25th August 2024 - Ride out to Amici Coffee - Dave Cusdin

Gosh it’s quiet, Sainsbury’s carpark before the supermarket opens. No boy racers or myopic car drivers fixated on getting their McDonald’s fix. Our revised starting location has a lot going for it.

I was greeted by 3 smiling faces ready to start the journey to a new destination on our calendar – the Amici Coffee house near Sandy in Bedfordshire. We picked up a further 2 riders en-route making a total of 6 participants. Just about manageable as a one ship given we had comms between 5 of the riders. Mel had kindly put together a route that kept us off the majority of A roads unfortunately my sat nav didn’t like it so I need to thank Dave R for leading today’s trip. Taking an anti clockwise route we headed towards Queen Adelaide then past Papworth before looping around Chalton to the coffee house. The Amici, according to social media, is a popular biking destination but I was a little disappointed at the lack of parking spaces and seating within the café, however Bob said his veggie breakfast was good so I’ll give them the benefit of doubt. However, if a lot of bikes turn up there, I’m not sure where they would put them all.

After our refreshments we continued on our route still as one group, skirting around Cambridge we passed through Mildenhall and on to our relative home destinations. I called in via Swaffham to visit the stalwarts manning the MDU. This time last year the heavens opened and everyone got soaked, this year although overcast we got away with it.

I can’t sign off without commenting upon the parlous state of our minor roads; potholes, extreme subsidence and overgrown foliage are hazardous to all road users and it brings home just how important using the system of IPSGA contributes to a safer journey.

Until the next time

Cheers Dave C