#CamRideHome Visits Arbury

After a really rather damp day, the ida of going out for a social ride seemed a bit too much. However, the experience was very different. There's something about doing things in a group that makes fun and worthwhile, despite the potentially inclement weather. In fact the adversity may actually bring about more pleasure as you seek to beat it as a group.

The start point, as always, is from from The Mill by the river in the centre of town.


The Mill in Sunnier Times (from their twitter stream)

Here's the route.

Open Map Larger.

Whilst we did meander around a lot of cycle infra around north east Cambridge, the primary aim was to look at the new cyclepaths on Arbury Road.


Plan for the new cyclepaths

And there are a few more photos of this bit of our ride here.

It was good to note the works at the end of the cyclepath, it's the extension going ahead soon.

And here's the video of the route. Look out, music! And inspired by the water all around us, a little ditty by New Model Army.            (Go HD see * below)

0:11 Starting from The Mill
0:30 Passing Kings College
0:44 By the river on Jesus Green
1:22 Green Dragon Bridge
1:33 Fen Road Cyclepath
1:41 Snack break on the Guided Busway
1:59 Getting to the Arbury Road Cyclepath
2:30 Returning to The Mill for a pint and a natter


A slightly sad part was coming back down Mere and Carlton Way, although it didn't spoil the evening mood generally. Several close passes as people driving risked (us) getting round us on a narrow road with oncoming traffic.

One particular fine example of driving was someone passing us close at high speed and parking up in a bus stop. Reviewing video frames against nearby street items and measuring on satellite images showed they were doing at least 37mph (in a 20mph limit).

Large car being driven well over the speed limit






























* How to go HD.

#CamRideHome on 30.06.2017 The Rush Water Course and Trumpington Road Cyclepath Video

As planned, the June ride this year was to The Blue Ball in Granchester looking at a couple of sites along the way. And yes, I've spelt it deliberately like that.




And here's the video of the route!

##CamRideHome Does Cambridge North on 30.06.2017 (Go HD see * below)

0:12 Start up Laundress Lane
0:33 Through a poorly placed No Entry sign to get to two-way cyclepath
0:52 Onto Sheeps Green
1:03 Progress temporarily halted by boggy bit
1:16 The newly rejuvenated "The Rush" stream
2:27 Simon goes for a paddle which interests the locals
2:57 Back onto Fen Causeway shared-use path
3:15 Onto Trumpington Road shared-use path, lane opposite not yet finished
3:25 Floating bus stop still being built
3:45 Onto cyclelane from new crossing place
4:00 Up ramp to shared-use path, is it all the way?
4:22 A little known shared-use path to St Faith's School
4:52 Over and up Lathams Lane
5:25 Back onto the Coe Fen
5:52 Brief rain coat stop
6:19 Simon's bike decides to stop
7:25 Turning over the field to The Blue Ball


So we spotted a No Entry sign that's to stop people cycling and driving the wrong way down Malting Lane. However, it also covers the entrance to the two-way shared-use path along Church Rate Walk.

The first main site was on Sheeps Green. In March they renewed The Rush water course by adding in rocks and building the banks with logs and hazel. It looks like it really does rejuvenate the stream, and I spotted an Egret at the bottom pool. I do find it a little incongruous to have rocks in a stream in a flat, fen area, but it does make the stream work.

UPDATE: More video here.

The second site is the new cyclepath along the east side of Trumpington Road. This change gets rid of the awful doorzone cyclelane and connects to the Brooklands Avenue cyclepath enabling loads of local school kids to avoid the busy main road entirely. Here's Mike Davies talking about the scheme.

We do note that the west side of the road still needs completing as they intend to widen the offroad route. Also, the floating bus stop area isn't yet complete, that should improve it even more. Let's see how the end of Bateman Street works, with loads of school traffic coming out in busy times. It's good to see that they have already removed the railings on the west side shared-use path, there's now a lot more space.

At the end of these sights of sites we'll take a leisurely ride across Granchester Meadows to the delightful little independent Blue Ball pub with it's excellent atmosphere and great beers. Simon's bike decided to give us a little fun as we almost get onto Grantchester Meadows. And we were shamed that none of us were carrying spanners!










* How to go HD.

#CamRideHome on 30.06.2017 The Rush Water Course and Trumpington Road Cyclepath

So for the June ride this year we are making our way to The Blue Ball in Granchester seeing the sites along the way. And yes, I've spelt it deliberately like that.

UPDATE: Video and story here.

The first site at The Rush on Sheeps Green where in March they renewed the water course by adding in rocks and building the banks with hazel. I remember seeing the work taking place and thought it well worth a look to see how this improves the widllife habitat [PDF].

