The Windmill Cycle Club

A misty autumnal morning saw five Windmillers gathering in the car park of the Fox & Duck at Therfield; Andrew, John B, Keith and Brian giving a warm welcome to Sandra on this, her first Thursday outing with the gang.

Andrew had mapped out our general direction, a 30 mile circuit of North Hertfordshire and, this being his home turf, we left it to John B to pick out the choicest route through Dane End, Sandon, Rushden, Luffenhall and Weston to Baldock where we stopped for refreshment at the Delizia Café. The coffee was very good though John, finding the beer selection (Peroni or nothing) somewhat limited, opted instead for strawberry infused cider, a pink concoction which, we all agreed, looked a bit girly on him.

Refreshed, and now in glorious sunshine, we made short work of the return leg through Bygrave, Ashwell and Kelshall, returning to the Fox & Duck where we were joined by Vernon for a hearty lunch of steak sandwiches. As ever, the conversation ranged widely, everything from plastic fivers to the best way of shearing an alapaca (ask Sandra). In particular, we lamented the absence of our pal John T who we all hope to see out riding again soon.

This was a day we had all been looking forward to, a ride around God’s own County – Norfolk – but it had a sad end when John Tarrington unfortunately fell off his bike and broke his wrist, which required a speedy transfer by a paramedic to a hospital in Kings Lynn. We all wish John a speedy recovery and hope it won’t be too long before he can join us again. Accidents are few and far between, luckily, but this just shows that our rides are not devoid of risk, even on a warm sunny afternoon on a quiet country lane, and so we should all take greater care particularly as the days get shorter and the nights draw in.

Until John’s accident the other seven Puffs (the communal name for Windmill Club members) had completed about 90% of Maurice’s planned circuit from Fakenham, taking in sleepy Great Snoring, Wells next-the-Sea, Holkham, Burnham Market, Burnham Thorpe and Great / Little Walsingham en route, the Puffs comprising Maurice, Andrew, John B, Keith, Ken, Brian and Martin. We kept more or less to Maurice’s route but at times split up into a daredevil off-road group of two, John B and Ken, and a narrow gauge railway appreciation group (the others) but we all met up on the quayside at Wells for large helpings of shrimps, whelks and seafood as a mid-morning snack.

The planned route:

…………and the actual:

…..the main difference being a wonderful off-road stretch behind the beach at Wells as far as Holkham and a different route back after lunch.

After Holkham there was a busy stretch of the main coast road for a couple of miles (impatient drivers in God’s own County!) before turning off to peaceful and picturesque Burnham Market (also known as Chelsea-on-Sea), where John B showed us a cottage he was once tempted to acquire.

Next was actually Station Street, Burnham Market where Martin stopped off to say hello to a former colleague who he knew would be opening a can of Speckled Hen on the dot of noon………….. The others rode on to the lunchtime stop at the historic Lord Nelson pub in nearby Burnham Thorpe where Martin caught them up for a delicious lunch in the garden.

John T told us how Nelson had his last meal on English soil with his midshipman upstairs in the pub before setting off to fight at Trafalgar. Sadly, the table where they sat which had his initials carved in it appears to have gone missing since the room was converted to accommodation for kitchen staff just a few years ago……………. Nelson learnt to sail at nearby Burnham Overy Staite – it’s said that if you can sail there you can sail anywhere.

So, after a good lunch it was then back via Little and Great Walsingham but there was no sign of Our Lady of Walsingham – she probably knew we were coming and had gone shopping for the day in Norwich. And soon after that, John’s accident happened which took the edge off what had been a wonderful day up to that point. But the team worked well in organising an ambulance and looking after John until the paramedic arrived.Meanwhile Maurice and Andrew collected John’s car and loaded his bike for Andrew to drive home whilst John was swept off to hospital in Kings Lynn by the paramedic.

Thanks once again to Maurice and his Deputy Dawg Andrew for planning the ride and organising the lunch stop.

