Saturday 23 August 2025 - Fabulous Day Out

Usually we have a break in August, but this ride was postponed from July, when we decided to not go riding in a storm.

Seven Further Faster regulars met at St Albans City station on a bright morning and made full use of the cycle spaces on the 0911 service Bedford, disembarking at Harlington.  This time next year there should be lifts, but for now we lugged our trusty steeds up and down rusty stairs.

The first part of the ride was taken briskly, being one of those slightly busy roads you don't want to spend too long on.  Even so, we took in the fabulous views of Sharpenhoe Clappers.  Once through Barton we were on quieter lanes through Higham Gobion and Hanscombe End and along to Ion Bridge Farm for elevenses at Disco-licious, a very friendly farm shop and cafe.

Onward through scenic villages.  We were very taken with the churches at Lower and Upper Gravenhurst, the brown stone and the building style is so different from our Hertfordshire flints and spikes.

On through Campton, and an underpass spared us a tussle with the A507 and dropped us into Shefford, quite the bustling town.  The B658 is to be endured rather than enjoyed, but we were soon on little roads again, twisting and turning through Southill and the woodland of Warden Warren.

Through picturesque Old Warden and on to lovely Ickwell Green, where the cricket pitch was being prepared across the road from the maypole.  We had a little rest to soak up this quintessential Englishness.

Through Northill, then a steady climb up the Greensand Ridge to Deadman's Oak.  The Tour of Britain will be coming past here on Wednesday 4th September, doing a loop on its way from Milton Keynes to Ampthill, the yellow sign deatils the road closure.

We came over the crest of the ridge and admired the view, the Cardington Airship Sheds really are rather huge.  We whizzed down into Cople and then along to The Barn farm shop and cafe on the outskirts of Cardington, where we enjoyed a leisurely and very tasty lunch.

We stopped off to visit St Mary's Church where there is a display of artefacts telling the story of the R101 airship, which set off from Cardington on 4th October 1930 on a flight bound for Karachi.  The weather deteriorated and she crashed in northern France, 48 died and 6 survived. After lying in state in Westminster Abbey - 90,000 people queued to pay their respects - and a state funeral in St Paul's,  the dead were buried together in St Mary's churchyard.

Having crossed John Smeaton's bridge over an Ouse tributary, we negotiated the junction at Cardington Cross and wiggled through the business park and wended our way through Priory Country Park.  We took this last part of our day out very gently, as there were plenty of people out strolling on the shared paths.  We continued our easy pace along NCN 51 along the old railway line and then along the Ouse into Bedford, over the river on the new bridge and through the back streets to the station for our train back to St Albans.

1000 ride participations

Today's 'Further Faster Day Out' took our recorded participations to 1000!  Well done us!  We have welcomed a total of 97 riders since we began in 2007.  One woman who came on the very first ride is still riding with the group.

Our most-visited cafe is Ayletts (15), with the Inn on the Park (11) in second place, closely followed by Notcutts (10).

Saturday 26 July 2025 - fed by farmers

Considering how dark the grey skies were, we did well to just have a a few drops only of rain.  The six Further Faster riders set off first:

We went north via Valley Road and Harpenden Road to Ayres End Lane where we encountered some hedge trimming in action.

Up Pipers Lane and a quick flick along the Wheathampstead Road before we plummeted down Leasey Bridge Lane, across the eponymous Lea then over Marshalls Heath and up to The Slype. Eastward now to Ayot St Lawrence via Bibbs Hall Lane. 

We admired the old church as we cycled right through ASL and down Hill Farm Lane, then  along Codicote Road to Wheathamstead, admiring the neatly trimmed hedges and checking the map.

In Wheathampstead we met with temporary traffic lights.... and only some of the group got through in one turn of the lights.  The two groups did not quite manage to coalesce thereafter, glimpsing each other but not re-connecting, and so they arrived separately having both followed a broadly similar route via Dyke Lane and Nomansland.

