HITCHIN ...... are you there ?

johnhighfield

Well we made it!

In between the showers, and with some sun, we managed to get about 23 miles in in just over 2 hours.

The mud IS back and it all feels strangely familiar!!

Hi Wayne - your welcome to join us although Sundays have seemed more reliable with the weather than Wednesday evenings. We have ridden practically every Sunday and managed to be out after the rain OR home before the rain. A couple of Sundays ago was the first time in a year we actually got wet........

We willl be out again on Sunday leaving Pine Hills Hospital at 8.30am for a 2.5hrs (ish) off-road ride.

We have about 15 casual riders and normally between 5-9 regular riders.

Post here or send me a PM if you would like to join us.

John

johnhighfield

Another fantastic ride this morning in glorious sunshine!!

Although a few regulars couldn't make it we still had 9 out - including 2 new riders (Paul & Andy) who rode well & were most welcome.....

It was also good to see Tom again.

We did a loop from Hitchin through Ickleford, Pirton, Telegraph Hill, on towards Stopsley, through Putteridgebury, Offley, Chalk Hill (of course), & Gosmore - where we peeled off to go our seperate ways. Back to Hitchin; to Letchworth; & to Stevenage.

Although I failed to start my GPS until the top of Telegraph Hill - I clocked 20.7 mi from there to home - so probably about 25 mi in total today.

We should be out this Wednesday - starting from St Michaels & the Hitchin Rd (A505)roundabout at 7.00pm and of course next Sunday from Pine Hills Hospital at 8.230am for about 2.5 hrs.

John

evo3ben

Hi John, weather depending i am hoping to be out wednesday coming. Family and work have been getting in the way alot recently and decided to put the foot down lol.

johnhighfield

Hi Ben

Its been a bit hit & miss for the last few Wednesdays what with the weather & riders working late.

We hope to be out next weds & will text around for interest.

7.00pm from the A505 / St Michaels Rd roundabout - but we could meet you on route.

John

evo3ben

Either that or meet with silly grin chaps on tuesday evening if wednesday a problem.

evo3ben

Doh!! Just check silly grin site and got my weeks mixed up lol. They are riding wednesday this week at woborn :oops: Im still good for wednesday

alcooker

Hi Ben,

I'll be at the roundabout at the end of St Michaels road/A505 at 7pm, nothing, apart from a serious emergency is stopping me riding this Weds. It's probably not worth you crossing town when we'll probably end up passing near you.

How about we meet you at 7.10-7.15 on the corner of Hambridge Way/Mill Way (track from Ickleford to Pirton. You just ride down to Westmill, over the stream up through those tasty houses/barns and on to Hambridge Way. OS explorer map ref 168314.

Does this work for you John? I'm assuming we'll be heading out Pirton way

Cheers
Alex

johnhighfield

Hi Alex et al

Yep Wednesday this week looks on!

I will meet you, & all comers, at the St Michaels / A505 roundabout & pick up evo3Ben on route.

John

evo3ben

Sounds like a plan 8) see you on the corner of Hambridge Way/Mill Way

johnhighfield

Hi All

The Hitchin Wednesday evening ride is ON starting at St Michaels & the A505 roundabout at 7.00pm & heading off towards Pirton (and beyond) for a few hours.

I have text around the usual suspects & all are welcome!

Send me a PM or post here if your coming so we dont miss you........

John

alcooker

Guys

I have a problem, I assumed that my Wife who never goes out, would be in tomorrow night. She's just told me she's going out with some other Mothers, apparently it's been organised for ages. I can't complain as it's usually me who goes out.

V sorry Guys, I was really looking forward to it. I've nothing on Thursday night and will ride then, if anyone wants to join me, give me a shout.

Alex

johnhighfield

A great ride this Wednesday with Alex & Ben (with all his new bike bits ££££££).

We did about 22.5mi on the Pirton, Telegraph Hill, Stopsley, Putteridge Bury, Chalk Hill (of course), Charlton loop.

It was a bit grey but stayed dry & we met up with some guys that ride out from Stopsley Cemetry at 8.00am on Sunday mornings - as well as doing mid-week rides.

Thanks for the invite to ride with you - and as said - you are always welcome to join us riding out from The Pine Hill Hospital in Hitchin at 8.30am on Sunday mornings.

Also dont forget to google 'Silly Grin' who ride out from various places in Beds/Herts and 'OTT MBK' who ride our from Harpenden.

Hope to see you all next Sunday.....

John

evo3ben

Great ride out, cheers John 8) Mud tyres back on for the next one after all this rain lol

Jamieg285

H therei,

I've recently started riding in the same area (I live on the east side of Luton, a stones throw from the original Putteridge Bury boundary) and am looking for decent routes to follow.

I'd hope to join you on a ride at some point, but can't commit to anything at the moment as I've a baby due in the next 10 days, so I can only get out ad-hoc.

In the meantime, to assist with my exploring of the area, do you have any maps of decent routes/sections in the area between Luton and Hitchin? I'm intrigued by Chalk Hill - where can I find that?

Cheers,

Jamie

johnhighfield

Hi Jamieg285

Nice to hear from you!

One of our many routes goes out towards Luton via Ickleford - Pirton & Telegraph Hill; through Putteridge crossing the A505 by the Cemetry & returning through the grounds of Putteridge Bury - Great Offley and of course - Chalk Hill!

