Saturday 8 March 2025 - International Women's Day sunny and warm

 After a rather long, grey, wet winter, it was lovely to meet up again to start our 2025 ride programme on a sunny and warm morning.  There were rather a lot of us, 14 in fact.

We split into two groups, with Teresa and Lorna taking 8 with them on a circuit of Bricket Wood and Rona going off with 3 on a shorter loop via Potters Crouch, with both groups aiming for the Lazy Llama kiosk in Greenwood Park.

The faster group set off first along the Alban Way and duly ripped up the lanes: we went up to Chiswell Green via Robert Ave and Ragged Hall Lane, then along Stanley Avenue to then head up Chiswell Green Lane. Down Noke Lane, which was not as muddy or gravelly as expected! It took a long time to get across the A405 as there was so much fast traffic.  Lye Lane was quiet and Drop Lane was very peaceful. We came back up Smug Oak Lane, down through Park St and How Wood, over the A405 by footbridge and into Greenwood Park where we met the other group at the cafe. 

The slower group also set off along the Alban Way, which was quite busy -  as everyone was being considerate we were all happy.  We stopped to admire the Watercress Beds, then continued up NCN6.  From the Watford Road we peeled off onto Ragged Hall Lane and paused to admire the gingerbread cottage.

We continued our meander up to Potters Crouch, with an entertaining rest stop by the pond at East Farm, much quacking as spring fever energised the ducks.  On our way down towards Chiswell Green we admired the giant creature eating a leaf at the Royal Entomological Society offices.

We were first to the coffee stop and bagged a table in the sun, and in due course the rest arrived and bagged more sunny seats.

There was mingling over coffee and then rearranging of groups for the return.  After enjoying the lovely track through the woods, then taking great care on the gravelly descent by the allotments, one lot went back via Robert Avenue to return to Fleetville and the other lot headed through by Netherway and Verulamium Park for points onward around the north of the city.

Hard to define ride milage, as everyone covers a different distance to and from the start, but the 'Fabulous' ride was of the order of 10 miles and the 'Further Faster' ride was about 15 miles.

Saturday 23 November 2024 - a celebration in a cafe

Some of the 5MTF regulars gathered this morning at The Courtyard Cafe on Hatfield Road  to celebrate a long-standing member of the group.  Angela came along on the fourth ever 5MTF ride - in 2008 - and has been encouraging and supporting the group ever since.

She soon became our back-marker par excellence and in the fullness of time she formalised that by going on a Cycling UK Ride Leader course and being thereafter a South Herts CTC registered ride leader.  Furthermore she encouraged Teresa to do the course as well!

Earlier this year we felt it was high time Angela's contribution to the success of 5MTF was recognised, and we wrote in to Cycling UK HQ to enquire about an Award.  Of course, they said, and this morning it was a great pleasure to present Angela with her Certificate of Achievement and special badge.

Congratulations Angela and thank you from all of us.

Thank you to cafe staff for looking after us so well and taking the picture!

Saturday 16 November 2024 - Hatfield convolutions

Eight of us gathered to go further faster on a grey but dry morning.  Lorna was leading and her route outline was .... east ..... accompanied by a wave in the general direction of Hatfield.

We set off down Sutton Road, across the Camp cycle route and through the Cell Barnes orchard then down Highfield Lane to Tyttenhanger.  There was a Road Closed sign, quick consultation we decided it was worth checking whether or not we could get through.  The closure turned out to be for clearing a massive fly tip and the workers waved us on through the narrow gap between the refuse truck and the waste.  We were advised to carry our bikes as some of the flytip was battens with nails, not ideal for rolling your tyres over.

Crossing the longabout via the traffic lights, on through Colney Heath, under the A1(M) and A1001 at Bullen's Green, a quick nip through on a footpath took us into South Hatfield along Lane End and on through Hazel Grove, up Bishop's Rise and then the birds and the beasts - at the time none of us were looking at street names, we were just following Lorna, on checking the route for the blog I find we rode along Lark Rise, Hare Lane and Badger Way.  We picked up NCN12 through Howe Dell. More wildlife as we ducked under the East Coast Main Line.

For the second month in a row we came through Old Hatfield, opposite direction this time, and another bridge to admire.

A further loop was offered, but the majority could hear the coffee calling, so we got ourselves on the Alban Way and along to Notcutts.  Cafe looking fab, great selection of food and drink and we provided the sparkling repartee.  Wish they had better cycle stands though.

Once we had disentangled ourselves from the 'wheelbenders' we continued back to St Albans along the autumnal Alban Way.  Some 14 miles covered by the time we got back to Fleetville.

Saturday 19 October 2024 - short and wet

No takers for Five Miles today so a single group of seven soaked women gathered at Morrisons.  The rain was meant to ease as the morning progressed, but not before it got very heavy just as we were all riding to the start.

A route adjustment to suit the conditions was made, a straightforward out and back along the Alban Way to Old Hatfield.  The advantage of grim weather is a quieter Alban Way, although there were a few determined people besides ourselves walking or cycling in waterproofs.

Autumnal leaf colour on the trees and on the path

Through the Blackberry Arch, the halfway point between St Albans and Hatfield.

We went all the way along the Alban Way to cross the ECML and emerge on the Great North Road.  A short way along the A1000 Hertford Road cycle route, then south on NCN12 onto the Old Hertford Road and along Park Street and through to Old Hatfield, where we turned into Salisbury Square.