…………or in skiing jargon, should it have been green, blue, red or black? Those were the choices provided by our leader Maurice on a delightful sunny evening to five other Windmillers who accompanied him on the ride – Deputy Dawg Andrew, John B, Half scone Keith, Tiny Tim and the old blogger Moley Martin who was back in the saddle after being off games for a few weeks. Here were the choices:

All chose to do a combination of the red, blue and black of 19 miles which took in almost every hill possible and created quite a thirst and appetite for cod goujons by the time we returned to The Pheasant, and excellent goujons they were too.

Thanks, Maurice, for planning the route. The evenings are drawing in and so it was good to make the most of this one.

 

 

 

A gloriously sunny Thursday morning saw just five riders: Maurice, Andrew, John T, Keith and Brian, set out from Widdington on a circular route taking in Berdon, Furneux Pelham, Standon, Little Hadham, Farnham and Elsenham.

Puckeridge being our mid-way point, it seemed only reasonable to stop off at the Something Lovely tea room on the High Street for a caffeine & cake fix. We like this place for the quirky decor (there’s an upside down table & chairs nailed to the ceiling) and excellent home baking, not to mention their tolerance of Keith throwing the crockery about.

Sugar levels restored, we leapt on our saddles and blazed the 17 miles back to the Fleur de Lys at Widdington – just in time to catch the two course over-60s meal deal. We Windmillers like to keep well-provisioned.

Fresh air, exercise, hearty fare and good company: what more could a man want?

The thunderstorms had passed but a combination of overcast skies, holidays, sick notes (Maurice and Martin) and dodgy excuses (Keith was having a haircut) meant that just four Windmillers turned out for our regular Thursday morning ride.

So it was that Andrew, Rick, Alan and Brian set off on a 33 mile tour of the villages to the south of Great Chishill. Andrew led the way and, this being his home patch, guided us around some of the hidden charms of the Essex / Herts border country . . .

• Shortgrove Hall, where we stopped off inside the gates to admire the Capability Brown landscape, the beautiful bridge over the Cam and, er, Andrew’s paddocks.
• Kell’s house in Newport, where we knocked and asked his missus could Kell come out to play? Indeed he could – so then we were five.
• The Cricketer’s Arms, Rickling Green, where we stopped for coffee.
• St George’s Church, Anstey, where we viewed the beautiful stained glass window commemorating the US airmen based who were based there in WW2.
• Anstey being Keith’s village we also took the opportunity to check out the haircut story. He did indeed appear freshly shorn so we gave him the benefit of the doubt. He even promised to join us at The Pheasant.
• Brent Pelham, where Kell tried to convince us that there was a giant buried in St Mary’s churchyard. Another of his tall tales, we thought. But sure enough there is such a legend.

  

• The Royal Observer Corps bunker near Brent Pelham, a relic from the Cold War.
• Nuthampstead, where we pulled up outside John Tarrington’s place. We tried all the doors and windows but, sadly, failed to gain entry; neither was there any sign of John.

Returning to The Pheasant for lunch we were joined by Maurice, Martin, Keith and Ken.

Many thanks to Andrew for the guided cultural tour.

Another sunny Thursday morning saw seven Windmillers setting out from The Black Bull at Balsham for a tour of the lanes around the Cambs / Suffolk border. This was a reprise of the route we did back in April, only this time in a clockwise direction. We were dizzy with anticipation.

The Magnificent Seven – Maurice, Andrew, Vernon, Rick, Ken, Keith and Brian – stopped for an early coffee at The Packhorse Inn, Moulton. Imagine our disappointment, however, when having dismounted, parked up and settled ourselves comfortably in the garden, we were told, “Sorry, but we don’t do cake.” The coffee was fine but there wasn’t even a biscuit to dunk. Slim pickings indeed.

Resuming our ride, Andrew, caffeine-high but sugar-low, pulled up at a nearby Costcutter to procure a Mars Bar. Alas, with no means of deep frying the confection, our resident Scot was forced to eat it raw. Desperate times, desperate measures.

Otherwise, it was another glorious ride with Maurice once again leading us through some delightful countryside (though he did stop once to ask a postman the way) and we clocked up a very respectable 39 miles.

