I’ll be in Cambridge this weekend for some family stuff, but should be able to fit a couple of rides in.

I’ve never been there before, so any route suggestions for 50-100km rides please? Or even just a nudge as to which direction to head I generally. And of greatest importance, which cafe should I be aiming for?

Thanks

cant give you a route but head south/ south east for the nicest areas not north ( north is flat , dull and boring).

you want to head towards the saffron walden area for the best riding, look for places like heydon , gt chishill, arkesten to the west of safron walden and ashdon, hempstead, wimblish to the east of safron walden . try and make a route that includes some of these and you wont go too wrong.

if you can get there the best cafe by far is https://www.biciclettavelo.com/ in safron walden its ace. in fact i would plot a route that takes you there via the villages to the west of safron walden and then back via ashton, helions bumpstead ,castle camps , bartlow , linton, balsham, fulbourn etc

Look at a map. Look at the wind direction. Ride to a railway station about 60 miles downwind. Buy a coffee, get in the train and go home.

…or do it the other way round.

Cheers Raggyone, just what I was after.

It’s flat enough down there Globalti, without cheating with the wind as well!

What’s cheating about that? Up here in Lancashire we sometimes train out west then ride back with the prevailing wind. It makes the ride more enjoyable.

Also depends where you start out as to the best route, from central you can go anywhere, just try to ensure you head south through Barrington at somepoint (it’s the only real hill we have).

Not Cambridge, but not far if you’re stuck for something;

https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-steeple-chase-sportive/

Did the route last year, some lovely villages.

If you are riding from Cambridge i’d do what theraggyone says and head towards Saffron Walden and North Essex.

Below are a couple of 40-mile loops out of SW I’ve recently completed.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/23854476
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24232697

If you want to tick boxes you can reach the highest points in both Essex and Cambridgeshire in the direction most people are suggesting heading;

Essex – Chrishall Common TL443362
Cambridgeshire – Great Chishill TL427386

Thanks, some good suggestions there, looks like enough to keep me quiet for a few hours anyway.

If you go out via Haslingfield and barrington (hill!) Then head over to saffron walden and come back in via the chestrfords and whittlesford and shelford then its a nice 70 miler. Happy memories as a teenage wannabee Sean Kelly / Malcomn Elliot riding those roads every weekend on my Raleigh Zenith…