Wheeler's Club Runs
These
take place each Sunday usually starting most often from either Hertford,
Ware, Much Hadham or Puckeridge (see below for a full list of start locations). Follow
this link for a fuller description of club runs.
Potential members are very welcome to ride with us a few times before making a decision to join the Club. If you would like to do this then could you please contact us first.
If you are new to club cycling, or are a slower rider, try our "Come and Try" Rides which are an easy paced 25 miles on a Sunday afternoon. They are an excellent introduction to club riding.
Please note that we cannot accept riders under the age of 18 on our club runs unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Start Locations
- Harmer Green: top of New Road at junction with Harmer Green Lane (Map >>)
- Hertford: Hartham Common, recycling point (Map >>)
- Hoddesdon: Clock Tower (Map >>)
- Much Hadham: bus shelter north end of High Street (Map >>)
- Puckeridge: outside White Hart pub in High Street (Map >>)
- St Margarets: station car park next to level crossing (Map >>)
- Sawbridgeworth: Bell Street car park (Map >>)
- Thaxted: outside Parrishes Café (opposite Guild Hall) (Map >>)
- Ware: Broadmeads car park next to level crossing (Map >>)
- Welwyn Garden City: Campus West car park (just off Bridge Road) (Map >>)
Destinations
Usually a stop is made at a café or pub. Follow this link to see our current favourite destinations.
Future Club Runs
| Date | Time | Start | Destination | Dist. | Pace | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28\07\10 | 19.00 | Ware | Around the Lanes | 20m | Med | JF | 29\07\10 | 19.00 | Ware | Training Ride | 25m | Fast | 01\08\10 | 09.30 | Ware | Off Road, bring own food | 30m | Med | JF | 01\08\10 | 14.30 | Ware | "Come and Try" Ride to Westmill Tea Room | 25m | Easy | BC | 04\08\10 | 19.00 | Ware | Around the Lanes | 20m | Med | JF | 05\08\10 | 19.00 | Ware | Training Ride | 25m | Fast | 08\08\10 | 09.30 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | 08\08\10 | 14.30 | Hertford | Emily's Tearoom, Whitwell | 30m | Easy | JP |
Any volunteers to lead an easy-paced clubrun alongside the normal medium one? Both would start together and journey to the same destination.
Please email our club runs organiser if you need more information.
Club Runs Points
68 - PeterW
52 - JohnF
50 - GrahamK
43 - AlexP
40 - JaneP
38 - AndyC, BarryP
36 - CathyP, JasonT
26 - DannyM, SarahW
24 - BrunoC
22 - BrianE
Past Club Runs
See here for the previous year's Club Runs (2009).
25\07\10 - Three HWCC riders plus three guests (one had never ridden with the club before) had an interesting ride to Whitwell in that in patches it was a fairly fast ride - an uncommon event for an afternoon trip. It was very warm thus making it worthwhile for those who wished a "training" ride to make room for some cake.
25\07\10 - JF led eight riders to the Blue Egg at Gt Bardfield although two did not stay for the cafe stop as they had a life. The remainder had an uneventful but windy journey home.
22\07\10 - Only two riders turned up in the poor weather to do the training ride.
21\07\10 - G&SK led a group of seventeen assorted Wheelers and guests around the lanes north of Ware.
18\07\10 - Eighteen riders set off from Ware to get to Clavering Lakes. Despite having a couple of prospective new members, no-one got lost or dropped. It soon turned into a fine, warm day so it was no surprise that some ended up at a pub with BP.
15\07\10 - Seven riders experimented with their TT abilities on the Brickendon circuit. For many this was their first attempt at riding a TT course and hopefully will not be their last.
14\07\10 - A group of eight riders met up to ride the lanes north of Hertford.
11\07\10 - Twelve riders led by JP took a slow, comfortable ride to Braughing - the hot weather ruling out any attempts to enliven the pace.
11\07\10 - Four riders braved the heat for the off-road ride.
08\07\10 - Six riders split into two groups of three to do the first fast training ride.
07\07\10 - Twelve riders led by BH toured the lanes this evening.
04\07\10 - Many riders took part in the various choices of Audaxes held by HWCC with some completing distances that not long ago they hadn't thought possible.
