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