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.