30\06\10 - Thirteen riders led by BE started the tour of the lanes this evening, but numbers soon diminished and only seven returned to the start.
27\06\10 - Four riders made the journey to Braughing during the afternoon. It would have been five, but Chris not only started at the wrong place but snapped his chain in trying to get to the right place. With club president J(What website?)P having mechanical problems and Josh puncturing, the splintered group eventually made it to the Church Hall to be told the football score. The return journey was further slowed by both PW and JP who were both suffering in the heat as they tried to keep up with Jane's ferocious pacesetting.
27\06\10 - Eight riders led by AC rushed to Writtle from Much Hadham with the intention of returning in time to watch the afternoon's football. Was this a wise choice?
23\06\10 - Eight riders led by BE toured the lanes this evening.
20\06\10 - JohnP led out a group (5 HWCC members plus 3 guests) on a shorter trip to Hatfield Heath where they encountered the Annual Midsummer Fare.
20\06\10 - Starting from WGC, five riders led by AP set out for a long tour to Stockgrove Country Park. We eventually arrived (shattered) after apparently riding around our destination in ever decreasing circles. However the wind -assisted return was much easier. The positives of the day were that Jason completed his first +100mile day and new member Michelle did 80 miles when her previous best was about 30 miles. On the downside if you ever hear Alex say "I know a short- cut"..........!!
16\06\10 - G&SK, on their tandem, led six others on a tour that included St Margarets, Perry Green, Much Hadham and Standon.
13\06\10 - An uneventful trip. Seven riders left and returned to Hertford. No-one fell off, or crashed, or got remotely bothered as they went to the Social Mecca that is Stevenage.
13\06\10 - An eventful trip. Ten started out although only five got to Hudnall. Of those five two crashed as JoshT fell into a pothole, and PD fell into JT.
09\06\10 - These evening rides are proving to be increasingly popular as eleven riders rode the lanes to the south and south-west of Ware and Hertford.
06\06\10 - JP took twelve other riders on an "off-road?!?" ride to Westmill.
06\06\10 - Five riders took part in the off-road ride - an improvement in numbers on previous weeks.
02\06\10 - Fourteen riders travelled the lanes on a fine, warm evening. Unfortunately only thirteen returned as one had snapped his chain and the rest did not notice. PW also managed to join the "Waterbabies" club at Barwick Ford. Reports of a tsunami reaching Ware proved premature, although the area is now constantly being monitored for aftershocks.
30\05\10 - GK led ten other riders on a round trip from Much Hadham to take in the Mocha, at Saffron Walden. The day started off fairly warm but windy. As time progressed it seemed to get much windier, although the fact that our return journey was against the wind may have had something to do with it. On our return to MH we were press-ganged into visiting the pub, (by BP).
26\05\10 - Nine riders did 23 miles around the north of Ware on a fine, moderately warm Wednesday evening.
23\05\10 - In the heat of a sweltering Sunday, five riders left Tempsford at the end of the race and tried to keep up with AP to get to Grafham Water (including PW who had taken part in the TT). On arrival, much liquid was taken in so as to prepare all for the (not quite so arduous) return journey.
19\05\10 - A good turnout of twelve this evening.
16\05\10 - As the morning ride was a long one, an afternoon ride to Whitwell was arranged and four riders took up this option.
16\05\10 - Whilst two of the seven starters only went as far as Gt Bardfield, the remainder rode all the way to the Comfort Cafe at Babraham and back.
12\05\10 - After seeing the small turnout for the two previous Wednesday rides, BrianH decided it was time for him to lead a little group. His shock at Ware when more and more turned up was apparent, but he gallantly succeeded in marshalling fifteen riders safely around the lanes.
09\05\10 - How did the world cope before mobile phones? After GH punctured, just short of Wimpole Hall, and he and AP returned to their homes the remaining thirteen took their refreshment stop and then started for home. It was not long before CP became 'detached' and then the mobiles came to prominence. Calls between CP, via JF (on his hols), and the bunch soon resulted in everyone regrouping - whereupon DM punctured twice.
05\05\10 - Three riders turned up this evening.
02\05\10 - By the afternoon the weather had settled down and eleven riders set out for Braughing Church Hall. Unfortunately the team leader could not keep up with pace he was setting, so he went back to the start for his car - and drove instead. The rest took a leisurely ride out and back stopping only to fill their faces with Tea and Cake.
