Cake Crusader Sportive 20. (31 mile via Cafe Jungle at Costessey)

Sportive 20,
Cafe Jungle,
Costessey,
Opening times Mon-Sun 10:00-5:00
Highly Recommended

Cafe Cycle rides have proved thin on the ground in the last few weeks with Ironman training, a lack of willing cycling guests and some inclement weather all getting in the way. However yesterday I was pleased to have gathered 5 other riders for a Cake Crusader sportive. As always competitors congregated at race HQ for pre ride faffing about which then overran by 10 minutes due to too much chatting and not enough faffing.

Today's group eventually ready to set off

When the ride did eventually set off I foolishly informed the peleton that I had pulled a muscle at the top of my leg during that mornings parkrun. Sniffing a potential weakness several of the riders decided they would be attacking on all the hills to test me out and hopefully see me (or my leg) crack, which they attempted to do all the way to our cafe stop, Cafe Jungle at Costessay. I just managed to hang on and was pleased that my fellow riders had decided to dish out this treatment as I would have certainly done the same and thought less of them if they had not.

I had visited Cafe Jungle with Mrs Crusader just before Christmas but it was about to shut for some refurbishments so cake was in short supply that day (see lets go fly a kite). I felt a proper visit was now long over due.

Outside Cafe Jungle

The cafe is the only jungle based venue I have been to and has seating spread out amongst the tropical plants in a large green house type structure. My punters all liked the set up so, along with the friendliness of the staff, a high atmoshpere and ambiance score was awarded

Seating in tropical setting

I checked out the cakes at the counter of the newly refurbished kitchen (although I couldn't spot the difference) which featured three good looking big sponge cakes. Although not the biggest cake selection it was very effective as they all looked tempting so I awarded a good effective cake selection (ECS) score.

An effective cake selection

On the drinks front the coffee drinkers get to choose the bean that they want their cafetiere to be filled with. Apparently Ecuadorian beans go well with sausage rolls and brownie (which was lucky as that is what Dom and Ali had gone for) and Guatemalan is good with a toastie or strawberry sponge cake (which were Jodie and Andy's picks). So it would be the right Coffee/cake combinations all round.

My Hot Chocolate and Mrs Crusaders Mocha with some strawberry cake

When the drinks arrived I was very impressed with the chocolatiness of my drink so thumbs up on the chocolate part. However it was only warm so not so good on the hot bit which stopped it getting the really high mark it deserved.

Everyone else was very impressed with their different coffees and a high guest hot drink quality (GHDQ) mark resulted. The cakes were all very nice too with the chocolate brownie coming in for particular praise.

Cafe Jungle had proved to be an excellent stop and,after yesterdays proper rating visit, it has moved right up my cafe table. I would highly recommend a visit unless of course you are a celebrity as you would probably want to get out of there..

It was now just a short ride home although not with out incident as again their was too much chatting and not enough cycling causing Andy to loose concentration and ride straight into some street furniture before having a quick lie down in the road. Hopefully this will act as a reminder to other cycling guest on future rides to leave the chat at home or in the cafe and not bring it out on the road.

Scores based on 2 visits

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
6.875	7.50	5.75	7.25	8.007	7.08

Route

Click here to download 31 mile Norwich Weston Longville loop gpx file for your gps