Saturday 19 November 2022 - the season closer

Better weather than last time, bit grey and cold even so.
Four riders set off to go Further and Faster, checking the route map before they went.

They set off westward along the Alban Way, then headed up through St Julian's to Watford Road, and over to Ragged Hall Lane up to Potters Crouch.  Onward down Bedmond Lane and under the motorway where there was a huge flood across the road. 

At Bedmond we turned around to come back via Serge Hill, Blunts Lane and Chiswell Green Lane and along to the Lazy Llama in Greenwood Park for coffee.  Back to the Alban Way by NCN6. About 15 miles ridden.

"The hills were tough, but we managed them. It was nice to be out in the country." 

The three Fabulous riders set off east along the Alban Way, which was splendidly autumnal.  From Ellenbrook they came back via Wilkins Green.

A photo stop at Smallford on the return to Hillend Lane and through Highfield Park.  The intended coffee stop was Highfield Farm, and we celebrated the end of the rides for this year with mince pies.  Unfortunately, the coffee machine was out of order! Fortunately we had water bottles with us, so did not lack for drink.

After a chat with the chickens we returned to Morrisons via the Camp cycle route. About nine miles ridden.

Saturday 5 November - damp squibs and whizz-bangs

Forecast for light showers....hmmmm.... we gathered under Morrisons canopy having got proper wet on the way over.

The Further Faster quintet set off northwards and whizzed off in a northerly direction, through the lanes to Amwell and Wheathampstead. They had planned to go to Ayot St Lawrence, but cut the ride short at Gustard Wood and cycled straight to Wheathampstead for coffee.  Although there were a few hills, the group all managed to ride up them. We split in Sandridge, with some going back along Sandridgebury Lane, and others up Jersey Lane. We all got quite wet, but were pleased to be out on a ride.

The Five Miler trio have the confidence to ride less than five miles if so inclined, after a confabulation they elected to do a short and slow ride to St Albans Abbey.  

To make sure the Abbot had time to get the cakes ready, the trio paused to admire the view over the watercress beds, but decided that it would be too soggy to go for a walk around.  They then called in at the St Albans Cycle Hub for a chat with Mat and the team, who have been very busy refurbishing bikes for refugees in Hertfordshire and running lots of Bikeability courses for children.  Adult courses coming soon.

The Abbot had put out an excellent selection of cakes - gluten free Victoria sponge, vegan brownie and banana and walnut loaf seen here.  Having had a relaxing and nourishing chat, we split for home after an epic four mile ride.  The bell-ringers played a lovely tune as we were unlocking our bikes, sorry, it's a just a pic, no sound.

Saturday 15 October 2022 - Sunny Stanborough

Five Further faster riders set out from Morrisons along the Alban Way towards Hatfield, all the way to the end of the line.  We continued over the railway bridge, down Hertford Road and Chequers on the cycle track and then took a left towards Woodhall Farm.  Under the railway and into Stanborough Park, down to the lakeside path and round to the cafe. 

The sun was out, the water was sparkling and the chat was great! 

We returned the same way, with people peeling off at different places from Hill End Lane. The rain came down heavily as we headed for home, but it had been a lovely ride.

Saturday 8 October 2022 - Harvest

 A glorious autumn morning, five of us met up at Morrisons.  Two sped off on a Further Faster adventure, three ambled off at a gentler pace.

The trio went along the Alban Way and then through the grounds of Oaklands College, stopping for an alpaca chat.

It's been a good acorn year and next to the alpaca field there are a couple of small oak trees with unusually long, slender acorns.

A short stretch on House Lane, a short wiggle through the houses up to Jersey Lane, then a nice coast down to Sandridge and St Leonard's Church.  Amazing yellow foliage on the churchyard tree.

The floral displays were not so exuberant as we have seen in previous years, but as beautiful as ever, and the home baking is excellent.  The Further Faster duo had looped through Wheathampstead and reached the church after the trio but were first to the cake!

From Sandridge we made our various ways to onward destinations, most of us via Sandridgebury Lane.

