Welcome to the forum
Ashwell-Wells Classic, Friday 6th Sept 2024
Hi all
Put your name in for this year's 123-mile ride to Wells-Next-The-Sea. All welcome. CCA members or not.
The basics for those new to this ride...
This ride bookends the summer and it's a joy to ride along the flat and gently rolling lanes and go through the Holkham Estate to finish by the seaside. It's a long way - but Norfolk miles sail by. Especially if there's a good group of us to help share the work and lols.
We set off Friday 6th September, 8.30am, Ashwell Three Tuns. Rhubarb & Mustard will open (TBC) for those wanting an early morning coffee from 8am. Please buy a coffee, tea, maybe a little cake, and support Charlotte and Sarah who are opening for us especially.
If turnout is high, we will set off in two groups.
We will have a pit-stop in Ely, next to the cathedral, after around 40 miles. We can leave Ely as one big group, as we then use mostly empty B-roads and farming lanes.
We will book the fabulous Apple Cafe in the West Acre Gardens for lunch (TBC). They will prepare their room set in the gardens for us, especially, with a range of salad & local ham or cheddar cheese baps, small sausage rolls, scones topped with cream & damson jam, and slices of cake plus pots of tea and cafetières of coffee & lots of jugs of water... £14 per head. Let me know if you want to opt out of this cost. But you'd be mad if you did. It's a ride highlight.
Wells-Next-The-Sea - is around 95 miles. We then ride to King's Lynn to get the train back. Depending on turnout, we may have to stagger ourselves on the trains back. Good train times to note for Ashwell & Morden and similar stations: (TBC). All trains will require a change at Cambridge. Buy tickets in groups of four for a bit of a discount. The journey takes approx 1hr 40mins (to Ashwell station). Bring front and rear lights.
For those under no pressure to get back, settle in at the Fenman Pub opposite King's Lynn train station. We will not be getting a buffet this time. I think people have eaten enough by King's Lynn.
Everyone completing the ride gets a special edition badge.
Please make yourself self-sufficient. There are many options to bail out early, or do a shortened version of the ride, if required. Make sure your bike and tyres are in good condition. If you're not confident in the distance, don't be a hero on the front, and ask everyone to take it easy if the pace feels too high. It's not a race.
If the weather is rubbish, we might shorten the ride or cancel.
Here's the full route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28509468
Put your name in for this year's 123-mile ride to Wells-Next-The-Sea. All welcome. CCA members or not.
The basics for those new to this ride...
This ride bookends the summer and it's a joy to ride along the flat and gently rolling lanes and go through the Holkham Estate to finish by the seaside. It's a long way - but Norfolk miles sail by. Especially if there's a good group of us to help share the work and lols.
We set off Friday 6th September, 8.30am, Ashwell Three Tuns. Rhubarb & Mustard will open (TBC) for those wanting an early morning coffee from 8am. Please buy a coffee, tea, maybe a little cake, and support Charlotte and Sarah who are opening for us especially.
If turnout is high, we will set off in two groups.
We will have a pit-stop in Ely, next to the cathedral, after around 40 miles. We can leave Ely as one big group, as we then use mostly empty B-roads and farming lanes.
We will book the fabulous Apple Cafe in the West Acre Gardens for lunch (TBC). They will prepare their room set in the gardens for us, especially, with a range of salad & local ham or cheddar cheese baps, small sausage rolls, scones topped with cream & damson jam, and slices of cake plus pots of tea and cafetières of coffee & lots of jugs of water... £14 per head. Let me know if you want to opt out of this cost. But you'd be mad if you did. It's a ride highlight.
Wells-Next-The-Sea - is around 95 miles. We then ride to King's Lynn to get the train back. Depending on turnout, we may have to stagger ourselves on the trains back. Good train times to note for Ashwell & Morden and similar stations: (TBC). All trains will require a change at Cambridge. Buy tickets in groups of four for a bit of a discount. The journey takes approx 1hr 40mins (to Ashwell station). Bring front and rear lights.
For those under no pressure to get back, settle in at the Fenman Pub opposite King's Lynn train station. We will not be getting a buffet this time. I think people have eaten enough by King's Lynn.
Everyone completing the ride gets a special edition badge.
Please make yourself self-sufficient. There are many options to bail out early, or do a shortened version of the ride, if required. Make sure your bike and tyres are in good condition. If you're not confident in the distance, don't be a hero on the front, and ask everyone to take it easy if the pace feels too high. It's not a race.
If the weather is rubbish, we might shorten the ride or cancel.
Here's the full route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28509468
Comments
mc
MC
Graham
Dan H
MC
Graham
Dan H
Matt S
MC
Graham
Dan H
Matt S
Taff
Luke D
Toma
MC
Graham
Dan H
Matt S
Taff
Luke D
Toma
Pete D
David M
Chris L
Martin L
MC
Graham
Dan H
Matt S
Taff
Luke D
Toma
Pete D
David M
Chris L
Jeremy P
Anyone is welcome to join last-minute too. They can just order something solo.
Yes... Riding home from Cambridge station via the Royal Oak was perhaps too ambitious last year. But if the weather's nice again - I'm up for it.
MC
Graham
Dan H
Matt S
Taff
Luke D
Toma
Pete D
David M
Chris L
Jeremy P
Matt P
mc
MC
Graham
Dan H
Matt S
Taff
Luke D
Toma
Pete D
David M
Chris L
Jeremy P
Matt P
Carl
Martin L
MC
Dan H
Matt S
Taff
Luke D
Toma
Pete D
David M
Chris L
Matt P
Carl
Jump on at any point. I can put a live GPS link on the forum on the day so no one will miss us if meeting us mid route.
They can simply order something at the cafe freestyle.
Martin L
MC
Dan H
Matt S
Taff
Luke D
Toma
Pete D
David M
Chris L
Matt P
Carl
Simon R
Kim at the lovely Apple Cafe at Castle Acre will prepare us lunch on a long table. It’ll be around £12-15 per person. Pay at the till. I’ve said no Vegan or GF items required.
I’ve let the Fenman pub opposite the station home know we are coming. They might layout very welcome beige-o-matic snacks. Fill yer boots. Don’t rush off if you want to experience a bit of how they roll in King’s Lynn.
Forecast looks good!