Cambridge to King's Lynn

Ride leader: Claire

Gown to Crown: 120km / 80 miles, elevation ~300m

Mostly quiet roads winding our way out of collegiate Cambridge at midnight, passing the Ship of the Fens in Ely onto our midpoint stop at Christchurch Community Centre. The street lights are quickly left behind, so you'll need good front lights. 

Please note an important change from previous years: 

• We're taking a DIY approach to the midway stop by using this community centre in the heart of Fenland. 

• Your £5 refreshment fee covers CCC hall hire, hot drinks and cake. 

• Please bring your own picnic - sandwiches / sausage rolls / vol-au-vents / salmon en croute. The choice is yours! Perhaps give the cheese and pineapple hedgehog a miss though…

After refreshments, it’s back below sea level to see the sunrise across big skies and horizon stretching views.

Passing through Georgian Wisbech, we turn towards our breakfast destination on the quayside in King’s Lynn. Here we’ll split into Team Road and Team Ferry in a race to the cafe.

If you're Team Ferry then note that on the West Lynn side, there's a jetty and you need to be able to lift your bike and step down onto the ferry. On the King's Lynn side, there is a short but steep, sometimes slippery, set of steps up to the street. 

There will be an alternative route round of Team Road to King's Lynn for anyone who may find this tricky (including those on recumbents or tandems) or indeed, gets seasick.

Please let us know on the registration form if you're Team Road or Team Ferry. 

Breakfast is at Marriott's Warehouse on King's Lynn quayside around 9am. 

There will likely be a small peloton heading back to Ely (and beyond) for those who’d like to extend their ride to 180km.

Getting to the start. There are direct trains from St Pancras and Kings Cross - these do not require bike reservations. 

There are also stopping trains from Liverpool Street. 

Getting back from King's Lynn. Hourly trains, usually direct to King's Cross. Change at Ely or Cambridge for services elsewhere. There's usually two set of bike spaces plus careful use of vestibule spaces.