17 June 2017: Fun Ride to Wheathampstead

We greeted a great crowd at Morrisons on a fantastically bright, sunny day and the last weekend of bike week. We had newbies, returnees and someone who hadn’t been out for a good while and we even played host to one of Rona’s fabulous girls. It was a meeting of all abilities, as we had a lass wanting to train for a triathlon, a regular who likes to take it easy and others wanting to push themselves a bit.

We set off and rode down some very familiar back streets and made our leisurely way to the lanes at the back of the Verulamium estate. After some quiet roads and around the farm track that leads to the Harpenden road, we followed that main road via the path beside it, then headed across to Ayres End Lane.

It’s lovely around the fringes of Nomansland Common; the lanes here are well shaded and offer a pleasant respite from the sunshine. A steady climb here and, for quite a large group, we kept together pretty well.

At break it was teas, coffees and cakes all round as we sat basking in the rays of the sun; everyone chatting away and making connections. Soon it was time to get back on the bikes. This time I left Wheathampstead via the shared path (part of the Lee Valley route) and I used Dyke Lane, passing Devil's Dyke, where invaders from what is now Belgium settled in 50 BC.  Strange to think that this pleasant, shady glade was the site of a massive construction effort over 2,000 years ago, and without any EU funding.

When we got to Sandridge we took Jersey Lane, the back alley that leads right into Marshalswick and cuts out many of the main roads. It wasn’t long before we were back at the start.

A short ride today but a very successful one, which I’m hoping to see some returnees from.

Neil 17/06/2017

11 June 2017: St Albans to Stotfold

A sunny and breezy day greeted us as we assembled for our ride out into Bedfordshire. This time the wind was behind us as we headed north - first stop Barton-le-Clay.

Avoiding the well-trodden routes skirting Luton, we went through Harpenden and Caddington. Then descending by Chaul End (there is an amazing amount of house building going on around there) we found our way through the suburbs to pick up the Luton cycle path. Out through Streatley we whizzed down the serious hill at Sharpenhoe and were soon in Pete's Place enjoying a coffee.

Lunch at Stotfold Stag

Fairfield Park (the old Three Counties Asylum)

Richard

Touring Bikes

Meeting Adrian and Jeff here was especially welcome as they unhesitating knew a great route across through some Bedfordshire villages to Stotfold where we were to try a new lunch venue for most - The Stag. This turned out to be a very pleasant and reasonably priced country pub - a good find.

Refreshed, we turned south to Hitchin, up the gentler of the hills into Preston and then the popular cyclists' watering hole, Emily's in Whitwell. As we found there a bunch of old regulars with the group, there was a bit of a delay before we headed off for home.



Richard 11/06/2017

10 June 2017: Hatfield to Whitwell Fun Ride

It was glorious weather for the start of bike week and we had a nice little jaunt into the countryside surrounding Hatfield, Wheathampstead and Gustard Wood. The skies were clear and the blueness was awesome. It really is a pleasure bumbling along the roads, listening to the birds and seeing just how verdant our county of Hertfordshire really is.

The route I took to Whitwell was a well-used route for us and offered us nothing but pleasant cycling; the stop at Emily’s was just as pleasant. This really is a great way to introduce the simple pleasure of experiencing our countryside on two wheels.

Our route back took us by Kimpton Mill and along the bottom road there. At the Codicote crossroads we headed for the Ayots and just up from there our party split with a couple making their own way home, while the rest of us pootled through the Ayots and took in Sherrards Park (this is a lovely off road route) to WGC and we made our way down to Stanborough lakes. The lake looked awesome, with people boating, fishing and sunbathing. We were soon heading back into Hatfield to complete a nice morning’s ride.



Neil 10/06/2017