The longish outward ride meant that the slower group had already had their coffee and sausage rolls / scones and we just had a brief chat before they left.  Arriving late in the morning meant that the café was quiet!

We returned along the Nomansland bridleway to Sandridge, then split, with some going up Sandridgebury Lane, and others House Lane and Jersey Lane. It was a longer ride than usual - about twenty miles - but the weather was not too hot, and there was no wind or rain to speak of!

So how did the Fabulous ride go:

If the Fabulous ride leader had done a more thorough bike check before we set off it would have been obvious why one of the Fabulous trio was behind schedule at the start.  Tip for forgetful leaders: if one of your riders is going slower than you expect, are the tyres soft?  The answer was yes, and the issue was soon remedied, Rona's first proper use of her new pump and a resounding success in restoring pace and comfort.  We went gliding easily down Jersey Lane after that.

Sandridge was delightfully motor-free as we passed through, care was needed on the Nomansland track though, the prolonged dry weather means extensive loose fine gravel.  Some generous horse droppings in the middle of the twisty section gave extra challenge to bike control, we were fine though.

Given the dry conditions we decided to ride across the common, cycling is permitted on paths.

Into West End Barns, we enjoyed our food and drinks and a good chat.  We forgot to take any more pictures.  We wondered whether the Further Faster group were still heading our way or had been so speedy that they had been and gone.  Well, by the time we got up to make a homeward move, we had the answer - it was the former.  They arrived as were were retrieving our bikes.  A quick chat ensued, but we needed to be moving, and off we went.

Back along Ferrers Lane and Drovers Lane, Sandridge again very quiet, we turned off up Sandridgebury Lane and bimbled along to the Harpenden Road.  The gap in traffic came along reasonably soon, a quick nip and a quick zip along Green Lane got us to NCN6 and then the Green Ring, which we followed anti-clockwise through Ladies Grove, St Michaels and Verulamium Park, where we said our farewells and headed off.  Eleven miles covered together.

.

100 miles to Fabulous

 One of our leaders, Rona, took herself off to Cheshire in early July to ride the CTC Triennial Veterans 100 mile ride with the Chester and North Wales CTC.

"It was a great day out, good weather and good company.  Participants are split into groups and I was delighted to be in Sue Booth's group.  In case you don't know, Sue runs the Chester Fabulous Ladies, find the blog here: Chester Fabulous Ladies

"This is one of the joys of belonging to a national cycling organisation and I was not the only rider to have come from some distance for the ride.  The event ran super smoothly and the catering was of course fabulous, chapeau to all the volunteers who made it happen.

"We set off from the village hall in Duddon and went roughly south, along the eastern edge of the Dee floodplain and soon after we crossed into Wales we enjoyed an elevenses stop in Overton.  

We continued southward through Ellesmere and after some wiggles and not long after we crossed the Severn / Hafren we had lunch at Four Crosses.  Then we were heading north-ish, with a stop to admire St Peter's Melverley on the banks of the Vrynwy. 

We were grateful for the two strong riders who steadily towed our group up the A road back to Ellesmere, the morning's tailwind now in our faces.  Afternoonses at Overton gave us the oomph to get back to Duddon.

"It was lovely riding in a group and ours was quite a mixed group of individuals, we all got on very well.  I enjoyed exploring a part of the country I had never been to before."

Chester & North Wales CTC organise this ride and others every year.  Other larger CTC groups also organise annual 'event' rides, Rona has enjoyed a Trivets and a 100km Challenge with Coventry CTC in previous years.  Easily accessible by train from Watford Junction and if you have a slower LNWR-only ticket, you don't need to reserve a bike space, although you'll likely have to change at Milton Keynes!

Saturday 28 June 2025 - a roundabout ride

We brought the start forward by half an hour to give us time to get most of the ride done before it became uncomfortably hot.  Nine riders today, all wanting to go on the Further Faster ride, and no wonder as it was a cracker.

