05 Aug 2017: Hatfield to Knebworth

We welcomed new rider Helen for this ride as four of us headed off to a new destination, but before we could reach the country lanes there was the small matter of going through a rather busy Hatfield and WGC. Once were off the beaten track it was a really pleasant ride taking the lanes around Bramfield, where we usually head for Hertford, but this time we carried on through the village and onto the Winding Shott. This is a great lane that has dips and rises all along it. This leads to a junction of lanes and we chose the one to Woolmer Green. Once there it was a case of shooting down the main road to Coasters in Knebworth, a really nice and busy café that is well worth a visit.

After a short break it was to head back home, which we did by going via Rabley Heath, where Richard found that he had a slow puncture in his tyre, but then we spied a large and looming cloud of darkness. It was time to get a move on. We picked up the pace and headed for Codicote and took the route back through the Ayots to Hatfield. Sadly we weren’t successful in outrunning the cloud. At the top of the hill in Lemsford the heavens opened and it was heavy. We sheltered for about 10 minutes and decided to head back to the start and the shower stopped. It was a great morning out, with new routes and a new stop. Our next Saturday adventure is a trip down a towpath to another new café.

Neil 05/08/2017

30 Jul 2017: Wheathampstead to Great Barford

The forecast was for a mainly dry day with a chance of a heavy shower so we pessimistically took our rain jackets with us for the planned picnic ride to Barford. We met up with Richard, Steve and Jackie at the start then took a well used route via Gustard Wood and Lilley Bottom via Hexton to reach Lower Stondon Golf Club at 10.45. En-route we had to negotiate several flooded roads which had not drained after the overnight rain.

Adrian and Geoff joined us at coffee and we then followed a westerly route via Cardington where we saw the giant airship tethered outside the hangars.

Airship at Cardington

Fortunately it was still dry as we reached our picnic spot on the banks of the Great Ouse river outside the Anchor pub. Amazingly we spotted a couple of heads in the river apparently pulling coloured balloons which turned out to be two lady wild-water swimmers who walked out of the river at the canoe launch slipway just clothed in swimming costumes - no wetsuits! I think they drag their valuables along in dry bags.

Wild-water swimmers

Stuart from Stevenage joined us as we left the picnic stop for the picturesque ride back via Northill and Southill to our Stotfold mill tea room afternoon break.

Great Barford

After going back via Letchworth and Stevenage we had covered about 75 miles and only got rained on once - indeed by the time we got the rain jackets on the rain stopped.

Carol

22 July 2017: St Albans to Redbourn

One of the pleasant things about doing these rides is the returning riders from a few months ago, it sort of proves that you’re doing the right thing and it’s even better when they come back with a new bike and full of go.

Emma's new bike

The route I had chosen had to be changed quickly to accommodate a recumbent, so we took a lovely route through Childwickbury and past Stanley Kubrick’s old abode. It really is a quaint, sedate estate that is not too far off the beaten track and it leads down to the Redbourn Road; this can be a very busy road but thankfully the traffic was at a minimum. We took on Hogg End Lane then diverted to Old Jerome’s, avoiding the industrial estate at the end of the lane. We were soon onto Cherry Trees Lane then heading down the winding lane that is Holtsmere End, which leads to Gadsden Lane and then Redbourn. As we were just edging on to North Common a few spots of the wet stuff were felt and, as we came to the Hub, the clouds let go of their dribbley cargo. The hub (a usually quite sedentary place) became a hive of activity due to this and there was standing room only for dripping cyclists at one point.

Sheltering inside The Hub

The rain persisted and we decided to shorten the ride.  Jon and Judy beat a hasty retreat back home whilst we decided to shoot down the Redbourn Road and cut across past the mill. As we did this the rain eased off, but never really left us. The route back was a mixture of Ayres End, Nomansland Common and the lanes through to Sandridge and Jersey farm. We headed through to Oaklands College and as we did this rain got heavier, so we made our soggy way back via the Alban Way.

Despite the rain it was a very enjoyable morning’s ride.

Neil 22/07/2017