Arriving back in Balsham, Keith discovered his car alarm had been going off at regular intervals in the pub car park. Despite the racket, the manager of the Black Bull welcomed us back with an excellent Portuguese themed lunch and deep draughts from a new barrel of Woodford Wherry.

More hills this week, but good to keep the calorie output input in balance. This week’s 30+ mile ride started from The Pheasant and took the puff of Windmillers comprising Maurice, Dawg, Brummie Brian, Marmite Tom, Two scones Keith, Vernon, John T, John B, Ken, Moley and Guest Andrew from Edinburgh anti-clockwise via Barley before stopping firstly outside Maurice’s house to get revved up for the 2 mile hill climb up to Reed. Maurice got particularly revved up having to firstly see off a dodgy looking jogger on his property.

The next stop was outside John B’s house in Sandon and a comfort break in his stable yard:

Then it was through to Wyddial for a splendid coffee / cake stop at Something Lovely (highly recommended) before returning via Brent Pelham, Meesden, Lower Langley and and Chrishall.

Without stopping at The Bull for refreshment, it was then full speed back to The Pheasant for a well earned pint and a good lunch.

Thanks once again to Maurice and his deputy Dawg for organising the ride.

 

What goes down must come up is the nature of cycling from The Pheasant, one of the highest points in South Cambridgeshire at 139 metres / 458 feet above sea level. Who said Cambridgeshire was flat? Today’s ride highlighted this feature when Maurice, Dawg, Vernon, Rick, Ken, John B, John T and Moley started with a long descent to the A505 followed by lane meandering through Melbourn, Whaddon, Wendy and Guilden Morden before a coffee stop in Ashwell where we squashed into a tiny back garden together with local mums and their tiny tots. We were joined there by Pete Tatlow of The Golden Fleece in Braughing who had also started from The Pheasant about 10 minutes behind us.

Fortified by caffeine and cakes the long 2 mile climb back up to Kelshall was completed at varying speeds, depending on cake consumption.

Then it was the usual ups and downs back to Great Chishill via Reed and Barkway followed by an excellent lunch in The Pheasant, after which Ken, Keith and Moley departed for unlimited beer and balti at a 20/20 match in Chelmsford.

Thanks to Maurice and Deputy Dawg Andrew for organising the ride.

10 hot-to-trot riders left Trumpington Park and Ride at 18.00 on the hottest day of the summer so far with temperatures of around 30 degrees.

The posse consisted of Squadron Leader Maurice, Lyn, Dayglow Laura, Deputy Hot Dawg Andrew, Lindsey, Low Cost Ryan, Rev Moley Martin, Two Scones Keith, Wee Jimny Ken and Wee Jimnys wife Anne.

    

Our route took us through Grantchester along Grantchester Meadows into Fen Causeway down the Cam and into punting capital of the world Cambridge. At one point we had to dodge a beached punt which was being used as a photo prop.

Onward then past Kings College into the centre of town and around Market Square to rejoin the Cam near Magdalene College.

One of Deputy Dawgs responsibilities is to check the posse is still intact which involves looking backwards, which is not recommended on a busy hot summer night in Cambridge however, I survived with only a few near misses. Of course no need to turn and check if Lyn and Dayglow Laura are keeping up cause they’re always talking. Additionally, I knew when Low Cost Ryan was behind by the sound of his squeaky brakes.(those cheap electric bikes)

The route took us under a couple of railway bridges to the delight of the trainspotters in our company who will remain nameless – through some pleasant meadows with many contented cows (of the four legged variety) and to our outbound destination the riverside pub called The Plough at Fen Ditton.

Due to the lack of choice of beers and horrendous que’s at the bar our livers survived another day (just as well Herr Bargie wasn’t in our company )

After only one refreshing drink at 20.00 we started our return journey from Fen Ditton along the Cam and through the centre of Cambridge, this time taking a more scenic route than the guided bus which has become somewhat of a hazard which buses recently jumping the rails (concrete)

One final photo at Garret Hostel Lane Bridge where we were photo bombed by a foreign tourist who appears to be also taking a selfie which included Two Scones in the background.

