Saturday 4 December 2021 - West End Barns

Hertfordshire County Council works on Jersey Lane were over-running, which meant Plan B was being considered, but they obligingly got on with it and re-opened the route on Friday.  Our last ride of the season, and it was bright but correspondingly cold.

We were a group of ten today, we split into two groups -Teresa took three and Angela and Rona led the other four.

The Further Faster foursome set off on a loop around Oaklands and Symondshyde.  The Fabulous six headed for Jersey Lane and enjoyed shiny new tarmac between Sandringham Crescent and House Lane.  There were a couple of highway workers tidying up the verges.  Through Sandridge and onto the multi-user path along the edge of Heartwood and Nomansland.

As we crested the rise and dropped down across the common we spotted the FF riders dashing along Ferrers Lane.  They were a bit far ahead for us to catch them up, so we did not get to tuck in behind them but had to bash into the headwind ourselves.

There is plenty of cycle parking at West End Barns, we didn't quite fill it all.

And there was plenty of seating out the wind in the barn, we didn't quite fill that either, even allowing for only seven of us in the picture.

This was a first visit to this award-winning weekend cafe in a farmyard for most of our group.  If you plan on a return visit, get there next weekend (11/12) as they are closing for the season after that.  Open Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. More about West End Barns on Facebook.

There was a bit of group-shuffling for the return ride, depending on where people were planning to peel off en route.  We enjoyed a tailwind across Nomansland.

It was so enjoyable that the slower group decided to carry on along Drovers Lane, bit puddly.

We enjoyed the fresh surface on Jersey Lane again, in contrast the track through Oaklands was .... textured.

This was quite a long ride, especially for the slower group, we covered eleven miles to and from Morrisons and the faster group did about fifteen miles.

We now take a break from organised rides, so compliments of the season to all our friends.

We traditionally get going again in early March, celebrating International Women's Day - click here for info, the 2022 theme is 

Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow

Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre

For years people have been saying 'if only St Albans had a cycle hub'.  And now, the Cottonmill and Sopwell community, with support from Verulam Cycling Club (who organise youth cycling at the Hub site) and other local organisations and St Albans District Council, are making it happen!  Years of campaigning and consulting and the building is now being built.

However, in spite of all the fundraising effort and successful grant applications, because of rising costs there is a budget shortfall.  If you would like to help with closing the funding gap, head over to the Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub website for details of the Crowdfunder and also contact info if you are a business that would like to donate rewards or sponsor the project.

The target for Crowdfunder (ie donations from individual people) is £20,000, and this will pay for:

- a Changing Places toilet

- kitting out the Community Kitchen

- creating the Quiet Room

- building the all-ability Cycling Track

The Hub will be a boon for Five Miles to Fabulous, giving us a starting point further west and also access to a cycle workshop and refreshments.

Saturday 13 November 2021 - Further Faster Lazy Llama

Seven of us set out along the Alban Way to Verulamium Park, where the Park Run had just finished. We all managed to cycle up The Causeway, although we were panting at the top! We went along the King Harry Lane path to the Hemel Hempstead Road, then up Bedmond Lane to Potters Crouch. The ride was a figure-of-eight, as we went past Potters Crouch Farm and down Blunts Lane, over the motorway to Whitehouse Lane and Sergehill, turning right into Bedmond Lane. Then back up to Potters Crouch Farm and this time going past Plaistows Farm and along Noke Lane. We cycled on the path at the Noke and joined the road into Chiswell Green. We cut down to Greenwood Park and stopped at the Lazy Llama café, where the service was very efficient. Aly split off there as she lived close by, and the rest of us cycled through the wood, joined Watford Road, then down Robert Avenue to Vesta Avenue. We then went through by the garages onto Abbots Avenue West, then Berners Drive and back on the Alban Way to Morrisons. We cycled nearly 15 miles. The weather was dry with no wind. Everyone enjoyed the ride and was pleased to be out in the fresh air.

