Long commutes, taking train halfway?

[Mark1978]

Hi there

I've been cycling for a few months now and can feel the fitness levels improving, so I was considering starting to cycle to work. However, I live 36 miles from the office (I live in Downham Market, work is north Cambridge on the science park - an hour's drive away in the rush hour).

36 miles is too far to do, but an option I do have is to take the train part of the way.

This would mean a 5 mile cycle to the train station in Downham Market and then either a 15 mile ride from Ely, or a 5 mile ride from Waterbeach to the Science Park in Cambridge. The 15 miler is more attractive as it would also save me a considerable amount of petrol money, even after taking the price of the train ticket into account. (approx £150 a month). I dont think that 20 miles each way is out of my reach, im quite happily doing 30-50 milers at the weekend and often doing 15 milers in the evenings.

Is there anyone here that does the route from Ely to Cambridge along the river Cam? I hear its nice, but primarily for walkers and there are stiles along it I believe. Otherwise it's back roads as i don't really fancy doing the A10 during rush hour.

 

[alpine fenlander]

Hi Mark, I do Ely to Cambridge (centre) 2-3 times a week. Most Ely commuters I know go via Twenty Pence Road (Wilburton -> Cottenham), it's not great during rush hour (60mph, quite narrow -> silly overtaking) so some people prefer the A10 because it's wider but of course traffic is bumper to bumper. I usually avoid rush hour (go early before 7am or late after 9am) and then Twenty Pence is fine. If I have to go during rush hour then I take the NCN via Wicken Fen but it has quite some off-road sections so I usually take the MTB. Takes about >1h40mins that way whereas Twenty Pence takes >60mins (usually longer because of the wind).

I've never tried it but I think along the Cam path between Lt Thetford and Waterbeach is quite overgrown. Waterbeach to Cambridge is fine (not tarmac though) along the Cam. Prickwillow->Isleham->Burwell->NCN is also quite a nice route, again about >1h45mins and then I also do various longer detours on warm sunny days :-)

Downham Market to Ely is probably the nicer part (Denver, Ten Mile Bank), less traffic etc so I'd probably cycle that way and then take a train from Ely to Cambridge.

Or maybe cycle the whole journey in one day and back the next (assuming there is safe cycle parking at the Science Park) - you could then time it with the wind behind you both ways :-) Lots of options really so maybe try out different options each day...

Let me know if you need any other info!

Michael.

 

[Mark1978]

Hi Mark, I do Ely to Cambridge (centre) 2-3 times a week. Most Ely commuters I know go via Twenty Pence Road (Wilburton -> Cottenham), it's not great during rush hour (60mph, quite narrow -> silly overtaking) so some people prefer the A10 because it's wider but of course traffic is bumper to bumper. I usually avoid rush hour (go early before 7am or late after 9am) and then Twenty Pence is fine. If I have to go during rush hour then I take the NCN via Wicken Fen but it has quite some off-road sections so I usually take the MTB. Takes about >1h40mins that way whereas Twenty Pence takes >60mins (usually longer because of the wind).

I've never tried it but I think along the Cam path between Lt Thetford and Waterbeach is quite overgrown. Waterbeach to Cambridge is fine (not tarmac though) along the Cam. Prickwillow->Isleham->Burwell->NCN is also quite a nice route, again about >1h45mins and then I also do various longer detours on warm sunny days :-)

Downham Market to Ely is probably the nicer part (Denver, Ten Mile Bank), less traffic etc so I'd probably cycle that way and then take a train from Ely to Cambridge.

Or maybe cycle the whole journey in one day and back the next (assuming there is safe cycle parking at the Science Park) - you could then time it with the wind behind you both ways :-) Lots of options really so maybe try out different options each day...

Let me know if you need any other info!

Michael.

Thats a great help, thanks. I do take the route down Twenty Pence in the car in the mornings sometimes if the traffic is looking ropey on the A10 so i can understand why it can be a bit scary along there on a bike.

Taking the train into Cambridge from Ely would be great, but i think there are bike restrictions on the train after 7:45 from ely or waterbeach. Getting back out to the science park from the city is a bit of a pain by all accounts. I think you can take the guided bus, but I dont really fancy leaving the bike at the station. Maybe it will be easier when they finally build the station at the science park.

I could probably leave the car at the office overnight, cycle home and then back in the morning..

I love the routes through Denver and Ten Mile Bank. I often do that loop and back through Welney at the weekends for fun

Might try a run around the area at the weekend or when im on hols in a couple of weeks.

Thanks again for your help

Mark

 

[Mark1978]

Just planned this, it does avoid 50% of 20 pence road and takes a lot of drove roads....

