Four regular Wednesday riders, faced with the prospect of missing their midweek miles due to helping out with a Wednesday charity collection in town, opted to get out on the Tuesday instead. Weather wise, it worked out well.
Forming up outside the West Suffolk Wheelers’ Thurston HQ (the inside was full of cigarette smoking school kids. But there, we do try to be an inclusive club and school bike sheds don’t have ‘behinds’ any more) were Peter Heath, Gareth Doman, Richard Seggar, Neil Dykes and Justin Wallace.
The early morning frost coupled with a chilly north westerly made for a cold start. The chosen destination was Clare, later modified to Newmarket after Justin suggested a new route that would avoid the floods at Kentford. The change had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that en route Peter pointed out that Sarah didn’t work at the Clare Deli on Tuesdays.
As the group made its way through Livermere, Ingham and West Stow, the sun gained strength and a wonderful spring day appeared like a light at the end of a very long, snowy, cold, wet tunnel. The chilly breeze was still there but the sun more than made up for it.
The flat warm-up continued on through Cavenham, Tuddenham, Herringswell, Kennet and Kentford before a right turn in Moulton led the riders up the long drag that ends with the fine view down to the Newmarket Gallops. The swift descent across the Warren Hill Gallops, between lines of highly priced horsemeat, would have been a picture for anyone standing at the top with a focused camera; particularly if the odd spooked horse had been in the picture. Those stable lads are certainly adept at maintaining contact with the saddle under any circumstances.
The forecourt of Coffee & Co was basking in the sun and extra chairs and a table were hurriedly added to the already fully occupied compliment outside. It felt strange sitting there in the sun after the winter we have all endured - that strange sensation of warmth on the body.
And now for some more hills. Justin’s route took the group up Duchess Drive – scene of many a road race finish. And as this year is the 33rd anniversary of Neil’s big win on the hill in a junior road race, he asked the group to help him re-enact the final metres (or yards as they were then). We all obliged and made sure he crossed the summit first. Apparently on the big day he had been in a break that had been caught at the bottom of the climb, only to stay in the bunch and sprint to yet another win. Modesty prevented him from talking about the day for no more than 40 minutes or so.
The route took us past the very impressive pile of bricks that is Kirtling Tower. This extract from Peter’s informative email gives you all the facts you need to know on it, and some more besides.
"The castle-like structure we passed at Kirtling shows on the OS map as Kirtling Tower, the only surviving relic of Kirtling Hall, built in 1536. Rich said it looked like a new build so that's not too far out Rich! It was renovated in the 19thC and perhaps touched up since then. It was a gatehouse to the original hall, the latter demolished in 17th C. If that is the gatehouse, would have loved to see the hall.
If you follow the link (above) go on to page two which tells more about the North family what built it. The guy was an adviser to Henry VIII it says."
We also passed a Glebe House. A Glebe was an area of land, ( field or fields) given to a member of the clergy who could earn his income from it through rents, crops and so on. I'm not sure if any clergy had a Glebe House or whether the current owners have named it so because it stands on Glebe Land. This website doesn't mention the house, at least I think the house was in Kirtling parish....not sure.
A left turn led us through the very picturesque village of Upend - looking splendid in the midday sunshine. We don’t often end up riding through Upend from this direction and it made a pleasant change. Onwards and upwards through Ousden (no blue plaque on the wall of the Edgars’ house yet. Should we all write to our MPs?) and back along the Suffolk Punch route. Mutterings from TomTom about the hills. Shame really, especially as he’d been given the morning off from navigating duties.
Coming down the lane into Hawstead, Neil’s tyre, which is as thin as a ‘Waffer’ thin mint (fans of Monty Python’s Mr Creosote sketch in ‘The Meaning of Life’ will understand) succumbed to a Suffolk flint. After help with undoing the valve knob and the use of Gareth’s powerful hands to replace that awkward last 10% of the tyre, we were rolling again.
As we re-entered the environs of Thurston at almost 1.45, Neil, Peter and Justin had clocked up 56 miles, Gareth and Richard a few more.
The entertaining adventures in this article were brought to you by members of the midweek riders’ group; whose mission statement is: "We do the miles, so you don’t have to". Copyright SJH
Justin Wallace
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