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.