02 Feb 2014: St Albans to Wilstone (Stately Homes Tour)

A healthy turnout of 13 turned up to the St Albans start, probably encouraged by the good dry-weather forecast. We were a bit late starting as Steve had a puncture to repair at home first. We divided the group into ‘A’ and ‘B’ rides.  As it had been raining heavily the ‘A’ group decided to avoid possible floods and go towards Leverstock Green before dropping down to Apsley and passing through Boxmoor before climbing to Potten End.  We made good progress until we came upon complete traffic chaos on the tiny back road between Boxmoor and Bourne End. It’s incredible how many huge cars try and park on a single-track road in order to drop a small child off to play rugby. There was often no room for a bicycle to slip between the cars so we were delayed somewhat. Must remember never to use that route again in the morning.

On the climb up to Potten End Steve had another puncture (different wheel) so we left him to fix it and carried on via the Ashridge Estate, where we caught up with the ‘B’ ride, who had followed a more direct route.  One final climb to Ivinghoe beacon and we just made it to the café in Pitstone before a group from Aylesbury CTC arrived.  

A gentle climb through the Ashridge Estate

Ashridge House

Emerging from the estate in Little Gaddesden

Warm February sunshine at the cafe

Due to the slowness of service we decided to abandon the planned destination and go to Wilstone instead. The original pub only did ‘late breakfast’ until 1pm so we would only have had time for a short, direct ride. The new destination allowed us to take in two more stately homes: Mentmore Towers, which was actually visible today due to the lack of foliage on trees and Ascott House near Wing, which was not visible due to evergreen hedging, but you can see what it looked like. Both properties were built by the Rothschild banking family and have interesting histories.  Mentmore Towers featured as Wayne Manor in the film Batman Begins. The wind was really strengthening for the post-coffee stretch and we were pleased to get to the Half Moon just as a large table was vacated. After a pleasant break, most people went home via the Berkhamsted valley route and the two Steves and Carol took the slightly hillier route via Hastoe Hill and Ashley Green back to St Albans.

Mentmore Towers near Gotham City

Ascott House and gardens

Audax fan Paul put in a lengthy loop north of Luton back to Letchworth adding up to about 90 miles. I still don’t have a computer on my bike, but guessed our round trip to be about 50 miles.

A ride (mauve) 58 miles.  B ride (blue) 51 miles.   

Carol 2/2/2014

19 Jan 2014: Hatfield to Woolmer Green

A really great turn out for my first go as ride leader and even the weather was good, especially when compared to the last two Sundays.  This attracted sixteen of us for the ride and we set off from Hatfield, with 2 taking a slightly easier route.   It had rained overnight so there were a few rather large puddles on the road, no real flooding though.  On the morning ride we traveled through South Hatfield, Welham Green, Brookmans Park, Bayford, Brickendon and down into Hertford for a welcome tea break / second breakfast at the Rose Cafe.  

White Stubbs Lane

Minor adjustments

Paul had cycled to the start from Letchworth, so that justified a big breakfast.

Rose Cafe

A few calories to burn off

After tea break we set off along the river towards Ware. This turned out to be a rather narrow path for 200 metres. I won't be going that way again!  After that it was a very pleasant ride along the river to Ware. The Sun was out (and so were the dog walkers).

River Lea

Hertford-Ware cycle path

At Ware we headed up the A1170 to Wadesmill and then headed back towards the lunch stop via Chapmore End and Stapleford and Bramfield. Some of the smaller roads are in a pretty poor state after all the rain we have had. There is quite a lot of soggy leaf litter and gravel on them.  After Datchworth I had intended to go directly to Woolmer Green. But, having taken a wrong turn, we ended up in Knebworth and had to cycle back south to Woolmer Green. The Fox pub is really nice so all was well.

Chapmore End

View map full screen

Mike 19/01/2014

05 Jan 2014: St Albans to Redbourn

The Hub Redbourn...

Well it wasn’t the planned destination or route, but we hadn’t planned on 4 ‘incidents’ in the first few miles, so it’s where we ended up.  Six of us met at the war memorial and from the start was clear we would be watching the weather as it was supposed to be very bad latter in the day.  Joining us for his first ride was Martin, who seemed keen but not overly eager to be out in what was to come.

We set off down Catherine Street, made our way up Bluehouse Hill and then along Bedmond lane.  It was along these back lanes that the unexpected reared its head and I was surprised, despite it being early January: ICE, yes ICE. Blustery showers and gale force winds, followed by copious amounts of wet stuff were forecast and that was what I and everyone else had been expecting.  But it was going down one of these lanes that Mike had the ill fortune to come off on a patch of ice, just as a car was passing us.  I thought someone had shouted for the car and I just kept going, but fortunately Bill made us stop.

Apart from a bruise Mike was OK, so we carried on our way around the edge of Hemel.  It was around the estates there that Martin developed some trouble with his cleats, not sure what the problem was but he was having trouble getting his foot clipped in and out on a pedal.

The group in Hemel

Fixing cleat problems

Richard's worn out and split rim

Expert tyre removal

Then, not wanting to feel left out, our leader Richard’s back wheel rim decided that it was high time to blow.   After these shenanigans we decided to cut the whole thing short and head home, via the Hub in Redbourn.  As we were heading down Gaddesden row Bill had that slightly deflated feeling, and sure enough he had a puncture.  With numb fingers he deftly fumbled his way around fixing the puncture.  Soon after we were winging our way to a welcome break.

At the Hub in Redbourn, while we warmed up with cups of tea and coffee, Richard found that he could get his wheel repaired and be given a spare ‘courtesy’ wheel to use whilst the job was done.  Bill looked like he was drumming up some eBike business for himself.  So this seemed to be a rather fortuitous stop for all of us.

Soon after we were on our way back to St Albans, for the completion of one of our shortest rides ever!

Neil 5/1/2014