CTC Cambridge

2010-04-03T01:30:00.002+01:00

February brings the snow

At last the snow has gone and our rides are now going ahead as listed in the February rides list.

Come and celebrate the passing of the snow by joining us on one of our rides next Sunday 19th Feb. Both rides will end with a home tea at Julia's in Fen Ditton on the edge of Cambridge.

Rides in March and April

The March and April rides lists are now available. Spring weather, and clock changes (25 March) means we have longer days to enjoy. So we can put some longer rides back into the mix. But there's a varied mix of rides: lots of favourites and most of them can be adjusted to suit the weather and the group on the day.

Read about the highlights of our early spring rides.

Latest ride reports from the CTC Cambridge Blog

16 Feb: Thursday ride to Malton and Everton
Edward writes: What a contrast! Last Thursday snow on the ground and
bitterly cold temperatures, this Thursday nearly springlike, little
breeze, the promise of some sunshine and the prospect of a great ride,
and so it turned out. (more)

15 Feb: Evening ride to Newton
Nigel writes: Hooray! The snow has gone! Tonight's ride was a
replacement for last week's evening ride, which was cancelled due to ice
and snow. (more)

9 Feb: Thursday ride to Nuthampstead and Braughing
Ian writes: (but see update from Edward below):I opted to meet the day
ride at the coffee stop this morning. The roads from Foxton through to
Fowlmere and the A505 were reasonably clear with the odd iced-over
puddle at the sides of the road. (more)

2 Feb: Thursday ride to Elsworth and St Ives
Edward writes: Today wasn't a day for the faint-hearted but eight riders
assembled at the green in Haslingfield. Last night temperatures were in
the range of minus 3 to minus 5, but at least there was little wind and
the prospect of some sunshine. (more)

29 Jan: Afternoon ride to Newnham
Peter writes: I arrived at Brookside to find just a handful of
cold-looking people waiting, but suddenly on the dot of 1.30, several
more appeared, to make a total of 12 riders, a very good turnout on a
grey and cold afternoon. (more)

Start point for Saturday and Sunday rides

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(For the start points of our Thursday rides, see here.)

Our Saturday morning, Sunday all-day and Sunday afternoon rides depart from the traditional club meeting point which is at Brookside (Lensfield Road end) on the southern edge of Cambridge City Centre. Our occasional midweek summer evening rides also depart from here.

View Larger Map

We assemble by the bench near the Hobson's Conduit monument. The bench bears a small plaque commemorating the fact that we have been meeting here for many years.

Start points for Thursday rides

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(For the start point for our Saturday and Sunday rides, see here.)

Our Thursday rides normally start start in one of two places:

50 Jopling Way, Hauxton , Cambridge CB22 5HY. We meet outside this private house (where the ride leader lives) which is about 5 miles south-west of Cambridge City Centre
Haslingfield Village Green. Haslingfield is about 6 miles south-west of Cambridge City Centre. The village green is immediately east of the church, with the village sign in the middle. We assemble by the Joan Wooldridge Memorial Seat near the sign.

See the details for each ride to find our which start point is being used that day.

View Larger Map

Our weekly rides programme

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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.

About riding with CTC Cambridge

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If you enjoy sociable and non-competitive cycling in the local countryside, for an afternoon, a whole day and occasionally for longer, CTC Cambridge is the club for you.

We're a local group of CTC, the National Cyclists' Association. You don't have to be a member of CTC to try us out, but if you become a regular you will be expected to join. Non-members will be asked to complete a guest entry form at the start. Find out how to join. There are some additional guidelines and requirements for riders under the age of 18.

As a club, we are open to everyone with an interest in cycling. Cycling with CTC offers an environmentally-friendly and enjoyable way of keeping fit, making friends and exploring some of the country lanes, villages, cafes and pubs in the Cambridge area.

Read Our weekly rides programme for a description of the various rides we run each week.

You might also like to read this article about CTC Cambridge on the website of Cambridge Cycling Campaign.

Thinking of riding with us?

A good option for newcomers is to join one of our Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon rides:

The Saturday morning rides (summer months only) are short, about 15 miles, and are gentle-paced and suitable for virtually anyone.

