England : Cambridgeshire Not a Christmas Friday Night ride - 11th December

[slowmotion]

Would a train arriving at Cambridge at 23:51 be OK? There's one arriving fifty minutes earlier but that end of Cambridge is Deadsville and I would rather not waste time around there if I don't have to.

 

[rb58]

Would a train arriving at Cambridge at 23:51 be OK? There's one arriving fifty minutes earlier but that end of Cambridge is Deadsville and I would rather not waste time around there if I don't have to.

That's the one I'm on, so if there's a chase involved, at least there'll be two of us. Maybe @Flying Dodo could share the route with one of us nearer the time just in case?

 

[robjh]

That's the one I'm on, so if there's a chase involved, at least there'll be two of us. Maybe @Flying Dodo could share the route with one of us nearer the time just in case?

FD will have the plans of course, but might not one of these groovy cycle paths actually start at said station?

 

[mjr]

FD will have the plans of course, but might not one of these groovy cycle paths actually start at said station?

Out the station, turn left, follow signs alongside the flooding busway to Addenbrookes and one of the groovy cycle tracks starts at the south edge of the hospital site I think, labelled as Route 11.

To see more new stuff and a slightly shorter route, go out the station, turn left, then turn right after the bus stops and left at the lights onto Hills Road but that's only really for academic interest because they've only built part of the northbound cycle track so far and any time you gain from the shorter route is probably stolen back by the traffic lights.

 

[Flying Dodo]

I have some good news and some bad news.

What had been the groovy cycle paths after the hospital aren't quite so groovy now. When I last went along there about 3 years ago, they looked incredible at night as they had lots of LED reflectors along both sides, so as you cycled along, the whole path lit up. Sadly, most of them have now gone. However, a bit further on, there was this:

Last night there was a 20 mile stretch of road and I only had 2 vehicles overtake me. And one of those was a gritting truck. There's also other delights such as an abandoned road which they've built electricity pylons on, so you get the rare treat of cycling through a pylon. I know, I'm really spoiling you.

The likely route is shown here.

Please note there is about 4 miles of towpath, of which half is paved. The rest is good quality solid surface, although last night, due to all the recent rain, there were quite a few puddles, so my bike is rather mucky - be warned.

 

[Mark Grant]

Is a bike reservation mandatory for the train to Cambridge?

 

[mjr]

Is a bike reservation mandatory for the train to Cambridge?

No. It's not even possible. Stand your bikes in the doors on the non opening side. You may have to move them if there are island platforms. Unless the last refit on the Liverpool Street lines added bike racks...

 

[robjh]

I have some good news and some bad news.

What had been the groovy cycle paths after the hospital aren't quite so groovy now. When I last went along there about 3 years ago, they looked incredible at night as they had lots of LED reflectors along both sides, so as you cycled along, the whole path lit up. Sadly, most of them have now gone. However, a bit further on, there was this:

View attachment 110664

Last night there was a 20 mile stretch of road and I only had 2 vehicles overtake me. And one of those was a gritting truck. There's also other delights such as an abandoned road which they've built electricity pylons on, so you get the rare treat of cycling through a pylon. I know, I'm really spoiling you.

The likely route is shown here.

Please note there is about 4 miles of towpath, of which half is paved. The rest is good quality solid surface, although last night, due to all the recent rain, there were quite a few puddles, so my bike is rather mucky - be warned.

I see the mapped route starts from Cambridge station. Would it not be a nice idea to do a quick circuit into town, for those who've just arrived off the train, before heading off for real? King's Parade at night would be worth seeing, and I think that would only add 20 minutes or so to the ride.

 

[Flying Dodo]

I see the mapped route starts from Cambridge station. Would it not be a nice idea to do a quick circuit into town, for those who've just arrived off the train, before heading off for real? King's Parade at night would be worth seeing, and I think that would only add 20 minutes or so to the ride.

Depends upon how many drunken students there are around! We'll see how people feel, but bear in mind it's 70 miles, with a halfway stop before halfway, and some hills after 55 miles.

 

[ianrauk]

I know but I'm struggling to hold the bars for the 45 min commute. 7 hours may be beyond me

We can use a rope tow system...

 

[ianrauk]

That's the one I'm on, so if there's a chase involved, at least there'll be two of us. Maybe @Flying Dodo could share the route with one of us nearer the time just in case?

3 of us...

 

[martint235]

We can use a rope tow system...

We could just get a really big tag along and then I wouldn't have to pedal either

 

[Flying Dodo]

Hope for a northerly wind then. Last night at times I was rolling along at 20 mph and not really pedalling.

 

[Mark Grant]

3 of us...

4

 

[frank9755]

Depends upon how many drunken students there are around! We'll see how people feel, but bear in mind it's 70 miles, with a halfway stop before halfway, and some hills after 55 miles.

There won't be too many - it's after the end of term!