Author: Brian Connellan

Old pumps

Our first Thursday outing of the year and, alas, Graham, the poor chap who’d planned the ride, tendered a sick note. Undeterred, we wished him well and set off from The Black Horse, Brent Pelham, following the GPX route Graham had kindly supplied.

The ride featured a new – to us – coffee stop, Crumbs Bakery & Café in Watton-at-Stone. “Muddy boot walkers are welcome, cyclists can have the perfect refuel, and we love a good dog!” says the website. All bread and pastries are baked on site and I can personally vouch for the excellence of the Eccles cakes. That said, it is a small establishment and while the six of us were comfortably accommodated I fear they would struggle to fit in more than ten of us given a larger turnout.

Notable along the way was the old garage at Dane End. Now converted into a home, the petrol pumps have been retained and the frontage has featured in several TV period dramas such as Grantchester and Foyle’s War.

Don’t tell Graham but at Roger’s behest we cut a corner towards the end, allegedly to save a mile and get to the pub more quickly. But, don’t tell Roger, there were mutterings in the peloton about it being muddy and, in Brian’s case, puncture inducing. That said, Roger did the decent thing and drove back to pick him up, so all was forgiven and Brian, this week’s birthday boy, was decent enough to buy everyone a beer.

Graham’s route in blue – with Roger’s shortcut shown in red

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Howard, Gareth and Roger – and Geoff joined us for lunch in the pub. Get well soon, Graham.

Tags Windmill cycling club

Henham

All wrapped up

Setting out from Henham, it was a decidedly chilly 1°C. This may not have been our coldest outing (undoubtedly that was last January when for the entire morning it remained several degrees below), but reason enough for Victor to leave his shorts in the drawer.

So it was that ten* hardy Windmillers pedalled away from The Cock Inn, well wrapped against the cold. It should have been a fifteen-strong turnout but for five sheepish excuses received, all with dog-ate-my-homework themes. Some credence, however, was given to Charles’ account of being unable to start his car, and he at least went to the trouble of sending a photograph. As for the others, we await sick notes.

A long face alongside a broken down jalopy. We missed you, Charles

Graham’s route was scenic and free of traffic, with many a quiet lane, one muddy track and a very welcome coffee stop at the Blue Egg. But given the cold, no one was willing to remove a glove (certainly not Brian, who was wearing three pairs) and take a photograph. Alas, dear reader, you will have to make do with Charles’ mugshot above and the map below.

Otherwise, there’s not much to report: no punctures, nobody fell off and it wasn’t anybody’s birthday so, sadly, we all had to buy our own beer, and we enjoyed a hearty lunch back at The Cock.

Thanks go to Graham for planning the day and leading the ride.

* The turnout was: Alan, Brian, Deborah, Graham, Howard, Neil, Nigel, Rod, Tom and Victor. Well done, all.

Bures Café Hygge Long Melford

A Halloween outing

Thursday being Halloween, we were on the lookout for wizards, witches and ghouls. However, we mostly just saw pumpkins until, arriving in Long Melford, we were greeted spookily by the ladies serving coffee and cake at Café Hygge.

We were 16 miles into a 30-mile outing: Alan, Brian, Jeremy, Keith, Neil, Roger and Simon having set off earlier from The Eight Bells in Bures (locals pronounce it Bew-is), a pretty village straddling the River Stour which for most of its length marks the boundary between Essex and Suffolk.

The ride from Bures to Long Melford was picturesque with plenty of twists and turns, not to mention ups and downs, along quiet lanes notable for long stretches of grass, gravel and occasionally mud too. Tucked away in a deep valley between Twinstead and Great Henny, we pulled up to admire the 14th century farmhouse at Sparrow’s Farm.

According to the Colne-Stour Countryside Association website, when renovated in 2011 the farmhouse was found to have several honeybee colonies living in the walls. These were “of immense size . . . it was necessary for us to remove two of them from the bedroom wall in the farmhouse, because they made a constant buzzing and heated up the walls with their activity, as well as, at times, coming up through the floorboards . . . we also removed over 60lbs of honey from the walls“. That’s rural idylls for you.

Quiet roads with grass up the middle – and sometimes mud and gravel too.

The outbound ride having been northwards along the Essex side of the Stour, on leaving Long Melford, we turned south and made the return leg down the Suffolk side.

Back in Bures, we enjoyed a pint and a good lunch at The Eight Bells, an old-fashioned, welcoming sort of place offering a decent selection of real ales and good value, hearty pub fare – and they were more than happy to provide early morning coffee and biscuits too. We must go back.

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Maurice leads the way

Lovely ride today on another of Maurice’s scenic, traffic-free routes along the border between north Herts and north Essex. Setting off from The Catherine Wheel, Albury, we headed for Hazel End where we turned north for Manuden, Rickling and Arkesden, clocking up some sixteen miles before pulling in for refreshments at Compass Courtyard.

Back on the bikes and turning south, we headed for Langley Upper Green and the Pelhams – where Brian pulled up to fix a puncture – before returning to Albury for lunch at the pub.

Thanks go to Maurice for another fine route.

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Deborah, Howard, Jenni, Keith, Maurice, Nigel, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger and Simon.

Tags Maurice Warner, The Catherine Wheel Albury, Windmill cycling club

Suffolk

Keith’s birthday bash

A fine autumn morning saw Keith leading the Windmillers once more around the route he pioneered several weeks ago, only this time we were doing it t’other way round. Setting off, we’d also noticed Keith sporting new footwear. Gone was the shower caps ‘n trainers combo – a look he had made all his own – here he was resplendent in shiny new gardening clogs. When it comes to combining function with cutting edge style, the man is a visionary.

