CHARITY BIKE RIDE 28th June

CHARITY BIKE RIDE 28th June

All ages, all abilities, all forms of cycling

Come and ride together on 3 different routes across north Cambridgeshire. Your participation will support 4 beautiful Historic Churches and Cycling UK, a national charity, working hard to make roads safer for cyclists.

When: 28th June 2025 10am–12pm

Where: Hamerton Church

Included in entrance are protein snacks, breakdown service, enroute marshalls, and first aid.

Support provided by Rutland Cycles.

Please book your entry on: tickettaylor

Further info Camilla Payne: Tel: 07884005136

Charity Bike Ride poster

Farmer on a bicycle, occasional ramblings…….

Farmer on a bicycle, occasional ramblings.......

Farmer on a bicycle, the ramblings of an arable farmer and his bike excursions.

Get fit for Harvest

More words and pictures from a farmer on a bicycle

Get Fit for Harvest

 

That was the mantra  for June and July because the modern  arable harvest is about a lot of driving hours in tractors, combines and loaders and not much time for good exercise. The modern tractor or combine cab offers all the creature comforts and a relatively smooth ride but it’s the long hours driving that eats away at any fitness.

So I decided that a couple of 100 mile bike rides would help counter the forthcoming harvest lack of exercise. As it turned out two 100 mile bike rides turned into five on consecutive weekends.

The first was a 108 mile loop around Norwich without actually seeing Norwich. The second was a linear ride to Southwold with the Gobblers. The third was a very hot days ride to Ampthill and back, starting to feel fitter at this point then the fourth ride was a delightful day in north Norfolk with friends and then the final 100 was to Boston and back which had its own charm, really!

On reflection the effort was worth it from many points, the wide and varied countryside seen, the state of the crops prior to harvest. Cycling with friends and the real benefit of good exercise before harvest activities commenced. I do feel the need to get cycling again as I’ve had a back to back weeks cultivating and ploughing.

From the farming angle another harvest has been and gone. Certainly a hot one and in terms of yield and quality, mostly good. The high point being a remarkable crop of Spring Barley that grew with only one drop of rain early at planting and ticked all the boxes for the malsters.

The wheat crop was excellent to fair. The crop that dragged things down was the Oil Seed Rape, poor yield resulting from poor establishment last year. Must try harder!

But things don’t stand still on an arable farm. No sooner than harvest is out of the way it’s an immediate turnaround for the fields preparing them for the next crop.  Its true to say that field work in September is more arduous than August harvesting. The bonus this year is that the soil is working well and the subsoils have fissured nicely, the downside is (farmer moaning already) the remarkable dry weather continues and is impacting on the Oil Seed Rape germination, just 25mm of rain please, now or tomorrow!

 

Next mantra – Get fit for winter and that seasonal holiday event!

Links that may be of interest

Crisp malting Company

Reedham Ferry

farm machinery

A few photographs from the bike rides and harvest.

 


08/07/2018

I’ve always felt compelled to write something but never quite sure what. Over the past few years cycling has become a big part of my leisure time. A chance to get away from the highly compressed day to day workings of an arable farm and see what everyone else is up to from the “comfort” of the bike saddle. So why not write about the cycling excursions and what’s observed in the fields and on the road. Here is the first one, a bit of a scene setter.

 

The bike, the kit, the bits

Cycling is riding the crest of a wave at the moment in all its forms. My particular thing is long distance day rides so the bike I use is Genesis Datum 20 on 700 x 32 tyres. This is best described as a relaxed frame with tyres that allow a certain amount of off road exploration on gravel or dirt track as long as its dry.

The kit, yes I do lycra and for good reason, it works in respect of sweat removal, cool riding and allows wind to pass around the body easier (the body could be a little more aerodynamic, working on it) Padded shorts, good quality gel inserts so no saddle sores. My top is from the Primal range, likeable designs and catering for the extra and extra extra large end of the waist/chest size measurements. I use clip in shoes and for summer riding Shimano sandals, so no mucking about with socks.

The bits, this is really about route building, mapping and recording the journey. Anyone who runs, walks or cycles with a passion will record their efforts. My cycling is based around the popular Strava application ( there are many others) Routes are built on a PC and then out on the road the route is downloaded to a mobile phone and you just follow the blue line. This would be for the big rides into unfamiliar areas.

The Bike rides

That’s enough about the kit as important as it is what about the cycle rides. This year things were slow to get going as the cold spring dragged on and wasnt that conducive to enjoyable cycling, but then summer arrived and has not let go so we have been putting in some Sunday miles mostly rides of around 60 miles. I choose rural locations and use the quiet  roads where possibible. ITs not a speed thing 12 to 14mph is the usual average speed and a ride usually last 5 t0 7 hours with a couple of coffee and cake stops where possible.

In the last few weeks I have “gone large” so to speak, three consecutive rides of over 100 miles. The first was a 108 mile loop around Norwich without actually seeing Norwich, the second was a linear ride to Southwold of 110 miles and just yesterday (7/7/18) an amble down to Ampthill and back of 103 miles.

 

So what of the farming activity seen, being in the run up to the cereal harvest not much to say other than the crops are ripening fast and the only observed farming activity was some Oil Seed Rape being harvested in fields by the Staughton Moor road. I think the pace will pick up this coming week.

 

Some cycle links

Genesis bikes

Primal cycling tops

Sandals

Tour Of Cambridegshire (Gran Fondo)

Tour Of Cambridegshire (Gran Fondo)

The first cycling Tour Of Cambridgeshire took place in June 2015 The route on public roads that were closed specifically for the race to happen. Around 5000 cyclists were reported to have signed up to take part. So on a stunningly glorious day we watched and waited to see what 5000 cyclists looked like speeding through the village. What a spectacle apart from the heads down first few hundred who were on a mission to win the great mass of riders responded in kind to the roadside cheering and reserved clapping that Brits do so well. It was a grand spectacle and is to be repeated in 2016 on the same route. A Gran Fondo is a cycling event on closed roads for mass participation.

It should be noted that there were a few grumbles and the notification process before hand could have been more robust. The idea of the roads closed for 12 hours was a nonsense and should never have been allowed to be displayed, despite rectification the die had been cast. Hopefully the organisers will take this on board and make bigger efforts to contact affected buisnesses on route and make it clear that nobody is trapped in their homes.

The plus side of all this is Gidding is on the map and not some backwater beyond Sawtry and Stilton. It provided grand entertaiment on the roadside at no cost and no doubt charities were the biggest winners.

John O’Groats to Lands End

John O'Groats to Lands End

Amelia and Sue are currently cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End.

They started the 1,000 mile journey on Friday, and anyone watching the golf will know just what terrible weather they have had to endure so far, but they are pressing on regardless, without a support vehicle. (they declined Andy’s offer)

Sue has meticulously planed  the route and their accommodation, and they will average about 75 miles each day, finishing on Thursday the 30th of July.

They were planning to do it just for fun, but have now decided that they could also raise funds for  good cause. If you would like to show your support, for their efforts then please donate via their just giving sites

https://www.justgiving.com/Amelia-Hodson

https://www.justgiving.com/SueLocke/