20 Jul 2013: Saturday Saunter to Wheathampstead

Today’s ride had a change to the start time as to avoid clashing with the Five Miles to Fabulous gang, we started at 2.30, and at Morrisons four of us met up for the afternoon saunter out into the wilds of Wheathampstead.

It was pleasantly steady as we wandered down the back alley to Sandridge; this is actually quite a nice route going through the middle of Jersey farm and Marshalswick.  After Sandridge we headed for the delights of Sandridgebury, where there must have been some sort of junior horse event on as there were a lot of saddled up steeds roaming about.  Along the route we noticed some yellow and green arrows had been put up on the street furniture and Jon explained these were for tomorrow’s charity ride route, which he had devised for the Grove House Hospice.


From Sandridgebury we made for the Redbourn road, thence onto Ayres End.  Around here we have some lovely undulating lanes that wind around all over the place; it’s great and makes for some relaxing riding.  Soon we were heading into the hot spot known as Wheathampstead and a visit to Jack’s Café.

This rather nice establishment closed at 3pm on a Saturday but as we arrived (3.35pm) the place was still doing a good trade, albeit we had to sit outside (the shame of it) and we were served some great drinks and a lush fudge brownie.

After tea we all headed off on our separate ways, I heading back home via Woodcock hill, only to meet up with Jon again in Hatfield.
It was a nice little ride on a Saturday afternoon and if you fancy doing one the next is the 17th of August taking in the delights of Redbourn Fisheries and Gorhambury.

Neil 20/07/2013

14 Jul 2013: St Albans to Caddington

Eight of us met at St Albans for a trip out to a new café for us at Tring.   It was great to see Giles again.  We also saw the welcome addition of Kev, of Forty Plus fame.

After a brief and rather hilarious discussion, it was decided to leave the city via the park.  This is a great way out of St Albans now the cycle routes crossing Verulamium Park are open, although getting to the park required a taxi driver’s knowledge of the one-way streets.   
We took the route beside the old Roman wall, then a familiar, hilly route out to Tring.  A great little jaunt out and at that time in the morning it was rather comfortable, if not slightly breezy.

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At Tring we stopped at the café-cum-farm-cum-brewery.  Sampling some beer from the Tring Brewery was tempting, but Dunsley Farm served a lovely cuppa coffee and the sweets were very nice indeed.  It was here that discussions turned to the weather and the heat.  It was only going to get hotter, we had quite a challenge last week riding after 3 o’clock, and it was decided to cut the day short and do more of winter’s ride destination.

As we were leaving Judy turned up on her trusty trike, having done a long route of her own to get there, so both Jon and Judy headed home while we made our way over to Caddington, The Chequers to be precise.  Now this pub is a real find, great friendly people, fantastic food, a really nice relaxed atmosphere and reasonable prices, so we need to use this place again. 

After a rather leisurely lunch we pushed on back to St Albans, completing a great day’s ride of 48 miles on a lovely summer’s day and no one felt ill, tired or over exerted.  We’d had a very pleasant day and could only marvel at Froome’s fantastic effort on Mont Ventoux the same day.

Neil 14/07/2013

07 Jul 2013: Panshanger to Ickleton

The challenge was there.  Could the heat be endured?  Could the physical and mental challenges be overcome?  Could the nation be lifted and the next generation be inspired – while competing in shorts and white socks?  

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Well, we did our best, but the only cups we’d be kissing today were tea and coffee cups and plenty of them, as we lived up to our café-to-café (CTC) image with three in one day.  It was my turn to lead around a 72-mile circuit from Panshanger on the hottest day of the year so far.  I was half expecting no-one to turn up, but some like it hot and I was delighted to have a group of seven and doubly pleased that newcomer Geoff picked this as his first ride with us.

Our route to Hare Street was a bit lumpy, especially for me as the potholes were so bad on the lane into Westmill that my bottle cage broke and is now held together with zip ties.  Our first café was The Old Swan, which only opens one Sunday a month, but is well worth a visit just to sit around the garden pond, sampling the home-made scones and teacakes (either/or, not both), feed the numerous fish and geese and quaff plenty of tea or coffee.

Our next challenge was to reach Ickleton for lunch.  A nice ride, along almost deserted lanes, took us into unfamiliar territory around Duddenhoe End and Elmdon.  Into Essex, then into Cambridgeshire and it was a swooping run down the chalk hills to Ickleton, sited where the ancient Icknield Way crossed the River Cam.

The Riverside Barns is a set of rather tacky small businesses, mostly deserted today by their owners, but the café has shady tables overlooking the River Cam and is a pleasant spot to cool off on a hot day and one we were reluctant to leave.

At half-past one it was the hottest time of the day, so I was grateful the route was a flat one through Fowlmere, Meldreth and Bassingbourn to the source of the Cam.  I hugged the roadside seeking any shade offered by hedges and trees, but still arrived soaked in sweat at the church hall opposite Ashwell museum. 

What a treat – lovely homemade cakes, a small selection but real quality.  Bottles refilled, it was now a small matter of getting back to Panshanger and we all finished well satisfied if a bit pooped, to say the least.

Jon, 7 July 2013