Sunday 25 September 2022 - Further Faster West End Barns

Four riders did just over 10 miles on a lovely sunny morning.  They headed out via Jersey Lane to Sandridge, then across to Nomansland and a refreshment stop at West End Barns, which is staying open on Saturdays and Sundays all year. They continued up to Ayres End Lane, down Pipers Lane, back up Cross Lane, along East Common to Ayres End Lane again, and back to St Albans along the Harpenden Road cycle path.

Saturday 17 September 2022 - Dahlias

We missed the Ayletts Dahlia Festival, but the dahlia field still looked colourful when the leader was doing riding past and thinking about ride planning earlier in the week.

The Five Miles to Fabulous Ride was at capacity - eight riders gathered at Morrisons on a glorious but noticeably cooler morning.  We went out along the Alban Way, then looped through Highfield Park.  A few windfalls picked up, but most of the apples are still on the trees - the Apple Day is a fortnight way. 

We put in a loop, down Nightingale Lane (pictured) along the A414 cycle path and up Highfield Lane.

Through Winchfield Wood again and along Highfield Drive, the Heronsway bridleway took us to Napsbury Lane and hence the field entrance to Ayletts.  We rode over to the Dahlia Field and Celebration Garden and, well, just wow!  Although some of the varieties are past there best, others are still in full vibrancy.

We were seven for coffee in the Dahlia Cafe, as one rider needed to be getting back. After rest and refreshment we headed back for Morrisons via Highfield Park and the Camp Cycle Route, riders peeling off along the way.  Ride distance 8.5miles from and back to the start point.

Sunday 28 August 2022 - Bank Holiday Special Further Faster Elevenses

Our second short notice ride of the weekend had three participants.  We did go further and faster than the Saturday ride, but it was still a relatively easy pace suited to a Sunday morning. 

We had plenty of time to meander over to our intended refreshment stop, so we rolled along the Alban Way and diverted into the Cycle Hub to watch some pump track action and have a little ride around the gravel track.

Then we headed up on NCN6 and up Ragged Hall Lane and looped over through Serge Hill.  Bedmond Lane is still in very good condition having been resurfaced in April 2021, the road closure sign is still up!

Back to Potters Crouch and through Apps Pond, over the A4147 and now we were heading along Beechtree Lane to Elevenses at Westwick Hall Farm.  This is a pop-up coffee bar in the corner of a field, with coffee and cake served from a horsebox and ice-cream from a bike-towed trailer.  All patrons have to arrive on foot or by cycle, there is no motor access.  It is open most Sundays through the spring, summer and autumn, 10am - 4pm.  Check for current information on their Instagram or Facebook accounts.

From here it was easy navigation, through Gorhambury, slowing down past the walkers (there was a special walk today) and admiring the GPR teams at work in the field opposite the Roman Theatre.  You can find out more about what the Ground Penetrating Radar has revealed: Sensing the Iron Age and Roman Past: Geophysics and the Landscape of Hertfordshire | An adventure in Hertfordshire archaeology. (wordpress.com)

Depending on where you started your bike computer from, we covered around 15 miles, and it was quite a hilly ride.  We went our separate ways from St Michaels.

Saturday 27 August 2022 - Bank Holiday Special Fabulous Llama

 A last-minute offer of a bank holiday Saturday ride had five takers.  Our destination was the Lazy Llama in Greenwood Park, so we set a suitably lazy pace, making our way easily along the Alban Way.  We wafted up Abbotts Avenue and continued on NCN6 to Watford Road.  Our leader had recently been delving into the Fabulous Trees of St Albans, oops, we mean Remarkable Trees of St Albans Revisited, an excellent book by Kate Bretherton.  Hence a little loop was taken up Ragged Hall Lane then along Cuckman's Drive to find two redwoods and a cedar.  The trees were planted in the 1880s.

From here we rolled down to Greenwood Park and settled in at the Lazy Llama for coffee, cake and chat.  Having set the world to rights we headed for home.

It's a lovely ride through the woods, we took care on the gravelly dip, got back onto the Watford Road, then enjoyed more gravel track from the Scout Hut through to Netherway.  We wiggled through to King Harry Lane and down through Verulamium Park, with riders splitting off in all directions from the cross-path.  From Morrisons to our parting we had covered just over six miles.