Our route finally took us along Granchester Road returning to Trumpington Park and Ride via The Blue Ball pub which Rev Moley and Two Scones couldn’t resist stopping for a cool refreshment .

I think the rest of us would like to have done similarly however, as Deputy’s Deputy Lindsey would say it was a School Night.

Many thanks to Squadron Leader Maurice for arranging another memorable ride and thanks to the beautiful Girlies for joining us.

Deputy Dawg Andrew

 

 

Starting and finishing at the Fleur de Lys in Widdington, eight Windmillers set off at 9.30am on a 38 mile clockwise circuit through very peaceful Essex and Hertfordshire Lanes:

Those pedalling were Squadron Leader Maurice, Deputy Dawg Andrew, John B, Wee Jimny Ken, Hot Rod, Half scone Keith, Vernon and the Right Reverend Holy Moley Martin. The first stop was at The Three Horseshoes in Farnham but only to admire the landlord’s handsome 1928 Ford Model A truck on the forecourt in the livery of a Stockton-on-Tees haulier, F & F Robinson, with whom Vernon was very familiar. Such is the knowledge of your average Windmiller!

Then it was through the Hadhams and westwards to Barwick Ford where Maurice’s grandfather used to fill up the tender of his traction engine from the River Rib, near to which there also used to be several gunpowder factories, one of which was owned by a German family before the first world war. (Faulty explosives and shells were commonplace during the war which makes us wonder why?) By this time caffeine was needed and a warm welcome was received in Puckeridge by the owner of the Something Lovely Tea Room:

The homeward stretch was a speedy downwind route through Braughing, Furneaux Pelham, Berden and Rickling Green before the final ascent to the Fleur de Lys where the knights enjoyed an excellent lunch at their round table:

Brexit having been thoroughly discussed at Something Lovely, the conversation turned to the more agreeable topic of beer.

Thanks once again to Maurice for planning the ride and to his Deputy Dawg Andrew.

On this fine summer’s evening, Lyn B had five male escorts on a delightful ride through the lanes, although two of them, hubby B and Low Cost Kell diverted on a shorter route home………. That left Lyn in the company of Squadron Leader Maurice, Deputy Dawg Andrew and Moley Martin clocking up 19 miles from The Pheasant and circuiting via Duddenhoe End, Upper Langley (where John and Kell took their leave to return via Lower Langley and Little Chishill), Clavering, Arkesden and Chrishall.

Kell was using his powerful new electric Giant but had it set on eco mode in order to get more exercise. A few tow ropes and sport mode could have been more fun. Next time Kell!

So we re-grouped at The Pheasant and enjoyed succulent goujons and chips washed down with Simon’s fine ales. More ladies would be very welcome on Monday evenings and on Thursdays too, so please spread the word. Rides of various distances are always available and the pace is quite leisurely.

Thanks to Maurice and Andrew for planning the ride.

* Editor’s note. The term male escort may have various meanings but it is better used above than chaperon, a person defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘a married or elderly woman in charge of girl on social occasions’ which hopefully does not apply to Maurice, Andrew, John, Kell or Martin (unless they are hiding something).

 

Windmiller Vernon was asked to ride a tandem with Alan a partially sighted chap who has his own tandem bike but who has lost his previously regular cycling partner.  Through Vernon’s volunteering to help Camsight, the local charity helping blind and partially sighted people round Cambridge, he was approached to do the London to Cambridge Charity Ride on Sunday 03rd July 16

They were part of a Camsight team of nine tandems, having left Cambridge by coach at 6 a.m. to start the ride from Pickett’s Lock near Edmonton, North London.

To view this wonderful spectacle of thousands of riders passing through the Essex countryside, Deputy Dawg Andrew left Wendens Ambo to meet up with Low Cost Ryan who had a delayed departure from Newport Terminal 1 travelling by super fast electric bike – So fast was Low Cost Ryan that Deputy Dawg Andrew passed him totally unawares in the opposite direction.

