Extending my commute (Cambridge)

[Collider]

Yo! I was wondering if anyone who cycles around Cambridge could help me out here.

I currently live in the north of Cambridge (vaguely in the Huntington Road area) and commute to Babraham through Trumpington and Sawston (aprox. 10 miles). I would like to extend this now and then by somewhere between 5 and 10 miles (and perhaps more occasionally). Any suggestions as to which roads to take? I'm interested in the areas to the west around Barton, Comberton Toft etc but I'm not to fussed, as long as it's not too rustic (I'm on a road bike). I've heard some of the roads around there can be pretty nasty (IIRC Barton Road was Statistically one of the most dangerous in the region) so it would be nice to know which ones to avoid.

thanks!

C

 

[Maz]

Any suggestions as to which roads to take? I'm interested in the areas to the west around Barton, Comberton Toft etc but I'm not to fussed, as long as it's not too rustic (I'm on a road bike). I've heard some of the roads around there can be pretty nasty (IIRC Barton Road was Statistically one of the most dangerous in the region) so it would be nice to know which ones to avoid.

thanks!

C

Can't say I've had any safety issues cycling though Toft-Comberton-Barton (on a road bike). It seems like a pretty good route to me. Cycled it a few times riding down from Leicester.

 

[HLaB]

Have a look for ddignam (I've probaly spelt that wrong ) he lives the north side of Cambridge and works south (or is it visa versa ) and rather than cycling the 2miles through the chaotic town regularly extends his commute by anything up to 40miles; he has done plenty of routes shot of that though and would be able to advise.

 

[mangid]

Yo! I was wondering if anyone who cycles around Cambridge could help me out here.

I currently live in the north of Cambridge (vaguely in the Huntington Road area) and commute to Babraham through Trumpington and Sawston (aprox. 10 miles). I would like to extend this now and then by somewhere between 5 and 10 miles (and perhaps more occasionally). Any suggestions as to which roads to take? I'm interested in the areas to the west around Barton, Comberton Toft etc but I'm not to fussed, as long as it's not too rustic (I'm on a road bike). I've heard some of the roads around there can be pretty nasty (IIRC Barton Road was Statistically one of the most dangerous in the region) so it would be nice to know which ones to avoid.

thanks!

C

Guess I would head North out to Girton, Oakington, although Oakington Rd is pretty rough just out of Girton. Then Dry Drayton, Madingley, Coton, Grantchester, Great Shelford, Swaston, Brabraham. That comes in at about 18miles. Come the warmer days you can then add legs thru Hardwick/Caldecote/Bourn -> Kingston/Harlton. Lots of nice very quiet roads. There is a cycle route from Whittlesford to Sawston, head down Church Lane, so coming thru Haslingfield/Harston/Newton/Whittlesford/Sawston should work very nicely.

I've never found Barton Rd that bad, it's quite wide, and these days has a 40/50 limit from Barton into town. So, coming in thru Comberton/Barton Grantchester should be fine, I'll often come that way on a ride.

 

[HLaB]

Lol I got it back to front

 

[Collider]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions!

As for Barton Road supposedly being dangerous, here's the source:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Is-Cambridges-Barton-Road-most-dangerous-in-region-08022013.htm

 

[HLaB]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions!

As for Barton Road supposedly being dangerous, here's the source:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Is-Cambridges-Barton-Road-most-dangerous-in-region-08022013.htm

I don't know the road but as the story has appeared in a news paper I'd take it with a huge pinch of salt and seek more valid sources

 

[mangid]

I don't know the road but as the story has appeared in a news paper I'd take it with a huge pinch of salt and seek more valid sources

The leg out of town to the Roundabout used to be 60, it's now 50. Over the M11 towards Barton has been reduced to 40 I think ? There is a shared use path, but I never use it.

Coming from Huntingdon Rd you could do a lot worse than Storey's Way, Madingly Rd, Coton, Grantchester. If I don't have time constraints that's the way I'll take home from Castle Hill rather than going Queens Rd.

 

[MisterStan]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions!

As for Barton Road supposedly being dangerous, here's the source:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Is-Cambridges-Barton-Road-most-dangerous-in-region-08022013.htm

The Cambridge News will hype up any 'story' in an attempt to pass it off as news. They are also very anti cyclist IMHO.

 

[MisterStan]

Back on topic, you could always head down the Busway and meet up with my mob - we're usually at Swavesey for 07.20 ish. Or you could come out via Girton/Oakington etc and come back up the Busway with us. I usually cycle in with a couple of others on Mon/Weds/Fri and and my own Tues and Thurs, although I do often hook up with a different couple of others on Tues/Thurs.

 

[MisterStan]

P.S. Welcome to the forum. There's a lot of Cambridge(shire) cyclists on here now. We ought to get a forum ride lined up soonish....

 

[pshore]

Yo! I was wondering if anyone who cycles around Cambridge could help me out here.

I currently live in the north of Cambridge (vaguely in the Huntington Road area) and commute to Babraham through Trumpington and Sawston (aprox. 10 miles). I would like to extend this now and then by somewhere between 5 and 10 miles (and perhaps more occasionally). Any suggestions as to which roads to take? I'm interested in the areas to the west around Barton, Comberton Toft etc but I'm not to fussed, as long as it's not too rustic (I'm on a road bike). I've heard some of the roads around there can be pretty nasty (IIRC Barton Road was Statistically one of the most dangerous in the region) so it would be nice to know which ones to avoid.

thanks!

C

I use various routes to the NW and N of Cambridge. Going against the tide out of Cambridge is generally ok. Occasionally you run into trouble if the inbound traffic is constant and nobody can overtake you.

Girton to Guided Bus anywhere from Histon to Oakington should be fine. Oakington to Dry Drayton is my kind of hell due to 70mph cars but some are ok with that.

I sometimes come into town via Horningsea/Fen Ditton, but looping round the airport. Teversham to Fulbourn is fairly quiet. The rest of the route that looks tempting but I've never done is: a small road out almost to Balsham, then turn towards Hildersham, cross A1307 into Abingdons and there is a cyclepath into Babraham.

If you don't use it, have a look at OpenCycleMap, it might give you some ideas.

Phil.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

P.S. Welcome to the forum. There's a lot of Cambridge(shire) cyclists on here now. We ought to get a forum ride lined up soonish....

Count me in Stan for definate

 

[Alien8]

I've heard some of the roads around there can be pretty nasty (IIRC Barton Road was Statistically one of the most dangerous in the region) so it would be nice to know which ones to avoid.

I guess it depends on what you mean by nasty/dangerous. The only road I would avoid cycling on around Cambridge is the A14. The rest are all much of a muchness if you are happy on the road. Of course you need to watch out for pot holes (there are some whoppers around), all the farmer's crap (thanks farmers), and the odd bit of get-on-the-cycle-path beeping.

There are plenty of nice routes/options west of Cambridge.

[Actually, I avoid the Highfields/Caldecote road as that has some very annoying full road width speed bumps.]