Saturday 23 July 2022 - Signs of the times

The Further Faster quartet set off first, heading east along the Alban Way.  We cycled over to Stanborough Lakes and then up through Welwyn Garden City to Ayot St Peter, then onto the Ayot Greenway.  We enjoyed the newly laid surfacing, much easier cycling than it used to be.

After a coffee stop in Wheathampstead one of the group peeled off to go and recce a route for a forthcoming 40+ CC ride.  The others returned to Sandridge and split for home from there.  Nineteen miles in good weather, not too hot.

The Fabulous quartet did a bit of fettling before getting going, this time we adjusted a rubbing mudguard.  We also headed east along the Alban Way, here is an action shot at the Blackberry Arch.

This link tells you a bit more about the Blackberry Arch and why it is where it is: The Blackberry Arch –  A Little Alban Way ‘Mystery’ Explained | Smallford

More Alban Way history here: Former railway is now Alban Way (stalbansowneastend.org.uk)  If you download the brochure there are some great old photos, including the level crossing at Ellenbrook.  The crossing keeper's cottage is still there.

This old railway sign is a recent addition, and apologies for not being better at taking photos in awkward light conditions.  It was a lovely place to stop for a little breather and agricultural discussion.

From Ellenbrook we looped around through Wilkins Green, pausing to admire 'Torilla', a Grade II* listed building designed by FRS Yorke in the 1930s.  It was saved from demolition in the 1990s and restored.  It is a private house, so we just peeped in at the driveway and did not take a photo. Pictures and information at  11. Torilla, Hatfield, Hertfordshire – The Twentieth Century Society (c20society.org.uk)  and TORILLA, Hatfield - 1348145 | Historic England

Further along at Nast Hyde we paused to admire the alpaca sign.  It was quite hard to spot the alpacas, which is why there is a photo of us spotting them through a small gap in the hedge and no actual picture of actual alpacas.

Having regained the Alban Way at Smallford, we headed west with only the occasional breather to admire more railway history - here is an old lineside telegraph pole.

By now coffee was calling (tea also) and we continued west to the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre (Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre - Everyone Active) for beverages and ice creams.  

We took long enough discussing local history that the clock turned twelve and the cycle hub opened. (Home | St Albans Cycle Hub | Sales | Service | Repair | Training | Rides | 

So we popped in to say hello to the friendly hub team before we peeled off for home.

Saturday 25 June 2022 - West End Barns

A pair of Further Faster riders set off prompt for a quick whip over to Wheathampstead for a coffee at The Brewhouse and an early return to St Albans to be back in time for Alban celebrations at the Abbey.

The Fabulous group was a bit delayed in setting off from Fleetville - rampant inflation is a bad thing unless you've got a soft tyre.  We were toiling until Angela produced this magnificent Zefal travelling footpump, and in no time at all we were ready to roll.  

[Update: we've checked - sadly, this particular model is no longer in the Zefal range.  See what your local bike shop can offer you instead.  Rona says the Topeak Morph pumps are good.  She has a Mini-Morph which works well on her 28mm tyres but struggles a bit with fatter tyres.  There is a Mountain Morph model more suited to fatter tyres.  They have a small fold-out foot.  Other makes are available!  Check your valve type - any bike shop should have some on the counter to let you point at they type you have.]

By popular request we made a return visit to West End Barns on Nomansland.  We had a straightforward ride over via Jersey Lane and the track alongside the B-road, then along Ferrers Lane to West End Barns.  A large Breeze group from Hemel had arrived just before us, so we had to lean our bikes up against whatever seemed sensible as the cycle parking was already overflowing.  There were six of us and 18 with Breeze.

West End Barns is a lovely place to visit, and the provender is great.  We were having a very good chat, but we did have to stir our stumps eventually and head back.

Dramatic skies as we rolled along Ferrers Lane!  We were just going to return the same route, although one of us had already peeled off to complete a loop via Ayres End. 

Verdant verges along the multi-user path parallel to the B651.  And then we were four as another headed home from Sandridge.  From Marshalwick we were three, all the way back to Fleetville together. 

This ride was out and back the same route and was just over ten miles.

Saturday 4 June 2022 - Lazy Llama

Our Jubilee / pre Bike Week ride.  Not many people signed up, probably a combination of doing Jubilee things or holiday things.  It's always difficult to get leaders for rides in Bike Week because early June is the best time to go cycling.....  therefore many regular riders and leaders are away on cycling tours.

