England : Cambridgeshire Peterborough - Anyone up for a ride Sunday 14th April?

[TheDoctor]

Sounds good to me

 

[totallyfixed]

Hmmmm, Peterborough or Rutland............decisions, decisions. How about a compromise, well, not exactly a compromise, but two contra-rotating rides, one to the NW of Peterborough, the other to the E of Oakham, meeting at a pre-arranged point in or near Stamford for refreshments and general socialising?

Sorry, probably not feasible!

A good idea but probably only enough people for one ride, I have been trying to arrange a ride with Andrew either in Suffolk or here in Rutland for a while now, so when he told me he was coming to Peterborough I thought that would be a good opportunity. Unfortunately it appears a number of CC'ers are keen to come up from the Herts area to ride from Peterborough.
Thanks for trying though Poacher, I know you have come on a number of my rides and hope to see you again before too long, HLaB too.
I look forward to seeing the route you choose Andrew.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

10am at The Station it is then!!
Now, what are we looking at, mileage-wise? Also, will there be a half way coffee stop?

Considering I just posted very informally to say I'd be p for stretching my legs I think this has gone quite well

I'll have a quick chat with HLaB to see if he's up for this ride, if not I'll find another way to put a ride together.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

A good idea but probably only enough people for one ride, I have been trying to arrange a ride with Andrew either in Suffolk or here in Rutland for a while now, so when he told me he was coming to Peterborough I thought that would be a good opportunity. Unfortunately it appears a number of CC'ers are keen to come up from the Herts area to ride from Peterborough.
Thanks for trying though Poacher, I know you have come on a number of my rides and hope to see you again before too long, HLaB too.
I look forward to seeing the route you choose Andrew.

We'll get there in the end . This summer is going to feel very long after this seemingly prolonged winter

 

[totallyfixed]

With all due respect TF, we simply replied to a thread announcing a Peterborough ride, not a Rutland one.
And since Andrew is having time restriction, I think the closest he is to his base the more he can get out of his time.
At the end of the day, if I am not mistaken, there are at least 3 rides organised from Andrew in Suffolk the last couple of months. I am sure if you were so much looking forward to riding with him you would have signed up for one of them..

Indeed he has and these are 7am starts which would mean getting up at 4am and leaving at 5am. While I am keen to encourage forum rides I'm not that keen to attend them! Over the years I have organised many forum rides and attended quite a few in different parts of the country and always without fail enjoyed them, even the wet "fixed friendly" one in Cheshire that Fossy organised.
Time restricted rides are always going to present some problems in finding a cafe stop and still getting some decent miles in.

 

[Poacher]

With all due respect TF, we simply replied to a thread announcing a Peterborough ride, not a Rutland one.
And since Andrew is having time restriction, I think the closest he is to his base the more he can get out of his time.
At the end of the day, if I am not mistaken, there are at least 3 rides organised from Andrew in Suffolk the last couple of months. I am sure if you were so much looking forward to riding with him you would have signed up for one of them..

'Ere Fluff, wind yer neck in!!TF's Rutland rides are brilliant, and you really don't want to antagonise him - didn't you arrange to come on one a while ago, only to duck out? My suggestion of a combined ride was ever so slightly tongue in cheek, and I'm very sorry that it seems to have led to a small misunderstanding. AFAIK Andrew is keen on doing a Rutland ride at some point, and I'd be delighted to meet him, if only to palm off present some well-out of date-matured lime pickle. Hopefully Hlab will come up with the goods as far as a route is concerned - when Andrew mentions a quick chat with him, I hope he means in text form. Hlab is a real good lad, but he's far more comprehensible in writing than in speech, if you get my drift. If you're reading this, Hlab, the reason I kept asking you to repeat what you'd said was because I'm almost deaf in my left ear; on the other hand, if you're not reading this..........(he's Scottish, you know - I've noticed that the accent, er, accentuates, the further South they go: back in Scotland, it's closer to 1930's BBC!).

Where was I? Oh yes, Hlab is also seriously quick, so check the mileage is commensurate with the timescale and the abilities of the slower riders. (Sobriety test - I typed mielage twice in the last sentence. Is that a French word for honey production? I digress, as usual).
In case Hlab doesn't come up with a route, my two-pennorth, from very little knowledge apart from attending the Peterborough antique fair twice a year: North, East and South of Peterborough are flatlands - OK if that's what you want, but boring with a capital Z. Westwards, the A1 presents a serious un-natural barrier, but that's still the direction to head in. How about heading initially South to get out of Peterborough as quickly as possible, via Farcet and Yaxley to Holme, then on the B660 over the A1 to Glatton, Lutton (on the OS map there's a feature called Moonshine Gap, which might repay further investigation), Tansor, Fotheringhay (as mentioned favourably earlier in this thread), then ad lib in the gorgeous Northamptonshire countryside depending on time constraints before returning to Peterborough via the A605 - this is a quieter road than you might expect; its main purpose seems to be access to the A1, after which it carries next to no motorised traffic.

After all that palaver, I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to make it, as I'll be at the Radcliffe cycle jumble. Hey ho. Have a great day, all of you.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

present some well-out of date-matured lime pickle.

Would you like a little bottle of the Naga Vodka I made? It gives the imbiber the ability to see through dimensions...

