Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

I like the Chilterns area near Ivinghoe. The hills can be challenging but the sense of achievement and the views are rewarding. They are some distance away from our usual start points in Ware and Hertford though. So to maximise time in the Chilterns you need a short route from here to there. Look at the map and the B1000 stands out as a direct route westwards. Unfortunately it also stands out as having one of the worst road surfaces in Hertfordshire – and as we all know, there is stiff competition! Nevertheless we braved it on the way to Welwyn. The obvious route onwards is via Wheathampstead and, but we are a little tired of that, so I decided we should go up Digswell Hill, then through Ayot Green and Waterend Lane. I was nervous about choosing the latter as it is often in a poor state with mud, gravel etc. As it turned out it was a pleasant relief compared with Digswell Hill which proved to be right up there with the B1000 in terms of surface.

Anyway, all six of us made it up to Gaddesden Row without mishap. We rode the length of that, then down Pedley Hill and up Hudnall Lane to Ringshall. Then there was the fast descent to Dagnall, followed by the stiff climb up Studham Lane and the long but gentler climb to the Chilterns Gateway Centre where we replaced some calories.

The CGC is at nearly 800 feet so it would be nice to think it would be down hill all the way back to Hertford (200 feet). Well, it as as far as Markyate but then the generally rolling nature of Hertfordshire intervenes. The hills from New Mill End up to Chiltern Green and Heath Lane up to Codicote impressed themselves on my memory – the latter especially as it was only on the route due to a plotting error I made.

We all made it back in one piece and those of us who are off to the Vosges next month got some climbing practice. It was good to welcome Richard after a long absence though we were sorry to see him a victim of a stationary fall – something that is perhaps becoming a Cat 3 speciality – and hope he is now recovered.