Get on your bikes in Willingham!

To celebrate the Tour de France in Cambridgeshire, Willingham Wheels has organised a family event for cyclists of all ages on Sunday 6th July.

Willingham Wheels, set up by the Willingham Action Group, was awarded a grant of £300 from the Cambridge County Council to arrange an event to mark the visit of this famous annual bike ride.

‘The Fen Edge Mass Exodus’ is a cycle ride along the guided busway from Longstanton, finishing eight miles later at Parker’s Piece in Cambridge with a do-it-yourself picnic. It is a marshalled, family oriented event and will proceed at a good slow, and safe, pace. However, you should take into account the distances involved (there and back) and the cycling proficiency of the youngest member of your group! Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult over 18 who is known to them. All cyclists are responsible for their return journeys.

Those taking part are asked to be at Longstanton guided busway car park at 11.30, for a noon start. There will be a safety briefing, which is required by the busway authorities who have given permission for the ride. Willingham Wheels issued four essential guidelines: make sure your bike’s nuts are tight, tyres are pumped up, carry a drink (non-alcoholic) and, above all, no speeding. It took several months for the group to get permission and accidents must be avoided. Some road travel is unavoidable.

The ride is registered with the national cycling charity CTC and is an official part of the Vélo Festival. Find the route and keep clicking on the map for more details and road names.

There is no entrance fee but you can sponsor the ride with all donations, including collections, to Marie Curie, the cancer care charity. For each £5 donation you will receive a maillot jaune or winner’s yellow t-shirt for just £2.50 on the day; for £10 donation you will receive four (while stocks last). Put your required sizes on the donation site. If the organisers run out of yellow, they will switch to green (stage winners) t-shirts.