30 Jun 2013: Wheathampstead to Great Barford

Twelve enjoyed a warm, sunny ride to Great Barford for a picnic.  The route went into Bedfordshire and was relatively flat between 11's and tea, covering 68 miles in all.  Here are a few photos and the route:

Carol checks the route

Steve not trying to be noticed

Newcomers Tom & Jackie

Flaked out in the sun at Great Barford

23 Jun 2013: St Albans to Wilstone

Start at St Albans and a reasonably good weather forecast (it did in fact remain dry all day, although it had rained a lot yesterday), it’s Bike Week but there are only four people there.  Perhaps thinking the weather in this country could ever be the same two days running has put people off.  Anyway off we went to Berkhamsted for the first stop.  Going straight there is not very far so headed down through Verulamium Park and put in a big loop to the south and west ending up going through Bovingdon and finally dropping down into Berkhamsted from the west.  Then it was into ‘The Crown’, a wonderful old pub now run by Wetherspoons, which should mean good value elevenses.  Now although there were only four at the start all that was about to change.  Inside we found Judy who had already got there on her recumbent trike. Then as we were about to order some grub Richard arrived having come straight from St. Albans.  Shortly after a new couple arrived, (Kerrie and Richard) also straight from St. Albans having missed us thinking the start was 9.30 am when actually it was 9.

So now there were eight of us, a far more respectable number.  Lunch was to be at Wilstone a small village north of Tring.  Now a short flat ride could just go north up the valley on the old A41 which would be far too easy.  So instead we took the masochistic option of going back westwards, climbing up out of the valley and then heading into the undulating (hilly) countryside of the Chilterns through Cholesbury until we ended up at the top of Wendover Woods.  Then as some recompense for all the climbing we had a long downhill swoop towards Aston Clinton down on the plain.  From there a relatively easy flat ride took us across to Wilstone passing the reservoirs, which are to the north of Tring.

Then it was into the ‘Half Moon’ pub, which was surprisingly busy.  But as luck would have it we found there was another room that everyone else had ignored so we ended up with a room to ourselves.  After some very good food it was off again following some serious discussion as to the best route back avoiding too many hills.  The consensus was that hills couldn’t be avoided so we set off to Aldbury.

Now Aldbury is a very pretty village, often used for filming, but it’s other claim to fame is that it lies at the bottom of Tom’s Hill, which for a cyclist is a steep climb up into the Ashridge Estate, parts of which are National Trust.  It’s all very attractive and whilst recovering at the top of the hill some deer crossed over the road near us.  From there it was through Great Gaddesden down to Water End and then the last climb back up again to Briden’s Camp and Gaddesden Row. Then a lovely long sweeping ride down to Redbourn our tea stop.  But first we stopped at Redbourn Common where there was a village ‘show’ going on which seemed to have a cycling theme.  After a brief pause it was on to ‘The Hub’ the new cyclist’s orientated café in the High Street, where we learnt there was even going to be a cycle race around the common later in the evening.

Finally it was back to St Albans with an overall distance of around 50 miles, a shortish ride for summer but quite hilly.

peteR

22 Jun 2013: Another Saturday Saunter

It's 10:00 a.m. and we’re sitting in the Inn on the Park alongside scores of sweaty, steaming runners.  Jon, new rider James, and I wait patiently as millions of heavy droplets of rain throw themselves onto the planet.  We were contemplating starting the ride when a rather sodden Richard Stubbs walks in, he is very wet and just has to have a coffee; so we do our duty and wait patiently for him instead of going out into the pouring rain.  Actually it was good to catch up with him as he had just come back from a cycling trip to France, which from the sounds of it, featured rain as well. 

Leaving Inn on the Park

Sir Richard Bacon's house

Fixing the first one

Eventually the ride got underway and we headed out to the Gorhambury estate.  By this time the raindrops had ceased their energetic activities and we started a pleasant ride through the estate. James was from Potters Bar and hadn’t cycled much recently; he was enjoying the different views of St Albans.  Up around here are the ruins of Sir Nicholas Bacon’s old house, built in Elizabethan times, apparently one of the first houses to have water on tap.  At the end of this route is a small bit of off road, not challenging but it can cause problems in the wet.

After the estate we headed towards Hemel and it was along here the problem reared its ugly head, a puncture, damn.  The victim was James.  Understandably he was hesitant and Jon really did a great job here.  Everything was fixed and ready to go in no time.  Soon we were heading to Blackwater Lane then down onto Bunkers Lane, which leads down to Nash Mills.

From here I took a left and James took another puncture, a snakebite this time so quick use of the puncture repair kit was called for to repair the first tube and we were soon on our way again.  It was just a short stretch to Harthall lane, which is a lovely little country road that leads up to the Bedmond Road, and once there we took a right up to the tin church and made our way down a rather grotty St Albans Lane until we reached the Holly Bush pub.  Here we followed Ragged Hall Lane into St Albans where the ride ended.  Jon and James headed south to Radlett and Potters Bar for a well-earned lunch, while Richard & I headed north. 

It was an enjoyable ride and we took some roads that we use regularly to leave St Albans, but in the other direction, thus giving rise to some great new views.   James reckoned he enjoyed the ride, despite the rain, and we hope to see him out again soon.

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Neil 22/06/2013