Having finally met up, we travelled against the posset of riders on the lookout for Vernon who we found in a matter of minutes near Wickham Bonhunt. I bellowed to Vernon to stop for a photograph who ignored me and kept riding – only to discover it’s not easy to stop and start a tandem in mid flight !!!

The halfway refreshment stop was at the village of Arkesden and to my amazement we bumped into Lyn (Squadron Leader Maurice’s wife) and her friend and companion Laura who were also taking part in the 60 mile ride. Shortly after Squadron Leader Maurice turned up on two wheels as part of the support team.

Well done to Vernon, Alan, Lyn and Laura for supporting and completing the annual Breast Cancer Now ride.

Eight Windmillers set off early today to commence a ride at 10.30am from The Royal Oak, Laxfield, in deepest Suffolk, owned by Simon and Ollie of The Pheasant. Maurice set off even earlier to stock up on fresh Aldeburgh croissants which were awaiting the peloton when they descended on his lovely Shrimp Cottage at the half way point, after 20 miles. The other Windmillers were Deputy Dawg Andrew, John B, Wee Jimny Ken, Half scone Keith, Marmite Tom, Brummie Brian and Moley Martin (bubbling with news of having just caught one).

Here is the route taken:

En route to Aldeburgh, the gang cycled through the peaceful villages of Darsham, Westleton and Middleton before stopping briefly in Leiston to visit The Long Shop Museum where Richard Garrett and Sons was once a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, steam engines, fire engines, trolleybuses and military equipment – well worth a stop of an hour or more to soak up the heritage of Victorian and early 20th century engineering.

More big guns in Middleton, where the famous Tin Man sculpture in stainless steel is beside the road welcoming visitors:

Then it was Thorpeness and a heads down ride along the seafront to Aldeburgh in a strong headwind before a welcome stop for coffee, beer and croissants in Shrimp Cottage, courtesy of Maurice.

Suitably refreshed, the 21 mile return trip started with an off-road Aldeburgh to Snape section, known as Kell Lane following Kell’s mishap last year, comprising sandy stretches, raised paths through water meadows and delightful forest paths. All went smoothly, however, with no one falling off but shortly afterwards Brian announced that he had a puncture which could well have been caused by the off road section. Moley’s pliers came in useful extracting a sharp piece of metal from Brian’s outer tyre but the 4 min target for a change of tube was not exactly achieved…………….

But before long we were whizzing through the lanes again and The Royal Oak hoved into view at 3.30pm where some fine Wherry, sandwiches and baguettes were waiting for us.

Laxfield is a lovely village and before leaving there was time to visit the adjacent All Saints Church:

…with its unique scissor beam roof, one of the widest in Suffolk:

Finally, what should pull up in front of The Royal Oak to collect a member of staff but this splendid Cadillac in showroom condition (purchased quite recently in Holland):

Thanks, Maurice, for a great ride and for your hospitality at Shrimp Cottage.

There were no stars or stripes to be seen on this pleasant evening’s ride through the lanes, nor any discussion of Nigel Farages’s idea of 23 June being our own Independence Day in the future. Instead, Squadron Leader Maurice led Deputy Dawg Andrew, John T, Bridget T, Lyn B and Moley Martin on an enjoyable 21 mile ride from The Pheasant, taking in Nuthamstead, Anstey, Meesden, Clavering, Arkesden, Duddenhoe End, Chrishall and Heydon.

Then it was back to The Pheasant where John B and their black lab joined us after a walk / run all the way from Sandon. Thirsts were quenched with some fine ales and hungers relieved with plentiful helpings of succulent goujons and chips.

Thanks to Maurice and his Deputy Dawg for organising the ride.

…..or so it seemed when a large turnout of 9 Windmillers arrived at the farm shop in Ardeley for coffee to inspect once again the jungle of electricity cables strung overhead Delhi-style. Opinions were divided as to whether more wires had been connected since the last visit a few months back – see below.

