Central London CTC blog

Due to the usual train problems with Hertford, we had to start this ride from Enfield Town, a station with no attributes other allowing an escape from Enfield. The early morning had been quite wet, but the skies cleared for quite a few to ride out, and some had already found their first tea stop, opposite the station.

Once assembled, we made our way down some bland back streets, cut through a muddy lane, head down briefly along an A road, then into the back of the Hertford lanes. Speed picked up as we could sense an upcoming Garden Centre (by Hertingfordbury), were we stopped for the first official tea stop.

After a short route plotting discussion, we continued on to Datchworth for lunch. An early arrival allowed us to miss a shower, have a relaxed meal, and leave in time for the next short shower. Through Watton and Dane End, up through Nasty and on to Westmill - more tea.

The route to Hertford rolls gently down, and allowed a good blast back. Trains were back to normal, and groups gradually peeled off at their local stops. Once again, despite the forecasts, we hardly got wet and had a great day - highly social, but with some good riding country.

Map of the route by Richard.

Sunday 17th December - an Ugley ride with Phil Cordingley (**)

I’ve got lulled into a false season, so although I and a few others felt chill on arrival at Broxbourne, the fact that I was still exposing flesh in mid-December was more surprising - nor, as it turned out, was I particularly cold all day. Some of us had ridden out to meet the train, making 14 all told. Train problems had already diverted the ride from Bishops Stortford, so Phil was planning the route as we rode. Just as well, as this was a day punctuated by deflations. First in Bayford, then another before the Hertingfordbury turn. On through Hertford and Bengeo, then a quick discussion and on to Bennington for lunch, via a rather nasty bit of A road. Except we didn’t all get to Bennington together, Phil having to do his border collie imitation to find the flock. The Bell was very welcoming - a good, no-nonsense pub, to be recommended. Outside to another puncture, a mile later yet another. As 3 of the 4 punctures were on one wheel, and another on a partner wheel, said pair retired, somewhat hurt, to Watton for a train home. The rest pressed on, through Buntingford and Furneaux to Manuden and, in failing light, to Stortford.

The above might sound somewhat a catalogue of despair, but somehow it wasn’t. It was a very nice cycle ride, the sun shone, the company was good.

To quote the BBC, ‘It’s what we do’.

Global warming has well and truly kicked in, which meant the start of autumn delayed by four weeks to coincide with Mark’s spectacularly pretty trip through the North Downs. The weather was sunny, if chilly, and the trees were putting on a show of leaf colour of New Hampshire proportions.Seventeen riders was the eventual tally, and there were plenty of the promised hills, although none too long. Mark led the ride perfectly, with David Kurtz a very patient whipper-in, despite most of us having some very long waits (in the cold) at junctions.

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Well, a magnificent sunny November day brought the “Magnificent 7” to Boxhill Station. It would have been the magnificent 8 but Marion missed the train, we did try to link up latter but it did not work out. Marion did let me know later that she had quite a good if lonely morning anyway.Our ride today was a sort of figure of 8 based around Boxhill. Paul, Kerryn (first timer, welcome Kerryn) Marieanne. Tim, Mark and Ailan from across the river, (thanks for joining us gents) and I, made up the magnificent 7. “Ah” a grand site as we first headed off to the toilets at the nearby car park!

Then up to the North Downs ridge, but this time by an easier more scenic route than on my last ride, through Denbies vineyards which looks out over the valley, Dorking to our left and on the other side of the valley to the right Leith Hill Tower could just be seen by the naked eye if you know it is there, the autumn leaves giving a magnificent array of colour in the bright sunshine.

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