30 Jan 2022: St Albans to Pepperstock

On a cold but very bright morning, dark eye-shields seemed a necessity. Ben, whom we hadn't seen for some time was riding a titanium bike with oval chainrings, not often seen after
Shimano introduced Biopace in about 1990. The frost showing in the verges had probably kept our number down, especially after the spills on black ice a few weeks ago. However, the roads had been dry and we encountered no ice, even at the scene of the recent tumbles at Ferrers Lane, near the Nomansland crossroads. After going down Leasy Bridge Lane we picked up the cycle-path towards Luton. This first section has a poor surface and our bikes were soon splattered with mud. After we got to Batford I suddenly realised that I didn't recognise the path or the suburban roads we were now on, which seems to be taking us up the hill towards Harpenden town centre. Calling on Mark to stop, I pointed down the hill to a wide path that would take us back down. After enquiring from two ladies emerging from the path if this would take us back to the cycle path, they replied in the affirmative but pointing out the no cycling signs. Waiting for them to leave we cycled down the footpath, thinking it was so wide it should be reclassified as shared-use.

Eric Morecambe is on the left! Look closely. Ben has caught a shadow.

Continuing along the path, we crossed over the road to Someries Castle and stopped at its highest point, the memorial to Harpenden's most famous son, Eric Morecambe, for a photoshoot and review of Mark's route. You. can see John Bunyan more clearly in the other photo. Thinking that continuing along the path would take us to Luton (horror!) we decided to retrace to the last road and thence via the East Hyde sewage works to Pepperstock.

John Bunyan alongside

At Harper's, we found the external tables bathed in strong sunshine, so quickly occupied one. Ben ordered a calorific luxury hot chocolate, sausage roll and flapjack, claiming that he had not yet had a breakfast, despite cycling to the start from WGC. After our snacks, we retraced  our route back to the sewage works, then ascended the long straight hill to Peters Green, descended to Kimpton and climbed to Ayot St Lawrence. Here we said goodbye to Ben and returned to St Albans via Wheathampstead.

Steve

23 Jan 2022: Hatfield to Hertford

Four of us set off from Harpsfield Hall on a cold dark and damp morning. 

Harpsfield Hall start

On the road to Lemsford, Philip commented on the proliferation of the aluminium cans in the verge, surmising that a mining company would soon aquire rights. Passing through WGC and its John Lewis (formerly the Welwyn Department Store) and M&S (to be closed in April) we traversed the White Bridge turning off on a dead-end road which degenerated into a cycle path over the railway line before reaching Bessemer Road. Here we climbed through the prestigious houses of Digswell, famous for its viaduct, to reach Burnham Green and Bulls Green. 

near Datchworth

Here we turned south towards Bramfield but avoided the village by turning towards Stapleford. Here we ignored the Road-Closed signs and mounted the pavement riding patiently behind an elderly lady before we could return to the highway and followed the road into Bengeo and finally Hertford. We arrived at the Rose café noting that there was one table left unoccupied, but by the time we had parked our bikes, that too was gone. Retracing our steps, we noticed that the Bebo Café looked inviting, so we settled on that and found a table upstairs. While three of us made do with coffees, Mark indulged in a calorie-packed megafeast of Eggs Benedict. 

cosy cafe Bebo

With no ladies present, the conversation degenerated into football and some rather risqué jokes. After leaving and leading the riders through the Castle grounds, I failed to notice some broken glass on the path which had consequences once I had crossed the A414 on the Toucan crossing, as my rear tyre deflated. After fixing this, we turned off by the football ground to pick up the Cole Green Way, which is now newly tarmacked to Hertingfordbury, but no further. Leaving the path here, we travelled along the Old Coach Road, the old A414, to go through Letty Green and climbed to Essendon and to Welham  Green. At the entrance to Colney Heath, Philip and Gary turned off to go under the A1(M) and back to Hatfield  and Mark and I returned to St Albans via the longabout, returning home at a rather late 2.30.

Steve

 

16 Jan 2022: Hatfield to Cheshunt (almost)

No blog for last week's ride  on the 9th, as Steve and I went away for a few days. Here's a photo of the aftermath of some hidden black ice near Nomansland Common on the day. Philip and Gary both fell off, fortunately with no physical damage. Two went home and the other five had a coffee in The Brewhouse café Wheathampstead before returning home using main roads.

Black ice on 9th Jan

On the 16th January it was very foggy as five of us left Hatfield and headed south past the University, then used the Bullens Green underpass to get to Welham Green and a wiggly route to Little Berkhamstead by which time the fog had cleared to show blue skies on a relatively mild day.

Fog cleared in Little Berkhamstead

After several more hilly miles we reached the edge of Goffs Oak where Philip had a puncture.

Puncture repairing in Goffs Oak

As we were delayed for a short while we decided to change the café destination to use The Cuffley Café instead of the planned one in Cheshunt Park. We were somewhat held up as there was a traffic queue all the way from Goffs Oak to Cuffley which appeared to be caused by people watching some fast and flashy cars parading.  The café was busy but we found a table for five and enjoyed our break. Afterwards we went back via Brookmans Park where the Hatfield people peeled off and Steve and I took the Colney Heath route back.

Carol

02 Jan 2022: St Albans to Abbots Langley

 BUT NOT DIRECTLY! It was a bright sunny day and the streets of St Albans were deserted as we left The Waterend Barn on our first ride of the new year. The planned ride was shorter than usual as we had anticipated poor weather at the beginning of January. As it was, we didn't need to take any shortcuts and pedalled through Bedmond and Kings Langley to Chipperfield where there was an opportunity for a photo shoot. 

Two Brewers on a sunny day

The first pub, the Two Brewers, looked so good, we went down past Blackwells and took another one outside the Windmill, where the director's instructions almost caused Steve to fall off as he was going so slowly.

Steve wobbling at the Windmill

We went through Commonwood Common then turned across Bottom Lane and climbed to Sarratt, before going through Chandlers Cross, passing the Langleybury Film Studios, then did the last climb up to Abbots Langley village. The aptly named Village Café served us drinks and bacon rolls in double-quick time and will be a contender for the fastest service of the year, I suspect. They also kindly made space for our bikes round the back of the premises. A great place to visit, but probably a little close for most rides. However on a bright day at the beginning of a new year it was fine to get back to St Albans at 12.30.

Carol