Hilly Herts 3 star
Posted on Monday 22 March 2010 by Bob Davis
Yippee! It looked like it was going to be the first day of Spring, with good weather forecast. Off I set to meet Geoff Thomas at Golders Green clock tower at 08.00., not wanting to be later for the ride out to Hertford North – which needs to be as early as possible to avoid early Sunday traffic- where we were to meet the trainers from Kings Cross.
We found Rory Rhodes, who gave us the sad news that he is due to return to the USA shortly; Paul Lohr, trying to get some fitness for the Easter tour; Doug, over from the US for short time; and Andy and Adam, trying to get fitness for Etape du Tour. Andy rang in the week – so that shows that occasionally people who ring actually DO turn up on the day!
I encouraged Andy and Adam saying that they looked good, but would need to get more steady miles in and preferably a couple of weeks in France before the big day in July. I hope I didn’t put them off – for the record, I think they look strong enough. But there is no substitute for plenty of miles and some weight loss if you want to do 3,400 metres climbing and 180km – in the heat.
Geoff went back home, and six of us set off for the tea room at Westmill by the hilliest route possible (that’s what it said in the route description). Paul found the pace fast but stayed with the group until after he had done some 60km at Braughing and improved his fitness as required. On the whole it was a fast ***, more like a **** – but that’s what people were happy with, so there you go.
My usual route, with a quick drink at Great Hampden, with the hilly bit from Braughing, Standon Ford to Barwick Ford to say hello to the Alpacas – and the route discovery of the day, thanks to Paul.
This was going through the grounds of Sacombe House (it says Private Road but is a bridleway) from Sacombe Green. This allows you to get back to Stonyhills (on the route from Hertford) without using the A602. You still have to be careful crossing the main road, but you don’t actually have to ride along it. Thanks for this Paul – I shall use it in future.
So, I did 144km by the time I got home, the group had done 90km, and Andy and Adam about 140km as they left us at Hertford North to get some miles in cycling back into London.