The Sunday afternoon rides (all-year) are rather longer, 45 miles in summer and 30 in winter. They are the core of what the club does, with the tea stop being a particular highlight. We don't ride especially fast, and the pace will depend on who comes on the ride. A typical average is 12mph, which is slower than most racing clubs though we tend not to stop very often until we reach the tea stop. So come prepared to ride fairly steadily for about 25-30 miles (summer) or 20-25 miles (winter) until we get to tea, where there is ample opportunity to rest and recharge before the shorter ride home. This might be a challenge for the first few weeks but you will soon develop the legs for it.

Whatever your strength and speed, we won't abandon you, and the ride leader will adjust the route to suit the speed of the group.

Taking part in rides

Although the leader and the other riders will try to look after you when on the ride, you do need to be fairly self-sufficient and responsible for your own safety:

1. Make sure your bike is in good working order. Check the brakes work and make sure that you can use all the gears. Put some oil on the chain if it looks a bit dry or rusty. And check the tyres are pumped up fully.

2. Carry enough tools to allow you to mend a puncture. This means a puncture repair kit, a spare tube, a pump, tyre levers and a spanner if necessary to remove your wheel.

3. Bring enough cash for the refreshment stops or to pay for a taxi home in the event of a complete breakdown.

4. Bring lights for all rides in the winter

CTC national office has produced a useful guide to cycling with a group (pdf) which includes some important safety advice.

What to wear

Wear whatever you like and feel comfortable in, though make sure it is appropriate to the weather.

Although many of our members wear specialised cycling clothing (lycra shorts, etc) quite a few don't, and you shouldn't feel you need to wear anything in particular to "fit in".

However cycle-specific or similar sports clothing is often the most comfortable and can add greatly to your cycling pleasure. Your ride leader and other members will be pleased to give advice.

The best approach is to dress in layers so you can adjust your clothing according to the changing weather and how warm you are feeling, and since this is Britain come prepared for rain.

Photos by Julia Hochbach.

Links

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Other CTC groups

CTC - The UK's National Cycling Organisation
CTC Peterborough
CTC Bedfordshire
Stevenage and North Herts CTC
CTC Hertfordshire
CTC Norfolk
CTC Suffolk
CTC Essex

Other local cycling organisations

Cambridge Cycling Campaign
Cambridge Cycling Club
The Veteran Cycle Club
Mildenhall Cycling Rally

Other cycling organisations and websites

Sustrans

Legal

2009-07-01T10:31:00.006+01:00

Who we are

CTC Cambridge (Cambridge Cyclists' Touring Club) is a member group of CTC, the UK's National Cycling Organisation.

For legal purposes it is part of Cyclists' Touring Club (Eastern) Limited, a subsidiary of CTC.

Copyright statement

Main website (ctc-cambridge.org.uk):

All text is Copyright © 2010Cyclists' Touring Club (Eastern) Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

All photographs remain the copyright © 2008-2010of the original photographer.

Blog (blog.ctc-cambridge.org.uk)

All postings and photographs are the copyright © 2008-2010of the original author or photographer, All Rights Reserved, whose name is normally stated nearby.

Some photographs may have a more permissive licence: this will be displayed on the individual page.

Starting points for Tuesday rides (Senior Cyclists' Group)

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(For the start points of our Thursday rides, see here.)
(For the start point of our Saturday and Sunday rides, see here.)

CTC Cambridge's Senior Cyclists' Group usually meets at 9.30 or 10.00 on Tuesdays at one of

Madingley Road park and ride (west of Cambridge)
Trumpington park and ride (south-west of Cambridge)
Newmarket Road park and ride (east of Cambridge)

These start points offer free car (and cycle) parking, toilets, vending machines and shelter.

See the details for each ride to find out the start time and which start point is being used that day.

View this on a larger map

Rides lists on your calendar

2009-05-13T23:01:00.123+01:00

iPhone

Our rides are now available as calendar feeds . If you use Google Calendar, an Android or iPhone mobile phone, or another calendar program on your computer or mobile phone that allows you to view shared calendars in iCalendar format, then you can display our rides on your own calendar. See below for details.

This is a new feature of this website, and we'd be interested to hear whether you find it useful. Please send your comments or questions to the secretary (contact details on our contacts page).

