Our weekly rides programme

CTC Cambridge runs several cycle rides every week throughout the year.

Our rides reflect the seasons and the amount of daylight. In this description, "Summer" means approximately the period of British Summer Time, which is from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October, and "Winter" means the remainder of the year.

See About riding with CTC Cambridge for more about what our rides are like, and what you need to know.

Sunday rides

We normally run two rides on a Sunday: an all-day ride and an afternoon ride, though we occasionally offer additional shorter afternoon rides for "improvers" and longer all-day rides for the more energetic. All rides meet for tea and then return directly to Cambridge.

Sunday afternoon rides

The Sunday afternoon rides start at 2.00pm (summer) and 1.30pm (winter) at Brookside in Cambridge (please check our rides lists for the exact start time). The length of the ride varies from week to week, but as a general guide we cover about 45 miles in the summer and about 30 miles in the winter.

The goal of the ride is the tea stop, after which we ride directly back to Cambridge or wherever we live. Tea is usually at 4.30pm during summer (during the period of British Summer Time) and 3.30pm during winter. See the rides list for the exact time. From October to April bring lights for the ride home from tea.

For most of the year, tea is usually at a country pub, where a spread of sandwiches and cakes has been pre-booked and is waiting for us. There is a fixed charge of about £4.50. From December to February we stop at cafes (often at garden centres) or at the houses of members.

Sunday afternoon improvers rides

Occasionally in the summer we have a second Sunday afternoon ride which starts at the same time and the same place and goes to the same tea stop. But this second ride cycles at a more gentle pace and takes a shorter route. The length of the ride varies from week to week, but as a general guide we cover about 30 miles.

These rides are intended to provide an intermediate step for "improvers", such as Saturday riders who want to ride a bit further but aren’t ready for the longer afternoon rides. We use the same tea stop as the other Sunday rides so you will get to meet other club members.

Sunday all-day rides

The Sunday all-day rides start at 9.00am (summer) or 9.30am (winter) at Brookside in Cambridge. These last all day, with stops at a cafe for coffee (approx 11.00am) and at a pub or cafe for lunch (approx 1.00pm) before meeting the afternoon riders at tea.

These rides might be 70-80 miles in the summer and 50-60 miles in the winter but you can have a shorter ride by dropping out (or joining in) at one of the intermediate stops, and many members do just that.

During the warmer months, whilst most riders eat at the specified pub or cafe, some prefer to bring a packed lunch and eat it nearby.

See the description of Sunday afternoon rides for more information about the afternoon tea stop. From October to April bring lights for the ride home from tea.

Sunday longer rides

Occasionally in the summer we have a second all-day ride which starts earlier and goes further than the normal ride. These rides are no faster than our normal all-day rides - they're just longer.

Sunday car-assisted rides

From time to time we organise all-day "car-assisted" rides in which we travel by car to a more distant start point and have a circular ride from there. Contact the ride leader for details and to arrange car-sharing. If you don't have a car we'll try to find space for you.

Saturday morning rides

We also hold rides on Saturday mornings about twice a month except during the winter. These are our shortest and easiest rides and are intended to be suitable for everyone. They start at 10.00am at Brookside and cover about 15-20 miles at a gentle pace, stopping for a refreshments at a cafe along the way. Anyone able to cycle around Cambridge should be fine on these rides. See our guidelines for riders under the age of 18.

Thursday rides

We hold all-day rides on Thursdays, starting a few miles south of Cambridge at either Hauxton or Haslingfield. These depart at 9.30am and are shorter than the Sunday all-day rides, with a stop for coffee and lunch but no formal tea stop, returning to Cambridge during the afternoon and always before dark.

The mid-morning stop is often in the countryside so riders tend to bring their own coffee and snacks. Lunch is at a pub or cafe though some riders prefer to bring a packed lunch.

For dates, destinations and start points see the rides list. For further information phone the organiser, Greta Lumbers, on 01223 872327.

Tuesday rides (Senior Cyclists' Group)

Our Senior Cyclists' Group meets on Tuesdays. These rides are open to everyone but the pace is gentle. The group meets up informally in smaller groups near Cambridge around 10.00am and we then ride to a country pub for lunch before returning home. We aim to all arrive at the pub around 12:30pm.

The details of the planned lunch stop can be found on the rides lists. If you’d like to meet earlier to ride out with us, or for any other information about the Senior Cyclists' Group, please contact Peter Rowell (01954 210692).

If the weather is doubtful, call Peter or the appointed leader the previous evening (Monday) after 7.30pm to find out whether the ride has been changed.

Occasionally the ride is car-assisted - call Peter to arrange transport if needed.

Wednesday evening rides

During the summer months, when the evenings stay light until quite late, we have rides on Wednesday evenings. These usually depart from Brookside at 6pm, 6.30pm or 7pm depending on the time of year - check the rides list for the exact time. These rides don't have a leader: the riders who turn up will choose a route on the day. There is usually a pub stop towards the end of the ride. These are intended to be daylight rides, but you should bring lights.