It had been nearly 2 weeks since my last cafe cycle ride as I had been away on a snowboarding trip. Whilst away, and much to the shock of the snowboarding community, I announced my retirement from the sport, as it now seems to mainly consist of lying on your back in the snow.
Cycling Guest Cycling Top Tip 44. When aiming to cycle along a cycle path that runs along side a very high fence it is important that you and your bike are on the cycle path side of the fence.
Sadly I had not followed cycling guest cycling top tip 44 and it took 20 minutes and two miles of aimlessly cycling until we eventually found ourselves on the right side of the fence and able to speed out of Cambridge on a several mile stretch of flat cycle path.
At this point I foolishly said to Andrew that although I was enjoying the flat fast ride a few hills would be nice to add a bit of variety. This was a mistake as round the next bend we met a steep rise and it was nothing but hills for most of the rest of the day.
Nice views but nothing but hills for most of this ride |
I stopped to chat with a local Sherpa who told us about the many expeditions he had led in the Debden area before leading us off again in the right direction.
Thanks to the cycle path delay, a puncture and the hilly terrain we were a long way behind schedule when we arrived at the Blue Egg farm shop where we found the Knead food (I see what they have done there) cafe.
Outside the Blue Egg Farm shop which includes the Knead Food Cafe |
This cafe is a magnet for local cyclists |
Very interesting cake selection |
Cakes and drinks ready for tasting |
All in all the Knead Food cafe had proved to be worth the journey and moves into my cafe top ten being highly recommended.
I also noticed that Mark Cavendish (world road champion) and Alex Dowsett (former 1 hour world record holder) had both donated shirts re-enforcing their cycling celebrity cafe recommendation. If you are a cycling celebrity and want to recommend a venue for me to try then let me know.
Cav's world champion rainbow jersey |
Fortunately we rode well and arrived back at the station with 15 minutes to spare. With a spring in our step we proudly pushed our bikes down the platform after another excellent ride. As we approached the train the guard smugly informed us that we couldn't put our bikes on the train as the allotted bike space already had bikes in it and he had been trained not to let more than 4 bikes on the train. Clearly his training had been excellent as despite a number of other cyclists joining in our protests he would not allow any more on board.
A train like the one we were not allowed to get on |
So I now find myself in the Ely station waiting room not knowing if we will be allowed on our connecting train with bikes, as we have been told it is only a little one, or if we will ever actually get home.
Stop Press:
We were and we did, phew.
Scores
Hot
Choc Quality
|
Guest
Hot Drink Quality
|
Effective
Cake Selection
|
Cake
Quality
|
Ambiance
and Atmosphere
|
Café
Rating
|
7.00
|
9.00
|
7.50
|
8.50
|
6.50
|
7.70
|
click here to download 63 mile Cambridge Great Bardfield loop gpx file for your gps
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