En route from the Pheasant, which was left at 9.00am, the Windmillers comprised Squadron Leader Maurice and his flock of Deputy Dawg Andrew, John B, Hot Rod, Half Scone Keith, Vernon, Brummie Brian, Marmite Tom and Moley Martin. It was great to have Vernon with us again, getting in some training for a massive London – Cambridge ride on a tandem on 3 July which he was doing with a partially sighted co-rider. What a tremendous recovery he has made – well done Vernon!

Here is the 26 mile route, with a diversion via Anstey at the end:

It was a perfect cycling day – warm and dry, little wind and empty lanes – just a few gravelly bits in the dips due the recent downpours, which Maurice was able to advise his flock about before ploughing into them at speed.

 

And then it was back via Nasty, Buntingford, Wyddial (with its Moles Lane), Anstey and Nuthampsted until the final climb back to the Pheasant where an excellent lunch was enjoyed by all.

Thanks, Maurice and Dawg for organising today’s ride.

A pleasant summer’s evening, for a change, saw Maurice, Deputy Dawg Andrew, Marmite Tom and Moley Martin set off from the Pheasant at 6.00 pm for ups and downs around the lanes, trying not to talk too much about Brexit………….

The 23 mile route took in Heydon, Elmdon  and Littlebury before passing Audley End House bathed in the evening sunshine. Then it was up to Littlebury Greeen and down El Bastardo hill before proceeding up and down to  Arkesden and through to Wicken Bonhunt. Then up and along to Rickling Green before heading to Manuden to inspect the newly repaired potholes of Manuden High Street. Clavering was next and then Duddenhoe End, Lower Langley, Little Chishill and finally the climb back to the Pheasant to celebrate the Dawg’s conversion (from lager to beer) and enjoy goujons and chips, which made Brexit all the more bearable.

Thanks to Maurice and Deputy Dawg for organising the ride.

The weather forecast was for sunny intervals with occasional heavy rain; enough to deter all but the most hardened of Windmillers. So it was that Maurice, Andrew, John B, Ken, Rick, Rod and Brian headed out from Steeple Bumpstead to explore North Essex and the Suffolk borders.

We were all packing wet weather gear and Ken, fearing the worst, had left his shiny new machine at home, opting instead for his trusty old, all-season boneshaker. We were prepared!

But somehow – and with a lot of nimble, last minute route adjustments, Maurice, steered us some 37 miles around the showers and led us back – dry! – to the Fox & Hounds for lunch. How does he do it?

Along the way we stopped for coffee and cake at Buckley’s Tea Rooms in Castle Hedingham, where John B was seen – somewhat sheepishly – sipping an orange juice. And they say Greene King shares have had a turbulent week.

At this point, Rick, having already cycled an additional 20 miles to join us at the start, peeled off homewards while the rest of us continued on through Maplestead, Pebmarsh, Lamarsh, Henny Street (where we thoughtfully made it up to John by stopping for a quick one at The Swan), Middleton, Gestingthorpe and the Yeldhams, before heading back to Steeple Bumpstead for the Fox & Hound’s special combo of black pudding, bacon, asparagus & poached egg. A couple of beers later we were debating Brexit with the locals while the rain fell like stair rods outside. Ah, the English summer!

Husbands and wives comprising John and Lyn Bagrie, John and Bridget Tarrington and Ken and Ann Worthing, set off from the Pheasant on a fine summer’s evening, accompanied by Maurice, Keith, Andrew G and Martin, on a variety of circuits around the lanes:

The husbands and wives peeled off in Arkesden to make a circuit of around 16 miles whilst the others continued to Manuden where it was good to see potholes being repaired at long last. Then it was back via Clavering and the windmills, where large potholes are still in evidence, but The Bull at Lower Langley looked particularly inviting and so Adnam’s Mosaic and Fat Sprat bitters just had to be sampled…….

Finally, it was back to The Pheasant via Little Chishill, having clocked up 24 miles, where re-assembly took place and all enjoyed plentiful helpings of goujons and chips.