Rona was planning to lead a Five Miles, but then got a short-notice hospital check-up appointment, so it was only possible to offer the Further faster option.  Teresa took two riders on a tour of Potters Crouch, Greenwood Park - for llama sustenance - and Cottonmill - to peruse the new Community and Cycling Centre.

The Cycle Hub and Community Centre are having a 'soft opening'; the Cycle Hub is slightly behind the Community Centre and we have not got a confirmed date yet for the Cycle Hub, 'mid June'.  The tracks are open though.

There is a Community Centre Open Day on Saturday 11 June - details here: Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub – Resident-led campaign – working to provide a community centre in Sopwell

Latest opening times and updates here: Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre - Everyone Active

The Cycle Hub's website is: St Albans Cycle Hub – In the community, for the community

Saturday 21 May 2022 - SustFest ride

We had nine and a half participants on our SustFest special rides.  The half was being towed in a trailer attached to his mum's bike!  We do designate our rides as 'for adult women', but under-fives that are connected to their adult can be included if practicable.

The ride started from Morrisons on Hatfield Road, here are most of us getting ready for the off.  We split into two groups, a slower, shorter 'Fabulous' group and a 'Further Faster' squad.

The Fabulous five-and-a-half headed out along the Alban Way. then turned into Highfield Park. 

The picture above shows the stately trees, the long grass and some new plantings, they are just little sticks at the moment. With care, we got the trailer through the gap at Hixberry Lane, but at Highfield Lane lifting was required.  We do need barriers to active travel to be removed!  Literally.

We headed down Highfield Lane then along the A414 cycle-path then up Nightingale Lane.  It made a change to ride this clockwise, we usually do this loop anti-clockwise.  We do need vegetation on active travel routes to be regularly trimmed - there were places where we needed to duck and where the path was down to single file.

Coffee was calling, so we sped along the cycle track on Highfield Park Drive and used the toucan crossing of London Road to get to the Herons Way bridleway.  This popped us out on Napsbury Lane, and in no time at all we were locking up at Aylett's cycle stands.  These are the best type, sturdy 'Sheffield' racks that support the bike when loading and let you securely lock the frame and wheels. And of course Ayletts can deliver your heavy or bulky purchases.

 

We had chosen the Seasons cafe at Ayletts for our coffee stop today because Ayletts was a  a SustFest Gold Sponsor in 2021 and do a lot to promote sustainability, as outlined on this webpage.  We had also chosen this cafe because it has lovely staff  (who take photos for us!) and serves good food and drinks.

We headed back along the A414 and up the London Road cycle route, back along Highfield Park Drive and then through Cell Barnes orchard with its long grass and meadow flowers.  We used the Camp Cycle Route to get back to Morrisons, having completed just short of eight miles.

The Further Faster foursome went along the Alban Way, through Oaklands, along House Lane and up Coleman Green Lane. House Lane was busier than expected, with fast moving traffic. We do need lower speed limits on urban roads and rural lanes to favour active travel. 

We turned off onto Drovers Lane, across to Nomansland then up to Amwell. This was quite a steep climb, but we all survived. We then had the lovely ride down Brewhouse Hill into Wheathampstead and the coffee stop. We were lucky to get some seats there, as many other cyclists were stopping for refreshments. 

We returned along Marford Road, up Beech Hyde Lane, over to Tower Hill Lane, and another nice ride down Hammonds Lane through Simonshyde Woods. Having warned everyone about how busy Coopers Green Lane is, there was no traffic as we went along it for a little way, before turning off up Woodcock Hill.  Another ride down Nashes Farm Lane brought us to House Lane again, and we split off for home at Sandpit Lane. The ride was just over 16 miles on a bright clear day.

And what has a sociable cycle ride to do with Sustainability?  These rides began in 2007, when Cycling UK noticed that there were a lot of women who 'wanted to cycle but...'.  They had cycled in the past but had lost confidence, or just needed a nudge.  To help overcome the concerns these women had, Cycling UK encouraged local groups to put on easy-paced rides with a supportive vibe to help women feel comfortable with getting back on their bike.  Group rides are a great way to learn local routes.  Over 80 women have ridden at least once with our group.  A number continue to enjoy our gentle, sociable rides; having re-booted their riding, many now use their bike for convenient and environmentally-friendly transport as well as for the physical and mental health benefits cycling brings.  

