2012-04-29 - Windy Millers!

Moulton Mill

Clerkenwell Mill (remains)

The Short Version

A very manageable ton from Clerkenwell Windmill (defunct) to Moulton Mill (defunct, but soon not to be). An ideal first century - the last 30 miles are probably the flattest riding it is possible to do.

The Long TL;DR Version

A relative of mine (now in his mid 80s) was the miller at Moulton Mill (wiki), for almost his entire working life. Moulton Mill has the distinction of being the tallest tower mill in the country yet, since a gale in late 1894, operated (almost paradoxically) without sails.

A lengthy community project to restore sails to the mill came to fruition last November and the grand re-opening - complete with local television! - is on April 29th.

Upon discovering that my relative [WORLDS GREATEST NAME]John Thomas Biggadike[/WORLDS GREATEST NAME] still regularly cycles around Moulton, complete with walking stick in basket, I thought I'd ride up for the opening.

BBC (local) News - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-15844731

**Start: **Clerkenwell Windmill, 0800 (map: http://goo.gl/hqx24)

Should be easy to find - you can see the windmill base from the street. There's a gated driveway, we'll meet by the gates as there's enough space off the road for us to congregate there.

I'll be riding in from Morden so can pick up anybody en route who doesn't fancy navigating that early in the morning!

North London Pickup: Tesco Petrol Station Car Park, just off Ponders End, 0845 (map: http://goo.gl/byHgP)

Route:

On Garmin Connect here.
Ths route has been changed slightly a couple of times following the recce and some local advice. I'll have this in my Garmin and will bring a turn sheet but if anybody else want to stick it in a Garmin too as backup that'd be great.

RideWithGPS - this route is pre-changes and included for elevation interest only as I've been too lazy to update it.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/892529

It feels like quite a drag out of town, but will be quiet enough on a Sunday morning to make a decent pace. We will reach the highest point of the ride at 36.7 miles - net downhill all the way from there.

Pace / stops:

We have a long way to go so I've opted for an early start rather than having to go to quickly. We'll ride at a comfortable pace to suit everybody - so if the pace feels too much at any point please speak up. It's not a race or a training session, it's all about some sociable comfortable miles and riding as a bunch from start to finish. Regroup at the top of hills (such as they are).

I'm currently investigating some café stops on the way - there isn't much that'll be open until later in the day on sunday but I'll post up anything as I find.

**Self sufficiency:

**Everybody knows this of course - but please make sure you bring a couple of spare tubes and any other gear you normally carry. Make sure you have enough food and water (though of course there will be restocking opportunities as we go). A bit of cash and mobile phones are useful too.

There is a pub in Moulton opposite the windmill that will be open. Unlikely there will be food when we get there but we'll be all good for beer at least.

**Getting home:

**There are no trains from Spalding on the 29th, so going home is via Peterborough. This leaves two options:

1 - Splitting off the main route at Whittlesey and heading straight to Peterborough, ~90miles total.

2 - Riding back to Peterborough from Moulton, ~124 miles total (admittedly with a refreshment stop in Moulton)

I'll obviously be taking option 2 but can point anybody in the right direction for Peterborough if they don't fancy the longer version.

PM me for my mobile number if you want it (particularly anybody who's meeting us en route).