Saturday 6 November 2021 - Hatfield

Our simple booking system did its thing again, coping well with a little flurry of late adjustments.  Planned leader was Rona, but she was on the sick list.  However, with a squad of 'regulars' booked on and a late leader substitution courtesy of Angela, the ride went ahead in a spirit of fabulous capability.

It went quite a way east in fact:

5 of us had a gentle cycle ride to Hatfield
Plenty of time for a nice coffee stop (Erols)
And home easy by lunchtime.

That is the ride report.

No photo attached, but submitted along with the ride report was an instruction to arrange good weather for an season-closing ride in early December.  Check your emails in due course....

If you fancy stopping off at Erol's, here is the gen: Erol's Cafe - Cafe (business.site)

Saturday 23 October 2021 - Further Faster Southdown

 It was a lovely morning for a Further Faster ride led by Teresa.

Six of us set out from Morrisons. Most of us had not been on a formal ride since lockdown, so it was lovely to catch up with everyone.

We went via Sandridgebury Lane to Sandridge, then up Coleman Green Lane. Here we were harangued by a woman in Heartwood Forest about the rubbish that had been dumped in the layby. We took some photos and will forward them to the Council. We managed to curtail the ranting and moved on.

Going left at Drovers Road then across Nomansland we were surprised at how little traffic there was, although it was half-term.  We then went down Pipers Lane, along Grove Road and to the café in Southdown.

Afterwards we cycled back along Grove Road, then up Cross Lane past the stables. We came out on East Common, headed along and then right onto Ayres End Lane. Crossing Harpenden Road we cycled back to St Albans on the cycle path, which was muddy and overgrown in parts. We split at New Greens Ave with some going to the centre of St Albans and some to Marshalswick. The rider who returned to Park Street did the furthest ride! Most of us did about 12-15 miles on a cool, dry day with no wind. 

We forgot to take photos of the group, so here is a picture of the rubbish instead!

Reporting fly tipping: Sadly, we see so much rubbish dumped on our local lanes.  It helps if you report it, and it helps if you take a picture for the report.

Here is the link to St Albans District Council with contacts for reporting fly tipping:

Fly Tipping | St Albans City and District Council  

If further afield, this is the Hertfordshire County Council reporting page:

Report littering or fly tipping | Hertfordshire County Council

If you are not sure who to report to, the ClearWaste website or app will sort it for you:

ClearWaste.com - The Free app for licensed waste removal & Fly‑tip reporting

If you see a fly-tip in progress be vary careful, these can be dangerous people.  Keep yourself safe and dial 999.

Saturday 2 October 2021 - Sandridgebury

For various reasons this ride was scheduled at short notice.  Four riders mustered, with Teresa leading and Rona back-marking.  It is a while since we have ridden north, and we knew that there was a canopy at John The Butcher at The Bothy in Sandridgebury, which was an attractive asset given the weather forecast.

We headed for Jersey Lane, we rode very gently and had very cheerful interactions with the many walkers and their dogs along the way.  We boldly embarked on a loop along Coleman Green Lane, Drovers Lane and back across the edge of Nomansland and Heartwood on the newly installed path.  Rather than tussle with the traffic on the High Street, we rode up to the Heartwood Car Park, hopped over the horse hop and onto the bridleway up to the Scout Hut.  This turned out to be an easier climb than we expected, but we were nonetheless ready for a cuppa.  

We timed our arrival just as a group were moving on, so we got seats under cover.  This was also good timing as the rain got heavier.

Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and a very delicious bacon roll duly arrived.  It was very pleasant to relax and watch the horses going to and fro. We couldn't chat for too long though, more rain on its way, so off we went, one of our baskets heavier by a marrow, very nice veg for sale.

At the back of STAGS we split, two heading off towards Batchwood, the other two ostensibly returning to Morrisons. But they did a little diversion to Botox Bikes, resulting in a bike booked in for a service and one rider completing the course on shank's pony!

