SUMMER Reliability

Date: Saturday 20th August 2022

Time: 8am - 4:30pm

Venue: Meet and start from Needham Lake. Coddenham Road, Needham Market, IP6 8NU

Finish at the Rampart Horse pub Coddenham Road/Station Yard just off Needham High Street where there will be free food.

Distance: 78, 100km & 160km routes
Cycling ability: All catered for.
Entry fee: There isn't one
Open to: SDCC Members only
How do I enter: You don’t. Just turn up on the day, pay your entry, sign in, set your chosen navigation method and away you go. 

Summary: There will be 3 routes (78, 100 and 160km) 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 and bacon/vegan rolls

160km group leaves at 8:00am

78km group leaves at 9:00am

100k group leaves at 9:00am

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 three routes. SDCC routes are planned for  78km (48 miles), 100km (62 miles) and the full 160km (100 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 15 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.

40k route is here

NEEDHAM MARKET – STOWMARKET – BUXHALL - BRETTENHAM – HITCHAM – BILDESTON – BARKING – NEEDHAM MARKET
From H/Q proceed to High St, T/R towards Stowmarket, (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, 1st left after Stowmarket Golf Club towards Buxhall, 2nd  right at Buxhall village sign, continue approx. 5km then turn right on Bugg’s Lane towards Brettenham. At Brettenham Church turn left along The Street, fork left at the Y junction after passing OBH, at Hitcham turn right at T junction (B1113) towards Bildeston, through Bildeston then turn left on B1078, stay on B1078 taking left turn at Barking Tye, continue along B1078 to Barking then to Needham Market where turn left into Foxglove Ave, then left into Quinton Road to arrive at finish.

78k route is here

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/R towards Stowmarket at traffic 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 on B1113 to 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 into Foxglove Ave, then left into Quinton Road to arrive at finish.

100k route is here

100km (Stowmarket-Great Green-Lavenham-Hadleigh – Bramford – Stowmarket):

From H/Q proceed to High St, T/R towards Stowmarket, 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 Road opposite Wyard-Scott Garage. Continue for 1.3 miles to A1141 and turn left to proceed to Lavenham. Continue through Lavenham and turn left to stay on the A1141 signposted to Brent Eleigh. Continue on A1141 through Monks Eleigh, bear right passed Corncraft to stay on A1141. Continue on A1141 to junction with B11115 and turn right to Hadleigh. 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 into Foxglove Ave, then left into Quinton Road to arrive at finish.

160km route is HERE