Saturday 22 November 2025 - last ride of the season

Somewhat warmer than earlier in the week, but also wetter and windier.  We had quite a few staying home with the nasty cold that's going around and the poor forecast meant a few others were sensibly cautious and likewise stayed indoors.  So we just had a large group not a massive posse out riding today.  We actually split into two groups.

The six Further Faster riders headed off along the Alban Way, then north across Oaklands and onward. Nashe's Lane is a challenging bit of uphill, tactical group selfie and breather at the top.

Along the lanes and down to Coopers Green Lane then up through Symondshyde Woods, always a pleasure to ride through woodlands even on soggy November mornings.

Down Hammonds Lane and along Drovers Lane, as they waited to cross the onto Ferrers Lane, who should they see by the Fabulous four descending across Nomansland.....

The group of four took a canny back-doubles route over to Sandridgebury Lane, using the Green Ring to get them to the Ancient Briton and using the Green Man to get across the junction.  Then they slipped through Ellis Fields to get to Sandridgebury Lane thence to Sandridge and the track along past Heartwood and through to Nomansland.  A shimmer of bright red hawthorn berries and some scarlet rosehips stood out from the grey-brown backdrop as they were gently pushed along by the southerly breeze.

And as they came down the hill towards Ferrers Lane, who should they see but the Further Faster six at the junction......

So both groups arrived together at West End Barns and were soon ensconced with coffee and other hot beverages and scones, flapjacks, sausage rolls etc. The staff are very friendly and kindly take group photos!

From here we reformed our ride-groups and returned along along a multitude of ways, one heading off for a cross-country ride home, two others heading back via Ayres End, the rest returning to Sandridge then splintering homeward via Sandridgebury Lane, House Lane and Jersey Lane.

Distances covered by individual riders therefore vary considerably, but the core element of the ride was round about 12 miles.

Wednesday 22 October 2025 - Glow Ride

We took part in the national Cycling UK My Ride Our Right campaign with a women-only special ride from the city centre, down the new Active Travel Fund cycle lane and around part of the Green Ring.

The campaign is based on a Cycling UK study carried out in the spring, following up government figures that found that the increase in cycling by men had not been matched by increasing numbers of women cycling.  If women don't feel safe, they won't cycle.  Busy roads, aggressive driving, dark corners - to enable half the population to feel that cycling is an option, we need cycling conditions without these deterrents.  Oh, and male harassment we can also do without.

What needs to change?

• We need better networks of direct routes separated from traffic.
• We need to listen to women’s voices around the planning and design of routes, to make sure they work for them.
• We need better promotion of the new Highway Code, to foster more respect on our roads.
• Small things can make a big difference to women’s perceptions of safety – like improving lighting, reducing speed limits, and making sure cycle parking is in a good visible location.

The Glow Rides were held throughout the UK, more than 60 of them, on or near Wednesday 22 October. In St Albans, ten women gathered in Civic Close ready to glow.

We had a huge flag - just visible in the left of the picture above - and a rather splendid cycle-mounted 'feather', as well as stickers and some smaller flags.

If anything, our ride demonstrated that cycling after dark can be enjoyable - we set off after the rush hour and the roads were quiet.  We had bright lights and excellent reflectives.

Whilst it was a delight to ride in company, some sections of the Green Ring are very dark indeed: Verulamium Park and Everlasting Lane on our ride, and of course the Alban Way.  Another issue the ride highlighted was some of the junctions - we stayed on road from Branch Road across Verulam Road to Oysterfields, which is safer and smoother than twisting and turning off and on the footways at junctions.  The new cycle lane and signal-controlled crossing of London Road are great!

The weather forecast was not great, Storm Benjamin was coming our way, and when we felt the first spots of rain as we came up the Harpenden Road we split off for home from there, with five of us returning to the start point.

As cycle campaigners and advocates, we are have two seemingly conflicting arguments:  - Cycling is healthy, efficient and good for the economy and the environment, so cycle.

- But also - cycling is not as safe / does not feel as safe as it should.

It was a very enjoyable ride, with courteous and competent drivers.  And.... the leader experienced two close passes on her way to the start.  

So we will keep advocating for cycling and campaigning for safer conditions.

Here is the report of the national night of rides from Cycling UK: Cycling UK’s glow rides a huge success! | Cycling UK.