Double Dutch, Ship of the Fens 200

[JellyLegs]

I know, I was trying to say I wasn’t put off in any way as it was no different to any of my local stations or shopping centres which have all gone the way of no machines, pay by app or text only with a different app needed for every place.  I wasn’t expecting you to feedback to apcoa, just expressing out loud my frustration at their (cr)app.  Clearly I didn’t phrase it well though!

[OMIL]

A great ride, thanks to Martin and Ann. For me, with a childhood spent in the Fens, this was a nostalgic trip. My account:http:// https://www.sunsetcyclist.uk/200km-rides/double-dutch-infinity-beckons

[drossall]

Thanks for that. Fixed link by the way: https://www.sunsetcyclist.uk/200km-rides/double-dutch-infinity-beckons

[αdαmsκι]

FYI the map on the AUK page is showing the route via Spalding rather than Ely.

[GdS]

No it's not a mistake the ride is not on Easter Saturday but 3 weeks later on 20th April.

I have my man on the ground to find the fabled tulips. No promises but we found them 2 years ago and even had riders climbing under the fence to get better photos.

Plus the unparalelled and probably highest thing in the whole of the region Ely Cathedral (which was free to walk in last time when I arrived) and the Cambrige (mis)guided busway

and a start in a proper car park* with a proper meter  5 mins ride from the station so no need to download any apps 

* or even free for the canny 5 mins ride 

[GdS]

Did a route check yesterday although hopefully we won't have the strong NW wind on the day which made for an interesting ride after Ely  :'(

I located 2 tulip fields en route which should be out on the day  and a 3rd one which is newly planted so maybe not....

Diversion away from the flooded Cambridge busway after Swavesey via all quiet roads, fingers crossed this might not be required in 4 weeks

[MsG]

GdS If you do Facebook then there’s a group that people update with whether the Guided Busway is passable. This winter seems to have been particularly bad https://www.facebook.com/groups/1451358095081889/?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=3513310125553332

[sparklyfish]

... and if you prefer Strava, there is a club called "Cambridge Busway Passability". People have been posting updates every few days. The last flooded bit should have gone down in time...

[MsG]

Hopefully the residual debris will have been cleared too. I made the mistake of trying to cycle through that last year.

[GdS]

Hopefully the residual debris will have been cleared too. I made the mistake of trying to cycle through that last year.

Thanks; the FB page said it was 1.5m deep last week so fingers crossed! it was about 30cm on Saturday. Bit of Googling suggests the charity field (which I think we pass) will open on the 28th so the tulips should be pretty good on the 20th.

This is the location I'm pinning my hopes on

[sparklyfish]

Entered! Will ECE - I'd get the train, but there's a busway in the way... Do you have someone local to check the busway path status? If not, am happy to go and check on the Thursday before the event if that helps.

[GdS]

Entered! Will ECE - I'd get the train, but there's a busway in the way... Do you have someone local to check the busway path status? If not, am happy to go and check on the Thursday before the event if that helps.

Yes including another rider who's entered and another OTP, it's more the washed up crap on the path I'm concerned about but thanks for the offer 

Ps entries over 100, still have a source of Lindt bunnies but that could change this weekend.

The railway line closed to passengers in the 60s! I did travel on it on a special train in about 1990; I remember it taking a g e s due to having to open and close all the crossing gates. I presume all the level crossings now have car traps to stop people driving down, and if so not sure how the bus driver knows? 

[dod]

All the crossings have traffic lights, with automatic triggering when a bus approaches. They also have car traps to stop cars getting on to the busway, although that doesn't always work and the one at St Ives has its own Facebook page, with regular photos of it catching dozy drivers 

[GdS]

Entered! Will ECE - I'd get the train, but there's a busway in the way... Do you have someone local to check the busway path status? If not, am happy to go and check on the Thursday before the event if that helps.

according to the FB page it went down completely but is now flooded again and there's still crap all over the cyclepath even if it's rideable. From an org's duty of care POV I'm still advertsing the diversion route until I get confirmation that the cyclepath is rideable inna Audax stylee. I'm certainly not happy with sending riders along the embankment cm away from the (inaudible from behind) buses.

Not sure if part of the busway scheme but the normal route now includes a serene new Path of Righteousness lit up with marker lights to Rampton before ending abruptly...

[Lightning Phil]

Do you intend to keep entries open till close to the date?  Hoping to enter, now I’ve seen you’re running it 3 weeks after Easter.  Awaiting some replacement brake parts to ensure I’ll have a suitable working audax bike before entering.

[telstarbox]

Just done 2 hours into the headwind in Kent today so I hope that will be good practice

[GdS]

Do you intend to keep entries open till close to the date?  Hoping to enter, now I’ve seen you’re running it 3 weeks after Easter.  Awaiting some replacement brake parts to ensure I’ll have a suitable working audax bike before entering.

yes aiming to close 1500 on the 19th unless I get a sudden deluge. There's no limit on parking space at the start I'm just hoping riders will keep their bikes nice and tidy at the finish 

I have 116 entries so far with a limit of 158 (that's how many cards I have or can re-purpose)

[Lightning Phil]

Planning on train, all being well.

[GdS]

Busway cyclepath is apparently clear 

unless there's another storm before then 

[freeflow]

Looks like I lost a post.  I was asking about the state of the road from Littleport to Queen Adelaide.  The last time DD went that way there was quite a lot of subsidence at the side of the road, effectively forcing riders out to the middle of the road, much to the chagrin of cars trying to pass.  Having looked at Google street view I'm not seeing any significant improvements, so I was wandering if the alternative of Ely road from Littleport was acceptable.

[GdS]

Looks like I lost a post.  I was asking about the state of the road from Littleport to Queen Adelaide.  The last time DD went that way there was quite a lot of subsidence at the side of the road, effectively forcing riders out to the middle of the road, much to the chagrin of cars trying to pass.  Having looked at Google street view I'm not seeing any significant improvements, so I was wandering if the alternative of Ely road from Littleport was acceptable.

I didn't notice it much if at all on the route check I was  also distracted by a C-17 leaving RAF Mildenhall so it can't have been bad, not sure if the road's been resurfaced. No problem to go through Littleport if you prefer. I didn't find that main road too busy at that time of day.

Of course drivers should be passing on the other side anyway 

[Wobbly John]

Most local cyclists avoid the Branch Bank road between Queen Adelaide and Littleport because of the traffic speeds and number of accidents (one down there at the moment).
I cycle the Ely to Littleport road almost daily and it is much better, although the level crossing is frequently closed for 5mins if 2 trains are due.

[GdS]

Most local cyclists avoid the Branch Bank road between Queen Adelaide and Littleport because of the traffic speeds and number of accidents (one down there at the moment).
I cycle the Ely to Littleport road almost daily and it is much better, although the level crossing is frequently closed for 5mins if 2 trains are due.

Thanks  I'll update the GPX and route sheet via Littleport and send out once I'm 100% sure of the status of the busway path. I chose that road as it looked quiet due to the new A10 bypass but I expect it can often be a rat run. It also doesn't have great views of the river so nothing lost

[Lightning Phil]

I cycle the Ely to Littleport road almost daily and it is much better, although the level crossing is frequently closed for 5mins if 2 trains are due.

You can bypass the level crossing via the underpass can’t you?

[Wobbly John]

I cycle the Ely to Littleport road almost daily and it is much better, although the level crossing is frequently closed for 5mins if 2 trains are due.

You can bypass the level crossing via the underpass can’t you?

Not the one at Chettisham. Lots of goods trains because it is a East coast ports to midlands line.