May update

Sadly, 5MTF does not feature in the SustFest programme this year.  We hope to restart our ride programme in June, but we are still sorting out our protocols and there are a few other factors that mean we are not yet publishing a schedule of rides.

There are quite a few cycling events in the SustFest programme, including some Zoom sessions with the Verulam Cycling Club aimed at novices, including a bike maintenance one and a 'how I got started in cycling' one.  Check out the programme at Sustainability Festival 2021 – 100+ events building environmental sustainability – across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages (sustfest.org)

 

 

 

#ChooseToChallenge - International Women's Day 8 March 2021

It's been a year since our last 5MTF group ride.  We did not anticipate that our traditional International Women's Day season opener would be our last group ride for twelve months and counting.  My initial reaction to the theme for IWD 2021 was somewhat jaundiced - we have had to face a huge challenge that we had no choice over.  But then I looked up the IWD website and became a whole lot more optimistic.

IWD 2021 campaign theme: #ChooseToChallenge

A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge.

IWD: IWD 2021 campaign theme: #ChooseToChallenge (internationalwomensday.com)

Let's celebrate our achievements and help bring about change for the better.  

One way of doing just that is to comment on the Hertfordshire County Council Active Travel proposals.  No detail is given, so when commenting you can make lots of positive suggestions.  You have until 15 March to respond.

Active travel fund | Hertfordshire County Council

No group rides yet.  We knew how to organise and lead rides before Covid-19, it will take us a wee while to develop procedures and protocols to enable us to set up a safe and legal ride programme for 2021.  This is frustrating I know, and oh! how we miss our sociable rides.  We are sad that we can't yet meet in person the many women who have enquired about cycling with us over the last year.  We are all individuals and have different experiences through the pandemic - some groups may be riding together sooner or later than others as each group needs to carry out its own particular assessment, depending on various factors.  

One thing I need to consider for routes is that my favoured traffic-free routes are now much busier with people walking.  On my solo rides I have been going out on the lanes rather than the old railways and bridleways.  Even the lanes are popular for walking these days! 

Cycle Touring Festival

Yay!!!!  I am off cycle-touring, I expect to be cycling from the dining room table, the sofa and quite possibly from my cosy bed.  And you can too, join me at the https://cycletouringfestival.co.uk/

January 2021 update - proposed St Albans Cycle Hub

As we continue to do our best to keep going through this grim winter, here is some very good news to raise our hopes of better times and more cycling and coffee and cake ahead.

Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub (CaSH) have been doing many wonderful things, and one of their long term campaigns has been to get the Marlborough Pavilion redeveloped into a community centre.  The excellent news for us is that the intention is to include a Cycle Hub and a Cafe in the Community Centre.  And you can help bring this about!!!

St Albans District Council and Herts Sports and Physical Activity Partnership are supporting the project and have applied to British Cycling for funds.  Part of the application is to demonstrate local interest in cycling...  Over to CaSH:

We hope you are well and staying safe.
Please could you help us with our campaign for a community hub in Sopwell by completing this short survey about potential cycle facilities & activities?
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ur7mk6rEMUevXdc1sJfq2zHqsQgnOKBOmWnolbmu8vBUREY1QlVGSE9TVDJLWERTSlBKMEJEOU0wMy4u&fbclid=IwAR3Ts3MXwHGc3rpmF2h87E5mYA8F7UhipGPlyS7VUFGXAsleuFFwZTo0Q8w
As well as amenities to support community use, there are plans for a St Albans-wide Cycling Hub at the Marlborough Pavilion site, off Cottonmill Lane in Sopwell.
As part of a funding application to British Cycling, a community consultation by Herts Sports Partnership is underway to identify how the site may be used regarding cycling, including new and existing cyclists.
Let’s support this to encourage increased physical activity and sustainable transport.
This will be fantastic for our youth too, who so badly need local facilities.
Please share with friends and family.
Don’t forget to encourage any children in your household to complete the survey too. It would be great to get their views!
Deadline for completion of Survey – Friday 29th January
Many thanks for your help and best wishes from The Hub team

Great stuff!  I have already filled in the form, it was very easy to do.  If you would like to see more of CaSH, they have a website: Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub – Resident-led campaign – working to provide a community centre in Sopwell

 

December 2020 update

Well, the days are getting longer again and cycling is good for physical and mental health.  Not a lot else to say in this bulletin is there?  

Here is a seasonal picture to bring some cheer, from when we cycled over to the Birchwood Methodist Church Christmas Fair in November 2018.

October 2020 update - still no scheduled rides

Unfortunately our leaders are not currently able to organise led rides.  Do look up 'walking and cycling' on the St Albans District Council website for maps to help you plan your own rides.  Also check out the St Albans Cycle Campaign and get involved in some cycle campaigning - click on the news button to see the newsletters with suggested campaign actions.

Meanwhile, keep your distance, keep your face covered (unless exempt) and keep washing your hands. And keep hoping we'll be able to resume our fabulous cycling sooner rather than later.

Update from July - the path through Greenwood Park has been fully resurfaced and the awkward gate has been removed and replaced with bollards.

July 2020 - Women's Festival of Cycling

Oops, bit late with this blog update, the #WFOC2020 began last week.  It runs to the end of July. Picture above is us in 2018.

We don't have any rides or events organised this year, but you can join in with online events - visit the Cycling UK website for details - https://www.cyclinguk.org/womensfestival

You can also join in with actual rides - solo or in a small group - and post them on social media, tagging @CyclingUK and using the hashtags #WFOC2020 and #BeYouByBike.  South Herts Cyclists is also on social media, so tag us in too!

The theme for this week is Olympics and on Friday 24 July Cycling UK is hosting a digital mini-Olympics.  They will be handing out medals - like we did after our sporting WFOC ride to Greenwood Park last year - https://southherts5mtf.blogspot.com/2019/07/

Speaking of Greenwood Park we have heard that a cafe is due to open next month and also that improvements to the track from Watford Road to Tippendell Lane are planned, including removing the kissing gate.  Getting through there is verging on being an Olympic sport - synchronised bike-wrangling.

For current café options and picnic spots, the South Herts home page has links to a café map and also a picnics places map.

Stay Safe, Protect Others and Look Forward to riding all together again.