This February’s reliability ride has been moved from the Community Centre to Bloomfields (Needham Market Football Club)
There will be 3 routes (40, 78 & 100 km) so there is something to suit every age and ability. See links below for gpx exports. Groups will be split according to expected average speed. The aim is for all people to finish their ride back at the venue at the same time to tuck into drinks, hot pasta and cakes.
What is a Reliability Ride?
A reliability ride is an organised ride but not a race. It is open to riders of all abilities and speeds. Routes are planned in advance, and all entrants given a map and route instructions. There are no signs on the route. There is usually a choice of two routes. SDCC routes are planned for 70km (44 miles) and 100km (63 miles). Entrants decide which route they would like to take, and then leave the venue in groups according to expected riding speed. For example, there may be a 16mph, 18mph, and 20mph group. Departure times are planned so that all riders end back at the start/finish venue at the same time. There will be no more than 20 people per group. Each group will tend to stick together for the bulk of the ride. If it is a big group it may split into two. Towards the end of the ride, faster riders may decide to pull away slightly, but there is no clock running. This is not a race, and there are no places allocated or
NEEDHAM MKT– STOWMARKET– FINBOROUGH– BILDESTON –HADLEIGH– UPPER LAYHAM– RAYDON– HOLTON ST MARY– EAST BERGHOLT–BRANTHAM– BENTLEY– CAPEL ST MARY– SPROUGHTON– SOMERSHAM– WILLISHAM– BARKING– NEEDHAM MKT.
From H/Q proceed to High St, T/L towards Stowmarket at trafic lights straight across, at RAB take 2nd exit, at junction of Needham Rd/Ipswich Rd straight across to small RAB take 2nd exit into Combes Ln Cont to T Junction T/L onto B1115 Cont through Finborough, Hitcham, Bildeston,to Hadleigh (B1115 becomes A1141 at Semer) proceed through Hadleigh High St. into Benton St. (take care at junction) Cont through Upper Layham, Raydon, Holton St Mary and East Bergholt.T/L into East End Rd. at X Rds just after High School, in approx 1/2 mile T/R into Park Rd.becomes Slough Rd. At junction with A137 T/L towards Tattingstone at X Rds T/L towards Bentley over level crossing and cont through Bentley to Capel St Mary at T junction T/R and almost immediatley LEFT under A12 and continue on into Capel St Mary. Proceed thru The Street Capel St Mart to Gt Wenham. Continue on Brook Ln and Wenham Rd to T-junction. T/L then immediately R into Washbrook. Turn L at bottom of hill then L up 12% hill to Sproughton RAB take 2nd exit and continue through Sproughton to Bramford bypass fork left at end of bypass signed Somersham cont through Somersham, Offton and Willisham to T junction T/R and proceed through Barking to Needham Mkt T/L onto High St T/L onto The Causeway T/L into School Ln to arrive at finish.
100km (Stowmarket-.Great Green-Hadleigh – Bramford – Stowmarket):
Re trace steps back to High street, turn left (B1113) to Stowmarket, at junction with traffic lights (A1120) straight across to RAB and take 2nd exit, at junction with Needham Rd and Ipswich Rd straight across to RAB where take 2nd exit into Combs Lane, continue to T junction and turn Right onto B1115 over hump back bridge then turn 1st left into Lower Road, after 1.35 miles take 2nd left to Rattlesten opposite pink farm house. Continue on this road for 6.32 miles going through Rattlesten, Felsham then on to Great Green bear left into Chapel Roadopposite Wyard-Scott Garage. Continue for 1.27 miles then turn left signposted Buttons Green just after War Memorial on right, keep on this road for 2.2 miles to T junction (take care on this road a little narrow) at T junction turn left (no signpost) continue for 1 mile turn right signed Preston & Monks Eleigh, after .5 mile at staggered X roads turn left with farm building on left Signed Brettenham & Stowmarket continue for .67 mile then turn right at triangle of grass signed Hitcham & Bildeston, after 2.24 miles join B1115 at Hitcham White Horse and turn right continue to Bildeston and follow signs to Hadleigh (B1115 becomes A1141 at Semer) cross over A1071 (left then immediate right) onto B1070 through Hadleigh (CARE at top end of high street) through Upper Layham – Raydon – Holton St. Mary – under A12 – through East Bergholt to Cattawade where left at RAB onto A137 up the hill through Brantham & 1st right onto B1080 to Stutton and Holbrook keep on B1080 through Holbrook to junction with B1456 Freston Water Tower, straight over down hill and under the Orwell Bridge before turning left at RAB onto A137 up past Ski Slope. Proceed over A14 and 2 RABs until right turn to Belstead on unclassified road. Take left at Belstead and then at T junction turn right by crossing the old A12 carriageway to Washbrook. Through Washbrook and up hill to take 2nd exit at RAB onto B1113 through Sproughton and fork left at Bramford (signposted Somersham) through Somersharn – Offton – Willisham. Straight across (right) at T junction to join B1078 to Barking, continue along B1078 to Needham Market where turn left in Needham High Street (B1113), continue along High St turn left into The Causeway and left into School St and arrive at finish.
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