Club run reports -19th February

Category 4 ride led by Ian Bembridge

Five category riders set off for Shenley Park from Hertford in winds that couldn’t quite work out in which direction they were supposed to blow.

The first part of the ride had been modified by Peter Kelleway and involved heading north on the drag to Bramfield Woods, before we turned back through Tewin and Hertingfordbury in preparation for the first significant climb of the day up Robins Nest Hill. There are some interesting lanes in the vicinity of Tewin that get by-passed most of the time being so near to home. Around there the lanes are quiet, so this was a bit of a discovery and probably the most pleasant part of the ride. 

Traffic lights and road maintenance were the order of the day as we headed west. When we got to the end of Berkhamsted Lane, the road was completely blocked off. However, the road repair crew were in a cyclist friendly mood and duly obliged by stopping work and guiding us through!

Overall the roads in this part of Hertfordshire are in a very sorry state, especially those heading through Colney Heath towards Radlett, a part of the route that might best be avoided in future.The climb into Shenley was testing as it always is; Leigh, Enzo and Peter shot up it as if it wasn’t there, like they always do, whist Denis and I ground our way to the top, holding up the traffic!

But this proved to be a great day, weather wise, so it was no surprise that when we arrived at the Café in the Orchard, that Leigh insisted we sit outside to take in the sun. This cafe has to be one of the best around, and whilst it is always busy, the service is fast, they serve good quality food and drinks, and the prices are very reasonable.

The route back, whilst shorter, had one very demanding hill. The Hempshill Brook sits at the foot of a big dip between Northaw and Newgate Street. As we climbed towards the B157 crossroads, Enzo enquired as to whether we were in “training for the Olympics?” The rest of us were too breathless to reply!

So an undulating route, but thanks to my fellow riders, an enjoyable day.

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

I had decided to drive up due to unforeseen circumstances the night before (no, I wasn’t on the lash).

I arrived at a quarter to nine and not a single Wheeler was in sight. Then who should turn up in his car, Kev. He’d obviously decided to drive as he couldn’t work out if the route went past his house ;-). 

As I was sitting there, I decided to have a look at the route on my phone - it was going to be a lumpy route. 

Now, you have to remember it’s the middle of February, well, more and more Wheelers came riding in. It got so many, I lost count and so did Carolyn. I counted thirteen and Carolyn (school teacher, remember) counted twelve. Luckily Mark "I’m the font of all knowledge" Sims, put us straight and advised it was eleven! Oh how we laughed like drains. 

We were all tapping our feet as Claire and Chris, turned up at 8.58. I had to report them to “Miss”! 

We left 5 minutes late. A few were going mad at the tardiness of leaving so late (OK, I may have made that up). 

We rode passed Carolyn’s house, had a little wave and up the hill we went. As we rode along, the team saw we weren’t going to go down Cold Christmas Lane, meaning it was going to be lumpier than a lump from Lumpville! It was out, everyone realised it was going to be one of those days! Lol. 

Daniel, advised he was going to meet us somewhere en route. No one knew where, but riding along and there he was. It was all a blur for me, we’d already ridden about twenty five hills over four miles! Honest guv, I’m not kidding (OK, maybe embellishing a little). 

The only issue we had was that Daniel’s Garmin came flying off, he looked in horror as it lay on the ground, someone picked it up and all was fine. Then, Dan advised he had in fact “cheaped out” and bought a non genuine out front mount. Enough said, eh!

We arrived at the cafe in good time at around 11. Some sat of us outside as it was a lovely warm winter's day. The food, as normal at Mocha, came out quickly and was more than reasonably priced. Mark, the font, Sims, pulled out a velopack, I said it was pink, he said it was maroon. You decide, it’s in the image above! Obviously, mine was the amazingly coloured green one! Mark suggested mine looked like something else, but, I can’t print what he said! :-)

All fed and watered, we rode off, only to find Carolyn aka Routemaster, who shall now be aka’d to Hillmaster, confirmed we should save our strength for another hill. Obviously, none of us listened and shot away. We climbed out of Stortford, all moaning, except Mrs K; she’s a monster at hills now, who rode to the top and was tapping her feet with a couple of “tsk tsk’s” at me for being so slow! 

We got back in good time with only 12 miles to go from the cafe. 

Once again, no mechanicals or punctures. Well, apart from Mr Horn’s cheap knock off piece of doo dah, causing his Garmin to launch further than a Harry Kane World Cup penalty! 

Obviously written on the throne. 

Love and kisses, over and out!