Introducing

C.T.C. Cambridge D.A.

CTC Cambridge is the local branch of the Cyclists' Touring Club – the UK's national cyclists' organisation. If you enjoy sociable and non-competitive cycling, both day rides and longer tours, CTC Cambridge is the club for you.

Joining the national CTC gives you automatic membership of CTC Cambridge (and all the other district associations). It also gives you several other benefits including the CTC “Cycle” magazine and 3rd party insurance. Potential new members are encouraged to come along to one of the many club rides starting from Brookside in Cambridge.

Brookside is located just off Trumpington Rd by the Hobson’s Conduit.

Rides with CTC Cambridge.

1) If you are already a regular cyclist, the main club ride is a full day ride on Sundays that starts at 9:00 am (9:30 am in winter) stopping off for coffee, lunch and tea and returning to Cambridge by early evening. We typically travel around 70-80 miles (up to 100 miles in the summer) but you can shorten (or lengthen) the ride by dropping out (or joining in) at one of the various stops.

2) If you are new to cycling, the best option is to join us for one of our shorter rides, perhaps the Saturday ride, or a Sunday afternoon ride: The Saturday rides are short rides of about 15 miles that take place every second week. They start at 10:00am from Brookside and include a refreshment stop, returning to Cambridge about 1:00pm.

3) The Sunday afternoon ride sets off from at 2:15 pm and joins up with the all-day riders at the tea stop, getting back to Cambridge by early evening. Come prepared to ride about 40 miles: this might be a challenge for the first few weeks but you will soon develop 40 mile legs. We average 12-13 mph; this is an all day speed rather than the 15-20 mph of road racers. Whatever your standard, you will not get left behind as we go at the pace of the slowest rider.

We also organise rides on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Full details of all the runs can be found in the runslist on this website.

Taking part in rides

All riders are expected to be self-sufficient:

1. Make sure your bike is in good working order before each ride.

2. Carry a basic repair kit comprising at least: a puncture repair kit, pump, a spare tube, basic tools

3. And carry a mobile phone and some money for the café stops.

4. We remind all riders that they are responsible for their own safety. Dress warmly but comfortably.

Clothing Recommendations

1. Cycling specific clothing is the best option but not essential. High visibility tops are a good idea along with cycling gloves and helmets.

2. A good alternative is sports type clothing; loose enough for movement but not too loose to flap in the wind.

3. In the winter it is better to be a bit too warm than too cold. A wind proof top is recommended to help keep you warm on cooler and cold days.

1. We try to ride in a neat group: no more than two abreast and dropping to single file when needed to let traffic get past safely. We usually ride close enough to chat but leaving enough room to manoeuvre. Riders should avoid making sudden changes, e.g. stopping too suddenly.

2. The group will stop if someone has a problem (e.g. puncture or mechanical problem). Shout out and alert the run leader if you have a problem, or if you see someone dropping behind or stopping unexpectedly. Pull over to the roadside, but remember that you are expected to make your own repairs! Other riders will always help.

3. The stops are all planned so you can join or leave en-route. Let the run leader know if you decide to peel off early – that way they don’t have to worry about losing you.

What do we do?

Cycle rides

Sunday all day and afternoon cycle rides. The afternoon rides leave at 2.15 pm; the time the rides leave in the morning depends on the season (9.30 am winter and 9.00 am summer). Midweek rides for tourists are regular events, too.

Non-members are always welcome. Regular attenders will be encouraged to join the CTC. For legal reasons, anyone leading a CTC bike ride or organising a Club event must be a member of the CTC.

Meeting places for rides are:-

Hobson's Conduit monument at the Brookside-Lensfield Road junction, Cambridge, in Brookside. Sunday all day and afternoon rides also meet here.

Thursday all day rides have two start places, 50 Jopling Way, Hauxton (Map ref. TL 440518) and Haslingfield Church (Map ref. TL 403520).

We meet ten minutes before the ride sets off, if you're new, please use this time to introduce yourself to the runsleader.

The current runslist gives the start time and destination for all our rides. Ask the Runs Secretary for a paper copy or print out from this website.

The rides which leave in the morning are 'all day' rides. We stop for a snack (which you'll need to bring with you) at about 11 am. We stop again for lunch - usually at a pub. In summer, most people bring sandwiches for lunch. We set off again for the afternoon, and meet the 'afternoon' run for tea at 4.30 (in winter) or 5.00 pm (in summer). Tea usually includes sandwiches and cakes and costs about £4.00

Sunday rides go at about 12 mph, with a bit of variation depending on who turns up. The all-day ride can cover between 50 and 100 miles; the afternoon ride between 20 and 45. Both get back to Cambridge in the early evening.

Tuesday (av. 9-10mph) Thursday (av. 10-12mph) all day rides suit people who are free mid-week. They return to Cambridge between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. but please bring lights from October onwards, in case we are delayed. For more information about any Tuesday ride, contact Peter Rowell on 01954 210692 or Thursday ride, Greta Lumbers on 01223 872327.

Many CTC riders participate in other cycling activities such as Sustrans and Cambridge Cycling Campaign