Wheeler's Club Runs
These take place each Sunday usually starting from either Hertford, Ware, Much
Hadham or Puckeridge. Follow
this link for a fuller description.
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 Tea Shop 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 >>)
- Ware: Broadmeads car park next to level crossing (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21\03\10 | 09.30 | Puck | T Pott Cafe, Wheathampstead | 45m | Med | JF | 28\03\10 | 09.30 | Much | Blue Egg, Great Bardfield | 55m | Med | TD | 28\03\10 | 09.15 | Much | Blue Egg, Great Bardfield | 35m | Slow | AD | 04\04\10 | 09.30 | Ware | Off Road, bring own food | 30m | Med | JF | 04\04\10 | 14.30 | Ware | Tea Shop Ride, Braughing Church Hall | 25m | Easy | JP | 11\04\10 | 09.30 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | 18\04\10 | 09.30 | Thaxted | Tubby T's Cafe, Stradishall | 55m | Med | JF |
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
36 - PeterW
26 - GrahamK, JohnF
22 - AlexP
20 - AndyC, BarryP, JasonT
16 - DannyM
14 - CathyP, JaneP
13 - SarahW
12 - BobB
Past Club Runs
See here for the previous year's Club Runs (2009).
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).