That was rather splendid. Nice (no, not all the way!) ride to Cambridge (without field excursion, unlike in 2019), great weather, a smallish turn-out, but a good mix of newbies and older hands, not one mechanical, and absolutely no-one saw Andrew fall twice (TBH, kind of glad someone else did that for a change!).
Back to Friday. As in 2019, though a day off might have made a ride up possible, logic/common sense dictated otherwise. First 70-odd miles, no problem, done it many times. Last 60-odd miles, no problem. Middle bit: central London in rush hour. Tedious unpleasantness, and slow slow slow. And this probably would have taken 14 hours, door to Cambridge. So, again, the train took some of the strain (though administered some of its own). After a leisurely day, off on the Southern service to Three Bridges at 1619. I'd have seven minutes to change trains (not, of course, on adjacent platforms). Southern being unreassuringly unreliable, four minutes late. Fortunately, the Thameslink Cambridge-bound service is two minutes late itself. I just get to the platform in time to see the train pulling in.
Now, last time I'd taken the train as far as Stevenage and ridden from there. After the drudge of negotiating the traditional badly designed cycle lanes to get out of town, I made the grave error of turning off a perfectly good road to follow the Garmin's directions, into a field. An hour later, I get out of the field, onto the same road I'd have joined if only I'd stayed on the first one. The rest of the ride was straightforward, but getting to Cambridge took three hours. So, this time, I went a further stop on the line, to Hitchin. I'd been through the GPX very carefully indeed, and the route worked out perfectly. Roads were quiet, though I had three of the seemingly obligatory 'Drivers in ridiculous SUVs paying no attention to oncoming cyclists'. Progress started off rapid and stayed that way, 13-14 mph rolling average all the way into the city, roads quiet and decent quality, just after nine. My route had planned for a trip to Asda for food (open till midnight) before going on to the rendezvous at the station. As I had time, I decided to go to Sainsbury's (open till eleven) in Brooks Road- the central Sidney Street branch being shut for refurbishment. Between a seemingly interminable wait at roadworks on The Fen Causeway, multiple other sets of lights, and the play-it-by-ear navigation (and misnavigation), I got to the large orange store at 9.40. Just under a thousand calories purchased & bottles filled, round to the station before 10.30, to find
@newfhouse already waiting, shortly to be joined by
@LucretiaMyReflection @CharlieB and the rest of the throng. Special mention must go to Anka, over in London from Poland for a couple of weeks. She'd heard about the rides, thought she'd like to join the crazy Brits cycling overnight, and brought bike and kit on the plane. She seemed to really enjoy it, which was handy as she'd already signed up for Oxford as well! Also, another Tripster ATR v3 owner, we agreed it's a very nice bike indeed.
Claire's briefing was successfully delivered despite banging choons from the pub next door (complaints about the racket from fellow riders brought to mind the thought that they really wouldn't like some of my music!), and then we were off. Trip out of the city was enlivened by the unexpected (by most of us) solar system display- a chap looking after it switched the Sun's lights on for us- and was very pleasant, umpteen cattle grids notwithstanding. A bit nippier than the forecast suggested, but I and most others had brought along extra layers- I think they all got donned.
Didn't much enjoy the COR, I never do, ended up walking a stretch, but a necessary evil given the potential hazards on the road alternative. Thanks to lack of mechanicals, no lengthy wait on a roundabout in Ely this time, and nor was there a lengthy loo stop at McDonalds- because they didn't let us in. Never mind, the joys of Welney awaited, bang on schedule at 4ish. A really top-notch place to have a halfway. Our prepaid fees covered sandwich (bought-in, but quality), packet of crisps, tea & coffee, jugs of refrigerated water available for refills, and cake. Oh, the cake. There was a wide choice, and difficult to pick only one- went for the cappuccino, and it was excellent. Tried a bit of left-over cookies-and-cream, also splendid.
Just under an hour later, we were off again. Friday Bridge photo op was skipped this time. Second loo stop at Tesco Wisbech was also aborted, for those of a male persuasion (but there were plenty of bushes soon after, so no problem). Last stretch in the dawn was very pleasant, though yet again recently when wearing the Sidi shoes, I had an achy left foot (admitted defeat and been shopping today). At about ten to nine, we reached the West Lynn ferry. I led Team Not Doing The Ferry, and with a steady but rapid pace, and no nav errors (I'd done my revision on StreetView) we comfortably beat the aquatic contingent to breakfast, there just before 9.10.
Marriotts was a very pleasant place to have breakfast, apart from being Not Wetherspoons. Service seemed a little slow (one of our number had to skip eating for her booked train) but for most of us, no problem. Food more than OK but certainly not top notch. Headed off with Adrian and others for the 1045 train, which was rammed by the time we got to Cambridge, a child bawling about something or other being a particular 'highlight'. Into KX on time, and then the usual slog back to Waterloo, and the usual just-missed-a-train-home. Never mind, in plenty of time for the 1.30. Home rapidly (another Strava segment PR!), a cup of tea, and then a snooze. Awake to find football went almost as well as the ride, Pompey won and sat atop League One.
Thanks Claire, Andrew et al. Another University (city) challenge awaits on Friday night!
Mmm dunno about that Grain Culture croissants are better (and bigger!) IMHO.
Personal preference - Eclipse tends to do a lighter bake on their bread that's more to my taste. But there's not much in it!
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