One of the shorter rides in Biker’s Britain is a 16 mile dash from just south of Haverhill to Great Dunmow in Essex and not too far from Saffron Walden. Haverhill is about 20 minutes or so ride from Cambridge city centre and then its a right turn down the beautifully twisty B1057. After an annoying train and bus replacement journey up from London I headed off on this route, to avoid the sometimes aimless rides I find myself doing on these sometimes rushed fortnightly trips. On making that turn into the B1057 I immediately realised why this route is in the book –  it is full of unpredictable turns with generally good visibility and not too much traffic. In fact because I did the journey in the opposite direction to the guide’s recommendation,All the bikers I saw were coming toward me. I had no one driving a white van in front of me to slow things down and spoil and view and, more importantly, no one behind making me think I should go faster. Also heading toward me was the strong and dazzling winter sun which is the only reason I would do this route again from south to north.

About half way down is the beautiful Finchingfield, with its lovely sloping village green, packed full, on this perfect sunny Sunday late lunchtime, of travellers and parked up motorcycles, not a place I wanted to linger in but good to ride through slowly.

The ride home was via the lovely B184 to Saffron Waldon and Cambridge. My repaired puncture is holding up.

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