England : Hertfordshire Jays ride through Herts, Bucks, Oxfordshire & back. 21st April.

[jayonabike]

It'll probably rain.....

Starting this one from Hemel Hempstead train station at 9.30 (Thinking of posting the same route as the March ride from Harpenden again in May) We head straight out of the station up a bit of a hill to warm us up into Bovingdon. Then into the Chilterns through Chesham, Gt.Missenden and up Longdown Hill (a nice climb) then on towards Chinnor and the flatness of Oxfordshire. Looping back into Buckinghamshire through some lovely country lanes to Stoke Mandeville, and the village of Aston Clinton before stopping for coffee and cake 44 miles into the ride at PE Mead Farm shop & Tea Rooms just outside Tring. After refueling we pass through Tring (past the train station if anyone wants a bailout point back to Euston) into the village of Aldbury and then up Ivinghoe Beacon (the last big hill of the ride) through the Ashridge National Trust estate, into Potten End and down back towards Hemel station. We pass a nice pub on the canal about 2 miles before the finish and time/weather permitting (plenty of outside seating by the canal) I'm sure we could stop for a beer or 2.
A nice loop, 63 miles on 'B' roads, country lanes, through some towns and villages a couple of biggish hills and a flat bit in the middle. And cake. And beer (hopefully)

Usual rules, no ones dropped, wait at junctions and top of hills to regroup

The Route

Jay

 

[ianrauk]

OK... fingers crossed for good weather.

Add me to the list Squire.

 

[jayonabike]

OK... fingers crossed for good weather.

Add me to the list Squire.

Excellent!

 

[CharlieB]

Assuming reasonable shape after York-Hull-Doncaster FNRttC/SMRbtD (on a Brompton), count me in, please Jay!
I'm not even going to cheat and say I'll join you in Chesham. In any case, I haven't yet seen this Cervélo of yours!
Late pub stop - that wasn't the Crystal Palace in Berko you had in mind, was it?

 

[musa]

Add me too please.

 

[jayonabike]

Assuming reasonable shape after York-Hull-Doncaster FNRttC/SMRbtD (on a Brompton), count me in, please Jay!
I'm not even going to cheat and say I'll join you in Chesham. In any case, I haven't yet seen this Cervélo of yours!
Late pub stop - that wasn't the Crystal Palace in Berko you had in mind, was it?

Good to have you on board Charlie. The pub I was thinking of was the Winkwell.

I will be there this time.. Even with the old bike if needed*!


*old and tested spell against all possible jinx..

As long as your on a bike, thats all that matters!

Add me too please.

Added!

 

[toptom]

I'm in and hopefully a dry ride

 

[musa]

Yes a dry day pleaasseee

Ive just finished doing jacking jumps to warm up when i just got in. Fingers all tingly

 

[rb58]

Diary checked. All clear. Count me in please. Hopefully I'll have got rid of this cold before then.
Cheers
Ross

 

[Mallory]

I'm probably going to regret this but IF i can get some KM in my legs i'll tag along as well Doing the London classic the fortnight before so i'll know by then

Having the bailout option at Tring does help

I can pick the train up at Harrow & Wealdstone so only an extra 20km round trip to add on to the day

 

[jayonabike]

I was going to ride this route today, but what with this weather I think I'd have more luck going round on a sledge.

 

[gbs]

I would like to do this and have copied the route to my account - first time ever - imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. However, I have a half commitment to a doubles tennis tournament that weekend. Given the quality of the entries we may well not progress to the final stages on Sunday. So, I will be a "maybe" until late Saturday afternoon.

 

[jayonabike]

Rode the route today with a couple of mates. Roads are fine, usual potholes in places. We did leave the lanes from Chesham to Gt.Missenden and stuck to the main (B) road. The last time we was up the lanes they were covered in mud and crap washed down from the fields. I'll try and get up there before the 21st to see what they're like, if not we'll stick to the B road. The sun even came out for a little while today, and the cake at the stop was lovely! A good ride.

 

[srw]

Pednor and South Heath? Pretty clear. The section when you come down off the Pednor ridge is a bit grubby, and there's a big hole if you're going towards Chesham, but it's a much nicer ride than the B road. I heard a skylark up there a week or so ago.

I'd love to be joining you, but I'm not ride-fit and already booked that day - celebrating an important anniversary!

 

[jayonabike]

Thanks for letting me know, it is a much nicer ride to Gt.Missenden from Chesham, I prefer going that way.