Saturday 23 July 2022 - Signs of the times

The Further Faster quartet set off first, heading east along the Alban Way.  We cycled over to Stanborough Lakes and then up through Welwyn Garden City to Ayot St Peter, then onto the Ayot Greenway.  We enjoyed the newly laid surfacing, much easier cycling than it used to be.

After a coffee stop in Wheathampstead one of the group peeled off to go and recce a route for a forthcoming 40+ CC ride.  The others returned to Sandridge and split for home from there.  Nineteen miles in good weather, not too hot.

The Fabulous quartet did a bit of fettling before getting going, this time we adjusted a rubbing mudguard.  We also headed east along the Alban Way, here is an action shot at the Blackberry Arch.

This link tells you a bit more about the Blackberry Arch and why it is where it is: The Blackberry Arch –  A Little Alban Way ‘Mystery’ Explained | Smallford

More Alban Way history here: Former railway is now Alban Way (stalbansowneastend.org.uk)  If you download the brochure there are some great old photos, including the level crossing at Ellenbrook.  The crossing keeper's cottage is still there.

This old railway sign is a recent addition, and apologies for not being better at taking photos in awkward light conditions.  It was a lovely place to stop for a little breather and agricultural discussion.

From Ellenbrook we looped around through Wilkins Green, pausing to admire 'Torilla', a Grade II* listed building designed by FRS Yorke in the 1930s.  It was saved from demolition in the 1990s and restored.  It is a private house, so we just peeped in at the driveway and did not take a photo. Pictures and information at  11. Torilla, Hatfield, Hertfordshire – The Twentieth Century Society (c20society.org.uk)  and TORILLA, Hatfield - 1348145 | Historic England

Further along at Nast Hyde we paused to admire the alpaca sign.  It was quite hard to spot the alpacas, which is why there is a photo of us spotting them through a small gap in the hedge and no actual picture of actual alpacas.

Having regained the Alban Way at Smallford, we headed west with only the occasional breather to admire more railway history - here is an old lineside telegraph pole.

By now coffee was calling (tea also) and we continued west to the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre (Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre - Everyone Active) for beverages and ice creams.  

We took long enough discussing local history that the clock turned twelve and the cycle hub opened. (Home | St Albans Cycle Hub | Sales | Service | Repair | Training | Rides | 

So we popped in to say hello to the friendly hub team before we peeled off for home.

Saturday 25 June 2022 - West End Barns

A pair of Further Faster riders set off prompt for a quick whip over to Wheathampstead for a coffee at The Brewhouse and an early return to St Albans to be back in time for Alban celebrations at the Abbey.

The Fabulous group was a bit delayed in setting off from Fleetville - rampant inflation is a bad thing unless you've got a soft tyre.  We were toiling until Angela produced this magnificent Zefal travelling footpump, and in no time at all we were ready to roll.  

[Update: we've checked - sadly, this particular model is no longer in the Zefal range.  See what your local bike shop can offer you instead.  Rona says the Topeak Morph pumps are good.  She has a Mini-Morph which works well on her 28mm tyres but struggles a bit with fatter tyres.  There is a Mountain Morph model more suited to fatter tyres.  They have a small fold-out foot.  Other makes are available!  Check your valve type - any bike shop should have some on the counter to let you point at they type you have.]

By popular request we made a return visit to West End Barns on Nomansland.  We had a straightforward ride over via Jersey Lane and the track alongside the B-road, then along Ferrers Lane to West End Barns.  A large Breeze group from Hemel had arrived just before us, so we had to lean our bikes up against whatever seemed sensible as the cycle parking was already overflowing.  There were six of us and 18 with Breeze.

West End Barns is a lovely place to visit, and the provender is great.  We were having a very good chat, but we did have to stir our stumps eventually and head back.

Dramatic skies as we rolled along Ferrers Lane!  We were just going to return the same route, although one of us had already peeled off to complete a loop via Ayres End. 

Verdant verges along the multi-user path parallel to the B651.  And then we were four as another headed home from Sandridge.  From Marshalwick we were three, all the way back to Fleetville together. 

This ride was out and back the same route and was just over ten miles.