Since everyone finished their ride in a different spot the distance ridden can only be indicative, but it was around ten miles, which is pretty good going for a gentle ride.

Saturday 4 September 2021 - Autumn Celebration

 Nine riders today, we split into a Further Faster quintet and a Fabulous foursome.

The Fabulous riders headed off along the Alban Way, but turned off at Hill End Lane and looped through Highfield Park, down Nightingale Lane, along the A414 and up Highfield Lane.  We had a short chat with the chickens at Highfield Farm, then continued up to Highfield Park again, and worked our way west along Highfield Park Drive and Herons Way and down to Ayletts.

Having enjoyed the dahlias we repaired to the Tea Tent for refreshments.  Be advised the tea tent can take card payments only.

The Further Faster riders also headed off along the Alban Way and toured through Roestock, Colney Heath and Tyttenhanger, joining the others at Ayletts Celebration Garden for elevenses.

After coffee and chat we regrouped for the return to Fleetville, via the Camp cycle route.

Saturday 3 July 2021 - Sandridge

Eight riders gathered at Morrisons and split into a trio going Further Faster and a quintet going not so far considerably slower.

Our outward route took us along the Alban Way then through Oaklands College.  The quintet admired alpacas, looking very smart and freshly shorn, and also paused for some botany.  The tall blue not-a-cornflower that does not show up in the photo has been identified (we think) as chicory.

From Sandpit Lane the further faster sped up past Nashe's Farm and through Simonshyde Woods.  The merely fabulous wiggled up to Jersey Lane and glided down to Sandridge, and got to the meeting point first.

We had chosen this quiet corner of the churchyard as it has a bench, a tree for shade (not required today) and plenty of walls and trees to lean bikes against.  Those without flasks popped over to the shop for a carry-out. The booking instructions had said to bring a plastic bag or some such in case the grass was damp, we are very impressed that one of our riders brought a camp chair that folds right down into to a small bag 14" long and 4" diameter, made by Trekology.

We reformed into one group for the return leg, reduced by two who wanted to ride further / take a more direct homebound route.  We ambled up Sandridgebury Lane, splitting off in various directions for home at the junction with Valley Road.

Another shorter, easier ride - the planned routes were seven and twelve mile loops.

Saturday 5 June 2021 - 5MTF is back

It's been a while!

For our first ride in over a year we kept it simple with a tour of Highfield.  Beautiful blue skies and lush verges.  Eight of us gathered at Morrisons and sorted ourselves into two groups of four.  

Rona led the Fivers up the road and through the Camp Greenspace, through the western side of Highfield Park and down Nightingale Lane, along the A414 and up Highfield Lane.  We called in at Highfield Farm to say hello to the chickens, and one of our riders had been astute enough to bring a lidded cup for a carry-out coffee.

We carried on up the lane, looped through Winchfield Wood and back through the orchard and were first to the appointed rendezvous by the Visitor Centre.

Teresa and Angela took the Further Fasters on a loop along by Nast Hyde and Wilkins Green, and arrived only slightly behind the Fivers at the Visitor Centre.  The building was not open but we know about the large outdoor picnic table!  There are quite a lot of benches scattered around the park, well done Highfield Park Trust, celebrating 25 years this year.  Having had our chat and refreshments we posed for our group photo.

Then we split off for home.  The Fivers covered nearly six miles.  Further faster distance to be advised.  It was super to be out riding again.  The pre-booking worked well and helped with the smooth running of the ride.  We are happy that we did manage a SustFest ride, even if it was not an official event.

May update

Sadly, 5MTF does not feature in the SustFest programme this year.  We hope to restart our ride programme in June, but we are still sorting out our protocols and there are a few other factors that mean we are not yet publishing a schedule of rides.

