Club Run and Cafe Run report - 4th December 2016

33 gathered on this fine morning at the Market Square and plenty of winter kit was on display as the all the outer extremities were covered to keep out the cold. A few were even debating taking an early turn for home as they felt under-dressed for the conditions, however the sun kept shining on the groups and as far as we know no one relented and turned for home.

Choirmaster Mark Colmer soon brought the unruly mob to hand and organised and dispatched the various groups on their way around the County.

Chairman Gary Newman rode with the medium group as he continues to recover from his recent bout of undiagnosed illness.

The two medium groups should have descended Everton Hill on the way home, however both decided that the conditions were just a little too precarious to enjoy the quick descent and opted for alternate safer routes home.

The Club have introduced a new ride for the first Sunday of the month and this was led by Stas whose report on the ride is below. This was following the success of the Cycling Week ride to Potton.

SNCC Café Run; 4th December 2016

StIves1The SNCC Café runs are a new idea, designed to give an opportunity for those used to a shorter ride to join a slightly longer ride – between 40 and 50 miles, knowing that the pace will be kept below 16 mph and that there will be an opportunity to rest and have a coffee and something to eat half-way round. It’s also a very sociable ride, with an understanding that no one gets dropped along the way.

 So it was on Sunday, 4th December 2016, when 5 riders chose the Café Run over the other 3 options (30 miles, 50 miles and 62 miles, all without a break) to set off from the Market Square on a crisp, frosty, blue sky day.

 The group rode though Kimbolton, spotting La Coté D’Or house on the left of the village High Street, before proceeding to Stow Longa and the delightful short, steep, ascent just north of the A14.

 After that we had the delight of Alconbury Hill, before facing into the east wind for the cruise down to St Ives, at 30 miles, where we found a delightful little café, offering yoga and Reiki head massages, alongside avocado and poached egg on sourdough bread, a full English breakfast, or sausage rolls big enough to feed three people! (Although it was noticed that one member of the group failed to share his sausage roll and ate the whole lot himself!)

After that, we left St Ives on the old, vehicle free, bridge – from where we watched people feeding ducks and swans in the brilliant sunshine, and just had a fairly flat 22 mile run back to St Neots.

 The idea is to repeat these runs on a monthly basis, so maybe it’s something other club members might like to consider, for a change?

 

 

StIves2