Android

Seven separate calendars are available, six for the various kinds of ride we run and one for special rides and events. You can choose which calendars you wish to subscribe to. The table below gives the iCalendar URL of each calendar.

iCalendar URLs for CTC Cambridge calendars.
These are given as hyperlinks. Don't follow these links: instead, you need to copy the link and supply it to your chosen calendar program.
Tuesday Senior Cyclists' rides http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/94lcvnop9bot32lsi3ksusemtc%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Wednesday evening rides http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/r1lfdqn6fuemr17b55lb9tsn8g%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Thursday rides http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/94lcvnop9bot32lsi3ksusemtc%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Saturday introductory rides http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/d7l6tql22novfpucsbk9ovncus%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Sunday all-day rides (including longer rides) http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/ejpajo6er5a16uf3npmj7iqp88%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Sunday afternoon rides http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/vgi3pog5rem3jbpaicu5b5tpd8%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Special rides and events https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/2q2i7viil4c57h9tntvspd93kc%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics

How to add these to your own calendar
Google calendar users: to add one of the following calendars to your Google calendar, go to your calendar on the web and follow these steps.
Android phone users: Adding one of these calendars to your Google calendar will also make it available on your phone. After following the steps above on your computer, pick up your phone, open the calendar settings, and make the new calendar visible.
iPhone users: 1. On your Mac, open iCal. 2. Select "Subscribe..." from the "Calendar" menu. 3. Paste the URL of the calendar you want to subscribe to. 4. Click "Subscribe". 5. Open iTunes. 6. Plug in your iPhone. 7. Select "Info" from the categories in iTunes. 8. Make sure that "Sync iCal Calendars" is ticked. 9. Make sure that the subscribed calendars are selected. 10. Click "Sync". It's also possible to do this wirelessly. If you would like to send us some step-by-step instructons, please do.
Other calendars and devices: If anyone would like to send us instructions for other calendar software and devices we would be pleased to publish them here.

CTC Cambridge in the 1930s

2008-11-26T17:18:00.041Z

This is a selection from the hundreds of photographs that were taken by club member and former president Donnex Claydon (1910 - 2006). Most were taken in the mid-1930's but one or two were taken later.

The original photos were 3.25" slides and were converted to digital format by Peter Rowell. The dates and places mentioned were written on the slide.

(If you recognise any of the locations or people, or can tell us more about these photographs, we'd love to hear from you).

On the road
Tea and other refreshments
Touring
Camping
High Jinks
Fords, rivers and floods
Local places
Woburn
Hostelling
Other

Brookside, Cambridge

Donnex and Doris Claydon (in the middle) at Brookside in 1936.

CTC Cambridge District Association

The "1935 Girls"

On the road

Puncture

Winter riding

1934

Puncture

1935 - A bent crank

Mechanical problem?

Minor repairs

1934 - Christmas morning

1937 - Christmas morning

Tea and other refreshments

1936 - Tea at The King's Head, Moulton

1933

1935 - Clubroom at The Golden Ball, Boxworth

1939

Touring

Whitsun tour 1937

Kersey, Suffolk

1935

1935 - Lunch time

Lunchtime

1936 - Miller's Dale, Derbyshire

1949 - Dovedale, Derbyshire

Tea stop. Note CTC emblem above door

Camping

Camping weekend

Tooth brushing

Camping trip 1935

1934 - Camping

High jinks

Tube bursting competition

Acting the goat (as usual)

1934

1936 - Fancy dress, Haslingfield

1934 - Risks of winter riding

1937 - Having a kip near Great Snoring

1937 - Nigel on a trike

Fords, rivers and floods

1935

22nd May 1932 - Flooded road

Off-road

1936. John Burn-Murdoch and Bill Sillitoe

1953 - Flooded road

1933 - Flooded road

Off-road

Local places

1933 - Ely

Thaxted Guildhall, Essex

Woburn

Oxford DA vs Cambridge DA darts match at The Bell, Woburn. The pewter tankard that was awarded is still in the possession of the club and can be seen here

Woburn 1936

Hostelling

Youth hostels around Cambridge

Breakfast at Castle headingham Y.H. (during reconstruction)

1937 - Sewing at Houghton Mill Y.H.

Other

Riders who are under the age of 18

2008-11-13T18:13:00.010Z

CTC Cambridge welcomes young people who are under the age of 18 on our rides.

Where young people are involved there are a few extra rules we have to follow.

All riders under the age of 18 (whether member or not) must have a signed CTC
parental consent form signed by their parent or guardian (see below for an exception). This form should be given to the ride leader at the start of the ride.

Riders under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult acting in loco parentis. Please note that a signed parental consent form is still needed. There is no lower age limit, though our rides are in general not suitable for young children.

Our Saturday morning rides are gentle-paced and are intended to be suitable for anyone able to cycle around Cambridge. On our other rides it is probably best if the parent comes along on their own to find our what they are like before bringing a child under 16 along.

