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.