It was more like a Wednesday-evening ride than a Sunday ride when we met outside the Blacksmith's Arms for the 9.30 start, as only regular evening riders (including two Marks) had turned up. A fine bright morning saw us head out via Bedmond Lane where we picked up Phil and Sue at the tin church. Sue proudly displayed her new tyres, purchased soon after her last Sunday ride when she had a puncture in each tyre.
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Bedmond tin church
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We descended via Abbots Langley and Hunton Bridge before crossing the M25 and climbing up to Chorleywood Common. The traffic along the narrow road to The Swillett wasn't too bad so it was a shock when we encountered gridlock on Roughwood Lane (the small lane between Little Chalfont and Chalfont St Giles). It's very narrow with passing places, and some motorists had not waited in the passing places, so there were long queues in each direction. It was hard threading through the cars, but Carol and Sue managed to get through to escape the jam. It took a while for Steve and Phil to join the group as Phil's chain had come off. Shortly afterwards, we found Chesham Lane closed to traffic at the HS2 shaft-ventilation works, but we managed to get through.
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HS2 works - part of the price of progress?
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After bacon sandwiches and omelettes at the Madeira café, which had real Portuguese customers this morning, we climbed back up the hill on the quiet private road before taking the usual direct route back via Flaunden and Rucklers Lane. Phil and Sue peeled off at Nash Mills and the rest of us ascended Bunkers Lane to return to St Albans after a bright sunny ride on a lovely autumn day.
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Climbing Chalfont Hill on the private road
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We did a round trip of about 39 miles with no punctures!
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