The second site is the new cyclepath along the east side of Trumpington Road. This change gets rid of the awful doorzone cyclelane and connects to the Brooklands Avenue cyclepath enabling loads of local school kids to avoid the busy main road entirely. Here's Mike Davies talking about the scheme. We can note that the west side of the road still needs completing as they intend to widen the offroad route.



At the end of these sights of sites we'll take a leisurely ride across Granchester Meadows to the delightful little independent Blue Ball pub with it's excellent atmosphere and great beers.

#CamRideHome on 29.04.2016, the Reach Ride Explore

For the Bank Holiday weekend of the Reach Ride, #CamRideHome explored the city sections of the Reach Ride.




And here's the video of the route, with pictures along the way!

#CamRideHome on 29.04.2016, the Reach Ride Explore (Go HD see * below)

0:12 Setting off
0:26 Kings College Chapel
0:45 First wait for everyone
0:59 Onto the delightfully green Jesus Green
1:10 Another wait!
1:30 The river looking great
2:00 The Technology Museum
2:10 Cows!
2:20 The Green Dragon Bridge (which permits cycling!)
2:55 Back over the new cycle bridge
3:16 Waiting at the traffic lights, twice
3:34 Newmarket Road Retail Park
3:57 Cut through to York Road
4:19 People go the wrong way!
4:33 Crossing Mill Road a driver bullies their way through without priority (see https://www.cyclestreets.net/location/81074)
5:20 Pasing the cycle counter on Parkers Peice
5:43 Onto Downing Street Contraflow Cyclelane
6:00 Like "a sinner we crawl" back to The Mill


* How to go HD.

A Late Sunday Afternoon Lazy Ride

I just fancied a short late afternoon lazy ride, which in the late spring sunshine felt glorious.




And here's the video of the route, with pictures along the way!

A Late Sunday Afternoon Lazy Ride (Go HD see * below)

0:12 Start a bit late on Brooklands Avenue
0:56 Lots of people by The Mill
1:10 Town centre is crowded!
1:45 Jesus Green, and lots more people
2:10 Some cows sleeping just before The Fort St George
2:31 Riverside
2:52 Stoubridge Common. more poeple, more cows
3:15 A big horse and a little horse
3:41 Onto an empty Ditton Walk
4:01 Crossing Coldhams Common
4:57 Mill Road, and a driver going the wrong way down Sedgwick Street (see YouTube clip here)
5:12 Carter Railway Bridge
5:46 Into the Triangle and almost back to Brooklands Avenue


* How to go HD.

May 2015 #CamRideHome

#CamRideHome is a leisurely ride around some of the more pleasant cycle infrastructure and cut-throughs in Cambridge, ending in a short pub stop to chat about the joys of the past month. It starts at The Mill in Cambridge every last Friday of the month at 6pm. Rob at Ben Haywards has been instrumental in getting this going and is the route source on their CamRideHome page.

The May ride took advantage of the evening sunshine to explore out to Grantchester, especially as the route is blocked to rat running with the bridge closed. It was a balmy May evening, tee-shirts for some and fleeces for others!



A Relaxed Early Friday Evening Social Ride (Go HD see * below)

0:12 Setting Off from The Mill
0:23 Elliot shows off his signalling skills
0:55 Car pulls out in front, sigh.
1:22 TK Maxx lorry parking up, inches to spare!
2:42 "Daddy faster" as Elliot wants to "win"
3:27 A nice cut-through to Granchester Road
4:25 Bus!!!!
5:20 Green Man in Granchester, a few stop
5:30 Taking care on a narrow path
7:00 Back in Cambridge!
7:30 A naughty trick through ridiculous lights
8:11 Peace in the Valley
8:29 And yet more Peace, a pint!



* How to go HD.

CamRideHome in March 2015

#CamRideHome is a leisurely ride around some of the more pleasant cycle infrastructure and cut-throughs in Cambridge, ending in a short pub stop to chat about the joys of the past month. It starts at The Mill in Cambridge every last Friday of the month at 6pm. Rob at Ben Haywards has been instrumental in getting this going and is the route source on their CamRideHome page.

The March ride was the first which occurs mainly in daylight. This year we explored some of the new developments to the south of the city in Great Kneighton. New paths are being added to link in with the Southern section of the Guided Busway.

Click here to see the map bigger.


I managed to get video footage until it was quite dark, co-incidentally as my battery failed (how to go HD*).

March 2015 Ride

All together a very pleasant little ride, aimed at the pace of the slowest and with a couple of beers and good chat afterwards. Who's up for April, when we'll be in balmy evening sun all the way?

* How to go HD.