Saturday 16 May 2026 - cold snap

Grey clouds with some sunshine meant base layers and waterproofs were favoured for today's ride.

Seven Further Faster riders set off eastwards along the Alban Way and made a tour of the former De Havilland airfield, now Salisbury Village and Hatfield Business Park, to emerge on Coopers Green Lane and then ride up through Symondshyde.

Big lowering skies as they rode across Nomansland, to turn into West End Barns and join the Fabulous group for delicious hot drinks and baked goods.

The Fabulous quartet set off northwards around the Green Ring to Batchwood Drive and then through New Greens on NCN6 and onward up the Harpenden Road.  They diverted into Childwickbury to admire the stunning rhododendrons.

A further detour was made to enjoy St Mary's Church, built in 1866/67, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the architect whose other works include the Midland Hotel at St Pancras station, at the behest of Henry Heyman Toulmin, the shipping magnate who owned the Childwickbury estate at the time.  The church was used for both worship and schooling, with a schoolroom being added in 1885 by the subsequent owner of Childwickbury, John Blundell Maple.  In 1901 there were 140 children on the estate.  The school closed in 1926, but the schoolroom still serves the community and there are regular services in the church - details on St Mary's website. 

From Childwickbury it was a short hop further up the Harpenden Road, enlivened by freeing a dropped chain that got stuck, then a roll along Ayers End Lane and down to West End Barns, where they were soon joined by the Further Faster group.

If you have not seen any swallows yet this year, pop along, as they are nesting in one of the smaller buildings.  The cafe barn is only open at weekends, but at other times you can access the Cake Shed for cold drinks, local produce and tray bakes, and cakes on Mondays and Thursdays.

We headed back to St Albans by various routes, another super morning of cycling achieved.