Neil writes: Big day for me - I finally get to lead the ride that was washed out on 2nd May. We all met at ASDA Hatfield at 9 o'clockish. When I got there we welcomed two new arrivals who were waiting for us (Jane and Andy). The weather was a bit odd as it was hot and muggy; I was expecting it to pour down with rain any minute and dressed accordingly. BIG mistake.
We got off to a nice and leisurely start heading out to Welwyn and made our way towards Panshanger. At this point I handed over the leading to Tracey and she led us through Panshanger and into a small wood that skirts the airfield there. In this wood we found several dog walkers and lots of very young puppies. One poor pup had to keep up with his owner who was on a bike (bless 'em).
From the airfield we took a left and raced down the hill and then up the next hill to join the road that took us to Bramfield. This part of the ride was very scenic and with lovely clear skies the views were very impressive. Just a little after Bramfield I took a wrong turn and led us very nearly into Bengeo. Thankfully help was at hand and we found our way up a fairly busy road to Sacombe Park. Once through the park we made our way to Dane End and the golf course.
The two new riders were doing very well and had no problem with riding in our group. After elevenses we made our way to Buntingford via Little Munden, Great Munden and Nasty. At Buntingford we went up the high street and took a right that led to a small quiet road that took us all the way to Brent Pelham.
The Black Horse is a lovely little pub with a nice garden up to the side of it. There we met a group of riders from Southgate (one of them seemed a little worse for the beer). It was at this stop that I displayed my astounding lack of map folding skills and what I thought were roads turned out to be creases! Then I found that I had the wrong map; I had everywhere else apart from Stevenage. But with help from Peter we planned out a route to Old Stevenage.
As we were cycling this route it became clear that I had been on these roads before and near enough knew my way. It was also on this leg of the day that we encountered swarms of suicidal thrips (thunderbugs or stormflies), they were blooming well everywhere and we got covered in them. I mean it: head to foot, they were horrible, then we went through a swarm of something else. These were bigger with big wings and I don't know what they were.
On the way to Stevenage we met Stuart who joined us for the ride to the Standing Order for a cuppa.
This seemed a quick little part of the day and we were very pleased to get to the pub as the sun had decided to bake us. That’s when the fatigue set in and at around 4pm everything got very hot and dry, people started flagging and I for one felt for them as I ran out of water.
Stuart led us through Stevenage (this was interesting as he knew all the cycle paths and made sense of it all, the last time I was there I got hopelessly lost). We made our way back to Hatfield via Knebworth and skirted Tewin. All in all a fantastic day and I thank everybody for coming out, their patience and their help.
Neil 11/07/2010
11 July 2010
4 July 2010
04 Jul 2010: Picnic ride to Marlow
Carol writes: Holiday season had started so there were only five people at the St Albans start for Steve and Carol’s annual ride to Marlow. Good to see Craig and Vish out again joining stalwart Neil. We skirted Bricket Wood and aimed for Chandlers Cross where we picked up new rider Julie who is based in Watford. We took a route to Chalfont St Peter using an off-road section of Old Shire Lane between Chorleywood and Chalfont Common. It was OK on a dry summer day in the direction we went with a long downhill on the roughest part. The combination of a strong headwind and the different route meant a late arrival at Crumb’s café.
Even though we were late we decided to detour through Burnham Beeches and use the car-free roads. This diversion from the normal way caused Craig to comment along the lines of ‘I knew we’d done some extra miles but this is ridiculous’ as we passed a village called ‘Egypt’!
When we got to Marlow and had bought food it was about 1.40, the latest we’d ever arrived at a lunch stop. It was busy next to the river, but we managed to bag a seat eventually.
The route back via Bourne End, Hedgerley and Gerrards Cross took us up the private road ‘Over the Misbourne’ where Neil managed to get a shock by touching an unmarked electric fence, then we all got a shock at the end as there is now a new locked gate to prevent cyclists and walkers reaching the bridleway road in Upper Denham. We had to lift our bikes over this new obstacle.
Yet another newly found bridleway allowed us to shortcut alongside the railway line towards Denham Airfield. By the time we got to Maple Cross it was so late (5pm) we thought the Aquadrome café might be closed so we used the BP Wild Bean café where Craig bought mini brownies for us and Neil continued to flaunt his new England 2010 cycling shirt.
