route, to Andrew for getting everyone organised, and to Howard for the drinks.

Brian

Suffolk

Waking the dead

A quick glance at the Ride Log confirmed it was ages since our last Suffolk-based outing and high time we paid a return visit to Castle Hedingham and its splendid old coaching inn, The Bell.

Whether it was the distance getting there, the forecast of wind and rain, or just the prospect of Brian leading the outing, turnout was low with just six Windmillers gathering at The Bell. And with Brian setting us off clockwise on a route he himself had labelled anticlockwise, it wasn’t the most auspicious of starts.

So it was that Simon, Maurice, Roger, Paul and Jeremy followed Brian, still heading clockwise, off towards Clare, some 15 miles distant. The outbound leg was delightful with quiet lanes and fine views across the Colne and Stour valleys.

Arriving in Clare, we took the scenic route via the Priory into the Country Park. A community and retreat centre run by Augustinian Friars, the Priory is, according to its website, “a tranquil place of prayer, natural beauty, and silence.” Or it was until Jeremy shattered the monastic silence with a yell of “Stopping!!!” as we pulled up alongside the graves of recently departed clergy. Talk about waking the dead.

Pulling up at Clare Country Park, we enjoyed some good coffee and cake at Platform One Café before setting off on the return leg to Castle Hedingham. Mid-way back, the wind and rain finally caught up and from here on it was heads down, every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost, all the way back to The Bell.

32 miles – and we eventually agreed to do it clockwise

Drying out over a good lunch, our conversation was wide-ranging, everything from Simon’s eye-wateringly expensive taste in white goods through to Maurice’s plans for stable clearance; we only hope he’s told Lyn.

Brian

Tags adventure, clare, england, history, Suffolk, travel, Windmill cycling club

The Pheasant

True crime

Thursday saw a lowish turnout – just eight Windmillers – but it meant we could all cycle together as one group. Starting once again from The Pheasant, Andrew led the team out of Great Chishill heading for Elmdon, Arkesdon and Rickling Green, where we pulled in at The Cricketer’s Arms for coffee.

How do you know your horse has a drug problem? When you find a needle in a haystack

The return leg took us through The Pelhams, the picturesque Hertfordshire villages that feature in real life murder mysteries; notably the 2004 shooting in Furneux Pelham and the 1970 kidnapping-cum-murder in Stocking Pelham. Not so much The Pelhams as The Felons then, though Brent Pelham seems the exception, having avoided any gruesome national headlines, at least for now.

Back at the pub, we were pleased to see Ken and Paul joining us for lunch. Maurice would have come too, but for the fulsome attention he is getting at Addenbrookes. We wish him well and look forward to seeing him back in the peloton soon.

For the record our riders were: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Deborah, Howard, MartinB, Rod and Roger. Keep safe in the Pelhams, Roger.

Our thanks go to Andrew for planning the outing (we were impressed this week’s GPX actually matched the route).

And here is this weeks’ caption competition . . .

Brian

Tags Windmill cycling club

The Pheasant

Tattoos but no haggis

A Burns Supper is a haggis-based meal, accompanied by whisky, and held on 25 January to celebrate the life of Scottish poet, Robert Burns, 1759 – 1796. Alas, there was no haggis available at The Pheasant this year, at least not during lunchtime, so it was left to individual Windmillers to hold their own celebration later that day.

Ten Windmillers – Alan, Andrew, Brian, Gareth, Graham, Howard, Martin B, Nigel, Ric and this week’s leader, Rod – set off from The Pheasant for a very hilly 30-odd mile circuit to the south and east. Along the way, Rod took us on a short diversion to see a 17th century car wash. Back in the day, coaches and carts had wooden wheels with metal tyres, and in warm, dry weather the wood could shrink causing spokes to fall out or the loss of the metal tyres. To prevent this, they were regularly driven into water to soak the wood, while also washing the cart.