Keith’s group, with Keith behind the camera

So it was that we followed Keith through many a quaintly-named Suffolk village – Belchamp St Paul, Belchamp Otten, Belchamp Walter, Puttock End – along quiet lanes, many of which qualified for one of Maurice’s Nice Road Awards having little or no traffic and lots of grass growing down the middle.

Brian’s group, with him behind the camera

It was certainly a hilly route. At the outset Tom’s satnav was forecasting 12 hill climbs totalling some 1500 feet, information some of us really didn’t want or need to know. In pre-satnav days, you never knew what was around the next corner and in many ways you were psychologically better prepared for the hard yards ahead; you just got on with it.

That said, whenever the going got tough, some of the pedallers were glad of the helpful push-alongs from kindly e-bikers. Step up Charles, top chap!

Once again, we pulled in for coffee at Willow Tree Farm Café, just outside Glemsford where, having slogged up seven of the twelve hills we were warmed up enough to sit outside and enjoy the pale autumn sunshine.

Arriving back at the Swan Inn, birthday boy Keith kindly bought us all a beer as we complimented him on his excellent route. Nobody mentioned his eccentric taste in footwear. Happy Birthday, Keith!

For the record, the twelve Windmillers turning out for the ride were: Brian, Charles, Deborah, Geoff, Keith, Maurice, Nigel, Rod, Roger, Tom and Victor. Well done, team!

Keith’s route: 31 miles anticlockwise from Clare

Tags blog, clare, finance, news, reviews, satire, Windmill cycling club

Cambridgeshire

Some new hospitality venues

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date October 3, 2024
No Comments on Some new hospitality venues

News travels fast in the licensed trade. So when the landlord of the Hare & Hounds suggested we lunch in the garden we guessed he’d been warned about Simon’s inability to hold a drink. Fortunately, it was a sunny autumn day and an al fresco lunch made for the perfect end to a delightful morning’s ride.

Windmillers gathering at The Hare & Hounds, Harlton, with Charles behind the camera

Led by Brian, we had set off in two groups from Harlton on a 30 mile circuit taking in the pretty villages of Knapwell, Elsworth and Boxworth, places we last visited some five years ago, and it was in Elsworth that we pulled in at Frank’s Farm, for us a new venue serving good coffee and home made cakes in a very pleasant garden overlooking a meadow.

Back on the bikes we notched up another first for the club, crossing not just one but two suspension bridges dedicated to cyclists, walkers and horseriders. (Bridge nerds will know these are really cable-stayed bridges rather than suspension bridges and, if you really want to know the difference, it’s all here.)

Between the bridges there was a two-mile purpose built cycleway running beside the eight lanes of traffic that form the new A14 plus the adjacent old road it replaced; all a bit noisy but otherwise safe, easy riding back to the more rural lanes leading to Dry Drayton and Madingley.

For the record, the turnout was 12 Windmillers: Alan, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Howard, Jeremy, Keith, Neil, Ric, Simon and Tom – plus Ken and Rod who turned up for lunch.

Tags Hare & Hounds Harlton, Windmill cycling club

Wet and hilly

Windmillers are nothing if not eccentric. Indeed, some might say downright batty. Where else would you find a cyclist who, shunning conventional wet weather apparel, improvises using shower caps – yes, shower caps – for both headwear and footwear. And then we have another member who, having already experienced a wet weather soaking proceeds to spill not just one, but two pints of beer in his lap. Windmillers, eh? Outwardly normal, but kinda weird.

So it was on Thursday morning that some thirteen singular, strange and unique cyclists were seen gathering at The Red Lion in Preston – that’s the pretty little village in Herts rather than the dour mill town in Lancs – where Sandra had summoned the club for a 30-mile tour of the countryside around Stevenage. And it was here while sipping our pre-ride coffees that Keith, hearing rain was forecast, removed his shoes and pulled on some natty floral shower caps over his socks before putting his shoes back on. Nobody batted an eyelid.

Come 9.30 we were off, Sandra leading one group and Brian the other. The first half of the outing, which took us as far as the delightful Brewery Tearooms in Walkern, was uneventful, other than Alan having to pull over and fix a puncture.

Sandra helps with Alan’s puncture repair

Until the refreshment stop we had stayed dry, but it was as we exited the tearooms that the weather closed in and, sensing rain, Keith proceeded to remove his helmet, then one shoe and one shower cap which, for the remainder of the ride, he wore under his helmet. Stone the crows, Keith!

Sandra had warned us about the stiff climb on the final half mile of the ride – and there’s no doubt it was the steepest hill we’ve experienced this year; easy for the e-bikers but a real slog for the pedallers. But to my knowledge, no one got off and pushed. Well done, team.

It was in the pub that Simon, already wet from the ride, did his party piece of spilling a pint in his lap, replacing it with another, only to spill that one in exactly the same manner. Now that’s what you call a drink problem.

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Keith, Neil, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger, Sandra, Simon, Victor.

Thanks go to Sandra for organising a super ride (we will overlook the killer hill). Also to Deb, Simon and Charles for the many photographs.

Just £2.99 on Amazon for a pack of four – while stocks last

Tags Hertfordshire, Windmill cycling club

Café 19 Cambridgeshire Uncategorized

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

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Graham’s route & Ric’s round

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date July 18, 2024
2 Comments 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

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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

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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