A reliability ride is known as a test of a cyclist’s reliability, their bike and roadside repair skills in the midst of the winter period organised by local clubs.

It’s used by many as a test of fitness, self-reliance and navigational skills, but nowadays using a GPS cycle computer makes it a lot easier. Also often used by competitive / enthusiast cyclists for training ahead of the racing season. They are a great way to get in some early season miles and work on your base endurance. Reliability rides are not races but with the inclusion of local clubs they do tend to have a competitive edge attached to them. Riding against the clock to get back in the allotted time for a chosen speed means there’s no hanging about or relying on anyone stopping to help you out!

Like a normal club ride / sportive, it takes place on open roads without marshals, mechanical breakdown etc.
The route is not signposted but a basic route map will be provided (along with a GPS file). There are no feedstations, timing chips although refreshments are available following the ride.

It is essential that all participants ride responsibly and in accordance with the Highway Code. Single up on narrow lanes or busy roads, when required and respect all other road users. Pay attention to the road conditions, ride safely and do not take unnecessary risks. Remember this is for fun nothing serious or too competitive.

As a new organiser of the West Suffolk Wheelers Suffolk Punch, there are 3 new routes this year to put yourself to the test. Depending on your ability I’m quite sure most people will find them challenging especially for the time of year and weather conditions associated with winter.

After speaking to people and reading up on past reliability rides I do have some ideas for future years, so enjoy this one and I’m sure I’ll have an addition for you next year to improve on the yearly challenge!

Jason Alcock

Please note that these are new routes for 2023

Routes and target times

Here are the target times you need to hit for each of the average speed options

Average Speed	18 mph	15 mph	13 mph	11 mph
Pony 38 miles	2 hrs 6 mins	2 hrs 32 mins	2 hrs 55 mins	3 hrs 27 mins
Gelding 62 miles	3 hrs 26 mins	4 hrs 08 mins	4 hrs 46 mins	5 hrs 38 mins
Stallion 80 miles	4hrs 26 mins	5 hrs 20 mins	6 hrs 09 mins	N/A

Suffolk Punch Pony – 38 miles

1. Leave WSW in Shakers Lane, LT onto Eastgate Street, SO traffic lights bearing left across Angel Hill. TR into Churchgate St. then TL onto Bridewell Lane at TJ TR onto Westgate Street, SO roundabout onto Out Westgate, SO TL then bear left onto Horsecroft Road.
2. Continue on this road then TR up Bull Lane after sharp left turn. TJ TL onto Rectory Road, TJ TR onto Brands Lane TJ TR onto Bury Road SP Lawshall. TR onto Hartest Lane keep left to continue on Hartest Lane. TJ TL onto Shimpling Road ( HARTEST HILL ). TJ TR SP Stanstead.
3. TJ TL onto B1066 continue to TJ TL onto A1092 SP Long Melford, Keep right to TJ TR onto B1064, just over the bridge LT onto Bull Lane, Continue to A134, TR then immediately TL to continue on Bull Lane. (CAUTION crossing A134). Next Left onto Lavenham Road.
4. Continue on this road, TJ TL onto B1071 into Lavenham. Up and over through Lavenham TR onto Preston Road SP Preston. Continue on this road TL heading for Thorpe Morieux. TR onto Bury Road, TR onto Dakings Lane TJ TL onto Cockfield Road.
5. Follow this road through Cockfield, Bradfield St. Clare & Little Whelneatham TR then TL onto Linkwood Road. TJ TR SP Bury St Edmunds, TL onto Sow Lane SO roundabout, next roundabout TR (second exit), End of Sow Lane TL onto Mount Road, The next 3 roundabouts, SO (second exit), final stretch down hill TL into Shakers Lane and head to WSW HQ.