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4857981

 

[alpine fenlander]

Yes you're right there are some restrictions on commuter trains. There are some plans by Greater Anglia for secure bike parking at Ely station but probably at least over a year away and together with the science park station that would be ideal for you I guess.

For now your car idea sounds good!

Oor do it both ways once a week and build up the mileage slowly, but doing that distance 3-4 times a week is going to be hard even with practice.

Let me know if you want some more info there are a couple of other routes (off-road and on-road) depending on where exactly and how far you want to go

 

[alpine fenlander]

Just planned this, it does avoid 50% of 20 pence road and takes a lot of drove roads....

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4857981

Ah I see you're from the notorious Barroway Drove (Wed club rides usually go up there and it's always really hard because it's always windy!) :-)

BD->Welney should be ok
Welney->Pymoor I'd stay on the road. You can carry on along the bank, but it's proper off-road path and quite boring. Hundred Foot Road is quite bumpy, but ok on a road bike. Then LTDownham->Coveney->Wentworth->Wilburton
Long Drove into Cottenham is also quite bumpy. Never tried it on a road bike, but might just about be doable. Not sure it's worth the detour, it's only 10mins on the road to Cottenham on the main road. I wouldn't worry about 20pence too much to be honest - I probably made it sound worse than it is.
Landbeach to SP: I know the path is on maps, but I've never found it or it might be private. Not sure if you can cross the A14 there? Cottenham -> Histon has a reasonably good cycle path and then CGB to the SP might be better.

If you want to go off-road a better route would be Haddenham->Aldreth->Rampton->CGB (I can dig out a route if you want). Can be too muddy in winter though.

On road you could go Manea->Chatteris->Somersham (all quiet roads)->StIves (that bit can be busy but you'd have to be there early so should be ok) and then CGB all the way to SP. Quite a detour though...

 

[Mark1978]

Im on a hybrid at the moment, so bumpy roads arent too bad (and im used to the long boring bumpy roads around this area - my road has to be one of the worst!!)

I'll take a look at those routes you have suggested and maybe give one a go soon. Wont be for a while as im on call/on holiday for the rest of the month.

 

[jonny jeez]

I don't know the area enough to comment on routes...but then others have already done a good job of that.

My thoughts are, ride the busiest part as it will save time. Driving through busy parts is probably slower than cycling.

So potential bonus there

Also, give it a go. If you like it and the train co changes their policy, then you can always invest in a brompton.

 

[Kies]

Jonny beat me to the line ... A folding bike sounds ideal

 

[Alien8]

Hi Mark

How long can you actually spare for cycling each day and what distance do you think you can cover on/off road in that time?

Cycling from Ely to Cambridge down the side of the Ouse/Cam - I don't think this is possible until you get to Waterbeach from where it is a reasonable cinder path.

With respect to your posted route - from Welney I'd probably just carry on to Littleport, take the Black Bank Road down to Little Downham and then on to Coveney. I hate Hundred Foot Bank - two miles of continual bumps and jolts.

I wouldn't bother with Long Drove to bypass a bit of Twenty Pence Road. Long Drove is ridable but not brilliant (for a road bike).

From Cottenham I think your choices are either on to Histon and then the GBW to the Science Park or go Landbeach, Milton, over the bridge at Tesco and down to the Science Park.

I don't think the route you show from Landbeach is actually ridable - I think it is just an overgrown bridleway.

If you have access to a car could you part drive with the bike in the back - is there somewhere reasonable where you could park-up and leave the car during the day?

 

[alpine fenlander]

Driving part of the way sounds like a good idea. Maybe leave your car at Waterbeach train station (very small car park though) or at one of the busway park and ride sites (St Ives, Swavesey, Willingham)?
Folding bike isn't great for your journey BD->Downham Market and Cambridge->Science Park would be quite a long slog on a folding bike I think.

 

[Mark1978]

Could probably ditch the motor at quite a few places halfway there. Got quite a few mates in and around the Ely area, so could use driveway, or could even just find a few quiet backroads and ditch it there. I guess you have to pay to park at waterbeach train station?

I think the first thing I'm going to try is riding the whole distance once or twice a week. See how i get on and then maybe try the "park and ride" version to do more smaller journeys. I don't mind spending 2.5 hours on my commute on the way home a couple of days a week - id quite often drive home for over an hour and then go out for an hour or more on the bike, so it wouldnt eat into my non-existant social life that much anyway

Probably do that until they finally build the train station at the science park.

 

[HLaB]

Might not be an option for you Mark but when I used to have a 37miles roud commute; Id take the train in the morning and cycle home at night. I wasn't bothered about the distance, more the time and sitting sweating in the office (no facilites) all day.