The only case where parental consent is not needed is where a young person having reached the age of 16 is no longer living with their parents or guardian and is living as an independent adult. In accordance with national CTC guidelines we ask that the rider bring some evidence to demonstrate this, such as a rent book or utility bill showing their name and address.

How to Join

2008-11-13T17:14:00.010Z

Newcomers are welcome on all our rides. You don't have to be a member to try us out, and there's no need to tell us in advance that you're coming. All our rides are listed in our monthly rides lists, which are available by following the links on the front page of our website. Read about our weekly rides programme to find out what our different rides are like. If you're not sure which rides are most suitable for you, you're welcome to contact us by email or phone.

At the start of the ride you'll meet the ride leader. If you're not a member they will ask you to complete and sign a guest entry form which we need to satisfy the requirements of our insurers.

Non-members are welcome on our rides on five occasions. After that we'll expect you to join. See below for how to do this.

There are some additional guidelines for riders under the age of 18.

Membership

We are a local group of CTC, the national cyclists' organisation. To join us you need to become a member of the national body. You can join online here (this link takes you to the national CTC website).

Once you've joined you will be able to join our email discussion group. This is a good way to keep in touch with other members and allows you to receive the latest news about changes to our rides.

Note that if you're already a member of CTC nationally then you're already a member of your local group. There's nothing more you need to do. Please let the ride leader know you're a member.

The Joan Wooldridge memorial seat

2008-10-08T21:12:00.024+01:00

The Joan Wooldridge memorial seat on the village green in Haslingfield was inaugurated on 6th October 2011 in memory of a much-loved member of CTC Cambridge. Joan was killed in a road accident in April 2011 whilst riding home to Haslingfield after a club ride.

For many years the departure point for our Thursday rides has alternated between Haslingfield Church, a few yards from here, and an address in Hauxton. Joan often came on these rides with her husband David. The rides that start in Haslingfield will now assemble by this seat. (For a map see here).

In addition to riding with the club, Joan loved cycle touring with her husband David, and everyone who knew her was in awe of her cycling adventures all over the world. Joan's last major tour was in the winter of 2010-11 when she and David cycled from Singapore, through Malaysia and Thailand, to Pattaya.

However her most remarkable trip was probably a 16,755 mile ride the length of the Americas in 2000-02. The story of this ride, together with many of their other adventures, can be found on Joan's and David's website www.davidjoan.me.uk

Joan in Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Right to ride

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The CTC "Ride to Ride" network is an organisation for liaison with local authorities and the Highways Agency regarding cycling matters.

CTC's national office deals with national matters regarding Parliament and Government.

Accredited "Right to ride" officers 2009:

Local matters are dealt with by local "right to ride" officers. These are CTC members appointed by CTC national office to cover specific local authority areas. The "right to ride" officers for Cambridgeshire are as follows:

Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire District Council:
Mike Stapleton (County officer), 01763 221405 (m.stapletonctc@ntlworld.com)

Cambridgeshire, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Council:
George Rich, 01223 357511 (geobrich@tiscali.co.uk)

Huntingdonshire District Council:
Peter Quest, 01480 380735 (peterquest@ntlworld.com)

East Cambridghire District Council:
Vacant

Fenland District Council:
Bob Billingham, 01223 412926 (rg_bill@msn.com)

South Cambridgeshire cycleway consultation: August 2009

For more information about these schemes see the County Council website.

Trumpington to Hauxton Mill: CTC comments and recommendations

Fen Ditton to Horningsea cycleway: CTC comments and recommendations

Histon cycleway improvements: CTC comments and recommendations

Milton P&R to Impington cycleway: CTC comments and recommendations

Babraham Road cycleway: CTC objections and recommendations

Other recent campaigning:

Sept 2008: Notes from a meeting to discuss and demonstrate projects for Cambridge Cycling Demonstration City.

Objections to Northstowe Planning Application

Objection to the Development of the Mereham Settlement

Contact us

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General

For general queries, contact the club secretary, Nigel Deakin (secretary at ctc-cambridge dot org dot uk or phone 01223 311073). See our policy on unsolicited advertising below.

Our rides

For queries about the Saturday and Sunday rides, and rides in general, contact the runs secretary, Rupert Goodings (runs at ctc-cambridge dot org dot uk or phone 01223 501015).

