Cycling in the Fens can be very tiring on a breezy day… Spot today’s wind direction from the GPS trace of this afternoon’s bike ride…!

I’ll probably write this ride up at some point — it’s a pleasant route through farming land, with very few cars. I see from my web logs though that (unsurprisingly) people find Cambridge-oriented routes most helpful: if you have any suggestions for short lunchtime cycle rides to add to the site, do leave me a note in the comments — thanks!

So many cyclists seem to completely disregard the laws of the road. It’s really annoying, as it gives the rest of us a bad name. I’ve sometimes wondered whether there’s actually a secret, separate set of rules for cyclists, that no one’s shown me. And then the truly excellent London blogger DiamondGeezer revealed…

The new Highway Code for cyclists (© 2006)
reproduced here with his very kind permission
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From: South Ely.

Distance: 11 miles.

Summary: Horse racing and tractor washing.

Click here to fly over this route in Google Earth (find out more…)

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It’s often hard to find decent byways along which to cycle. However knowledge of their locations can interconnect roads that otherwise require vast detours, so opening up a number of interesting possible routes. One example can be found near the village of Prickwillow, where a byway runs alongside the pretty River Lark to join the riverside road leading to Littleport. (continues…)

From: Central Cambridge.

Distance: 6 miles.

Summary: Pleasant riverside route, though busy in term-time.

Fly over this route in Google Earth (find out more…)

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The village of Waterbeach lies just to the northeast of Cambridge, and can now be reached by bike on the well-surfaced river towpath. In the early evening during term the southern half of this route can become quite busy with the coaches of rowing crews cycling alongside, but it is an extremely pleasant short ride, and a good way of reaching the excellent (continues…)