SuperHorse. (The Good, The Bad and the Hungry, Stradbrooke)

The good, the bad and the hungry,

Stradbroke,

Everyday 9:00-16:00,

Highly Recommended

With all the recent storms it has been difficult to get out on a cafe cycle ride. But with winds of only 45 mph predicted today it seemed like it was time to get out on the bike and hunt down a new cafe.

It is a well known cycling trick to make sure the first part of your route is into the wind so you have the wind behind helping you when you are tired. This was the approach I had planned for today. I informed Big George, today's cycling guest, and he then told me that earlier this week he had come up with a better idea. He had caught the train to Ely in order to have the wind behind all the way back. I said that it was not a very original cycling scam as we had done the same thing for just that reason a few months ago (see Rabbit news). He knew that but had added in a twist that led to today's cycling guest cycling top tip in order to enhance his reputation as a tight and lazy Scotsman.

Cycling guest cycling top tip no 72. To save money and make the most of windy weather then buy an open return ticket (as it costs the same as a single) to a station you would like to cycle back from, making sure that the wind will be from behind. You can then enjoy the train journey before a wind assisted cycle home. Next wait for a day when the wind is in the opposite direction and repeat the process in reverse using the other half of the ticket (as long as its within the next 30 days).

We started today's ride by using one of my current "top ten best car parks to start a bike ride from". This one was at Tyrrells Wood near Pulham Market. From here it was a very windy 20 odd miles to Stradbroke before we headed North and were wind assisted until we arrived at the good, the bad and the hungry cafe at the local equine centre. As we arrived I spotted a mild mannered looking horse in the stable paddock which we had to pass on the way to the cafe.

Outside the good, the bad and the hungry cafe

The cafe had a nice looking outdoor seating area overlooking the fields and paddocks but it was far too cold and windy to make use of today so we opted to go inside.

The outdoor seating area overlooking the equine centre

At the counter there was one of the finest cake selections I have seen for sometime. I spent quite a while picking my cake meaning I awarded a very high effective cake selection (ECS) mark. I went for chocolate mud cake and also bought some Percy Pig rocky road to take home for Mrs Crusaders afternoon snack. As always Big George refused to have cake.

An outstanding cake selection

I had also chosen to come here to test out their egg on toast in my continuing search for EoT of the year. It was a very good offering with Big George claiming it was the best he had had for some time. It looks like it's a contender for EoT of the month for February and is also currently a potential finalist for the end of year EoT off.

Very good Egg on Toast

Big George was also very enthusiastic about his americano coffee although I thought my hot chocolate was ok but not exceptional. The chocolate cake was very good indeed so got a high cake taste score.

Todays cake and hot drinks

Despite the pun, we thought the good, the bad and the hungry was a great stop and I would highly recommend a visit. I will definately be back to try some more of the cake selection.

On leaving there was no sign of the mild mannered horse but in his place there was now SuperHorse resplendent in his superhero garb about to fly off and save the world, probably. 

SuperHorse about to save the world

Now with wind behind the only delay was a small section across a field before we made it safely back to the car park with another successful mission complete. As we drove off Big George enquired if I fancied a ride to Ely later this month.

Just the one field detour on this ride

Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
6.2	8.5	8.8	8.2	8.1	7.96

Route


Click here to download 35 mile Pulham Hoxne loop GPX file to your GPS

More Car Park Action. (Antiques and Coffee Shop, Stradbroke)

Antiques and Coffee Shop,

Stradbroke,

Mon-Sat 10:00-4:30,

Sun 10:30-4:00

Recommended

As I have mentioned several times recently it has become increasingly difficult to find new cafes to cycle to from Crusader Towers in Norwich or Hard to Please House in Aylsham. Therefore I have recently started to drive to the start of the rides to open up new areas to explore. Today was such a day as I was joined by Mrs Crusader for a trip to North Suffolk.

As a result of this approach I have been able to start a new feature (and associated spreadsheet) as I go in search for the top 10 best free car parks to start a cycle ride from. On this trip I identified my 2nd free car park which was in the centre of the village of Mendham and went straight into the top 10 at number 2.

Todays free car park to start a cycle ride from was at Mendham

I am currently adding this feature to my blog and website so let me know where your favourite free car park to start a cycle ride from is.

The ride itself was a good one, albeit a bit windy, as we enjoyed the more rolling countryside this area offers. We also cycled down a very appropriate named road which I felt must be a good omen for the day

Todays stop was at the Stradbroke Antiques and Coffee shop in Stradbroke. We were able to take the bikes round the back before entering the establishment through the outdoor seating area, which wasn't in operation today. Inside were two seating areas and a lot of 'Antiques'.

Outside the back entrance to the Stradbroke Antiques and Coffee shop

The cake selection was split between a display fridge and counter unit and had most cake bases covered. 

The fridge part of the cake selection

I opted for a dark hot chocolate and caramel cake while Mrs Crusader had americano and chocolate cake.

Todays cakes and drinks but can you spot what was wrong?

Everything was very nice without being exceptional although Mrs Crusader thought her coffee was one of the better Americanos she had had and scored it highly. However everything was not well in the cake serving department as for the first time this year my cake had arrived on its serviette and we all know what I think about that! Remember #Keepcakeoffserviettes. 

Cake on serviette, arghhhhhhhh!

Despite this the Stradbroke Antiques and Coffee shop had performed well and I recommend a visit.

It was also good that there were scones available for testing as I continue my hunt for fruit scone of the year #FSOTY. After a slow start I have now tried 10 scones so far so have already eliminated 2 as only the top 8 will make it through to the knockout stages at the end of the year. I bet you can hardly wait, I know I can't.

Today's scone enterent

Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
6.95	7.3	7.1	7.0	6.7	7.01

Route

Click here to download 33 mile Mendham Stradbroke loop gpx file to your gps