Cycling to the Airfield
You should not let the lack of transport inhibit your gliding. Flying regularly helps you to make rapid progress and reach the same milestone with less flights (and therefore money).
Being able to get to the airfield without relying on someone else to transport you gives your another degree of freedom. You can fly when it is convenient for you and you are less likely to be going to the airfield on very busy days so you can make more out of your time.
This article will guide you on how to make your own way to the airfield by cycling.
Before you start
Understanding the laws and rules
Although it is not a legal requirement, you are strongly encouraged to read The Highway Code and Know Your Traffic Signs before attempting to cycle on the highway. These codes apply to both motorists and cyclists. The Highway Code in particular contains extractions from the Road Traffic Act, failure to comply with which can lead to criminal consequences.
Minimum equipment list
You will need:
- A roadworthy bicycle
- A cycling helmet (strongly recommended)
- Reflective clothing and lights (white in the front, red in the rear) if you plan to travel in darkness
- Suitable outdoor clothing which will not get entangled into chains and wheels
- Suitable shoes which you can walk in comfortably in case of a mechanical
- Other essential items which you will need at the airfield (such as your log book)
Know your routes
There are mainly two ways to get to the airfield. The first way (https://goo.gl/maps/QLWt2LMwD9W8D2JD7) is to travel along B1046 which goes through several villages. The second way is to travel along a road parallel to the A428 and go through Cambourne.
The first route is generally recommended because it is shorter, has smoother gradients, better sheltered (so the cyclist suffer less when there is a head wind), and it has calmer traffic. Besides, the second route has a few places where it is necessary to go off the road briefly (footpaths) and these can be rather tricky.
The major drawback of the first route being the road surface condition can be particularly bad for a segment of it (~1km). It is, therefore, important that your bicycle is comfortable for you to ride on.
Travelling along the recommended route
Navigate through the city yourself and you should be joining Newnham road (A603) at a roundabout. Follow this road and get onto the cycle lane (which is on the right hand side of the road when travelling to the airfield). This is particularly important because the road will become a dual carriage way with roundabouts and slip roads leading onto M11, and the speed limit will be raised to 50mph. Cycling alongside fast-moving traffic is particularly hazardous.
You will then meet a roundabout. Remain in the cycle lane, go straight on and cross onto the other side. You will then meet a brief climb, at the end of which is another roundabout. Again, go straight on.
Remain on the cycle lane and it will lead naturally onto B1046. If you are not on the cycle lane you will find the junction particularly difficult for a cyclist. Once you are sure you have got onto B1046 (you can tell this by the road becomes a single carriage way), leave the cycle lane and get onto your side of the road. The cycle lane ends shortly in front you.
Remain on B1046 for approximately 12km. You will pass Barton, Comberton, Toft, and Bourn in sequence. Then you will arrive at a double junction. Follow the traffic signs and continue onto B1046 on the other side. Be very cautious about the fast-moving traffic.
Once you are on the other side, carry on along B1046. You will pass Longstowe. You will then find traffic signs leading to the gliding club on your left and, shortly afterwards, the club gate on your right.
Do the reverse when you come back. Make very sure to join the cycle lane when B1046 disappears into the dual carriageway.
Save energy
Do not cycle too fast and exhaust yourself in the first half of the route, because there are quite a few small humps to climb in the second half. Also, you do not want to be too tired to fly when you arrive.
Prepare for your trip
You will not take off without knowing what you are doing and preparing accordingly, nor should you commit yourself to this 22km cycling trip unprepared.
Prepare yourself
Eating
If you have time, have a good meal an hour before departure. This hour long interval is very important as it can be upsetting and unhealthy to have a workout immediately after eating. Besides, your performance will be significantly deteriorated. Carry water for your trip.
If you have booked a morning session and you do not have time for a proper meal, eat what you can but not too much. In this case it is important to bring some food with you. Cereal bars or bananas will do fine. Chocolate is not recommended as it can make you very thirsty. Also, carry some water to go with the snacks.
Know your limits
If you do not have much exercise normally, it can be quite challenging to cycle 22km. You are encouraged to try something 10km first to see how you feel. Make sure to plan the route as a closed ring so you are never very far away from home in case you get exhausted. For the first attempt to cycle to the airfield, do not carry too much weight with you.
Hydration
It is not normally necessary to eat (unless you have not had a meal beforehand) to remain fueled for the trip. However, constant drinking of water is absolutely necessary. Normally 600ml is just enough for a one-way trip but you should adjust this amount to suit your body's needs. If you are in doubt, carry more rather than less.
Clothing
Wear outdoor clothing suitable for the season. Remember you will need to wear the same thing once you arrive. Cyclists tend to wear less because the exercise keeps them warm, but once you arrive there will be a lot of standing still in chilly wind. If you cannot find a balance, carry one or two layers in a backpack with you.
Before you return
Have a sandwich which is available at the club (or whatever is available if there is no sandwich). Bear in mind the return trip is of the same length and your body can be much closer to exhaustion than you think.
Prepare your bicycle
Being roadworthy is the minimum requirement of the bicycle. This means the most basic set of requirements such as having effective steering and brakes. But apart from that, you will find the following helpful:
- Keep appropriate tyre pressures. The correct pressures (plural form because the front and rear wheels should be treated differently, with the rear wheel pressure slightly higher than the front one) are determined by the type of the bicycle, dimensions of the tyres, weight of the rider, seasonality, conditions of the road surface (with the road to the airfield being worse than average "road use"), and whether the surface is dry or wet. Consult suitable cycling technical material for reference values. Generally slightly reducing the tyre pressure improves the comfort on the road leading to the airfield, but doing this will make the tyres more prone to puncture, and also make the riding take more physical effort. Don't inflate over the limits written on the tyre, especially in the summer.
- Keep your bicycle lubricated, especially the transmission. Set your shifters correctly so that the chain does not squeak or rub on things while you ride.
- Have a professional bike fit (it's money well spent) to make sure your sitting position is ergonomic on your bicycle. This is a higher requirement than being "comfortable" as there is quite a wide range of positions that you will feel comfortable in if you only try it for five minutes. Sitting in an ergonomic position will help you to save effort while cycling for long distances, and more importantly, to minimise the likelihood of injury.