For queries about the Tuesday rides (Senior Cyclists) contact Peter Rowell (ellis at ellis-rowell dot co dot uk or phone 01954 210692).

For queries about the Thursday rides contact Greta Lumbers (phone 01223 872327).

National Office

CTC Cambridge is a member group of CTC, the UK's National Cycling Organisation. To contact CTC's national office, visit their contact us page or write to CTC, Parklands, Railton Rd, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX.

Membership

Membership is maintained by CTC nationally. Joining the national organisation automatically makes you a member of your local group. Find out how to join here.

This website

For comments on this website and blog: contact the webmaster, Nigel Deakin (secretary at ctc-cambridge dot org dot uk)

Policy on unsolicited advertising

We are always interested in hearing from possible mid-morning, lunch and late-afternoon tea stops in the local countryside around Cambridge. If we decide to visit we'll add a link to our website.

Whilst our members may well be interested in commercial cycling holidays, it isn't the role of CTC Cambridge to get involved in publicising them so please don't sent us adverts. They will just be deleted. Don't ask us to forward adverts for cycling holidays to our members; we won't. And please don't ask us to add links to hotels and tour operators to our links page; we won't.

About us

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CTC Cambridge (Cambridge Cyclists' Touring Club) is a member group of CTC, the UK's National Cycling Organisation.

CTC was founded in 1878. Our Cambridge group was formed in 1921, and has been assembling for rides at Brookside since 1921.

To contact us, see the contact us page.

Membership is handled nationally. Find out how to join here.

CTC Cambridge Committee 2012

President: George Rich
Vice President: Peter Rowell

Chair: George Rich
Secretary: Nigel Deakin
Treasurer: Jim Bamberg
Runs secretary: Rupert Goodings

Assistant secretary and welfare officer: Bob Billingham
Assistant runs secretary: Greta Lumbers
Membership and promotions officer: Julia Hochbach
Assistant membership and promotions officer: Ian Wright

Tom Howes
Chris Emerson
Cheryl Granville
Richard Broomfield

Honorary Auditor: Bob Norman

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Recent Right to ride news

Cycling in South Brabant
Mike Stapleton has recently returned from a couple of weeks in the
suburban village of Ginneken near Breda in the Netherlands, and was very
interested by the provision for cycling there. (more)

A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton consultation exhibitions
Mike Stapleton. CTC Cambridge Area Right to Ride Co-ordinator,
writes:The Highways Agency has supplied me with the outline planning
documents for the A14 improvements. (more)

Cycle routes in South Cambridgeshire - Public meetings
Exhibitions are taking place this week to allow the public to view plans
and comment on the following cycle routes:• B1049 im (more)

In memory

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John Lumbers
1929 - 2011

Joan Wooldridge
1944 - 2011

Donnex Claydon
1910 - 2006

John Lumbers 1929 - 2011

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An appreciation by the club of one of its most long-serving members, who died in November 2011 at the age of 82.

Many of us will remember John as one of the first people to greet us when we arrived for our first club ride. He always went out of his way to make new members feel welcome and share his love of cycling. But I suspect not all of you fully realise the extent of his cycling achievements.

John was associated with CTC and our club for as long as most of us can remember. He helped run the club for many years and led countless cycle rides both locally and all over the world. He led local rides for Cambridge CTC as recently as 2009.

John with the 2008 Birthday rides in Gloucestershire

John was a lifelong touring cyclist. Like most young men at that time, he did a bit of cycle racing in his early years, but, I think he soon decided his real love was touring.

His cycle tours developed something of cult following, with many cyclists returning year after year. His first tours were to Ireland, the Channel; Islands and the Isle of Man but he soon recognised the merits of sunnier climates and organised tours further south in Europe. Over the years his tours have ranged widely across Europe and the rest of the world with holidays in Africa, America, Asia and New Zealand.

John with the 2008 Birthday rides in Gloucestershire

In the early days, the CTC tour organisation was fairly rudimentary. No mobile phones or sat-nav (obviously) but also no credit cards meaning that tour leaders had to pay cash for the hotels and meals. Fortunately, John was good at organising and also good with money: two essential qualities for a tour leader.

He continued leading holidays every year until he was 70 and encountered the red tape of CTC bureaucracy. Thanks to his younger wife Greta, he was able to sneak in a few extra years of tour leading as the "John and Greta" double act.