Thanks, Maurice, for organising the ride and for providing different route options. Let’s make the most of these wonderful summer evenings!

So there we were sipping our coffees in the front room of The Bell Inn, Kersey, when a vintage car went by in a cloud of steam. Being a naturally inquisitive lot, we exited the pub sharpish and, following the steam clouds, found the owner topping up the boiler at the ford that straddles the village High Street. The 1910 Stanley Steamer was his pride and joy and he was more than happy to tell us all about it. Then with a cheery wave he hopped back in and drove off – more or less silently and at quite a lick – up the hill.

This was just one of the many high points on Thursday’s ride, with Ken, Vernon, Keith, John B, Maurice and Brian enjoying a very pleasant run from Long Melford to Acton, Boxford, beautiful Kersey and then on through Chelsworth before stopping for a long lunch at The Swan, Lavenham. 29 miles in all.

From Wikipedia:

Perhaps the best-known and best-selling steam car was the Stanley Steamer, produced from 1896 to 1924. Between 1899 and 1905, Stanley outsold all gasoline-powered cars, and was second only to the electric cars of the Columbia Automobile Company in the US. It used a compact fire-tube boiler to power a simple double-acting two-cylinder engine. Because of the phenomenal torque available at all engine speeds, the steam car’s engine was typically geared directly to the rear axle, with no clutch or variable speed transmission required. Until 1914, Stanley steam cars vented their exhaust steam directly to the atmosphere, necessitating frequent refilling of the water tank; after 1914, all Stanleys were fitted with a condenser, which considerably reduced their water consumption.

In 1906 the Land Speed Record was broken by a Stanley steam car, piloted by Fred Marriott, which achieved 127 mph (204 km/h) at Ormond Beach, Florida. This annual week-long “Speed Week” was the forerunner of today’s Daytona 500. This record was not exceeded by any car until 1910.

Windmillers Tom & Brian took part in last Sunday’s Tour of Cambridgeshire; an 80 mile run catering for everyone from elite racers to, well, Windmillers like us.

Waiting for the off at the Peterborough Showground, we were just a little apprehensive having rarely pedalled more than 40 miles with Maurice and the gang on our regular Thursday outings. But here we were, Tom in his Marmite outfit and Brian in tomato red, surrounded by fit looking types on fancy machines all talking about about their last enduro race. These guys didn’t look like they were going to stop for a coffee.

The scale of the operation was impressive; 8000 riders had to be registered, our bikes electronically tagged, 80 miles of roads closed to traffic and feeding stations set up along the way ready to dole out industrial quantities of sausage rolls, energy bars, bananas and bottled water. And we were to be shepherded around the Fens by a posse of motorcycle outriders from the National Escort Group.

The first few miles saw some hairy moments. There’s not much room for error with that many riders packed together on winding country lanes and, sure enough, we saw some casualties keeping the paramedics busy. But once out in the Fens we started to relax and enjoy ourselves. The sunshine, the open vistas, the camaraderie; bowling along roads completely free of cars was a real joy.

And with their roads closed to traffic, the locals in the villages really were a captive audience, enjoying beers in the sunshine while, alarmingly, their kids were in the road attempting high fives with cyclists. “C’mon Marmite!” they yelled at Tom.

We also observed that Fenlanders don’t seem to have much regard for Europe. Vote Leave posters were everywhere; we didn’t see a single one for Remain.

We took the first 40 miles at quite a clip. By 50 miles, however, Brian was flagging, whereas Tom was still going strong, encouraged by the vision just ahead who we dubbed Miss Gold. She knows who she is.

The final 10 miles back to the Showground were tough going but we turned in a respectable time of 5½ hours; not bad for dads, we thought.

We also have a healthy respect for the Windmillers recently returned from Scotland. We may have had a long day in the saddle – but they had the additional challenge of steep inclines, loaded panniers and whisky hangovers.

Would we do it again next year? Maybe; but let’s first get over the persistent numbness in our rear ends.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Tour-Cambridgeshire-huge-hit-thousands-cyclists/story-29366766-detail/story.html