A chilly start, and not over warm at any time there was, however, sunshine and beautiful landscape to enjoy. It was decided that we were about the right size of group remain as one, and it was decided that Peter would lead us to Semer, where Woodlands Café operates at Hollow Trees Farm.
It was one of those rides where every time I felt convinced that I knew which way we would be going, the direction changed. Every anticipated right became a left, and vice versa; every expected village or town was avoided. Favourite lanes were shunned in favour of more 'main' roads - but then a previously unknown byway would be introduced. Kept us on our toes. Thank you Peter.
On one particularly picturesque section of this route one of our number experienced a punctured inner tube. The sun was by now delivering unseasonal warmth and, as you can see from the pics, we were in a near perfect spot for puncture repair. Some of our number rode up the road , then back, then up the road again and so on - partly out of politeness, not wishing to swell the throng of onlookers (thus possibly embarrassing the victim), and partly to keep their finely tuned legs in perfect condition (or so they might have us believe). The lane was narrow, and any group of stationary riders (however few) will always expand to fill the road available and, at the approach of a vehicle will take a maddeningly long time to sort themselves out of the way (the very behaviour that, when exhibited by pedestrians, makes cyclists extremely cross) Thus, having over half the ride cruising round in a holding pattern is a good thing. This ride though very beautiful, and enjoyable, and in weather that was unbelievably clement for the last day of November is not, in fact, the main topic of this blog.
The main topic is Hollowtrees itself. What concerned the ever-discerning Mercoladisti was a perception of a slight slippage in the maintaining of standards. Chloe's accueil is peerless as ever. The was scones lacked lacked the feel of fresh. Though we had no reason to doubt that they had been made on this morning, it seemed to be more a question of recipe and method. Had they someone in the kitchen with a more commercial background?
Some have reservations about the layout following the recent refurbishment - the area that had previously been the servery remains the same size and, having no windows yet retaining three walls has rather the feel of a cupboard. We feel that maybe, just maybe, the coveted crown of Wheelers' Café of the year may well pass to another organisation. The criteria are quite complex and the catering quality is but one of these. One criterion is beyond the control of the establishment and that is location. Well, not just location (this would feature such variables as wonderful views, peaceful outside seating and so on) but proximity. Ideally, no further than 20 miles from Bury St Edmunds and, to be even more picky, to the west or south west. It's no use having a supposedly favourite café that we rarely visit. Now La Hogue has the location thing sewn up, with the possible exception of the return route to Bury. It takes moral fibre of the carbon variety to launch into a long route home after the café stop, so that leaves the variations of Red Lodge and Tuddenham which gives around 18 miles return which, when combined with a 40 mile outward leg gives a good ride. Even better if you live (as I do) 7.5 miles east of Bury. So, we had a great ride, discovered a failing in our favourite watering hole, changed an inner tube and maybe thought of a new Café of the year.
SJH
It was one of those rides where every time I felt convinced that I knew which way we would be going, the direction changed. Every anticipated right became a left, and vice versa; every expected village or town was avoided. Favourite lanes were shunned in favour of more 'main' roads - but then a previously unknown byway would be introduced. Kept us on our toes. Thank you Peter.
On one particularly picturesque section of this route one of our number experienced a punctured inner tube. The sun was by now delivering unseasonal warmth and, as you can see from the pics, we were in a near perfect spot for puncture repair. Some of our number rode up the road , then back, then up the road again and so on - partly out of politeness, not wishing to swell the throng of onlookers (thus possibly embarrassing the victim), and partly to keep their finely tuned legs in perfect condition (or so they might have us believe). The lane was narrow, and any group of stationary riders (however few) will always expand to fill the road available and, at the approach of a vehicle will take a maddeningly long time to sort themselves out of the way (the very behaviour that, when exhibited by pedestrians, makes cyclists extremely cross) Thus, having over half the ride cruising round in a holding pattern is a good thing. This ride though very beautiful, and enjoyable, and in weather that was unbelievably clement for the last day of November is not, in fact, the main topic of this blog.
The main topic is Hollowtrees itself. What concerned the ever-discerning Mercoladisti was a perception of a slight slippage in the maintaining of standards. Chloe's accueil is peerless as ever. The was scones lacked lacked the feel of fresh. Though we had no reason to doubt that they had been made on this morning, it seemed to be more a question of recipe and method. Had they someone in the kitchen with a more commercial background?Some have reservations about the layout following the recent refurbishment - the area that had previously been the servery remains the same size and, having no windows yet retaining three walls has rather the feel of a cupboard. We feel that maybe, just maybe, the coveted crown of Wheelers' Café of the year may well pass to another organisation. The criteria are quite complex and the catering quality is but one of these. One criterion is beyond the control of the establishment and that is location. Well, not just location (this would feature such variables as wonderful views, peaceful outside seating and so on) but proximity. Ideally, no further than 20 miles from Bury St Edmunds and, to be even more picky, to the west or south west. It's no use having a supposedly favourite café that we rarely visit. Now La Hogue has the location thing sewn up, with the possible exception of the return route to Bury. It takes moral fibre of the carbon variety to launch into a long route home after the café stop, so that leaves the variations of Red Lodge and Tuddenham which gives around 18 miles return which, when combined with a 40 mile outward leg gives a good ride. Even better if you live (as I do) 7.5 miles east of Bury. So, we had a great ride, discovered a failing in our favourite watering hole, changed an inner tube and maybe thought of a new Café of the year.
SJH
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