25 July 2021: St Albans to Chalfont St Peter

The two Saints ride!

The BBC weather forecast predicted heavy rain & thunderstorms all day, so at 9:30 I approached the War Memorial with trepidation, expecting no-one to be at the start. To my surprise there were four riders already there. However Gary had only turned up to say hello and that he was going on another ride  but would be out with us the following Sunday, So off the rest of us went, via Bedmond, Hunters Bridge & Chandlers Cross. A notable event occurred an the hill up to to Chorleywood, where I noticed that Philip’s back tyre was rubbing against the chain-stay and convinced him, after some effort, to stop and fix it. His Sun bike, which looked as though it had been extracted from a skip, had been given to him when a schoolboy as a reward for passing an exam. It was 50’s or 60’s vintage as it was second-hand even then. So it had what you might expect: screw-on block, auxiliary brake levers, down-tube shifters, horizontal drop-outs and all the rest of it, and, of course, a solid rear axle. Fortunately, he had remembered to pack a spanner for turning the rear-axle nuts, so with a bit of groaning and grunting he managed the loosen the bolts , re-centre the wheel and remount. After completing the climb, some drizzle appeared (the only rain of the day) and we all  put on waterproofs, but shortly afterwards took them off again. 

Philip's on his way to play golf?

Arriving at the Madeira cafe, we found only one table for four unoccupied, and quickly ordered coffee & snacks. These took some time to arrive so it was nearly one o’clock by the time we left after a convivial chat. Our eyes lit up after Philip suggested he would get us each a Portuguese tart, so there was some initial disappointment when he returned with a plate of delicious made-on-the-premises  Pastella de Nata, the best in the world after Lisbon's.

Delicious!

 So out of consideration for Philip, whose largest sprocket had only 24 teeth, I took the flattest and most direct route back, via Latimer, Flaunden, Rucklers Lane & Bunkers Lane.

Steve B

18 July 2021: Hatfield to Westmill

As the forecast today was the third day with temperatures in the late 20's, it was not surprising that so few turned out Asda car park. It was just Ronnie and I that set off towards Tewin on a beautiful route provided by Carol. 

Looking sunny at the start

It was quite warm, but a lot of shade was provided throughout the day and a gentle breeze helped to keep cool - although not always in a beneficial direction. We saw the turn to Whitehill Golf Club and after experiencing the grunt uphill a few weeks ago I was grateful the route went straight on. After passing through Nasty (better believe it!) we headed for Westmill. 

We passed a probable multi-million house with a black AC Cobra on the drive. For the petrolheads it was a C reg, so an original 1963/4 model, worth almost as much as the house I guess. After a toasted bacon sandwich and scotch egg, we headed back to Great Munden where Ronnie peeled off on a more direct route home to Stevenage. 

Picturesque tea room - view spoiled by cars

Joining the old A10, I missed the turn at Wadesmill for Bengeo and then had to go to Thundridge and Ware, which looked a nicer town than I could remember. My legs now started feeling tired, so was glad to reach Hertford, picking up Route 61 back to Hatfield thence home via the Alban Way, where I bumped into Mike Ronayne who was tentatively trying a short ride whiilst suffering from ongoing back pain, to a large mug of tea. 55 miles door to door, 45 miles Asda to Asda. Thanks for the route Carol. Wonderful yellows, greens and blue (with no clouds). A missed opportunity for those who were probably watching to see if Cav got his 35th TdF stage win- or Lewis Hamilton winning at Silverstone- or the golf!

Philip

27 June 2021: Wheathampstead to Letchworth

The narrator/ride leader arrived early at the Wheathampstead start point in light rain with very overcast skies.   Hopes that no-one else would show, with the attractive possibility of a short ride home to dry house, coffee and crumpets were dashed by the arrival of Steve B and then four more intrepid riders – the two Marks, Philip and John.    

Several of us reported feelings of mild elation having been mistaken around Sandridge for participants in the Triathalon taking place this morning.   Heaven knows why – we didn’t really look serious enough, and had not a single tri-bar or aero helmet between us!

Given the ominous forecast and leaden sky, your trusty narrator took the liberty of reversing the planned route, to take the anticlockwise short option to Letchworth, on the grounds we’d have more chance of reaching the destination dry and could then tackle the longer route back, weather permitting.     

Just outside Letchworth, Steve B kindly took over when the ride leader confessed to having no idea at all how to get to the Golf Course and café.  With a quick glance at Ride with GPS, Steve rescued us from an unplanned visit to Baldock.  The leader had earlier received a well-deserved dressing down for having no 21st century navigation technology whatever and for having scribbled the key route points on a scrap of paper, now of course in reverse order as well as inaccessible in a saddle bag. 

The coffee, toasties and full breakfasts went down very well at the golf club.   No one seemed to be in any hurry to leave, and only a temporary pause in anecdotes allowed us back on the road.  

With the weather now brighter, there was no excuse not to do the full ride.  After further navigational shortcomings from Wymondley and the leader now pretty well disgraced, it was Steve and John who led along the quiet lanes and glorious countryside to Gosmore and then the challenging but beautiful Pinnacle Hill.

Little Wymondley

 Thank goodness, Mark saved his puncture for the bit just after the pinnacle!  Repairs half way up could have been grim.  There followed a detailed and spirited analysis of all aspects of the problem and the best ways of getting tyres off rims.

Felix on Pinnacle Hill

 Some time later we resumed the ride, through Preston and lesser known lanes to Lilley Bottom, Whitwell and then the private road over to Kimpton.  With all heading back to St Albans, it was agreed to ride back over Beech Hyde Lane and avoid main road traffic and more likely confusion for the tri-marshalls.  

A couple of riders slid off in Sandridge for post-ride ‘pick-me-ups’, in what looked like a fairly well rehearsed routine.  (It’s OK, no names, no secrets).    

Back home the gloomiest of Met Office predictions had proven inaccurate.   All together, a very enjoyable and sociable ride. (At least, the leader thought so.  And he commits to 21st century tech before leading another one.)   Thanks for Carol B for a great route. 

Eamonn