You may have heard of the new 'Dutch style' roundabout on Boundary Way in Hemel Hempstead, which opened on 3 June.  It is an Active Travel Fund project, ie government funded to help get more people choosing to walk, wheel and cycle for their short trips.  There is a lot of squawking on social media from people who haven't grasped the concept of reducing traffic congestion by enabling more people to choose more efficient modes thus freeing up space for people who do have to use a car for that journey.  Also shrieking about why build a cycling route next to HGVs - that's exactly why you build segregated infrastructure so that the HGVs and the cycles do not have to tussle for the same bit of road-space.  Well, come with us and have a look and see what you think....

From Fleetville we headed along the Alban Way and up NCN6 to the Watford Road, then up Ragged Hall Lane.  We enjoyed some male company on part of this section of the ride, a friendly runner matched our pace on the uphill to Potters Crouch, but we left him out of the picture.

We sped along the A4147 as fast as we could, one or two drivers could have been a bit more patient but they were outnumbered by the caring and competent drivers.  Even so, it was a relief to gain Westwick Row.  Being cyclists we naturally ignored the Road Closed sign as it was only closed to cumbersome vehicles.  Our tyres got wet but our feet stayed dry.

Now we joined the Quietway, first section is Buncefield Lane south, traffic free.  Then we used the signal-controlled crossing to get over the dual carriageway and onto Buncefield Lane middle section up to Boundary Way and round - all the way round - the roundabout.  The drivers today seemed to understand how it works we are pleased to say.

There they go!

Here they come!

Only one lane of the two-lane cycle lane was closed, the works are alongside the lane, it's not been dug up already!

Along the northern section of Buncefield Lane, through the bollards and along Cherry Tree Lane and Holtsmere End Lane to get over to Gaddesden Row and down into Redbourn, where we piled into the Hub.  This is a really lovely cafe with excellent coffee and superb cakes. We didn't chat too long, we needed to get on our way home before it got too hot.

Getting ready for the off

 Along the A5183, some of the group preferred to ride on the road, now with a 50mph or lower speed limit, hmm.  Some of the group preferred to get scratched and stung on the overgrown footway, and one of them enjoyed this so much she overshot the Redbournbury turn-off and had to be retrieved.

It was lovely to cross the fords and saunter along the gravelly track.

Then it was up the hill and back in the A1081 cycle track with riders peeling off for home along the way.

Distance ridden about 19 miles.

Saturday 31 May 2025 - hilly lanes and flat tyres

Sunny and warm, eleven riders out today.  Let's begin with the account of the Further Faster group of seven:

We did a big loop over to Ayot St Lawrence. From Sandridge we took the bridleway across Nomansland, then cycled on the lanes through Amwell. We were on the busy Wheathampstead Road for a short while then went down Leasey Bridge Road, being careful of the gravel. 

Crossing Lower Luton Road to Marshall's Heath, we experienced more traffic than usual, all the way to Gustard Wood, where we discovered that the road into Wheathampstead was closed! These drivers were short-cutting the official diversion route.  You can check for roadworks at One.Network, but we tend to forget to do this when route-planning, oops.

After this it was much quieter, along the lanes to Ayot St Lawrence, past Shaw’s Corner and down Bride Hall Lane,  more gravelly bits to look out for.

Not far now, along Codicote Road and down to get coffee from a very busy Loafing in Wheathampstead. We had our coffee in the gardens by the Crinkle Crankle wall.

We were eventually joined by the other group for a chat and a full group photo.

Then we returned via Beech Hyde Lane and Coleman Green Lane. Our group split up from Sandridge, with some going up Sandridgebury Lane, and others going via House Lane and Jersey Lane or Oaklands. Our ride was 19.5 miles.

The slow and Fabulous group of four headed off up Woodstock Road and then down to Jersey Lane, which was delightfully shady and cool.  Through Sandridge and onto the path over to Nomansland, enjoying fabulous daisies, the picture does not do them justice.