Mid-way, we pulled in at Poppy’s Barn, where we were joined by Geoff, who had popped over to join us for coffee and cake. Back on the bikes we made the return leg via Clavering, Newport and Wendens Ambo to The Pheasant, where we were joined for lunch by Ken and Maurice.

It was over lunch that Martin B showed us his new tattoo. Having a son who runs a parlour, he felt he couldn’t really say no. Martin joins Sandra in becoming, as far as we know, only the second inked Windmiller. Club members will be pleased to know that mate’s rates are available at Curious Crow Tattoo, Diss, Suffolk, and they do piercings too.

31 miles anticlockwise from Great Chishill

Thanks go to Rod for planning the route, leading the ride and showing us the wagon wash, about which there’s more here from the BBC.

Brian

Tags burns-night, haggis, robert-burns

Old Butchers Uncategorized

A bridge too far

Dark mutterings were heard amongst the e-bikers as we gathered for the ride on Thursday. They were unimpressed with Brian’s route, given it would involve hauling their heavy machines up and over the A11 footbridge. Brian put their minds at rest; there would be two groups, one taking the bridge, the other taking a slightly longer diversion around it.

Setting out from the Square & Compasses, Great Shelford, Jeremy led the bridge grapplers – Alan, Andrew, Gareth, Howard and Roger – while Brian led the bridge-phobics, namely Rod, Paul and two Martins. It would be a 31 mile circuit; 32 with the diversion.

All hands aloft at Streetly End Mill. Built in 1802, it ceased milling after the sails blew off in 1895. The timber-framed house on the left dates from c1600 and is Grade II listed.

Also at Streetly End, Howard came across this colony of gnomes

Despite the extra mile, Brian’s group proved the quicker, arriving first at Balsham’s Old Butchers for coffee. Being only 10 miles into the outing, not to mention that it was only a few degrees above freezing, we stoked up on caffeine and cake before heading on, via Streetly End, to Horseheath, Cardinal’s Green, Shudy Camps, Bartlow and Hadstock. Somewhere thereabouts, Roger pulled up with a puncture. Normally, a fairly straightforward problem to fix but, with Alan and Andrew keen to help, it took two attempts and the best part of an hour before Roger was back on the road. Windmill Club puncture repairs are best regarded as team building exercises.

Team building: Alan and Roger, with Andrew behind the camera.

The return leg, via Linton, Hildersham, Pampisford and Sawston passed uneventfully as we headed back to Shelford and the Square & Compasses. We last lunched there four years ago (as you can read here) when we celebrated Lawrence’s birthday; he is sadly missed.

Sharing a long table, we were delighted to be joined by Ken and Maurice, and even more delighted that Martin – this week’s birthday boy, was buying the beer.

Maurice showed us the list of charity donations he had made on the club’s behalf. We raised just under £5000 during 2023, monies being distributed to Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia, Addenbrookes Charitable Trust, East Anglia Children’s Hospice, Macmillan Nurses, Samaritans, Pets as Therapy, Arthur Rank Hospice, Marie Curie, Breast Cancer and Bowel Cancer. Well done all.

31 miles (or 32 miles avoiding the bridge) : Shelford – Stapleford – Sawston – Babraham – The Abingtons – Balsham – Streetly End – Horseheath – Cardinal’s Green – Mill Green – Barton – Hadstock – Linton – Hildersham – Pampisford – Sawston – Stapleford – Great Shelford

Tags Windmill cycling club

Great Chishill The Pheasant

Andrew’s mystery tour

Mystery tour: An organized pleasure trip whose destination is kept secret.
Oxford English Dictionary

With the first Thursday of the year fast approaching, Andrew was keeping us guessing as to whether or not there would be a ride. No doubt recovering from Hogmanay, it was Wednesday before he finally WhatsApped, “I’ll work out our mystery ride later today”, shortly followed by “See you at The Pheasant 10am”, followed by “Make that 09:30” and with a GPX route attached.

It was the GPX that, upon further inspection, caused some consternation as it included Violets Lane, officially the longest ford in England, where the River Ash runs along the roadway for half a mile or so. Not to mention the several off-road sections, some of which didn’t even follow footpaths; and all this after the wettest December on record. It looked more like a route for the Hertfordshire Hunt.