Saturday 4 June 2022 - Lazy Llama

Our Jubilee / pre Bike Week ride.  Not many people signed up, probably a combination of doing Jubilee things or holiday things.  It's always difficult to get leaders for rides in Bike Week because early June is the best time to go cycling.....  therefore many regular riders and leaders are away on cycling tours.

Rona was planning to lead a Five Miles, but then got a short-notice hospital check-up appointment, so it was only possible to offer the Further faster option.  Teresa took two riders on a tour of Potters Crouch, Greenwood Park - for llama sustenance - and Cottonmill - to peruse the new Community and Cycling Centre.

The Cycle Hub and Community Centre are having a 'soft opening'; the Cycle Hub is slightly behind the Community Centre and we have not got a confirmed date yet for the Cycle Hub, 'mid June'.  The tracks are open though.

There is a Community Centre Open Day on Saturday 11 June - details here: Cottonmill and Sopwell Hub – Resident-led campaign – working to provide a community centre in Sopwell

Latest opening times and updates here: Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre - Everyone Active

The Cycle Hub's website is: St Albans Cycle Hub – In the community, for the community

Saturday 21 May 2022 - SustFest ride

We had nine and a half participants on our SustFest special rides.  The half was being towed in a trailer attached to his mum's bike!  We do designate our rides as 'for adult women', but under-fives that are connected to their adult can be included if practicable.

The ride started from Morrisons on Hatfield Road, here are most of us getting ready for the off.  We split into two groups, a slower, shorter 'Fabulous' group and a 'Further Faster' squad.

The Fabulous five-and-a-half headed out along the Alban Way. then turned into Highfield Park. 

The picture above shows the stately trees, the long grass and some new plantings, they are just little sticks at the moment. With care, we got the trailer through the gap at Hixberry Lane, but at Highfield Lane lifting was required.  We do need barriers to active travel to be removed!  Literally.

We headed down Highfield Lane then along the A414 cycle-path then up Nightingale Lane.  It made a change to ride this clockwise, we usually do this loop anti-clockwise.  We do need vegetation on active travel routes to be regularly trimmed - there were places where we needed to duck and where the path was down to single file.

Coffee was calling, so we sped along the cycle track on Highfield Park Drive and used the toucan crossing of London Road to get to the Herons Way bridleway.  This popped us out on Napsbury Lane, and in no time at all we were locking up at Aylett's cycle stands.  These are the best type, sturdy 'Sheffield' racks that support the bike when loading and let you securely lock the frame and wheels. And of course Ayletts can deliver your heavy or bulky purchases.

 

We had chosen the Seasons cafe at Ayletts for our coffee stop today because Ayletts was a  a SustFest Gold Sponsor in 2021 and do a lot to promote sustainability, as outlined on this webpage.  We had also chosen this cafe because it has lovely staff  (who take photos for us!) and serves good food and drinks.

We headed back along the A414 and up the London Road cycle route, back along Highfield Park Drive and then through Cell Barnes orchard with its long grass and meadow flowers.  We used the Camp Cycle Route to get back to Morrisons, having completed just short of eight miles.

The Further Faster foursome went along the Alban Way, through Oaklands, along House Lane and up Coleman Green Lane. House Lane was busier than expected, with fast moving traffic. We do need lower speed limits on urban roads and rural lanes to favour active travel. 

We turned off onto Drovers Lane, across to Nomansland then up to Amwell. This was quite a steep climb, but we all survived. We then had the lovely ride down Brewhouse Hill into Wheathampstead and the coffee stop. We were lucky to get some seats there, as many other cyclists were stopping for refreshments. 

We returned along Marford Road, up Beech Hyde Lane, over to Tower Hill Lane, and another nice ride down Hammonds Lane through Simonshyde Woods. Having warned everyone about how busy Coopers Green Lane is, there was no traffic as we went along it for a little way, before turning off up Woodcock Hill.  Another ride down Nashes Farm Lane brought us to House Lane again, and we split off for home at Sandpit Lane. The ride was just over 16 miles on a bright clear day.

And what has a sociable cycle ride to do with Sustainability?  These rides began in 2007, when Cycling UK noticed that there were a lot of women who 'wanted to cycle but...'.  They had cycled in the past but had lost confidence, or just needed a nudge.  To help overcome the concerns these women had, Cycling UK encouraged local groups to put on easy-paced rides with a supportive vibe to help women feel comfortable with getting back on their bike.  Group rides are a great way to learn local routes.  Over 80 women have ridden at least once with our group.  A number continue to enjoy our gentle, sociable rides; having re-booted their riding, many now use their bike for convenient and environmentally-friendly transport as well as for the physical and mental health benefits cycling brings.  

