Some of Buckinghamshire is flat - 29th September

[CharlieB]

Charlie, can you post up a gpx of the route.
I can't be that late back to Berkhampsted so will probably shoot off ahead during lunch.

In the meantime it looks like http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1658858. It looked a whole lot better when I opened it on my iMac at home than on my work pc. It fitted the screen better and the profile was visible.

@ianrauk - Wasn't quite sure how to get a gpx on here - this is the earlier post with the route on it, but if you PM me your email address - I can send you the file from my Garmin?

 

[ianrauk]

@ianrauk - Wasn't quite sure how to get a gpx on here - this is the earlier post with the route on it, but if you PM me your email address - I can send you the file from my Garmin?

I can work with that Charlie. I am planning on doing your route and getting back to Birkhampstead for 4pm.
Cheers.

 

[T4tomo]

…and regrettably there's no easy way of avoiding Watford. It's a bit of a nightmare ring road to get through and out the other side from the Bushey direction. Mind you, on a Sunday morning, it shouldn't have the usual snarl-ups and jams.
I believe it's legally possible on a bike to carry on in a straight line once you get past Watford High Street train station and up the High Street and under the subway at the very top end, avoiding the ring road, though I'm not 100% certain on the legality or otherwise. @jayonabike may be better informed.

High street top end is a right mess. Best route to avoid is to take a left on A4125 (eastbury road) at first bushey arches r'bout and then turn right down deacons hill and up wiggenhall road. bear right then left onto Cassio road and keep left down into underpass under teh A412 and hop off and onto pavement at lowest pooint - nip thru pedestrian tunnel and then head all the weway to top of Cassiobury drive out the top of culde sac on shared use path and join A411 hempstead road at glen way.

at top of A411 there is another share use path just after the nursery that takes you under the J19 slip road roundabout whioch is highly advised.

To avoid the other M25 junction roundabout, as that path rejoins road, branch right past garage down old mill lane. right and the left at the end onto hamilton road and the take a left just after kings langley station to join the A4251 in kings langley (couple of cafes in Kings L high street) and follow that upto Berko.

A more scenic but not so flat alternative is, after joining A411, at Glen way is to take a left down Grove mill lane. first left then first right to take you up through Chipperfield and then Bovingdon then left at r'bout out of top of Bovingdon, then after a while right into and thru Whelpley and then down into Berko. its quite "undulating" that way with a couple of short sharp rises to warm the legs up!

 

[T4tomo]

…and regrettably there's no easy way of avoiding Watford. It's a bit of a nightmare ring road to get through and out the other side from the Bushey direction. Mind you, on a Sunday morning, it shouldn't have the usual snarl-ups and jams.
I believe it's legally possible on a bike to carry on in a straight line once you get past Watford High Street train station and up the High Street and under the subway at the very top end, avoiding the ring road, though I'm not 100% certain on the legality or otherwise. @jayonabike may be better informed.

High street top end is a right mess. Best route to avoid is to take a left on A4125 (eastbury road) at first bushey arches r'bout and then turn right down deacons hill and up wiggenhall road. bear right then left onto Cassio road and keep left down into underpass under teh A412 and hop off and onto pavement at lowest pooint - nip thru pedestrian tunnel and then head all the weway to top of Cassiobury drive out the top of culde sac on shared use path and join A411 hempstead road at glen way.

at top of A411 there is another share use path just after the nursery that takes you under the J19 slip road roundabout whioch is highly advised.

To avoid the other M25 junction roundabout, as that path rejoins road, branch right past garage down old mill lane. right and the left at the end onto hamilton road and the take a left just after kings langley station to join the A4251 in kings langley (couple of cafes in Kings L high street) and follow that upto Berko.

A more scenic but not so flat alternative is, after joining A411, at Glen way is to take a left down Grove mill lane. first left then first right to take you up through Chipperfield and then Bovingdon then left at r'bout out of top of Bovingdon, then after a while right into and thru Whelpley and then down into Berko. its quite "undulating" that way with a couple of short sharp rises to warm the legs up!

 

[jayonabike]

Charlie, can you post up a gpx of the route.
I can't be that late back to Berkhampsted so will probably shoot off ahead during lunch.

I'll be doing the same Ian, probably with @toptom. There's a roast beef dinner with my name on it around 6ish at home

 

[gbs]

High street top end is a right mess.
A more scenic but not so flat alternative is, after joining A411, at Glen way is to take a left down Grove mill lane. first left then first right to take you up through Chipperfield and then Bovingdon then left at r'bout out of top of Bovingdon, then after a while right into and thru Whelpley and then down into Berko. its quite "undulating" that way with a couple of short sharp rises to warm the legs up!

This would have been my preferred route. Grove Mill Lane is 5-6 minutes away from Watford Junction BR. WFJ is served by amongst others the Overground Line from Clapham Junction. Enjoy!

 

[rb58]

Sorry Charlie, I'm out. I'll need to be back earlier than the logistics will allow I think.

 

[Trickedem]

I can work with that Charlie. I am planning on doing your route and getting back to Birkhampstead for 4pm.
Cheers.

I am planning to do the same. I need to get home relatively early on Sunday as I am going to see something that apparently I'll like, but not a lot. here

 

[Kies]

Charlie, can you post up a gpx of the route.
I can't be that late back to Berkhampsted so will probably shoot off ahead during lunch.

Likewise - will stop for lunch but it will involve a quick sarnie as I need to be back mid afternoon

 

[StuAff]

Might well join Team Leaving Early myself, as I've got a bit of a trek home.

 

[StuartG]

Well that's got rid of the folks who are afraid of the dark. In contrast will Charlie be organising a regrouping of the more leisured riders for a strategic de-brief before attempting to mount the puffer home?

 

[Kies]

Well that's got rid of the folks who are afraid of the dark. In contrast will Charlie be organising a regrouping of the more leisured riders for a strategic de-brief before attempting to mount the puffer home?

I'm afraid of the wife, not the dark

 

[CharlieB]

Minor update - I'm waiting as I speak write for The Black Boy to send me a menu, as they're looking for pre-orders.
As soon as I have that I will circulate it with my 'phone number.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Ok. Recce #2 done. Still not happy with the distance, as I think it could be a mite longer, but I have some scenic detour ideas without any unnecessary climbing to deploy. In the meantime it looks like http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1658858. It looked a whole lot better when I opened it on my iMac at home than on my work pc. It fitted the screen better and the profile was visible.

Lunch stop is probably going to be at The Black Boy in Oving at 27 miles (their site at http://www.theblackboyoving.com/ is under construction), but they have an entry at
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g4728443-d1232419-Reviews-The_Black_Boy-Oving_Buckinghamshire_England.html

Aha - I've just realised you're running that route anti-clockwise, which scuppers my plan to make a little detour home 10 miles before Berkhamsted.

 

[redflightuk]

Another one leaving after lunch as i have to be back here for 6.