We continued across Ferrers Lane on the path, then took Dyke Lane then Caesars Road and Conqueror's Hill into Wheathampstead.  Oh no! a flat tyre.  Two went ahead to bag seats in Loafing's shady riverside terrace, the other two walked along.  Much fettling and faffing, the patched tube was not holding air and the pumps - yes, three of us got our different pumps out - were being recalcitrant.  Eventually coffee and buns were consumed, a spare tube was found and order was restored. And swans and cygnets were admired.

Shout out to The Electric Bike Vault who kindly loaned us the shop track pump to get full pressure.  We joined the faster group in the garden for a chinwag and group selfie, before returning via our outward route.  Just as we approached Sandridge, oh no! another puncture, rear tyre this time.

Swiftly patched, unfortunately not entirely effectively, we crept back to St Albans with intermittent stops for reinflation.  Twelve miles covered.

Saturday 28 April - cold day, hot coffee

Somewhat 'atmospheric' weather today, grey and cool with wraiths of low cloud.  Numbers down on previous packed rides, there were nine of us in total. Our destination was Sustain coffee roastery in Old Hatfield, making use of the Alban Way.

The slower group set off first, three of them from the start and a latecomer in hot pursuit - 'slow' is relative, they were well into Hatfield before the chaser caught them.  It was quiet, not many runners and walkers.

In the green space just west of Homestead Road / Ground Lane they admired the drifts of miniature tulips and grape hyacinths in full bloom.

They continued onward through Old Hatfield to Sustain in Salisbury Square where they settled in to await the others.

The faster five followed on, enjoying the burgeoning greenery along the Alban Way.

At Ellenbrook they turned off to ride through the de Havilland estate and past the expensive car showrooms before joining the cycle track alongside Comet Way at Birchwood and following that along to Stanborough Lakes.  It was nice to get into the park and away from the traffic, riding gently along past the anglers.  A couple of bold ducks were helping themselves from the bait bucket of one unsuspecting fisherman.  Under the railway, through the fields and then west on NCN61 and onto NCN12 through Old Hatfield..  They thought the slower group might already have been and gone, but there were their bikes, so more bikes were added to the pile and we were all together inside.  Oh gosh it's good coffee!

Refreshed, sustained even, we reformed our groups, three set off swiftly for an early return, one set off south on a longer ride and the residual five ambled along the Alban Way.....

..... with a diversion along Wilkins Green Lane to admire architecture at Torilla and Nast Hyde House and to glimpse alpacas.

The shorter ride was 12 miles and the longer was 14 miles.

Saturday 5 April 2025 - glorious sunshine

We had another well-attended ride, split into two groups both heading for West End Barns.  For a change we had Teresa in charge of the 'relaxed' group and Rona leading the 'athletic' group. 

Teresa led the group of five along the Alban Way then on the bridleway through the Oaklands College grounds, saying hello to the alpacas.

From House Lane it was through the houses up to Jersey Lane and on to Sandridge.  Proceeding along the multiuser path across Nomansland the group were soon ensconced at West End Barns, almost six miles covered, 120 feet of climbing.

Rona led the group of eight up Woodstock Road and Homewood Road and then down Marshals Drive to Jersey Lane.  From Sandridge they headed up and over Woodstock Hill.

A quick blast along Coopers Green Lane - thank you considerate van driver - and we were wending through Symondshyde Woods, a delightful ascent to Coleman Green.

We enjoyed the downhill then spun across Nomansland and into the farmyard to join the others, 8.5 miles covered, 344 feet of climbing.

We enjoyed our coffee stop together, this is such a lovely place with great coffee, food and ice cream.

For the return leg groups remixed, choice depending on preferred return route, and one headed off direct for home. The rest headed back along the multi-user path to Sandridge.

From there, six returned via Jersey Lane, six returned via Sandridgebury Lane, riders peeling off for home as we went.

Traffic seemed quieter today on the whole, perhaps because it is the school holidays and the usual clubs were not happening.  There was plenty of running though, we saw Jersey Farm Park Run and orienteering on Nomansland.  Sandridge was as usual a bit fraught, this really needs to be 20mph.