There are quite a few cycling events in the SustFest programme, including some Zoom sessions with the Verulam Cycling Club aimed at novices, including a bike maintenance one and a 'how I got started in cycling' one.  Check out the programme at Sustainability Festival 2021 – 100+ events building environmental sustainability – across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages (sustfest.org)

 

 

 

#ChooseToChallenge - International Women's Day 8 March 2021

It's been a year since our last 5MTF group ride.  We did not anticipate that our traditional International Women's Day season opener would be our last group ride for twelve months and counting.  My initial reaction to the theme for IWD 2021 was somewhat jaundiced - we have had to face a huge challenge that we had no choice over.  But then I looked up the IWD website and became a whole lot more optimistic.

IWD 2021 campaign theme: #ChooseToChallenge

A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge.

IWD: IWD 2021 campaign theme: #ChooseToChallenge (internationalwomensday.com)

Let's celebrate our achievements and help bring about change for the better.  

One way of doing just that is to comment on the Hertfordshire County Council Active Travel proposals.  No detail is given, so when commenting you can make lots of positive suggestions.  You have until 15 March to respond.

Active travel fund | Hertfordshire County Council

No group rides yet.  We knew how to organise and lead rides before Covid-19, it will take us a wee while to develop procedures and protocols to enable us to set up a safe and legal ride programme for 2021.  This is frustrating I know, and oh! how we miss our sociable rides.  We are sad that we can't yet meet in person the many women who have enquired about cycling with us over the last year.  We are all individuals and have different experiences through the pandemic - some groups may be riding together sooner or later than others as each group needs to carry out its own particular assessment, depending on various factors.  

One thing I need to consider for routes is that my favoured traffic-free routes are now much busier with people walking.  On my solo rides I have been going out on the lanes rather than the old railways and bridleways.  Even the lanes are popular for walking these days! 

Cycle Touring Festival

Yay!!!!  I am off cycle-touring, I expect to be cycling from the dining room table, the sofa and quite possibly from my cosy bed.  And you can too, join me at the https://cycletouringfestival.co.uk/

January 2021 update - proposed St Albans Cycle Hub

As we continue to do our best to keep going through this grim winter, here is some very good news to raise our hopes of better times and more cycling and coffee and cake ahead.

Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub (CaSH) have been doing many wonderful things, and one of their long term campaigns has been to get the Marlborough Pavilion redeveloped into a community centre.  The excellent news for us is that the intention is to include a Cycle Hub and a Cafe in the Community Centre.  And you can help bring this about!!!

St Albans District Council and Herts Sports and Physical Activity Partnership are supporting the project and have applied to British Cycling for funds.  Part of the application is to demonstrate local interest in cycling...  Over to CaSH:

We hope you are well and staying safe.
Please could you help us with our campaign for a community hub in Sopwell by completing this short survey about potential cycle facilities & activities?
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ur7mk6rEMUevXdc1sJfq2zHqsQgnOKBOmWnolbmu8vBUREY1QlVGSE9TVDJLWERTSlBKMEJEOU0wMy4u&fbclid=IwAR3Ts3MXwHGc3rpmF2h87E5mYA8F7UhipGPlyS7VUFGXAsleuFFwZTo0Q8w
As well as amenities to support community use, there are plans for a St Albans-wide Cycling Hub at the Marlborough Pavilion site, off Cottonmill Lane in Sopwell.
As part of a funding application to British Cycling, a community consultation by Herts Sports Partnership is underway to identify how the site may be used regarding cycling, including new and existing cyclists.
Let’s support this to encourage increased physical activity and sustainable transport.
This will be fantastic for our youth too, who so badly need local facilities.
Please share with friends and family.
Don’t forget to encourage any children in your household to complete the survey too. It would be great to get their views!
Deadline for completion of Survey – Friday 29th January
Many thanks for your help and best wishes from The Hub team

Great stuff!  I have already filled in the form, it was very easy to do.  If you would like to see more of CaSH, they have a website: Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub – Resident-led campaign – working to provide a community centre in Sopwell