02\05\10 - Unsurprisingly, only one rider (JF) turned up to do the off-road ride in the awful weather. Surprisingly, he punctured.
28\04\10 - The first Wednesday ride (arranged at a day's notice) was attended by two riders. This enabled them to hone their two-up skills and we are expecting much from them in the coming season. A fuller attendance is expected from next week.
25\04\10 - The overland express (led by TD - departing 9.30) beat the suburban service (led by AD - departing 9.15) to Rayne station. This was partly caused by Ms JP's mechanical problems. With the engineers about to be summoned, WC gallantly stepped in to save the day, thus ensuring that all ten riders arrived at their destination within 10 minutes of each other.
18\04\10 - For many reasons, a Thaxted start was a journey too far for many riders. Therefore an alternative ride to Whitwell was organised for the afternoon. Six riders took part in this, with JP leading.
18\04\10 - Seven riders set out from Thaxted to Stradishall, three having ridden to the start. An excellent club ride was had by all, and by the time they got home three of the cyclists had exceeded 100 miles.
11\04\10 - At last, some decent weather. Fourteen riders led by AC took a ride out from Hertford to Hitchin. His preferred choice is hills and more hills, and he did not disappoint. His route out seemed to exceed the more direct return but this was probably due to the three puncture stops that were made.
04\04\10 - Ten HWCC riders and ten guests set out from Ware and seventeen turned up at Much Hadham - three having decided to follow their own route.
04\04\10 - Three riders took part in the morning's off-road ride.
28\03\10 - With nine HWCC members away riding the Stevenage SofS Audax, there were still nine others able to attend the two club runs to Gt Bardfield. With six in one group and three in the slightly slower group, a good outward journey was enjoyed. However, due to the wind, they encountered the same problems on the return as the Audax riders.
21\03\10 - Thirteen riders started out from sunny Puckeridge to get to sunny Wheathampsted. After various games of hide and seek (and two punctures) twelve arrived at the destination - one had peeled off early to meet up with his family.
14\03\10 - Three riders followed AD and thirteen followed TD from Much Hadham to Thaxted. The larger group of slightly faster riders arrived at the Cafe just after the smaller slower group, having done a few more miles. On a cool but dry day there was only one puncture, expertly fixed by AC in less than five minutes.
07\03\10 - Five riders left Hertford at 9.30 to meet up at Wandon End with the five riders who had attended the Restricted Gear TT at Letty Green. In good, but chilly weather, there were no mishaps and all had a good ride.
28\02\10 - Yet another club run marred by the bad weather. With torrential rain, and howling winds promised, only two riders braved the conditions to undertake an abbreviated ride. At Chapmore End the rear derailleur of PW's bike snapped. Fortunately this only left a two mile walk home. It could have been a lot worse!
21\02\10 - Led by JF, seven waterbabies (including one guest) left Ware and seven ice-blocks arrived at the Village Tea Room in Hatfield Heath. The stop could not come too soon as most had lost the ability to brake or change gear due to the cold. Some had even lost the will to live. The group was met by two more riders and the exhortation from the Tea Room to "sit on these" as all were given bin-liners to cover the chairs. Never was a stop more welcome!
14\02\10 - GK managed to lead a ride to Whitwell without losing any riders. Eleven riders left Hertford on a circuitous 27 mile ride out with a 15 mile return. With only two punctures (one at the start) to hinder our journey a good ride was enjoyed on a cold and damp Sunday.
07\02\10 - Only managed to lose one rider this week. Our mitigating circumstances were that the newcomer joined us at the wrong start-point. Therefore the correct headcount had been made at the outset and not many of the sixteen strong group knew that we had gained an extra rider, let alone lost him. Apart from this it was a reasonably good (but not too warm) ride to Clavering Lakes and back.
31\01\10 - Due to the lack of a proper headcount at the start, we were not aware that two riders had stopped for puncture repairs after half a mile. Despite being advised of this, we still could not work out who had been dropped as we thought that we were all together. As we sat in the cafe in Hitchin contemplating (and laughing!?) about our state of affairs, BE and DM did finally turn up as did BP who had started out on his own, and then found and lost the other two. The fourteen riders eventually had a trouble-free ride home.