 

[HLaB]

Considering I just posted very informally to say I'd be p for stretching my legs I think this has gone quite well

I'll have a quick chat with HLaB to see if he's up for this ride, if not I'll find another way to put a ride together.

Sorry Ive been floored by a 24h bug and only just got back to this thread. Give me an indication of what length we are talking about (starting at the station? ) and I'll come up with something. Its a pretty easy area to navigate (especially the Northamptonshire side); I just tend to plan on the spot with a mental map of the towns/ villages that are in my head.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Sorry Ive been floored by a 24h bug and only just got back to this thread. Give me an indication of what length we are talking about (starting at the station? ) and I'll come up with something. Its a pretty easy area to navigate (especially the Northamptonshire side); I just tend to plan on the spot with a mental map of the towns/ villages that are in my head.

Sorry to hear you've been poorly, I hope you're feeling tip top very soon.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Is everyone still up for this?

Do we have a route yet?

What's that sticky substance on my desk, and why is it growling?

 

[HLaB]

Is everyone still up for this?

Do we have a route yet?

What's that sticky substance on my desk, and why is it growling?

I was going to do you a few routes but our server is playing up so I've just done one short one. The weather forecast says its a south wind so I'd suggest going south'ish. From the station (or the square) head to the rowing lake (if you want to avoid traffic there's a path or you can cut down into the posh houses (as mapped); my self I'd just stay on Thorpe Road (it can be busy though). Cut through to Orton Mere and Oundle Road and use that to get out of town (it takes you over the A1 and into the country). Approximately 5 miles after the Mere there's a signed left turn for Elton Furze Golf Course (Bullock Road). Bullock Road is the NCN 12 and bridges over the A605. Continue straight through the crossroad to the junction with the B660 (approximately 6 miles from Elton Furze). Turn right (Winwick/Gidding). Travel straight for appoximately 5 miles untill you come to a give way junction with the B662; turn right to Clopton/Oundle. After approximately 5 miles you come to a small rbt with the A605 (this is the best place to cross the A605); carry on straight over to the little lane (Linfield, Pilton, Wadenhoe). Just under 2 miles from the Rbt you come to a cross roads junction (Oundle and Stoke Doyle); this is the back road to Oundle and if the forecast is right you'll have a tail wind After circa 2.5 miles, at the top of the short Stoke Hill you are in Ondle (turn right on to West Street then left (follow the signs for the town centre)). After less than a 3rd of a mile you come to the juction with New St (on the left) a cafe (Beans) is located on this corner (The monument marks the junction). There may be other cafe's in Oundle too; straight on take you to a bike shop in a emergency but hopefully that won't happen and turning left up New St (Beans cafe/ Monument) is the simplest way out of a nice town IMO; it takes you by a large old private school (I think that is what it is any way ). 3/4 of mile from Beans and after 3 or 4 zebras, is the junction with Cotterstock Road on the right (IIRC its signed Cotterstock, Woodnewton and Kings Cliff) and it immediately after/ opposite the George Pub. Carry on straight (ignoring cotterstock) to the Fortheringhay T junction and turn right (Fotheringhay/ Nassington) (approx 2.5miles from the George). In Fortheringhay is a T juction with the minor road signed Nassington/Yarwell/Wansford; take it . A mile out of the village is sign for a minor road on the right to Elton; take it (In my best authorative voice ). just after the pub in Elton turn left up the hill and then turn right and left again onto Oundle Road (signed Awalton/Chesterton) Oundle road take you up a short steepish hill but once you are at the top its a graduall downhill all the way into Peterborough. Instead of turning into the Mere and the Rowing lake (can be busy at this time (afternoon) with train spotters, dog walkers, etc) I'd continue straight passed another bikeshop (if needed) to the town railbridge. Immediately after the bridge is a good quality path which avoids the steep climb to ths busy signalised junction with London Road. The good wide path, however dissapears at Charters (a pub with a good beer garden if you get the weather, an old barge) only to reappear the far side of the bridge (its up to you whether you go the road for this short bit or cycle over the bridge, cycling is not banned but it can be busy with peds). Continue to the wide puffin crossing to Bridge St, cycling is banned however here (and if the weather is nice there's plenty of police out to fine you ). It easily circumvented but this is most direct route to the station with plenty of cafes shops etc. In the large open square turn left to Crescent Bridge where the cycle route back to the station is signed (spirals left down below the rbt and passes under the rbt).
Probably a good job I didn't do more routes I took so long explaining this one but I wont be there, I'll be heading up to Oakham early.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Lummy! That's for all that effort! I normally just post a link to a Google Map for my rides

Are you joining us?

 

[HLaB]

Lummy! That's for all that effort! I normally just post a link to a Google Map for my rides

Are you joining us?

You can probably tell I was bored

I'm taking the opportunity to get out of Peterborough (bit sick of the place at the moment) and head up to Rutland; have a good one

 

[Andrew_Culture]

You can probably tell I was bored

I'm taking the opportunity to get out of Peterborough (bit sick of the place at the moment) and head up to Rutland; have a good one

Okey doke, see you another time!

 

[TheDoctor]

Still on for this - I'll be on the train arriving at 0940.