We're putting on a pair of 100km and 200km events for the new Audax UK season called The Cambridge Autumnals, starting from Girton, just on the northern fringe of Cambridge. These are ideal rides to give the winter bike a shakedown, as the routes are straightforward and will be seriously challenging only if the weather's up, and scenic in the sense of having lots of scenery (but not too hilly). We've test ridden them on fixed-gear, and both routes are fixed-friendly, if your winter-steed's a fixie
The 200km Cambridge Autumnal heads due east to the historic and picturesque castle-and-market town of Framlingham in Suffolk, as frequented at about
2am just before dawn on the Dunwich Dynamo. The first stage is a straight
101km stage via Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Debenham to Framlingham, but you can pass straight through without stopping and carry on all the way to Fram without putting a foot down (a prize to anyone who manages to do this!). After a light lunch (or a heavy one if that takes your fancy), the return route gets a little lumpier with a crossways return via Stowmarket to the Maglia Rosso bike shop + café in Hawstead. It's then a laney run all the way back to Brinkley and the Six Mile Bottom descent back to Cambridge. Just two commercial controls, zero infos.
Details for the 200 here.
The 100km Cambridge Autumnal climbs up onto the chalk massif via Six Mile Bottom and heads fairly directly to the first control at Great Thurlow. The next stage hits a series of very narrow, deserted lanes to cross from Suffolk to Essex, visits everyone's favourite medieval Thaxted and heads on to the historic Saffron Walden for lunch. The return is over a couple of noticeable climbs to Balsham to then blast down the 7km descent to Fulbourn and Cambridge. We think this is a delightful new route for those not yet confident at 200km in possibly wintry conditions — although who knows, it may be sunny!
Three commercial controls, one info.
Details for the 100 here.
We will be serving hot and cold refreshments at the start, and something hot with plenty of Mrs W's homemade cake at the arrivée 
The start is easy to get to by train from London and the 8am start of the 200 allows enough time for London-based riders to catch the first train from King's Cross. Girton is also easy to get to by car. Hopefully many will simply cycle to the start.