John's Turkey tour 2008

The winter trips to Denia (Costa Blanca; southern Spain) which John inaugurated and organised for many years became a regular feature of the club calendar. I have been told that there were some proper cycle rides but also plenty of sunshine, buffet suppers and the occasional glass of wine.

John climbing in Denia

Turning to the club rides, John was a regular leader of the Sunday all-day rides, arguably making life far too easy for the runs secretary back then. John started joining the Thursday rides when he stopped working, and joined a growing group of retired men who started "accompanying" the ladies on their Thursday rides. He was a strong rider, often nudging the younger riders (that's me by the way) into a friendly bit of competition on the hills - and then casually reminding them that he was "old enough to be their father" over lunch.

So, let me close with a suggestion of how we remember John. John would be out on his bike in all weathers but he earned a reputation for always having good weather on his tours. As we all know, "good weather" is as much a state of mind as reality. So as a motto, I'd suggest we remember his sunny cycling days in the same way as he did - as "John Lumber's good weather holidays".

Rupert Goodings
25th November 2011

A note of thanks from Greta is published here.

Food and drink stops

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The map below shows some of the places that CTC Cambridge visits on our rides for morning coffee, lunch, or afternoon tea.

For details, see the full-size version of this map

Key:
• Red: venues (mainly pubs) where we book afternoon teas.
• Green: pubs and cafés that we don't book.
• Yellow: suitable for Saturday morning rides.
• Magenta: parks and other spots for picnicking.
• Cyan: suggestions for places to visit in the future.
• Destinations marked with dots are open irregularly, or in summer only

Guide for new runs leaders: Specific details for rides

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Sunday rides and Sunday Tea stops…

The Sunday all-day rides tend to fragment after lunch with some riders heading home in separate groups.

The Sunday all-day ride meets the afternoon ride at tea, but many all-day riders often skip the tea and continue directly home.

The afternoon leader should plan a route back to Cambridge after tea by a fairly direct route and preferably not the same as the outwards route.
- The group tends to fragment after tea with many riders making their own way home, but the leader should always be available to lead riders back to Cambridge (especially newcomers) or else arrange for someone else to do so.
Booked club teas have a minimum number; typically 10 or 12; at an agreed fixed price per person. About £5 per head – contact the runs secretary to get the details for your ride.
- If numbers are higher, the pub is expected to increase quantities at the same price per head.
- If numbers are lower the pub will usually expect to receive the minimum total payment.
- Note: The afternoon leader or other club member is asked to pay any shortfall to the pub. This will be refunded from club funds: contact the runs secretary or the treasurer. The pub can also contact the club’s tea organiser if needed.

Guide for new runs leaders: Leaders’ responsibilities

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At the start…

Most riders arrive at the start just a few minutes before the start. As leader, aim to arrive early enough to welcome new riders, introduce yourself and tell them about the ride.

Note the total number of riders. Most will be regular adult members: no further action is needed

Collect Guest Entry/ Parental consent forms from any Guests or Children under 18.

Both parts of the form should be completed for all younger riders below 18 years old. The form includes a disclaimer and a parental consent form: both parts are required even if the child is accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Completed forms should be returned to the membership secretary.

The club has set a minimum age of 16 years for unaccompanied children. Riders under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult acting in loco parentis.
If needed, check that riders have emergency contact details – especially any new riders.

During the ride

The leaders’ main responsibility is to set both the route and the pace of the ride.
- Have your route notes easily accessible on the ride (paper or GPS).
- We aim for an average speed of 12 mph, but the wind and weather makes a big difference.
- Pay attention to the slower riders and set a reasonable pace - so that everyone can keep up.
- Faster riders may overtake on hills or other fast sections. But don’t be rushed: expect them to wait at the top/bottom or at the next junction to regroup.
The leader is not responsible for any repairs – but you are expected to keep the group together.
- Usually the whole group will stop and help if there is a puncture or other problem.
- The leader can chose to split the group and continue with some riders if the others are able to catch up independently. This can be a good option if you are close to the next stop.
- In large groups it helps to have an experienced rider as “backmarker” (the last rider on the road) who can stop and help if someone stops without the front of the group being aware.
Try to keep track of everyone - check all are ready before moving off.
- If riders drop out early, check they are really leaving and have not simply been left behind.
- Try to ensure that the leaving rider has adequate knowledge and resources to get home.
And lastly, the leader is in charge of the general ride conduct – taking account of other road users.
- The group usually rides two abreast, thinning out to single file when needed.
- Consider splitting very large groups. You can ride in two subgroups with a good sized gap on busier roads. Or fully split the group and appoint an assistant leader.