This is currently undergoing redevelopment, we had to walk along a hoarded passageway to gain Sustain Coffee.  This excellent coffee roastery is open for coffee and other hot and cold drinks from 9am to 1pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  Yes, those are sacks of coffee behind us.  The actual roaster is just out of sight to the left.

While we were enjoying our coffee stop it was coming down stair rods but had reverted to light rain by the time we were setting off on the return leg.

With the usual onward route through the car park unavailable due to being full of diggers we walked around and had to do a little bit of cyclocross - up some steps and along a well-worn verge path.  This brought us out by the Great Northern pub and we used the shared footway to get back to the Alban Way.  The sun actually started to come out as we came back into St Albans.  Ride length about 20km / 13 miles.

Saturday 7 September 2024 - autumnal

The morning mist soon burnt off and we had a lovely morning of it.  We formed into two groups to suit pace and distance preferences.

Two were making a second visit to Ayletts Autumn Festival, same route as last week.  Two dozen eggs and two cups of chicken feed were purchased at Highfield Farm.

It was warm enough to sit outside in the Festival Tea Garden and enjoy coffee, cake and chat.  Then we perused the flowers - the Festival runs until the 15th, although the Celebration Garden is always available to garden centre visitors.

The Highfield Park orchards currently have loads of windfalls - you are welcome to collect windfalls, but not to pick apples, which are harvested by Highfield Park Trust.  Their Apple Day is on 6th October.

Back to Fleetville by Camp Cycle Route, nine miles covered.

Four set out going further and faster, and unlike last week, it was warmer than anticipated.  Accordingly we were not in a hurry, and enjoyed meandering through the countryside around Sandridge, Wheathampstead and Harpenden. We were mostly on country lanes, although the route did take us on a few busy main roads. 

We went down Sandridgebury Lane to Sandridge, up Coleman Green Lane, down Beech Hyde Lane, then along Marford Road and up Dyke Lane and through the southern reaches of Wheathampstead, then along Harpenden Road and down Pipers Lane. 

We had a coffee stop in Southdown, came back along Grove Road and then up Ayres End Lane to join A1081 Harpenden Road. We cycled back to St Albans along the cycle path, and split off home at the Ancient Briton. It was a pleasant 15 miles with some hills, but the group managed them!

Saturday 31 August 2024 - Autumn Festival

Confusingly, the meteorological start of autumn is always 1 September, but the Met Office goes by the astronomical start of autumn, which this year is 22 September and is the autumn equinox.  Whatever, the season is changing, and some of us were not wearing shorts today.

There were eight of us out for a celebratory start to autumn with a ride to Ayletts, via a somewhat circuitous route.  Along the Alban way to Hill End Lane, then through Highfield Park, where the football season has started.  A loop down Nightingale Lane, along the A414 path and then up Highfield Lane, where we diverted to say hello to chickens at Highfield Farm.

We were a disappointment to the chickens as we did not offer them any corn from the vending machine, although we did buy some eggs.

Now we went almost directly to Ayletts, using the Heronsway bridleway to get to Napsbury Lane and then roll down into the celebration field.  Drinks and cakes first at the Festival Tea Tent, then a stroll around the dahlias and the demonstration garden.

Back to Morrisons via Highfield Park and the Camp Cycle Route, nine miles covered.

Saturday 27 July 2024 - Fabulous Day Out

By special request, a special ride today for the club regulars. A full day out, train-assisted to Harlington and cycling back to St Albans.

From Harlington station we rode all of 750m to our coffee stop, we had a lovely welcome from the staff at The Hub and Spoke Cafe.  We had alerted them in advance, since we were a sizeable group - we need not have feared for their ability to cope, as a veritable horde of Harpenden Raiders arrived not long after us and were all easily seated and served.  But advance notice got us the best tables, heh heh.  Definitely a recommended cafe, a big menu of good food and of course cyclists are welcome.

Six of us had caught the train together, a seventh had sent a message 'have a puncture, don't wait'.  She rolled up to the cafe just as we were getting ready to set off.

It is a bendy, downhill ride to Sharpenhoe, some drivers more considerate than others.  It is quite a climb up to Sharpenhoe Clappers, we availed ourselves of the viewpoint benches before rolling on through Streatley, negotiating the A6 roundabout (Chiltern Cycleway signed footway route) and enjoying the big skies as we cycled along the top of the Barton Hills.

After a short stretch of the Icknield Way we were freewheeling down through Lilley where we enjoyed a pause to soak up the village atmosphere.  Onward to lunch at Emily's in Whitwell another place with good food and welcome for cyclists.

** Emily's is having a refurbishment - from 29 July to 11 August menu limited to drinks, cakes and crumpets, from 12 to 22 August fully closed.  Open again 23 August **

We were now on fairly familiar territory, we came back via Kimpton Mill, Tanyard Lane and Ayot St Lawrence, where we paused to admire the ruined church.  Take a look at the churchyard gate, it is rather lovely!  It is also padlocked, as the ruins are assessed as being in hazardous condition.  Onward to Wheathampstead and along Beech Hyde Lane to Sandridge where the group split off for home in various directions.

While we were out riding fabulously in glorious sunshine, Anna Henderson was riding an Olympic time trial in Parisian rain and winning a silver medal. Chapeau!