Saturday 30 April 2022 - Southdown via Redbourn

Forecast said cold, and it was not hot, but it was sunny, gloriously so.  Seven of us set off from Fleetville on a fairly ambitious route suitable for a sunny day.  Out via Homewood Road, King Will, Ancient Briton and on up the Harpenden Road.  Although the cycle track is bumpy, it is a relief to be free of the traffic.  The verge has just been well trimmed, tidy along the edge, left to grow long by the hedge.

A lovely freewheel down Beesonend Lane brought us out at Redbournbury.  Ongoing erosion at the ford means the path is getting trickier and trickier, but we managed, no-one got wet!

It was very busy at the mill, lots of people buying bread.  We carried on to Redbourn, using the path next to the road, it has been 'sided', but it's still a narrow, rough path.  We rode around the common instead of up the High Street, re-joined the 'A5' at the north end of the village and continued northward, then turned into Luton Lane and scuttled across the A5183 to get onto lanes to Harpenden.

It was tiresome to be in the traffic again through Leyton Green, but we made it through to Southdown via Rothhamstead and Cravells Road.  We filled the cycle stands at the bottom of Piggotshill, and we overflowed the bench - could we have another one installed please so that we can all have a seat while we enjoy our drinks and cakes from Simmons?

Back to St Albans via Cross Lane and West Common, and through beautiful Childwickbury.

One had already peeled off, and from Batchwood we were dropping out for home, the last of the group heading through Verulamium Park and onto the Alban Way.  The ride was around 19 miles if you got all the way back to Morrisons.

Saturday 23 April 2022 - Ellenbrook Fields

 Mild and breezy, fairly overcast.  Just a Fabulous group out this morning. We decided to evade the easterly headwind by sneaking along in shelter of the Alban Way.  As it has been dry for some time we opted for some off-road options.  Firstly we cut down a byway from the Alban Way to Wilkins Green, then we went for an explore in Ellenbrook Fields.

We headed north and got as far as the memorial, then we backtracked and headed along the taxiway, then along the grass sward next to the hedge to bring us out by Notcutts.

We are unimpressed by the cycle stands, but we managed to secure our cycles one way and another, before we sauntered through the lush nursery and meandered to the cafe, where we had a good-going natter.  Having set the world to rights we emerged, crossed the Hatfield Road and snuck along the field edge through to the hamlet of Springfield, rejoined the Alban Way and sped back with a tailwind.  The Alban Way is lovely at this time of year.

We covered about 9 miles, this does include the distance hiked through Notcutts!

Saturday 5 March 2022 - International Women's Day

Through the week the weather forecast was changing every time we checked it - bad, not so good, ok, bit dodgy.  As we gathered in Fleetville there was dark clouds filling the sky and a cold northerly wind.

This is our International Women's Day ride.

We were riding in two groups today, but given the weather we scotched the plan to rendezvous in the park for a chat and went our completely separate ways.

The Fabulous foursome warmed up by going straight up Campfield Road and across the Camp cycle route.  Not many other people about!  Through the Cell Barnes orchard, then down Nightingale Lane, along the A414 and up Highfield Lane.

The Highfield Farm coffee machine was a bit temperamental, but we were kind and patient with it and once it had done a cleaning cycle and an accounting reset it served up very nice coffee.  There were brownies in the automat today, very delicious.  Also eggs and honey for sale.  Also chicken feed, but we rather disappointed our feathered friends, we  were too reluctant to stand around in a cold wind chucking corn at them.  They were happy to let us take their picture though.

We were also reluctant to ride for very much further, the very dark clouds had gone but there was a blatter of rain and it was chilly, so we left out the extra little loop and headed straight through the Hill End orchard and back along the Alban Way, exactly five miles!

The Further Faster six zoomed off along the Alban Way to Hatfield, and south through the College Lane campus and under the A1 to ride a loop around Roestock, skirting some extensive puddles.  Back up to the Galleria, where three headed in for coffee in the warm and three headed straight home.

It was good to be out but we are hoping for warmer weather on our next ride.