Each May for the last few years we have planned a weekend away where we base our rides from a different town. We’ve enjoyed hospitaility in Hartington, Woodbridge, Teweksbury, Holmfirth, Wells and Ludlow. This year we are back in the East of England at Sudbury
The weekend is planned so people can join all four day rides or dip in and out. The car journey is not too far for a day trip or an overnight stay. Friday and Monday are shorter rides with one food stop while the Saturday and Sunday longer rides have two food stops and plan to take up the whole day.
While we need to get the rides done, the speed on the rides tends to be what we would call “tourist pace” around 14-15mph, with the odd stop to take a photo. When riding 4 consecutive days, it’s important not to over do the effort on the early days!
The information has been available in the events section of the Ivinghoe Velos rear hub for the last six months, but in case anyone has missed it this is a post direct to email subscribers.
The setting for 2026 is Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, so we are missing the hills from previous years!
There will be two ride lengths each day, so riders can do 4 long, 4 short, a mix depending on energy levels!
Highlights on the long routes are The picture perfect village of Finchingfield on day one, chips by the sea at Walton on day two, The medieval town of Lavenham on day three and historic Hadleigh on day four.
The short routes also visit Finchingfield and Lavenham and will also pass through the pretty villages of Dedham and Bures on the other days.
The usual “tourist” pace is expected but if we enough riders we could have a breakaway faster group, as long as they promise to leave some cake for the group behind!!!
Day one Midday start: “The Only Way is Essex”, through Finchingfield to the Ball Egg Cafe 45 miles.
Day two 9.30am start, Beside the seaside, Country lanes to Walton On The Naze. 68 miles. Lunch in Walton and afternoon tea in Dedham
Day three 9.30am start “Lets Go (horse) Racing” 65 miles with Coffee stops in Newmarket and Lavenham
Day four 10am “Is that you Tony?” A trip through Hadleigh with a coffee stop at Kersey Mill. 35 miles
The links may not work in this email, if so please copy and paste the link into your browser.
The Only Way Is Essex https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50942977
Beside the seaside https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53782667
Lets Go (Horse) Racing https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52051999
Is that you Tony? https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52053228
SHORTER ROUTES for those who don’t want to spend quite so long on two wheels.
Day one, Finchingfield 30 miles optional coffee stop at Winners. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53782553
Day two to Dedham 38 miles, coffee or lunch in Dedham https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52053587
Day three Cockfield and Lavenham, coffee in Lavenham (huge choice of cafes) 35 miles
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53782726
Day Four Bures and Back, 25 miles with an option stop in Bures
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53782781
We have a facebook events page where you can select “going” so we know who to expect and also a whatsapp group where meals and post ride beer meet ups will be planned and communicated.