We're once again running The Cambridge Autumnals, two late-year/early-season, very sociable rides from Girton, Cambridge.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 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 (this has been achieved, on fixed-wheel, no less!). 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 Balsham and Fulbourn 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, where Alex will be stamping cards. 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, and one info control, to then blast down the 7km descent to Fulbourn and Cambridge. We think this is a delightful 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.
These are ideal rides to give the winter bike a shakedown, as the routes are straightforward and will be vaguely challenging only if the weather's up, and scenic in the sense of having lots of scenery (but not hilly). We've ridden both routes many times on fixed-gear, and both are fixed-friendly, if your winter-steed's a fixie
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 These events are a week later than last year due to a prior booking in the hall, but they will return to the third Saturday in October next year — we've booked the hall over a year in advance, just to be sure!
As always, 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.
And in other news:
—
The Cambridge Pork Pie 200 on 16 March 2019 will be a qualifier for Paris-Brest-Paris. And there's
The Cambridge Spring Dash 100 on the same day.
—
Our brand new event, The Capitals of East Anglia 300 on 27 April 2019, will also be a qualifier for PBP.