Saturday 30 April 2022 - Southdown via Redbourn

Forecast said cold, and it was not hot, but it was sunny, gloriously so.  Seven of us set off from Fleetville on a fairly ambitious route suitable for a sunny day.  Out via Homewood Road, King Will, Ancient Briton and on up the Harpenden Road.  Although the cycle track is bumpy, it is a relief to be free of the traffic.  The verge has just been well trimmed, tidy along the edge, left to grow long by the hedge.

A lovely freewheel down Beesonend Lane brought us out at Redbournbury.  Ongoing erosion at the ford means the path is getting trickier and trickier, but we managed, no-one got wet!

It was very busy at the mill, lots of people buying bread.  We carried on to Redbourn, using the path next to the road, it has been 'sided', but it's still a narrow, rough path.  We rode around the common instead of up the High Street, re-joined the 'A5' at the north end of the village and continued northward, then turned into Luton Lane and scuttled across the A5183 to get onto lanes to Harpenden.

It was tiresome to be in the traffic again through Leyton Green, but we made it through to Southdown via Rothhamstead and Cravells Road.  We filled the cycle stands at the bottom of Piggotshill, and we overflowed the bench - could we have another one installed please so that we can all have a seat while we enjoy our drinks and cakes from Simmons?

Back to St Albans via Cross Lane and West Common, and through beautiful Childwickbury.

One had already peeled off, and from Batchwood we were dropping out for home, the last of the group heading through Verulamium Park and onto the Alban Way.  The ride was around 19 miles if you got all the way back to Morrisons.

Saturday 23 April 2022 - Ellenbrook Fields

 Mild and breezy, fairly overcast.  Just a Fabulous group out this morning. We decided to evade the easterly headwind by sneaking along in shelter of the Alban Way.  As it has been dry for some time we opted for some off-road options.  Firstly we cut down a byway from the Alban Way to Wilkins Green, then we went for an explore in Ellenbrook Fields.

We headed north and got as far as the memorial, then we backtracked and headed along the taxiway, then along the grass sward next to the hedge to bring us out by Notcutts.

We are unimpressed by the cycle stands, but we managed to secure our cycles one way and another, before we sauntered through the lush nursery and meandered to the cafe, where we had a good-going natter.  Having set the world to rights we emerged, crossed the Hatfield Road and snuck along the field edge through to the hamlet of Springfield, rejoined the Alban Way and sped back with a tailwind.  The Alban Way is lovely at this time of year.

We covered about 9 miles, this does include the distance hiked through Notcutts!

Saturday 5 March 2022 - International Women's Day

Through the week the weather forecast was changing every time we checked it - bad, not so good, ok, bit dodgy.  As we gathered in Fleetville there was dark clouds filling the sky and a cold northerly wind.

This is our International Women's Day ride.

We were riding in two groups today, but given the weather we scotched the plan to rendezvous in the park for a chat and went our completely separate ways.

The Fabulous foursome warmed up by going straight up Campfield Road and across the Camp cycle route.  Not many other people about!  Through the Cell Barnes orchard, then down Nightingale Lane, along the A414 and up Highfield Lane.

The Highfield Farm coffee machine was a bit temperamental, but we were kind and patient with it and once it had done a cleaning cycle and an accounting reset it served up very nice coffee.  There were brownies in the automat today, very delicious.  Also eggs and honey for sale.  Also chicken feed, but we rather disappointed our feathered friends, we  were too reluctant to stand around in a cold wind chucking corn at them.  They were happy to let us take their picture though.

We were also reluctant to ride for very much further, the very dark clouds had gone but there was a blatter of rain and it was chilly, so we left out the extra little loop and headed straight through the Hill End orchard and back along the Alban Way, exactly five miles!

The Further Faster six zoomed off along the Alban Way to Hatfield, and south through the College Lane campus and under the A1 to ride a loop around Roestock, skirting some extensive puddles.  Back up to the Galleria, where three headed in for coffee in the warm and three headed straight home.

It was good to be out but we are hoping for warmer weather on our next ride.