10th May 2026 - Ride to Fring - Ian Cain

Our planned ride on the 10th May was to the Skylark Garden Centre near March. However, the roads in the Fens can be really bad, sometimes verging on dangerous for motorcyclists, so we planned to take a scenic route to Bircham Windmill. However, there is a new café, The Old Stores Bakery and Café, in Fring which is only a stone’s throw from Bircham Windmill, so we decided to give that a try. Fring isn't a big place; you don't pass through it on the way to anywhere else, but the café is superb. Modern, nice outdoor area, waiter service, and best of all, enormous tasty cakes.

Compared to the previous few days, Sunday was quite chilly, but twelve riders turned out with another joining us on the way. So, three groups of four riders set out to follow mostly B roads towards Fakenham, and then more quiet, sometimes single-track, roads to Fring. People complain about the state of the roads these days, but the ones we rode were generally in good condition and really nice to ride. Not much traffic either. I can't take the credit for planning this route; Steve Silcocks, our Bike Chief Observer, led an Associates ride out on it a few weeks ago.

At the café, we were served with decent coffee and tea in proper cups and saucers, and the previously mentioned cakes. Al Bland normally has a breakfast on our rideouts, but this was a posh place, so he had to make do with a croissant containing bacon and cheese. Not impressed, eh Al?

After refreshments and discussions on various topics, we all set off on the short journey home. The café is on a crossroads, but whichever way you turned, it led to decent roads. Thanks to Steve and Ewan for leading groups and to everyone who turned out for an enjoyable morning.

Ian