Undeterred, some fifteen Windmillers turned up at The Pheasant on Thursday morning, eager to work off their Christmas excess and curious to know what Andrew had in store.

Assuring us there was a drier alternative to Violets Lane, and that the off-road excursions were mere mapping errors, Andrew led the way out of Great Chishill heading for Anstey and the Pelhams.

Not as wet as Violets Lane but still pedal-deep

There was indeed a lot of water about and at one point we chanced our way along a hundred yards or more of flooded road. Thankfully, no more than pedal deep, we got through ok, though Keith was miffed that his socks got wet.

We had hoped to stop for a coffee at Rickling Green but, alas, the Cricketer’s Arms was closed. The bench on the village green provided an ideal spot for Keith to remove his sodden socks and replace them with dry gloves.

Keith, replacing sodden socks with dry gloves.

Despite our caffeine deficit we made short work of the return leg to The Pheasant where we were delighted to be joined by Chris for lunch.

Andrew’s route in red – and our actual route, 26 miles, in blue.

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Jenni, Jeremy, Keith, Maurice, Paul, Ric and Rod.

Our thanks go to Andrew, we never doubted you really and it was a lovely route. Also to Charles and Graham for the photographs.

Brian

Tags Windmill cycling club

Uncategorized

Follow that star

And it came to pass that wise men from the east followed their star to Buntingford Coffee Shop. Notable among the wise men were Brian, Chris, Geoff, Jeremy, Ken and Rod. And the star? Why that was Maurice, of course.

Star of wonder, star of night,
Guide us by thy perfect light

Last Thursday’s ride, postponed due to high winds, finally got underway this Thursday as we set off from Heath Farm heading up the hill into a stiff southerly, spurred on by the prospect of coffee and cake at Buntingford.

And it was there, outside the coffee shop, that we were accosted by a dapper chap carrying shopping; it was none other than our old riding partner, John Bagrie. Much handshaking and backslapping ensued as seasonal greetings were exchanged.

Caffeine and glucose levels restored, we saddled up and headed north on the return leg – thankfully with the wind now behind us – and spurred on by the prospect of mulled wine and mince pies at Maurice’s. This ride was fast becoming a cake-fest.

Back at Heath Farm, we were delighted to be joined by Ann, Simon, Charles, Andrew and Lindsey, as we tucked into mince pies and brandy butter, washed down generous drafts of mulled wine.

Our thanks go to Maurice and Lynn for their hospitality.

A very happy new year to all our readers. And remember, you can re-live all our 2023 outings here in the ride log.

Brian

Tags christmas, mince-pies

Cambridgeshire Three Horseshoes, Stapleford

A nip in the air

Thursday morning was cold. Some indeed, likened the weather to wintry. Not so Simon, our hardy annual, who turned out resolute in Empire shorts. Joining him were a dozen or so more delicate, some might say effete, types kitted out in an assortment of cold weather apparel, not to mention the odd item of ski wear.

Setting off from The Three Horseshoes, Stapleford, Jeremy led the peloton via Haslingfield, Barrington and Melbourn to Shepreth, where we pulled in at Hot Numbers for coffee, cake and the usual lively conversation.

Overhead at Hot Numbers, we think it’s a c.1929 Raleigh 350cc Sports

Back on the bikes, we were pleasantly surprised, nay bemused, by a white van driver slowing down, hailing us with compliments and, in particular, commenting favourably on Tom’s shiny new helmet.

Heading back via Fowlmere and Duxford, Martin suggested pulling in at Whittlesford’s Church of St Mary and St Andrew to see the new stained glass window. Villagers raised the princely sum of £20,000 for this striking artwork depicting scenes from the Covid-19 pandemic and celebrating 1000 years since the church’s founding. It is indeed a magnificent addition to this fine old building. There’s more here as reported by the BBC.