24\01\10 - Sixteen riders set out from Much Hadham on a not uncomfortable, but chilly morning. Ten riders followed TD on a 45mile round trip, whilst the other four went with AD on a 30mile tour. With both rides scheduled to get to the destination at about the same time it enabled the club run to cater for the different riding standards on show. Upon arriving at Dunmow however, an enforced change of cafe venue caused a minor irritation but overall the actual rides were a complete success with extra entertainment added by TD and his exploding tyres.
17\01\10 - A bright sunny morning tempted many riders out for a trip to the Church Farm, Ardeley. However a reality check was soon forthcoming as three riders tumbled due to the icy conditions. By the time the twentytwo riders had arrived at the destination, there had already been stops for punctures and there were many more for the return journey. With an excruciatingly slow service at the cafe\farm (part caused by our numbers), for most the time spent out was about 50\50 between riding and waiting.
10\01\10 - Two riders slipped and slithered in the snow around Ware for a fun ride.
03\01\10 - A flawless Club Ride! No-one fell off, or punctured. Nine riders started at Ware and rode north via Puckeridge and Barkway to Royston. After light refreshment at the Cafe, we retraced our route back to Ware.
27\12\09 - So no-one got to Whitwell except the Club's President - who did not do the Club Ride anyway. Nine started at Hoddesdon with all the best intentions, but soon punctures and a slippery, icy surface put us well behind time. Seven riders got to Sandridge but then we encountered a dangerously icy lane and we fragmented with little or no chance to return to the stragglers. With riders turning for home a further puncture meant that most of us did not see each other again and none of the group(s) got to the Cafe.
20\12\09 - The Weather 1, Herts Wheelers 0.
13\12\09 - Bruno's shock was tangible when he turned up to lead an easy pre-lunch\awards ride and found seven riders waiting for him. However after manfully directing the ride for 20 minutes the situation finally got to him, so he went home to make himself beautiful. Mindful of later celebrations a circular route was chosen so that the other riders could peel off in order to get home.
06\12\09 - With the sun sweating profusely and the wind in a hurry many potential club riders woke up, looked out of the window, said "noway hosay" and went back to sleep. After getting drenched on the way to the start however, the weather soon brightened although Brian did last all of 200 yards before he decided that he would prefer to swim with his children rather than with his fellow cyclists. After fording many previously unknown rivers and lakes five riders arrived at Saffron Walden where Graham immediately set off for home whilst we gained Alex (who had missed the start). A tiring return journey was made more difficult by a strong headwind.
29\11\09 - Due to the inability of the Club President to fulfil his contractual duties, a second rate conscript was brought in at short notice to lead (or follow) the masses. As the weather was at its most inclement he was surprised to find four other riders at the start. However appearances can be deceptive and all enjoyed a good 18 mile ride to Wandon End and 25 mile return. All went according to the plot until about 4 miles from Hertford when the heavens opened to make swim-wear seem more appropriate than cycle-wear.
22\11\09 - Similar to the previous week - without the quiet, peaceful and trouble-free part. Eleven riders set out from Puckeridge for a ride to Hinxworth and back. With five punctures, one tumble and one rider's shoelace getting caught on their pedal, the weather also did its best to help by alternating between good and atrocious. At times it was sun-baked(ish) whilst at others the driving wind and rain made the ride horrendous.
15\11\09 - After the fun and games of the previous Sunday a quiet, peaceful and trouble-free ride was called for - and that is what we got. Nine riders met at Much Hadham in order to take a long route to Clavering Lakes ( a new venue to most of us). A shorter ride back completed a 42 mile journey.
08\11\09 - Twelve riders set off to do the ride and the free-wheeling competition. Then the fun started. Two riders parted company with their bikes on a leafy corner whilst another's rear derailleur parted company with its bike. There were three punctures and another rider kept stopping to count his remaining spokes. The highlight of this stop\start journey was the free-wheeling competition where Graham K hammered the opposition into submission.
01\11\09 - A new year begins for the Club Runs Trophy, which Andy C has taken for 2009. Alas the weather was so foul that only two (fool)hardy members turned up for this ride. Showing determination, fortitude, resourcefulness and will-power in the face of adversity they rode from Puckeridge to Harlow and then home. (Unfortunately I could not juggle the word sanity into the previous sentence).