Saturday 19 November 2022 - the season closer

Better weather than last time, bit grey and cold even so.
Four riders set off to go Further and Faster, checking the route map before they went.

They set off westward along the Alban Way, then headed up through St Julian's to Watford Road, and over to Ragged Hall Lane up to Potters Crouch.  Onward down Bedmond Lane and under the motorway where there was a huge flood across the road. 

At Bedmond we turned around to come back via Serge Hill, Blunts Lane and Chiswell Green Lane and along to the Lazy Llama in Greenwood Park for coffee.  Back to the Alban Way by NCN6. About 15 miles ridden.

"The hills were tough, but we managed them. It was nice to be out in the country." 

The three Fabulous riders set off east along the Alban Way, which was splendidly autumnal.  From Ellenbrook they came back via Wilkins Green.

A photo stop at Smallford on the return to Hillend Lane and through Highfield Park.  The intended coffee stop was Highfield Farm, and we celebrated the end of the rides for this year with mince pies.  Unfortunately, the coffee machine was out of order! Fortunately we had water bottles with us, so did not lack for drink.

After a chat with the chickens we returned to Morrisons via the Camp cycle route. About nine miles ridden.

Saturday 5 November - damp squibs and whizz-bangs

Forecast for light showers....hmmmm.... we gathered under Morrisons canopy having got proper wet on the way over.

The Further Faster quintet set off northwards and whizzed off in a northerly direction, through the lanes to Amwell and Wheathampstead. They had planned to go to Ayot St Lawrence, but cut the ride short at Gustard Wood and cycled straight to Wheathampstead for coffee.  Although there were a few hills, the group all managed to ride up them. We split in Sandridge, with some going back along Sandridgebury Lane, and others up Jersey Lane. We all got quite wet, but were pleased to be out on a ride.

The Five Miler trio have the confidence to ride less than five miles if so inclined, after a confabulation they elected to do a short and slow ride to St Albans Abbey.  

To make sure the Abbot had time to get the cakes ready, the trio paused to admire the view over the watercress beds, but decided that it would be too soggy to go for a walk around.  They then called in at the St Albans Cycle Hub for a chat with Mat and the team, who have been very busy refurbishing bikes for refugees in Hertfordshire and running lots of Bikeability courses for children.  Adult courses coming soon.

The Abbot had put out an excellent selection of cakes - gluten free Victoria sponge, vegan brownie and banana and walnut loaf seen here.  Having had a relaxing and nourishing chat, we split for home after an epic four mile ride.  The bell-ringers played a lovely tune as we were unlocking our bikes, sorry, it's a just a pic, no sound.

Saturday 15 October 2022 - Sunny Stanborough

Five Further faster riders set out from Morrisons along the Alban Way towards Hatfield, all the way to the end of the line.  We continued over the railway bridge, down Hertford Road and Chequers on the cycle track and then took a left towards Woodhall Farm.  Under the railway and into Stanborough Park, down to the lakeside path and round to the cafe. 

The sun was out, the water was sparkling and the chat was great! 

We returned the same way, with people peeling off at different places from Hill End Lane. The rain came down heavily as we headed for home, but it had been a lovely ride.

Saturday 8 October 2022 - Harvest

 A glorious autumn morning, five of us met up at Morrisons.  Two sped off on a Further Faster adventure, three ambled off at a gentler pace.

The trio went along the Alban Way and then through the grounds of Oaklands College, stopping for an alpaca chat.

It's been a good acorn year and next to the alpaca field there are a couple of small oak trees with unusually long, slender acorns.

A short stretch on House Lane, a short wiggle through the houses up to Jersey Lane, then a nice coast down to Sandridge and St Leonard's Church.  Amazing yellow foliage on the churchyard tree.

The floral displays were not so exuberant as we have seen in previous years, but as beautiful as ever, and the home baking is excellent.  The Further Faster duo had looped through Wheathampstead and reached the church after the trio but were first to the cake!

From Sandridge we made our various ways to onward destinations, most of us via Sandridgebury Lane.

Sunday 25 September 2022 - Further Faster West End Barns

Four riders did just over 10 miles on a lovely sunny morning.  They headed out via Jersey Lane to Sandridge, then across to Nomansland and a refreshment stop at West End Barns, which is staying open on Saturdays and Sundays all year. They continued up to Ayres End Lane, down Pipers Lane, back up Cross Lane, along East Common to Ayres End Lane again, and back to St Albans along the Harpenden Road cycle path.

Saturday 17 September 2022 - Dahlias

We missed the Ayletts Dahlia Festival, but the dahlia field still looked colourful when the leader was doing riding past and thinking about ride planning earlier in the week.

The Five Miles to Fabulous Ride was at capacity - eight riders gathered at Morrisons on a glorious but noticeably cooler morning.  We went out along the Alban Way, then looped through Highfield Park.  A few windfalls picked up, but most of the apples are still on the trees - the Apple Day is a fortnight way. 

We put in a loop, down Nightingale Lane (pictured) along the A414 cycle path and up Highfield Lane.

Through Winchfield Wood again and along Highfield Drive, the Heronsway bridleway took us to Napsbury Lane and hence the field entrance to Ayletts.  We rode over to the Dahlia Field and Celebration Garden and, well, just wow!  Although some of the varieties are past there best, others are still in full vibrancy.

We were seven for coffee in the Dahlia Cafe, as one rider needed to be getting back. After rest and refreshment we headed back for Morrisons via Highfield Park and the Camp Cycle Route, riders peeling off along the way.  Ride distance 8.5miles from and back to the start point.

Sunday 28 August 2022 - Bank Holiday Special Further Faster Elevenses

Our second short notice ride of the weekend had three participants.  We did go further and faster than the Saturday ride, but it was still a relatively easy pace suited to a Sunday morning. 

We had plenty of time to meander over to our intended refreshment stop, so we rolled along the Alban Way and diverted into the Cycle Hub to watch some pump track action and have a little ride around the gravel track.

Then we headed up on NCN6 and up Ragged Hall Lane and looped over through Serge Hill.  Bedmond Lane is still in very good condition having been resurfaced in April 2021, the road closure sign is still up!

Back to Potters Crouch and through Apps Pond, over the A4147 and now we were heading along Beechtree Lane to Elevenses at Westwick Hall Farm.  This is a pop-up coffee bar in the corner of a field, with coffee and cake served from a horsebox and ice-cream from a bike-towed trailer.  All patrons have to arrive on foot or by cycle, there is no motor access.  It is open most Sundays through the spring, summer and autumn, 10am - 4pm.  Check for current information on their Instagram or Facebook accounts.

From here it was easy navigation, through Gorhambury, slowing down past the walkers (there was a special walk today) and admiring the GPR teams at work in the field opposite the Roman Theatre.  You can find out more about what the Ground Penetrating Radar has revealed: Sensing the Iron Age and Roman Past: Geophysics and the Landscape of Hertfordshire | An adventure in Hertfordshire archaeology. (wordpress.com)

Depending on where you started your bike computer from, we covered around 15 miles, and it was quite a hilly ride.  We went our separate ways from St Michaels.