The new window at St Mary and St Andrew’s Church, Whittlesford

Back in Stapleford, we enjoyed a Greek-themed lunch, not to mention a beer or two, at The Three Horseshoes.

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Jeremy, Martin, Nigel, Paul, Ric, Simon, Sandra, Tom and Victor.

Our thanks go to Jeremy for organising and leading another splendid outing.

Brian

Tags stapleford, Three Horseshoes, Windmill cycling club

Pig & Abbot

Partial to Pat’s Pies

Eeee, when I were a lad, my idea of a Saturday teatime treat was a Frey Bentos steak & kidney pie in front of the telly while my dad, glued to the Grandstand footy results, ticked off the score draws on his pools coupon. As the years went by there came an awareness of other pies and, wonder of wonders, some weren’t even tinned! Who’d have thought, eh?

These days, with a somewhat more sophisticated palate, I know what constitutes a prize winning pie and, to my mind, that accolade goes to Pat at the Pig & Abbot, whose delicious steak & kidney, served up with sumptuous gravy and tangy red cabbage, is the one to beat.

So it was good news to hear that Maurice had planned Thursday’s ride to start and finish at Pat’s pub. Blessed with unseasonably warm weather, he led the way out of Abington Piggots and, via The Mordens and Potton, on to Waresley where we pulled in at the garden centre for light refreshment, mindful not to overdo the cake lest we spoil our appetite for lunch.

Back on the bikes, we made short work of the return leg, via Hadley St George and Shingay, to the Pig & Abbot and the prospect of some fine pie. Sipping our pints, the conversation was lively and wide-ranging, everything from ailments to the rugby world cup, not to mention Jeremy’s unusual spreadsheet obsession.

For the record the turnout was: Andrew, Brian, Chris, Deborah, Jenni, Jeremy, Maurice, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger and Simon – and back at the pub we were delighted to see Howard, Ken and Ann join us for lunch.

30 miles clockwise from Abington Pigotts

Our thanks go to Maurice and Andrew for planning another excellent outing – and to Pat for the stonkingly good pies.

Brian

The Chestnut Tree West Wratting The Star Lidgate West Wratting

Rude health

Being a fairly senior bunch, many’s the Windmiller toting a longish medical record. Some indeed have more than a passing acquaintance with hospital wards, having had worn out parts replaced or unwanted parts removed. It is to this elite group of scarred and stitched Windmillers that we now admit Simon.

Just weeks on from having surgeons rifling through his innards, Simon was back in the peloton looking chipper and regaling us with the gory details. Guts, lots of ’em, plus a stout constitution had seen him through a challenging time – and here he was back in the peloton as it set off from West Wratting bound for Lidgate.

So it was that Alan, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Ken, Martin B, Martin W, Maurice, Ric, Rod, Roger, Simon, Tom and Victor – some 15 Windmillers in all – rolled up 12 miles later in the bar of The Star in Lidgate. Mid-morning being a little early for ale, we tucked into coffee and some excellent cake the chef had made specially for us.

Back on the bikes, Maurice’s scenic route returned us – via Moulton, Cheveley and Dullingham – to West Wratting where we slaked our, by then considerable, thirst at The Chestnut Tree. Considering it was September, it had been a hot and humid ride, touching 30°C towards the end, but there were no complaints as we supped our beer and tucked into a hearty lunch in the garden. As ever, the conversation was wide ranging; everything from re-inforced, autoclaved, aerated concrete to Martin mooting a French trip next year.

Thanks go to Maurice for planning a superb route and getting everyone organised. And Simon, welcome back!

Brian

Tags The Chestnut Tree, West Wratting, Windmill cycling club

Café 19 Café 19 Duxford, Linton, Old Butchers Cambridge Duxford

Swimmingly well

Thursday saw Jeremy leading some eighteen Windmillers out of Duxford headed for Cambridge. Along the way some of us popped in to look at Jesus Green Lido which only the previous day had celebrated its centenary. Alongside the River Cam in central Cambridge and open all year round, the unheated (brrr!) pool is 100-yard long and, together with Tooting Bec Lido in London, it shares the accolade of being the longest pool in the UK. Regulars pride themselves on year round, daily dips, many donning wetsuits in winter.

