Club run reports - 25th March

Category 7 (MTB) ride led by John Farnham

A quintet of Wheelers assembled at Campus West WGC for the second running of our off road ride to Hemel Hempstead. Riding straight away into Sherrardspark wood to Ayot Green and then by the Ayot Greenway to Wheathampstead. Followed by small lanes to Coleman Green, Nomansland Common, Redbournbury and then under the M1 to pick up the Nickey Line at the outskirts of Hemel. A couple of miles on the former rail line and a few hundred yards on road brought us to Imagine Café. As on the previous occasion this venue proved to be cyclist friendly and we were soon fed and watered. Return via the Nickey Line all the way into Harpenden, another old railway line to Leasey Bridge, followed by a climb out of the Lea valley to Gustard Wood and Ayot St Lawrence before decending again to the Ayot Greenway and back to WGC. 35 miles. 1 puncture, no mechanicals or tumbles.

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Every time I lead it sounds like a betting score. Today was 7-1. All shall be revealed. 
We set off from Hertford, a pleasant day. Seven merry riders, riding through the glen, (sounds like a Robin Hood song) riding off to the hills that I had planned. The usual banter took place and ribbing, nothing untoward happened until…..Disaster struck……. Kevin had a puncture. As he turned the bike upside down, I turned round and said “watch out for the doggy doo close to us”. After five minutes, Danny was sniggering as he saw me step in it. Puncture repaired and we got to the Wyvale Garden Centre. Mike said his farewells and left us without having any grub. Down to six already! 
We had a hearty feed with lots of mead and ale (total lie, but sounds good). Kevin then turned round and said his tyre had gone flat again. Tyre off, Peter and Alex were inspecting the tyre and luckily Alex found a tiny thorn and after replacing another inner tube, we were on our merry way. Danny and Martin also said their farewells and rode into the sunset in the opposite direction. Down to four! 
I, Alex, Peter and Kevin then rode the next eleven miles at a hasty pace as it was like 8pm (honest guv’nor). Alex then said his goodbyes as he lived around the corner. Down to three! 
Peter, Kevin and I then rode another two hundred yards and Kevin said his goodbyes. Down to two! Then another two hundred yards and Peter said his goodbyes. Down to one! 
One lonely cyclist made it back to Hertford all in one piece. 
Thanks all for riding with me and having the patience, when I said turn left and cycled another five miles before we reached the grub station. 
Over and Out!

Category 3 ride led by Peter Bloomfield 

Was it the loss of an hour’s sleep because of the clocks going forward or the availability of the Ware’s Cambridge sportive from Allenbury’s or even the Start of Summertime Audax from Stevenage? Whatever the reason only four souls made the start of the Cat 3 club run. We were a well-matched group (or the others did not want to embarrass the leader!) and enjoyed a steady run out to the Orchard Café in Shenley. The route took us through the middle of Welwyn Garden City before skirting the eastern side of St Albans and heading south to Colney Heath and South Mimms and a few of the unavoidable hills on the final run in to Shenley. There was a slightly longer than planned stop when the café managed to mislay one order (mine!) but eventually food was delivered, consumed and the foursome set out for the return journey. 

Homeward seemed to involve more hills and headwinds (not strong but noticeable, you know the way it is) than on the way out - bad planning by the leader! Back through South Mimms again then Brookmans Park (nice houses - but as one of us said “are they happy?”, we’d rather be cycling!) then into the hilly no-mans-land south of Essendon, Bayford and Brickendon through Little Berkhamsted across to Hoddesdon where we turned for home. A few more climbs to Hertford Heath and then finally (!) all downhill via Rush Green into Hertford. 50 miles in very pleasant spring weather.