The Varsity Ride

The Map

The Stats

And here's a 'fly through', Cheam to Cambridge, that Janice has prepared:  https://www.relive.cc/view/1560382313

Nine of us at North Cheam, on a fine, sunny morning, tipping off into the rush hour traffic, which we were happily able to escape after a half a mile or so to take quieter routes.  To a greater or lesser extent, we were able to do this all day.

Morden Hall Park, CS7 and then the Island Cafe where another eight Wayfarers were waiting.  We were well served here, by a nice couple who seemed a bit overwhelmed by the unexpected arrival of a second group of cyclists.

At 1045 we set off, immediately into more heavy traffic, passing the Bank of England heading North towards Moorgate before escaping to CS1.

Photo:  Geoff Gregory

This was rather better, taking us smoothly enough through the suburbs, including Stamford Hill, where a number of members of the Jewish community, in traditional garb, reminded us of the diversity which is part of the fabric of London.  

At Tottenham Hale we left CS1 and turned into the Tottenham Marshes Country Park.  This is a huge and sudden change - one moment you are in the London traffic, the next you might be in the country. We took a quiet, tarmac cycleway along the River Lea, crossing locks and eventually leaving the tarmac for our own Strada Bianche, where we raised a satisfying plume of dust.  A bit of entertainment on a cobbled lock ramp, then a short loop away from the river before we took the opportunity to take a look at the Royal Small Arms Factory, in Enfield.

Photo:  Simon Lambourn

From the Napoleonic wars until the nineteen-eighties the weapons of the British Army were made here - it's flats now, and rather handsome they look.

Crossing the river again we went through Gunpowder Park, site of the former Royal Gunpowder Works.  Here we passed a disabled chap in a hand-cranked tricycle.  He waved, and the first group of Wayfarers waved back.  'Nice day for a ride'  we said.  Happily, some of those in the following group were a bit more aware, and noticed that he was waving because he had a mechanical problem with his tricycle.  His tricycle was fixed, a phone was loaned so that he could let his friends know that he would be late, and we were all on our way again.  That's better.

Lunch at the Welsh Harp, a bit of a historical cameo, but we ate well (special commendation for the sausages), and we took the opportunity to see King Harold's memorial stone.

Photo:  Simon Lambourn

The traditional picture at the Abbey (no pub, see?) and then we were back to the river.

The story of the Essex Alps was not widely believed, but they were there.  Small, but rather elegant, with more hairpin bends than Box Hill.  I've always felt that Essex has been underrated as an Alpine county.  

We began to climb a little after this, coming out of the Lea Valley and up on to the higher plains.  Once up, the country undulates, and it's possible to build and hold a good pace.  We did this, and rolled into tea at Puckeridge in very good time.  We were made very welcome, and were able to relax and refresh ourselves.  Decision time, here.  Some had purchased tickets for the 1821 train from Cambridge at an advantageous price and were keen to use them; some had purchased tickets for the 1821 train and did not care whether they used them or not, and some did not care what time they arrived in Cambridge while there was still tea to be had.

Photo:  Geoff Gregory

So we split into the 1821 group and the others, and all of us rode fast across the rolling plains towards Cambridge.  It's a splendid piece of country for a bicycle, with good roads, good views, pretty villages and little traffic.  

The last few miles is an excellent route across Trumpington Meadows and along the Granta.  The advance party was at the Mill in good time, and got their train but missed their beer, Irene and Mick were there to meet us and the rest of the group turned up soon after and made up for the beer shortfall of their clubmates.

Photo:  Simon Lambourn

You may notice that there is a chap in the corner paying close attention to a pie ...

A great ride on a great day.  We're a strong group that, once again, put on a good show in a wide variety of terrain and traffic conditions.  Special thanks to Mike for his perennially solid back marking, to everyone who acts, often unbidden, as a corner marker to keep the ride flowing, and to Simon, Geoff and Janice for photographs and videos.

It's a privilege to be part of the Wayfarers.

Mark