Origami Phoenix Monthly Cycle Ride

Contents

About the Origami Phoenix Ride
Planned meetings
How to get to Meriden
Reports on past rides

About the Origami Phoenix Ride

The 'Origami Phoenix Ride' is a cycle ride usually held in the English Midlands, normally on the second Saturday of every month. The location varies from month to month. The ride was originally held particularly for the owners of folding (hence the 'Origami' of the ride name) and separable cycles, but anyone riding any kind of cycle is welcome - indeed, you are welcome to join us at the start for breakfast and a chat even if you don't have a cycle or don't feel like riding! Many of those who attend are either members of The Moulton Bicycle Club, the VCC (Veteran-Cycle Club) or The Folding Society (or subscribers to A to B magazine), but as mentioned before, anyone, and any kind of cycle, is welcome.

The usual arrangement is to meet from about 10:30, with a ride starting at about 11:00. The distance covered is typically 15 to 25 miles. This is a social ride, and we ride at the pace of the slowest, with plenty of stops along the way to regroup if necessary. Rides start and end at the same location, which is usually near a railway station, so that those who do not choose to travel by car can easily get to and from the event. When the ride is located at Meriden, the starting point is Meriden Tearooms, where a very satisfying breakfast can be obtained at the Tearooms before the ride starts.

The Origami ride attracts a wide variety of cycles and riders. You do not even have to come on a folder, as the Marin mountain bike seen here shows!

The first Origami Ride was held in August 1994, but was a one off, and it was not until April 1997 that the ride was revived on a monthly basis (hence the 'Phoenix' of the ride name). The ride was originated and organised until his death in February 2002 by John Pinkerton. Although we no longer have a formal organiser for the rides, they still take place every month, unless the date (second Saturday of the month) coincides with a Bank Holiday, Moulton Bicycle Club BoA Weekend, or another major cycling event.

Planned meetings 2012

For all rides, we meet from about 10:30am, with the ride starting at 11:00am, unless stated otherwise.

Note that as the location of these rides varies from month to month, it is important to check the location before travelling to an event - the planned rides are listed on this page (see below). You can also check by contacting the Origami team via email here to see what is planned.

Further details will be added for the rides as they are available.

Meeting place

We meet at 10:30 for an 11:00 start at the Wharf Café, Mill Road, Cromford, Derbyshire DE4 3RQ, at the end of the Cromford Canal and oposite Arkwright Mill.

View Cromford Redux in a larger map

Getting there

By rail: From Cromford railway station, turn right onto Lea Road, and over the narrow stone bridge, where it becomes Mill Road. The cafe is on the left next to the canal, inside a 'pay and display car park', and is less than half a mile from the station.

By road: Mill Road is east from the main set of traffic lights in Cromford on the A6, signposted 'Arkwright Mill' and/or 'Cromford Mill'. There is limited parking at the railway station (£2 for the day), or at the Cromford/Arkwright Mill opposite the café (£3 for the day).

The ride

This is a repeat of a ride designed and led by Paul Evans that took place in August 2007. That ride was my first Origami, and to date my favourite. In 2007 the weather was excellent – no guarantees this time though. As well as offering splendid views of the Derbyshire countryside, we will pass by a number of sites of industrial archaeology; Cromford is within a Unesco World Heritage site for its early textile mills. Along the route are: the first factory in the world; a fishing temple, a railway station in a French Chateau style; the birthplace of a famous children's author (no, not that one!); a 200 year old woolen mill; a tramway museum; a War memorial beacon from which 5 counties and Lincoln Cathedral can be seen on a clear day; the remains of a quarry tramway; a steam pumping engine which can lift over 20 tones of water a minute; a canal; an early cross country railway; and the oldest railway rails in the world still in situ.

The superb views of the countryside have their price - this ride is hillier than usual, so you will need plenty of low gears (or strong thighs) and good brakes. However, as always we move at the pace of the slowest rider and there is no shame in getting off and walking if the hill gets too steep so no-one should be discouraged. Apart from a couple of miles of reasonable quality hard surfaced tow-path, the ride is on-road. Total distance about 20 miles.

Lunch stop

The planned lunch stop is the Cliff Inn, Crich, next door to the tramway museum. The museum will be holding a Classic (pre-1972) Motorbike show  on the day of the Origami.

A few websites:

A map of the start (Note cafe is actually on the canalside)

Some details of the conservation areas

The tramway museum Classic motorbikes show:


A panoramic picture of the memorial


A video of the pumping engine