Come for the coffee, stay for the chat.
That was the order of the day for Fred’s first ever social ride.
These rides have been a long time coming, a bit of a distant dream, but this weekend, it all came together. And what a day it was.
We teamed up with our friends Sam and Alex down at Beacon Coffee, a true beacon in the local community, and pitched the idea of a relaxed, no-drop spin rolling straight out of their café at the bottom of the old high street.
They were instantly on board, and from there, things started to roll.
Riding down to the café that morning, I’ll admit, there was a mix of nerves and excitement, wondering who might show up, hoping to see some new faces, and looking forward to reconnecting with old pals I’ve shared countless miles with.
And what a turnout it was.
A mix of mountain bikes, gravel rigs, roadies, and town cruisers, exactly the blend I’d hoped for. We shared a warm brew, swapped a few stories, and rolled out through town for a 25km loop into the Cornish back lanes.
The first climb took us up onto the Pendennis Point loop, where calm seas and a low winter sun made for a perfect start. Cruising along the coast as a group, chatting, laughing, and soaking up the scenery, it was everything I’d imagined: people enjoying the moment, the roads, and each other’s company.
After some cruisey miles (and a few sharp digs to get the legs going), the motley crew landed at Potager Garden for another caffeine hit and some well-deserved sweet treats.
There was plenty of time to nerd out over bikes, share more stories, and learn a bit about the people behind the handlebars. One coffee led to another, cake disappeared fast, and before long it was time to spin back towards Falmouth.
The final stretch wasn’t without its drama, a small mechanical gave us an excuse to stop, bask in the low winter sun, and laugh about it all. One by one, friends peeled off, and soon we found ourselves rolling back into town, returning to Beacon where it all began.
That morning, rolling out felt full of anticipation. Coming back, it was all gratitude. Time slips away when you’re riding with good people, and that’s exactly what this was.
A huge thank you to everyone who turned up, old friends, new faces, and to Beacon Coffee (Sam, Alex, and Ben) for fuelling our Saturday cruise and helping bring the idea to life.
As the winter draws in, rides like this remind us of what it’s all about, connection, conversation, and a good cup of coffee.
This was just the first of many. We can’t wait to see this grow, to meet more of you, and to share more miles together as spring rolls around.
Stay tuned on our socials and website for details on the next Fred’s Social Ride.
