Saturday Morning Ride -- 27 April 2013 @ 0830

If anyone's interested, I'll be doing a GP2-paced ride on Saturday, leaving the Market Square at 0830 and heading east to Hilton and Swavesey, then north to Ramsey, before crossing the A1 near Holme and heading south again through Sawtry and Spaldwick. The distance planned is just under 70 miles (110 kilos) and there will be a few new roads (to me), so who knows what we'll find?

The BBC are currently reporting sunny weather with brisk southerly winds in the early part of the day, so the section between Swavesey and Sawtry is likely to have a few invisible hills.

As usual, cake stop is optional, but as Geoff won't be joining us this week anyone with a delicate constitution will need to bring their own newspaper...

The route can be found here: connect.garmin.com/course/3396041

-- Andy Mc

Interesting route but some tricky roads out there.
The section between Hilton and the left for Elsworth deffo ride single file.
Willingham to Earith is a bit of a rat run by the river.
The right turn in Earith is blind so watch yourselves.
Crossing the 141 at Warboys will be tasty, sprinters legs needed there.
The right turn about a mile out of Ramsey is next to a hump bridge again shocking viz.
The Holme road is super exposed and nice and uneven

On the flip side you should get a good rest at Holme crossing, think Everton.

And if you fancy adding in a good climb Pidley Sheep Lane between Somersham and Pidley is a worthwhile detour, wouldnonly add half a mile ish. And theres a tasty climb and swoopy descent just out of Pidley, helps if you habe your balls out or somethig.

And so concludes my guided tour, can't make the ride and 70 miles is a bit out my league.

I'll never get all those notes on my top tube

-- Andy Mc

Andy count me in as i won't be out Sunday. Looks a good route. As I will be coming from Sandy this will take me over the 80 mile mark.

Steve L

Holme is a pain in the butt, used tomtake that route to GF's parent's house, record i think was 7 trains!!

Dave has a good point on the Hilton B1040 Stretch. You might be better off either going Yelling, Papworth (still the B1040, but much wider and fast downhill) or crossing over at Hilton and heading to Fenstanton. From there either cutback down to Boxworth or head to Fen Drayton.

The other roads are usually quiet when I've ridden on Sunday morning, but I suppose might be a bit busier on a Saturday.

You can avoid Ramsey by turning off to Wistow then heading to Upwood and taking a left onto the B1040.

At Glatton, I would carry on to Gt Gidding and turn left to Hammerton there. Much nicer than going through Sawtry (crap parking means the main road through can get congested around the shops).

Otherwise nice and varied route, just hope for friendly winds! Enjoy

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I've made a few tweaks based on them and updated the route here:

connect.garmin.com/course/3400910

-- Andy Mc