. . . celebrates its centenary, with a little help from Hazel

From there we pedalled off along the Cam towpath pulling in some five miles further up river for refreshment at Grounds Café in Milton Country Park.

Returning through Cambridge, weaving through the tourists thronging Trinity Street and the colleges, we headed back via Grantchester, Hauxton and Whittlesford to Duxford and a well earned lunch at Café 19.

We had a bumper turnout: Alan, Brian, Charles, Hazel, Geoff, Howard, Iain, Jenni, Jeremy, Ken, MartinB, MartinW, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger, Sandra and Victor – and we were delighted to see Maurice joining us for lunch.

Our thanks go to Jeremy for organising another excellent outing.

Brian

Bedfordshire Hinxworth

Graham’s ride

It was Graham’s turn to lead the outing and, given the large turnout of 15 riders, he very reasonably asked that we form two equal-sized groups. How hard can that be? A seemingly impossible task for Windmillers, we ended up with one group of five and another of ten. Nice try, Graham.

Setting off from The Three Horseshoes at Hinxworth, Graham led us over the border into Bedfordshire for a 30-odd mile loop around Biggleswade. Fine weather, beautiful countryside and quiet roads made for a very enjoyable outing, the only hairy bit being the hundred yard stretch along the pavement bordering the busy A1 at Sandy.

Alan leads MartinB, Maurice and Rod up and over the A1

Mid-way we pulled in at The Cowshed Café in Northill for coffee and cake. Our first visit and certainly not our last, it’s a lovely place that works really hard to attract passing cyclists.

Gareth, Charles, Deb and Roger tucking into sticky buns

Ric, Andrew, Graham, Howard Keith and Ken

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Gareth, Graham, Howard, Ken, Keith, MartinB, Maurice, Ric, Rod and Roger.

Rod visits Ireland, a little-known hamlet in Bedfordshire

Our thanks go to Graham for planning and leading an excellent outing.

Brian

Tags Windmill cycling club

The Chestnut Tree West Wratting The Star Lidgate West Wratting

A new grandma

Boasting an abundance of grandfathers, the club has hitherto suffered a shortfall in grandmothers. But that all changed on Thursday when Deb announced she had become the proud grandma of Fraser, the latest addition to the Goodman clan. Congratulations, Deb.

Ready for the off, proud Grannie Deb to the fore

There was good news too from Simon who is out of hospital and on the mend following his successful surgery in London. We look forward to seeing him again soon.

So it was in high spirits that the Windmillers set out from The Chestnut Tree, West Wratting, on a 30-mile jaunt to the The Star at Lidgate and back. A pub-to-pub-to-pub outing; what larks!

Maurice led the way, followed by Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deb, Graham, Howard, Iain, Jenni, Jeremy, Ken, MartinB, Victor and Rod; fifteen Windmillers in all.

Doing our bit to support the 500 year-old bridge at Moulton

We were very impressed with The Star, Maurice having arranged for the landlady to open up specially for us. Not only was the coffee good but she laid on sausage rolls and cake too. We really should plan a ride from there soon and try the place for lunch.

Andrew full of praise for the excellent cake at The Star

Thanks go to Maurice for planning the route, Andrew for getting everyone organised and Charles for the many photographs.

30-ish miles clockwise from West Wratting

Brian

Café 19 Duxford Madingley Hall

Dino Dung

Many’s the time we have cycled across Trumpington Meadows oblivious to the dinosaur dung. Yes, really. Coprolite is the fossilised faeces of animals that lived millions of years ago and it was mined here in Cambridgeshire for use as fertiliser right up to the First World War. Admittedly, the Trumpington deposits are now thought to comprise mostly other organic material, but there’s plenty of real dinosaur poo elsewhere in the county.

Trumpington Meadows’ coprolite mine in 1914 . . .

