Club run reports - 28th October

Category 6 ride led by Bob Brown

Fourteen riders today made a chilly start from Hertford, going via Bramfield, Datchworth, Aston, and Walkern to receive a warm welcome at Mill End Plants, as always.
The weather improved for the return journey, with the sun showing its face and warming things up a bit.
Back to Walkern and then up to Benington and Whempstead, where three of the group took the road to Dane End and Ware. The remaining 11 headed for Watton at Stone and back to Datchworth for the final leg to Hertford.

Category 3 ride led by Peter Bloomfield

Great Dunmow will have to wait…
This was not our finest club run  -  some debate as to whether there were five or six punctures but either way it was “lots”.   A good start saw Widford, Much Hadham and Little Hadham straightforwardly despatched but after fourteen or so miles as we approached Stansted Mountfitchet disaster struck; in the space of less than half a mile three of us suffered punctures and another’s mudguard needed reattachment.  We pressed on only to suffer another puncture within another mile.  By this time we were seriously behind time so a decision was made to shorten the ride and detour to Thremhall Park who coped well with the unexpected arrival of nine hungry cyclists (did I mention there were nine of us?).  A return through Hatfield Heath, Sawbridgeworth, Allen’s Green and Green Tye went well except that by then we were spreading out a bit as people felt the need to get home.  We nearly regrouped in Much Hadham when the leader ran over “something large”   -  didn’t see what it was just felt the bump and heard the twang as it was spat out by the tyre into the hedge then within seconds the bike was all over the road with a deflating tyre; the final indignity of the day!  Messrs Knight and Howard were with me and stayed to assist with the repair before we took a steady ride through Cold Christmas and finally rolled in to Ware  -  at least it was still daylight!

Category 5 ride led by Ian Smith

The weather was unpromising, damp and cold as 4 of us set off from Much Hadham, starting with a fairly direct route through Stortford, Manuden and Arkesden to quickly reach some of the loveliest countryside North East Herts and Essex can offer. Through Elmdon, Strethall and Catmere End to cross the old A11 up to Saffron Walden with the backdrop of Audley End House and estate directly on our left. Good service at the Mocha cafe, despite it being a control point for the Stevenage Audax, conversation centring mainly on horses, apples, and Jane's 3 slices of black pudding. The day having turned out to be ideal for cycling.  We returned via Wendens Ambo, Pond Street, the Langleys and Stocking Pelham. 47 quite hard and hilly miles, 62 for those riding back to Ware.