Eight of us met at Jenny’s café on Saturday morning, the weather was looking promising but waterproofs were in view as the forecast was undecided. Emergency response vehicles on the way there had overtaken some of us and the crews were on hand doing a great job attending to someone who had fallen down the steps leading to the balcony.
The route I had chosen was the opposite way around to the last time I led this ride. As we were setting off to leave we picked up another rider, Sue from Edgware, who had just made it on time and soon we were wending our way towards Lemsford. The traffic was quite busy especially on Marford Road, but we all made it across and enjoyed a lovely zip down into Lemsford. We ascended Digswell Hill without any problems to take the turn off for Ayot Green and performed a lovely wiggle through the lanes as we travelled along the Ayot St Peter road. We avoided the ford towards Codicote and trekked then along to Kimpton Mill, taking a sneaky right here and introducing everyone to a rather sharp ascent up to the Whitwell road. Soon we were making good progress towards Whitwell and Emily’s. Whitwell looked great all decked out in bunting for their village day and it really had that quintessential English feel to it.
At the café it was pleasing to note that the only customers were cyclists and it was really pleasant sitting outside chatting the world away.
On the route back we took the road by the BIG white house, I have no idea what this road is called but it cuts very nicely through the countryside and leads directly to Kimpton without having to go up Horn Hill. Halfway along this road we had to navigate our bikes and a trike over a closed farm gate, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.
It’s a nice climb up Ballslough hill that takes us to Lower Gustard Wood; we meandered our way to Wheathampstead, and enjoyed the long drop down into the ancient village. We made quick work of the lanes that surround this village and were soon on our way back to Hatfield. The last hill I had for them to climb was Tower Hill that led to a nice drop running down beside Symondshyde woods. Not long after we headed into the back of Hatfield and back to the start.
It was great mornings ride out enjoyed by all.
The route I had chosen was the opposite way around to the last time I led this ride. As we were setting off to leave we picked up another rider, Sue from Edgware, who had just made it on time and soon we were wending our way towards Lemsford. The traffic was quite busy especially on Marford Road, but we all made it across and enjoyed a lovely zip down into Lemsford. We ascended Digswell Hill without any problems to take the turn off for Ayot Green and performed a lovely wiggle through the lanes as we travelled along the Ayot St Peter road. We avoided the ford towards Codicote and trekked then along to Kimpton Mill, taking a sneaky right here and introducing everyone to a rather sharp ascent up to the Whitwell road. Soon we were making good progress towards Whitwell and Emily’s. Whitwell looked great all decked out in bunting for their village day and it really had that quintessential English feel to it.
At the café it was pleasing to note that the only customers were cyclists and it was really pleasant sitting outside chatting the world away.
On the route back we took the road by the BIG white house, I have no idea what this road is called but it cuts very nicely through the countryside and leads directly to Kimpton without having to go up Horn Hill. Halfway along this road we had to navigate our bikes and a trike over a closed farm gate, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.
It’s a nice climb up Ballslough hill that takes us to Lower Gustard Wood; we meandered our way to Wheathampstead, and enjoyed the long drop down into the ancient village. We made quick work of the lanes that surround this village and were soon on our way back to Hatfield. The last hill I had for them to climb was Tower Hill that led to a nice drop running down beside Symondshyde woods. Not long after we headed into the back of Hatfield and back to the start.
It was great mornings ride out enjoyed by all.
Our next Saturday ride in on 9th July - hope to see you then.
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