Guide for new runs leaders : Planning your ride

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Planning the route

We recommend that you plan the complete route in advance, and carry maps and route notes with you on the ride.

First decide the total distance and the approximate distance for each leg. This depends on the riding time available (after allowing time for the stops) and an average speed of 12 mph.
- On all-day rides, aim to reach the coffee stop around 11:00 am and the lunch stop before 1 pm.
- The Sunday tea stop has various set times – check the runs list for the tea time for your ride.
Then plan the full route from the start back to Cambridge via the stopping places; measure the total distance and adjust the route until it fits.

There are many good ways to plan a route: some leaders prefer OS maps; others prefer online maps. With practice, you’ll get to know the best roads and byways. Here’s some general suggestions:
- Use your preferred maps to choose the nicest roads. Avoid main roads and use quieter B-roads or back roads as much as possible.
- Most routes are planned to be longer on the outbound legs (wiggles, loops etc), but fairly direct on the inbound legs.
- A good route has contingencies built-in: a short cut to the destination in case someone has a breakdown, or strong winds; or an extra loop near the end if you go faster than expected.
It’s probably better to avoid longer off-road sections unless you are sure of the surface conditions.
- Most riders will have normal road/touring bikes and tyres, so try to avoid any very rocky or muddy paths altogether.
You can always ask for help from other members when planning your route. Other leaders and the runs secretary are usually happy to help.

Other preparations

It’s a good idea to extend your basic riders toolkit with a "leaders" toolkit. For example:

Basic riders toolkit: enough tools to allow you to mend a puncture (plus lights when needed).
Suggested "leaders" toolkit: Maps; Mobile phone (or coins for payphone); spare cash to pay any excess on booked Tea stops; simple first aid.

If you are a new leader, read the club policy on Guests and under 18 riders. You might also want to get a few blank copies of the CTC Cambridge Guest Entry/ Parental consent form(download from the club website or ask the runs secretary).

Guide for new runs leaders

2007-03-29T05:22:00.012+01:00

Club rides are the core activity of our club, and we depend on you - our volunteer leaders - for their continuing success. This guide is aimed at new leaders based on a typical ride. But these are just guidelines: experience is the best guide, and each leader and each ride is different.

A longer, more detailed ride leader guide is available from CTC HQ.

Are you ready to lead...

You should have already done several similar rides to get a good idea of how the club runs work. You should be comfortable with the distance and the pace of your chosen ride.
All runs leaders need to be CTC members and registered with CTC HQ in advance for insurance purposes. The runs secretary will normally arrange this automatically when you volunteer to lead.

3-steps to leading a club ride…

Step 1: Volunteer - any adult club member can volunteer to lead a ride.
- Choose a ride from the current lists where the leader is "needed".
- Contact the runs secretary (email or phone) and volunteer to lead.
- The runs secretary will usually reply and confirm within a few days.
Step 2: Plan your ride - we recommend that you plan the complete route in advance.
- The runs list gives you the destination and the stopping points.
- You can choose any suitable route between those points.
- More detailed ideas and suggestions here
Step 3: Lead the ride - turn up on the day, meet the other riders, then off and enjoy.
- Aim to arrive at the start in good time to meet and greet the other riders.
- Check all new riders, and any guests or children under 18. More details here
- Lead away on time, and follow your planned route. More details here
- Further specific details about Sunday rides and other rides here
Step 4 (optional): Write a ride report – we welcome ride reports from leaders or other riders.
- Take a few pictures and write a short report of the ride – highs and lows
- Email your report to the club secretary, who will post it on the website blog.
Last minute problems – you are unable to lead or extreme bad weather.
- If you are unable to lead your ride, contact the runs secretary as soon as possible. If possible, please try to find a replacement leader yourself
- Contact the runs secretary if you are worried about the weather forecast. We will cancel rides if the weather is clearly too dangerous (icy roads or gales) and announce via the website.

Club Trophies

2006-02-17T23:16:00.021Z

The club has the following trophies. Click on a trophy for more information.

Len Nice Memorial Trophy

The Frank Bland Memorial Trophy

The Ladies' Trophy

The Juniors' Trophy

The Donnex Claydon Veterans' Trophy

The "Chuckles" Wade Memorial Trophy

The Jennings Trophy

The Oxford and Cambridge Trophy