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Saturday Special 9.00am 21 June - Riding part of the TdF route with cake

JohnMJohnM
edited May 2014 in Club runs
Earlier this week Tom H & I rode part of the TdF route from Littlebury (near Saffron Walden) via Finchingfield down to Rayne (near Braintree).

As well as familiarising yourself with a scenic part of the route, some of the road on this section has been resurfaced and it’s worth the ride down there to ride on this section of road alone.

Depending upon where you start, riding as far as Finchingfield (very picturesque) is about a 70 mile round trip. Riding down to Rayne is about an 87 mile round trip.

We rode down to Rayne and used part of The Flitch Way, a SUSTRANS (old railway line) route almost to Great Dunmow and then on to Great Bardfield & Thaxted. However my MmR route here uses road only.

Cake stop at Finchingfield and for anyone riding to Rayne we can recommend the ‘Booking Hall all day Breakfast Sandwich’. One of these and another cake stop at Thaxted got us both back home!

To Finchingfield: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/422839010

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1511803-d3242967-Reviews-The_Picture_Pot_Tea_Shop-Finchingfield_Essex_England.html

To Rayne: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/edit/422847512/

TdF Essex section: http://www.essex.gov.uk/Documents/tdf-TheRoute.pdf

The Booking Hall Cafe: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1601863-d1526973-Reviews-Booking_Hall_Cafe-Rayne_Essex_England.html

The 9.30 am Club Ride will take place as normal.

Comments

  • SusanWSusanW
    John, this looks to be a fantastic ride. Is there any chance of joining you at Royston, say at the Heath, just to make the mileage a little easier?
    Thanks,
    Susan.
  • JohnMJohnM
    edited June 2014
    Hi Susan,

    Thank you for your interest in this ride. Yes, you can join at Royston Heath Sporting Club (free parking) which is where I will be joining the ride from at 9.30 am.

    For anyone else out this way, we will also have a joining point at Great Chishill at the cross roads next to the church at 9.50 am.

    Bob has agreed to navigate from Ashwell leaving at 9.00 am (sharp!) to Royston Heath.

    Depending upon how many we get on, we can break the group to suit the pace.

    Fingers crossed for no rain!
  • SusanWSusanW
    Hi John, are we still on for this ride? The weather looks promising.
    Susan
  • JohnMJohnM
    edited June 2014
    Oh yes...I can confirm that the ride is definitely on for Saturday (as is the normal 9.30 am club ride).

    Is someone prepared to navigate from Ashwell to Royston? If so times are as follows:

    9.00 am Tuns Ashwell
    9.30 am Royston Heath
    9.50 am Great Chishill - cross roads next to the church.

    At this stage the weather forecast is good.
  • BobSBobS
    John, I'm happy to navigate anyone starting out from Ashwell up to the Heath (assuming there are takers).
  • Andrew RAndrew R
    I'll ride to Great Chishill from Letchworth

    If anyone wants to join me let me know and we can set a meeting place/time.
  • John RJohn R
    I'll come over from Ashwell. Bob, see you at the Tuns at 9.00.
  • timAtimA
    I shall join you at the Heath for 9.30.
  • JohnMJohnM
    edited June 2014
    Thanks Andrew R & BobS - we'll meet you up at Great Chishill at 9.50 am and Bob S at 9.30am Royston Heath.

    They were busy fixing the pot holes in Saffron Walden earlier this week and according to another sign that I noticed when I was over there yesterday, they are closing the road into Saffron Walden from Littlebury tomorrow (Sunday 22nd) to fix even more potholes.

    Now, isn't that nice of them...!
  • timAtimA
    Great ride today John to get us into the TdF spirit!

    null
  • Stuart FStuart F
    Thanks for that everyone. My first club run (well part of one) - very enjoyable. Hope you all completed after I left?

    Stuart
  • John RJohn R
    Great ride today. Thanks to John and everyone.
  • SusanWSusanW
    Thanks for a lovely day out today. That cafe lady had to be one of the most considerate in the world!
  • Andrew RAndrew R
    Enjoyed that.

    Did a 56mile loop that way with Holly today, drove to Littlebury Green, stopped for Apple Pie at The Booking Hall Cafe (very recommended) then along the Flitch way.

    Great ride though my routing gave us a few miles touring cornfields to Holly's disgust.
  • JohnMJohnM
    edited June 2014
    Thanks everyone for your support and comments - I enjoyed our ride too, particularly on that nice road surface!

    Andrew R & Holly, I was pleased to learn you were able to get down there again Sunday to continue with the route. Did you stay with the TdF route down to Rayne via Great Shalford and Great Saling, before picking up the SUSTRANS Flitch Way? Good caf
  • Andrew RAndrew R
    Thanks John

    Yes we continued the TdF route down to Rayne - it just kept on rolling so really nice riding.

    The High Street in Saffron Walden was closed for major road surface work.
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