England : Hertfordshire Lumpy Sunday. 24th November CANCELLED

[Flying Dodo]

I'm in two minds whether to have Bison hill in the ride. It is a killer, no doubt the weather will be a bit iffy in November and you are rather exposed to the elements on your way up. The angel on my left shoulder is saying take it out, the devil on my right is saying leave it in. At the moment I'm swaying more to the angelic side.

You could always simply tweak the route, so that at 28.7 miles, instead of going straight on at the mini-roundabout to go up past the visitor centre at Dunstable Downs, you turn left, to go DOWN Bison Hill, then right, back towards Dunstable, up to Dunstable Downs, down the other side to the mini-roundabout again, then straight over towards Studham, carrying on as before.

 

[robjh]

Can you put me down as a maybe?

nb I recognise Bison Hill - didn't know it was called that but I rode up it in the summer. Thought it was a good hill and would like to do it again, but I may be a lone voice there!

 

[jayonabike]

You could always simply tweak the route, so that at 28.7 miles, instead of going straight on at the mini-roundabout to go up past the visitor centre at Dunstable Downs, you turn left, to go DOWN Bison Hill, then right, back towards Dunstable, up to Dunstable Downs, down the other side to the mini-roundabout again, then straight over towards Studham, carrying on as before.

Hmmm, that's not a bad idea. I also thought that rather than turning left off of the B489 to go up Bison, but to stay on it, giving everyone a rest from a hill, and pick up the route between miles 40 & 41, although this would cut 5 or 6 miles off the ride.

 

[jayonabike]

Or, turn left off the B489, past the turning for Bison, going straight on to Dagnall and picking up the route from there.

 

[Gains84]

Is there any good free parking near the start Jay?

Im half tempted to ride over from Stevenage although then doing that, the ride and the ride home ill be a mess!lol Any local people know if the A4147 from St Albans vaguely bike friendly do you know or better to come from Redbourn direction, dont normally head SW from me much?!

 

[Flying Dodo]

The A4147 is quite a fast road. The B487 from Redbourn is nicer for cycling along.

 

[jayonabike]

Is there any good free parking near the start Jay?

Im half tempted to ride over from Stevenage although then doing that, the ride and the ride home ill be a mess!lol Any local people know if the A4147 from St Albans vaguely bike friendly do you know or better to come from Redbourn direction, dont normally head SW from me much?!

There's parking at the station, but it's not free. As FD said the road from St.Albans is quite fast, but I often cycle along it. Coming from Redbourn is a quieter route to Hemel.

 

[Gains84]

There's parking at the station, but it's not free. As FD said the road from St.Albans is quite fast, but I often cycle along it. Coming from Redbourn is a quieter route to Hemel.

Thanks for the info guys, think ill try take a spin over to see what the route is like and take it from there!

 

[gbs]

I'm up for this and will, post ride, go to Harpenden for dinner with MiL - brownie points will be scored.

 

[martint235]

Starting to really dislike my job. I've been happily ticking along safe in the knowledge that I'm on call from the 26th Nov for a week. Then today I'm told I'm actually on call from next Tuesday (19th) for a week. Not happy. Not only was I meant to be on this ride but I'm also in Manchester and Crewe next week which will be a pita when I'm on call.

 

[gbs]

re 24/11: my daughter will visit us that day so I withdraw. Enjoy!

 

[ianrauk]

I'm out for this one chaps... sorry.

 

[jayonabike]

I think that's everyone out, except one or two maybes, so I'm going to CANCEL this Sunday. I'll post it up again in the new year.

 

[CharlieB]

Oh what a shame, Jay. That would've seen me past 6,000 miles for the year. Thank you anyway and look forward to the new year version.

 

[martint235]

It is a shame and as one of the ones that withdrew I can only apologise. Work are behaving like t***s lately with the on call stuff so it was unavoidable. I have a plan up my sleeve (an unpopular plan at work to be fair but a plan nonetheless) to limit future occurrences.

Already looking forward to the 2014 version.