Suffolk Punch Gelding and Stallion – 62 miles and 80 miles

1. Leave WSW in Shakers Lane, LT onto Eastgate Street, SO traffic lights bearing left across Angel Hill. TR into Churchgate St. then TL onto Bridewell Lane at TJ TR onto Westgate Street, SO roundabout onto Out Westgate, TR at traffic lights up Petticoat lane, continue round left bend then right, continue up West Road hill, TL onto Wesbury Avenue, TR Glastonbury Road, TL Wesley Rd.
2. Continue on this road through Little Saxham and onto Barrow, TL at The Green SP Denham, SO at end of road onto Denham Rd, continue into Denham, TL onto Lidgate Rd, Continue straight at Junction SP Clare B1063, Continue on Rd through Wickhambrook, TL into Cloak Lane, TJ TR into Church Lane, SO at Crossroad into Wickham St Rd (CAUTION CROSSING A143).
3. Continue on road approx. 2 miles, TL onto un-named rd SP Hawkedon 1mile, continue straight through Hawkedon (CAUTION FAST SINGLE LANE), Approx. 1.5miles TL SP Somerton (Somerton Hill), TR onto Somerton Rd, STOP at end (Hartest), TL then TR onto Shimpling Rd (Hartest Hill), TJ TR SP Stanstead 2miles, TJ TR onto B1066, TL onto Low St SP Glemsford, TL after church onto Park Lane, Continue to TJ TR onto Lower Rd A1092.
4. GELDING RIDERS : TL SP Pentlow Rd, CAUTION single lane, continue to TJ TL to Foxearth, TL onto School Ln, Continue on Rd, keep left joining Borley Rd, Caution over Bridge, at X road SO (CAUTION CROSSING A134), Continue on Rd approx. 1.5 miles, TJ TL SP Acton / Lavenham, Continue into Acton, TJ TR onto High St, Out of Acton take next Left past Clayhall Ln, TJ TL SP Bildeston 7, TR onto B1115 SP Stowmarket / Bildeston, Continue on B1115 for 3 1/2 miles, CAUTION Sharp left bend in road, TJ TR SP Monks Eleigh, TL off The Street onto B1115 SP Stowmarket, Continue on Rd into Bildeston TJ TL onto High St.
5. STALLION RIDERS : TL onto Pentlow Rd, SP Foxearth / Pentlow, take the Next Right Turn, TJ TL onto School Rd, at sharp left bend TR onto single track narrow lane, TJ TR SP The Belchamps, TJ TR CAUTION these are narrow lanes, TJ TL SP Borley, Follow Rd approx. 1.8 miles, TJ TL SP Sudbury, Traffic lights TL, TR into Church Street, TR into Station Rd, Follow Rd to roundabout, TR onto B1508, Next Left into Ingrams Well Lane, TJ TR, Roundabout SO SP Colchester A134, (halfway point, refreshments on left if needed), Continue for 5 miles, TL SP Stoke By Nayland B1068, follow B1068 5 miles into Higham, TL Hadleigh Rd (single lane), Follow sign for Hadleigh, TJ TL SP B1070 Upper Layham, Continue through Hadleigh, TJ TL then immediately TR onto Stone St A1141 SP Bildeston, Rd changes to B1115 without turning off continue on Rd approx 4.5 miles into Bildeston.
6. RIDES REJOIN : Continue on B1115 through Bildeston, just into Great Finborough TL at grass triangle SP Buxhall, continue through Buxhall, TJ TL SP Rattlesden, Continue on road keep left through Borley Green, TL SP Rattlesden 2, 1/2 mile TL SP Drinkstone 1.5, Continue on Rd through Drinkstone, Junction TL, then immediately TR, Under A14 towards Thurston, TL just after 30mph sign SP Bury, Follow road into Bury, (busy road and cycle path halfway up if required), SO 3 roundabouts onto last stretch of Mount Rd, TL at bottom into Shakers Lane, SHARP TURN!!, then next left to WSW HQ.

These are the new routes for 2023.

Pony – 38 miles: download

Gelding – 62 miles: download

Stallion – 80 miles: download

You can import a GPX file into most cycling head units. Your device may either offer to download the file, or open the file. If your PC or Phone offers to open the file, then Garmin users can choose Open with and then choose Garmin Connect. Users of other devices should choose to Download the GPX file and load it to your head unit in the normal way.

For more information contact event organiser, Jason Alcock, jason.jjp8@gmail.com / 07875 965923