We made our way back via the Ebury Way dropping Julie off at the Grand Union canal junction and eventually made it home at about 6.45 after a very enjoyable 75 miles using some new roads and paths.
Even though we were late we decided to detour through Burnham Beeches and use the car-free roads. This diversion from the normal way caused Craig to comment along the lines of ‘I knew we’d done some extra miles but this is ridiculous’ as we passed a village called ‘Egypt’!
Burnham Beeches
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When we got to Marlow and had bought food it was about 1.40, the latest we’d ever arrived at a lunch stop. It was busy next to the river, but we managed to bag a seat eventually.
Out with the picnic hampers
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The Thames at Marlow
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The route back via Bourne End, Hedgerley and Gerrards Cross took us up the private road ‘Over the Misbourne’ where Neil managed to get a shock by touching an unmarked electric fence, then we all got a shock at the end as there is now a new locked gate to prevent cyclists and walkers reaching the bridleway road in Upper Denham. We had to lift our bikes over this new obstacle.
Yet another newly found bridleway allowed us to shortcut alongside the railway line towards Denham Airfield. By the time we got to Maple Cross it was so late (5pm) we thought the Aquadrome café might be closed so we used the BP Wild Bean café where Craig bought mini brownies for us and Neil continued to flaunt his new England 2010 cycling shirt.
Fuel stop at Maple Cross
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We made our way back via the Ebury Way dropping Julie off at the Grand Union canal junction and eventually made it home at about 6.45 after a very enjoyable 75 miles using some new roads and paths.
27 June 2010
27 Jun 2010: Sylvia Clifford memorial ride
Jon writes: With a heat wave hitting Hertfordshire and the possibly the hilliest 100 km cycling circuit the county has to offer, I wasn’t expecting a big turnout for the Sylvia Clifford ride. In fact only three of our regulars had entered in advance.
I cheated a bit to take advantage of the early dawn and rode the leg from Bramfield in the cool. On arriving at Wheathampstead I was amazed to find the car park almost full, but this turned out to be 150 walkers of the LDWA starting off on the Hertfordshire Hobble, a 26 mile or 16 mile walk. They must be madder than us.
Maybe it was the prospect of riding for a good cause, or the chance to escape from the stress of following England in the World Cup, that encouraged another six of our members to come along and enter ‘on the line’.
Judy wished us well as we set off in the clockwise direction on what turned out to be a wonderfully scenic route. We were on the lookout for other participants, who could start anywhere on the circuit riding in either direction and, just before reaching Preston, we caught up with a small group of 40 plussers led by Roger.
At Graveley we were getting desperate for refreshments and diverted to the Garden Centre, now run by Wyevale. It was hot outside, but comments of ‘it’s like a greenhouse in here’ soon echoed around what was, admittedly, a greenhouse as we queued up inside.
A much better resting place was the air-conditioned Crown & Falcon at Puckeridge, where we found Roger’s group cooling off inside. We joined them rather than sit in the garden, where the pub was cashing in (while it could) by setting up to show the football.
With the temperature hitting 30 centigrade it was off again via Standon and Barwick fords to Chapmore End and Bramfield. Here I left the others, who completed the circuit after a tea break at the thrilling Bramfield Summer Fair or in the farm shop in Bury Lane.
I cheated a bit to take advantage of the early dawn and rode the leg from Bramfield in the cool. On arriving at Wheathampstead I was amazed to find the car park almost full, but this turned out to be 150 walkers of the LDWA starting off on the Hertfordshire Hobble, a 26 mile or 16 mile walk. They must be madder than us.
Maybe it was the prospect of riding for a good cause, or the chance to escape from the stress of following England in the World Cup, that encouraged another six of our members to come along and enter ‘on the line’.
Judy wished us well as we set off in the clockwise direction on what turned out to be a wonderfully scenic route. We were on the lookout for other participants, who could start anywhere on the circuit riding in either direction and, just before reaching Preston, we caught up with a small group of 40 plussers led by Roger.
See map full screen
Preston
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A much better resting place was the air-conditioned Crown & Falcon at Puckeridge, where we found Roger’s group cooling off inside. We joined them rather than sit in the garden, where the pub was cashing in (while it could) by setting up to show the football.
Standon Ford
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Chapmore End
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