Plenty more fossils to be seen on Trumpington Meadows

But enough of pre-history, how about something more recent, like Madingley Hall, the picturesque 16th century pile where we pulled up for coffee on Thursday’s ride.

It’s a lovely place but, boy, is the service slow. We must have spent an hour there, though that did include a brief foray into the magnificent walled garden where Gareth took this splendid picture.

Back at Café 19 in Duxford, Ric, top chap, announced it was his birthday and bought us all a beer. We didn’t ask his age but there’s a clue in that 1970s hairstyle.

For the record our peloton comprised: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Gareth, Geoff, Howard, Iain, Jenni, Jeremy, MartinB, Paul, Ric. Rod, Roger and Simon; Victor joining us for lunch.

Thanks again to Ric; that was a big round!

Thanks, also, to Jeremy for planning and leading another splendid outing.

Jeremy’s route; a 33 mile circuit clockwise from Duxford

Brian

PS: If fossilised poo is your thing you’ll love this, but maybe not before dinner.

Tags Windmill cycling club

Café 19 Duxford

Local knowledge

Café 19, so named after the no. 19 Spitfire Squadron* based at Duxford during the war, was once again the starting point for Thursday’s ride. This time however, not only were we booked in for lunch afterwards, but Martin had also hired a meeting room and arranged a talk on local geography and history; more of which later.

Roger, Ric, Alan, MartinB and Charles at Cherry Hinton Hall

Jeremy’s plan had been for a largely off-road jaunt but, given the overnight rain, he wisely opted for a mud-free, tarmacked circuit instead. So it was that twelve** Windmillers set out from Duxford heading for Hinxton and thence Ickleton, Fowlmere, Shelford, Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn.

Cresting the Gog Magog Hills south of Cambridge

Pulling in for refreshments at Stapleford Granary, we were warmly welcomed and treated to free coffee; this as recompense for our last visit a month ago when it took nearly an hour for everyone to get served. Andrew’s subsequent complaint to the management seemed to work wonders. It probably helped that Lindsey, his better half, has a business elsewhere on the premises.

Coffee on the terrace at Stapleford Granary

Sipping coffee and munching cake on the terrace, we reminisced about our first visit five years ago which was notable for Andrew touring the arts centre and concert hall – and playing some thundering chords on the Steinway grand. This got the management’s attention (Lindsey again) and he was firmly asked to vacate the piano stool and shoo.

Refreshed, our 12-strong** peloton set off on the return leg via Great Shelford and Whittlesford, back to Duxford where we were delighted to be joined by Maurice, Ken and Victor – the latter having taken an unfortunate tumble from his bike and needing a little attention to his abrasions. Glad to say, nothing was broken.

A 33 mile figure of eight route from Duxford

After an excellent lunch, we listened to a very interesting presentation given by Ken McDonald, Secretary of the Hundred Parishes Society. The society celebrates and promotes our home patch, a region of some 450 square miles ranging across northwest Essex, northeast Hertfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire. Largely unspoilt and richly endowed with some of England’s finest villages and rural heritage, few people, indeed not that many of its inhabitants, know much about the area, maybe because it has never been accorded a name – until now. Coined by the Society, the new name reflects the fact that the area comprises some one hundred administrative parishes.

Ken, assisted by his Janice, his wife, gave an excellent talk, all the more enjoyable as it referenced many of the places we visit on Windmill Club outings.

Our thanks go to Jeremy for planning and leading the ride, Martin for arranging the talk and, of course, Ken and Janice McDonald for a very enlightening and enjoyable presentation.

Brian

*No. 19 Squadron was stationed at RAF Duxford from September 1939.Notable among its pilots was Douglas Bader who was posted to the squadron in February 1940. Later that year the squadron provided air cover over the Dunkirk beaches and subsequently fought in the Battle of Britain.

**The twelve Windmillers were: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Howard, Jeremy, MartinB, Nigel, Ric, Rod and Roger.

Tags Stapleford Granary, Windmill cycling club