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Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

This was our second successive foray into the Chilterns (Pyreneen trip looming for some of us!) 

This time we started in Ware under gathering clouds which delivered rain once we reached Hertford. This persisted while we bounced uncomfortably over what passes for a road surface on the B1000 to Welwyn but soon eased off. 

There was a good turn out this evening with 19 riders in all which included 6 Wheelers.

Barry was fastest again with Arron not far behind.

Results

Barry Page - 26:25
Arron Emms - 27:11
Phil Smith - 27:22
Brian Hill - 28:50
Claire Gopoulos - 29:52
Davina Gutteridge - 32:34

Category 3 ride led by Ian Bembridge

Something a little different this week. We decided to start from the free car park in Wheathampstead so that we could focus on riding in the Chilterns rather than riding to the Chilterns. So, Graham, Brian, Peter and Ian headed west from the start up the hill past the Brewhouse.

Four Wheelers took part in this round with Barry Page and Ian Campbell-Gray joining Claire Gopoulos and Davina Guttridge.

Barry made an impressive return to competitive cycling with a 26:50 making him the fastest Wheeler and 6th overall. Claire was not far behind, though, knocking nearly 3 minutes off her round one time with a 27:43. Ian was just one second behind Claire while Davina improved on her earlier time by a minute, finishing in 33:15.

Thanks as usual to the North Road club for organising.

Club ‘10’ Time Trial League – Brickendon

Time Trial season is now upon us and as you may know we are joining North Road CC this year with our own league competition in their 16 races on the 10-mile Brickendon circuit on Tuesday nights from NEXT WEEK, 6th May.  All dates are below, so make sure they are in your diaries,   race starts at 7pm from the club house in Brickendon.

Strava Competition winners for the MARCH KICKSTARTER MEDALS 2025 -AMENDMENT

Apologies for an error in last month’s announcement, Chris Boulton’s total mileage for March was in fact 984.2m and not the meagre 719.3m reported in last month’s newsletter!!  Apologies for the error Chris, you are the absolute and undoubted winner of this competition.  Well done!

Well done to Strava Competition winners for April who are:-

Athelete                                                                   Distance

Road Riding

Two Wheelers took part in the first North Road CC TT on the F7/10 course based on Brickendon. This course, just shy of 10 miles, takes a hilly route along the B158, up Robins Nest Hill to Little Berkhamsted then back via Bayford.

Claire Gopoulos got round in 30:28 with Davina Gutteridge finishing in 34:17.

Well done both and thanks to the North Road club for organising.

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

I seem to remember a spell of weather a few years back when dismal, rain-soaked weekdays were interspersed by glorious, sun-drenched Sundays. False-memory syndrome perhaps but it deters me from complaining too much about the Arctic northerlies and predominantly grey skies, following a week of sunshine, that were a feature of today's ride. 

Category 6 ride report written by David Smith

Our Service today was led by the Reverend Kevin McPheat (alias Rev. Kev) assisted (so he claims) by Honorary Deacon David. There were no less than 10 hymns (and 1 her in the person of Jane (spouse of Bruno – Patron Saint of pipe-smokers).

We assembled at the Shrine of St. Allen of Bury at 9 o’clock and processed somewhat informally up the well-worn aisle of the A1170, deviating to pass the College of St. Edmund the Martyr in Old Hall Green.

Category 6 ride led by Ian Bailey
 

This worked out rather better than expected.  Firstly, for mysterious reasons, the ride failed to make the weekly email and I was late learning that I could put it on the website. Secondly, I realised late on that our return journey would be into strong gusts of wind. Thirdly, was it wise to choose one of the most popular cycling cafes in the county on such a sunny day?

Please read this message and we strongly recommend following taking the straightforward actions set out.

A cycling friends friend was out with another cyclist friend. They were riding along and he looked behind and saw his friend just come off his bike and fall to the ground. Unfortunately, they had a massive heart attack and chest compression ensued, but unfortunately they passed away. 

Then the realisation dawned, they didn’t know any of his friends next of kin’s telephone number. So, lots of phone calls were made to be able to contact their partner. 

WELL DONE to the following dedicated riders who have achieved the greatest distance in March and the road riders will receive their winners’ medals at our Annual Prizegiving next year:-

Athlete                                                                  Distance

Road Riding

Chris Boulton                                                    984.0

Carolyn Kellaway                                              371.1

Combined Road & On-Line/Turbo Riding

Chris Boulton                                                    984.0

We are hoping that all club rides and riders on Sunday, 27th April 2025 will be part of the Great Big Cycle for Herts 2025 to raise vital funds for Helping Herts and their 12 amazing charity partners, supporting children, families, and communities across the county. 

Club ‘10’ Time Trial League – Brickendon

This is the exciting news you were all waiting for… we are joining North Road CC this year with our own league competition in their 16 races on the 10-mile Brickendon circuit on Tuesday nights from 6th May.  All dates are below, so make sure they are in your diaries,   race starts at 7pm from the club house in Brickendon.

The latest Competition new will be on this page shortly.

Category 6 ride led by Ian Bailey

The club’s visits to Thremhall Park form a chequered history. On the one hand, it’s in a good location for a number of routes, circling Hatfield Forest on good lanes. The food is generally pretty good.

On the other hand, service has on a few occasions echoed Fawlty Towers, with rules about where to put helmets and some comically long waits and confusion (eg shouting ‘Americano’ into a room full of cyclists leading to almost everyone standing up to collect).

Category 6 ride led by Kate D'Arcy

Category 6 ride led by Ian Bailey

A proper spring day, ideal for a gentle circular ramble through country lanes to Vanstones and back, with plenty of hills, which of course we all enjoyed immensely.  The ride was marred only by the ride leader complaining about his sore thumb (dishwasher injury).

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos
Today was going to be very cold. I had put on three layers plus a jacket. I turned up at a desolate  Allenbury's. Bull rushes were blowing across the car park and there was a gun fighter standing there, waiting for a gun fight. OK, OK, none of that actually happened apart for the desolate part. 

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

It was certainly cold at the start - below zero - and the roads close to my house were white with frost. Caution needed therefore. However, once I reached the A1170 into Ware the road surface was wet, not frozen, thanks to gritting. The main impediment to speed was now wind-chill which was remedied to an extent by moving my buff from my neck to my head.