The Windmill Cycle Club

Today’s ride started and ended with celebrations at Maurice’s house, which then continued at The Pheasant afterwards. Maurice will no doubt fill in the details to those not already in the know! In between, Maurice, John B, John T, Andrew R and Martin W enjoyed a shortish circuit to Royston, Steeple Morden, with a stop to look at the war memorial on the old US airforce, and then delightful lanes to Baldock via Ashwell. John B then took us, unintentionally off-road across the A505 but we were soon on the tarmac again and climbing up to Wallington where we stopped to look at the cottage where George Orwell lived for a few years during the war. Then it was back to Maurice’s house via Sandon and Reed to crack open a bottle of champagne, and tweak John T’s bike in Maurice’s well equipped bike workshop.

Kell R and Ken W joined us for lunch at The Pheasant, which ended a very good day’s ride.

Maurice arranged a great ride today starting from the Moot Hall in Steeple Bumpstead and ending at the Fox and Hounds, which is very conveniently next door. The other cyclists were John B. John T, Ken W and Martin W. Heading Northwards initially towards Kedington and Stradishall, where Martin W’s dad was based during the war, we then made a detour to visit one of Suffolk’s best pubs, the Star in Lidgate, but it was closed. So the wait for much needed caffeine had to wait until we reached Clare, where we stopped at an antiques shop cum coffee shop.

Then it was back to Steeple Bumpstead via more quiet lanes and pretty villages for an excellent lunch at the Fox and Hounds.

Thanks, Maurice, for another excellent day.

Today’s ride took five of us around quiet Essex lanes on a glorious day, stopping for coffee and cakes at our favourite haunt in Castle Hedingham, where there were no volunteers to have their bike padlocked to Martin Woodhead’s bike in case he again forgot to bring a key, as happened last year. However, we were not incident free due to John T’s chain coming off at frequent intervals which even our back up mechanic by the name of Maurice was unable to fix. Despite this, we moved along at quite a pace and arrived back at the Fox and Hounds by 1.15pm, well in time for a really excellent lunch. Other than millions of little black bugs which seemed particularly attracted to Andrew’s yellow day-glo vest, or it could simply have been because they knew he was Scottish, it was a perfect day’s ride.

Thanks, Maurice, for planning it and not getting us lost.

John B and Andrew R enjoyed a brilliant 38 mile ride on Thursday 25th June to Wimpole Hall averaging 16MPH on the outer leg (Just as well Kell was on QM2!!) and not much slower on the return.

02 July 15 Great Chishill -Saffron Walden- Widdington-Ugly.

Another excellent route organised by Chef de Velo Maurice.

Joining Maurice  Andrew R, John B, John T, Ken W.

A pleasant 14.5 MPH ride stopping at the new Cycling Cafe in Saffron Walden- Biciceletta Coffee con Velo. Returning to the Pheasant via Ugly and Rickling in light rain.

Six hardy souls braved heavy rain, wind and a temperature of only 10 degrees and complete a circuit from Gt Chishill- Elmdon -Strethall – Littlebury Green and returned to the pub looking like drowned rats.

John T and Bridgette took the sensible choice of returning home to change into dry clothes before returning for food and a well deserved refreshment.

John B took the even more sensible decision to stay in the pub all evening to avoid getting his new bike wet – ha ha

Numbers depleted to two riders today – John T and Andrew R completed a  Barley- Barkway- Great Hormead- Brent Pelham- Clavering Lakes circuit with a photo stop at the memorial to F/O Archie F. Daniels Flying with the 83^rd Fighter Squadron who crashed his P-47D just after takeoff.

Coffee stop was planned for Clavering Lakes however, it was closed. Thankfully Kell’s daughter Aislinn came to the rescue with some grand filter coffee.

Back at the Pheasant we had a surprise vist by Vernon. 

This was another glorious ride of 44 miles on a perfect  summer’s day wending our way through Essex lanes. Starting from the Fox and Hounds in Steeple Bumpstead we stopped for coffee and cake in Castle Hedingham and then proceeded to Henny Street in Constable country for lunch by the river and much needed cold beers. A tail wind got us back to Steeple Bumpstead somewhat faster than on the outward stretch. Other than experiencing a violent domestic argument between two people in Sible Hedingham it was an uneventful trip. It was good to meet up with Kell Ryan at the end. Thanks, Maurice, for organising the ride. You are forgiven for only getting us lost once.

Three runs tonight on a pleasant summer’s evening, but getting chilly towards the end –  the red run was about 20 miles, the blue was 22 miles and the black via Manuden was 26 miles. (Note that The Windmill Cycle Club colours in grades of difficulty are different to those used in skiing.)

This was a glorious ride of 32 miles through Suffolk countryside on a perfect day for cycling. No mishaps this week.

Well done Maurice – a delightful 43 mile cycle ride through the Suffolk Countryside -The Croissants and beer were a lovely treat at Shrimp Cottage – memorable

Laxfield to Aldeburgh via Thorpeness and back via Snape. 43 miles.