Chalk Hill is just along from Great Offley following the track that goes along from the Red Lion towards Charlton. Its steep in parts (by our Hertfordshire standards); very rutted and a good thrill to race down - with that bit of track being about a mile long.

If you get an OS Explorer map (no 193 - Luton & Stevenage) 2.5" to a mile it will show this & all the other tracks in the area.

We do have a few other interesting hills in the area: The water tower near Whitwell; the hill outside Lilley; & the hill (K1?) near Barton-le-Clay - to name a few....

But these are nothing compared to 'proper' MTB areas.

Good luck with the baby & hopefully we will see you out one Sunday morning - 8.30am at the Pinehill Hospital in Hitchin. We still have some good weather, hopefully, but do ride all year round.

Regards - John

Jamieg285

Hi John,

Once day I will get over to you, and I'l let you know when to expect me, but it could be months!! I'll do my best to make it sooner rather than later.

Anyway, not sure if this map is the type you are talking about, but I can see a line of green dots between the pub and Charlton, but it lines up with Harris lane, which doesn't sound right. Is the track you're talking about run to the north or south of this line?

http://www.bing.com/maps/?lvl=13&where1 ... ORM=MMREDR

Cheers,

Jamie

johnhighfield

Hi Jamie

Your map seems to be of Whitwell not Great offley - although there is a good hill on the track going up to the going up to the water tower - just outside Whitwell.

Chalk Hill is on a track leading from the Red Lion in Great Offley - post code: SG5 3DZ

Hope to see you sometime soom - we did manage to ride out every sunday lasy year - even through the snow & ice.

Regards - John

Jamieg285

That's weird, that map link is taking me to somewhere in the States now! I guess I'll just have to get out and have a look.

Calpol

Morning. I found this thread the other day and was wondering if any of your Sunday rides are suitable for a slightly apprenhisive MTB learner. Most of my riding has been on my road bike recently and in truth I am only starting to gain a little fitness after a few years of being pretty lazy/distracted with young family and work (and computer games ) I live in Barton and have just bought a MTB and am interested in learning about the area and also about improving my courage levels and techniquie. Should I keep practicing for a few months or do you think I could lag along at the back of one of your rides.

BTW am male aged er hem 40.

johnhighfield

Hi Calpol

We are a mixed bunch of various ages & fitness levels.

The local terrain is not particularly technical (we have a few minor hills) but the Hertfordshire mud does get a bit trying in wet weather & the winter.

We presently have a few riders coming back after holidays etc who have lost a little of their fitness - so you might fit in well.......

The best way to get fit is to come along & give it a go - you are welcome.

As said - we ride out from Pine Hills Hospital in Hitchin every Sunday at 8.30am for about 2.5hrs. Post here or PM me so I know to expect you.

Regards - John

Big_Ham

hi All,

I'm from Letchworth and looking for some guys to ride with. Picked up a RockHopper from PB in Hitchin at the end of the July. First MTB for a few years. Been on a road bike for the past couple.

Enjoying being back in the dirt and enjoying the trails I used to as a lad on my Hardrock out near Willian, and that.

When I next get a Sunday free I'll send you a PM if that's cool? No idea when that's going to be though with my work the way it is at the moment.

Thanks

Chris

johnhighfield

Hi Chris

A few of us live in Letchworth too.

We managed to ride practically every Sunday last year so hopefully we will see you sometime. PM me when your coming out so we can expect you.

Regards - John

johnhighfield

Another great ride this morning for 6 of us despite the down pour of rain at about 5am this morning. There was some mud about (time for mud tyres?) but the sun shone & we made good time - despite Alan's mechanical......

We did a variation on one of our popular roff-road outes starting from Hitchin & taking in: Ickleford; Pirton; Telegraph Hill; Warden Hill; Stopsley; looping around Putteridge Bury; Great Offley; Preston & St Ippolits. I did 27mi, others did a little less/more depending on their starting point, with a respectable moving speed of 11mph.

Again we have been very lucky with the weather - even last week the 'heavy rain' was forcast at 7am it failed to materialise until after the ride when the bike had been washed & put away!

We are out every Sunday starting from Pine Hills Hospital, in Hitchin at 8.30am , & you are welcome to join us. Post here if your coming or PM me.

Regards - John

Jamieg285

I managed to get out for a ride in what turned into torrential rain on Tuesday. Went through the woods on the boundary of the old Putteridge estate and the built up area of Luton. Good fun, if a little short.

Also found Chalk Hill - I can see why it gets commented on so much! Great fun, it a little hairy at times on my 17 year old rigid. Getting back was a bugger though. I foolishly turned right at the bottom and found myself going up the biggest hill I've ever had to climb, from then on it was across very muddy fields, and included having to climb through a fallen tree that blocked the footpaths. The rain and mud almost brought me to a standstill, but I did manage to get back eventually.

johnhighfield

Hi Jamie - good to see you got out!

Chalk Hill changes by the week depending on whether agricultural vehicles have been on it (tree cutting etc) and what the weather has been like. When it rains heavily the ruts fill up & its gets slippery & its difficult to see how deep the puddles are.....

As for the Hertfordshire mud........its famous!

Thats where mud tyres kick in: 'Bontrager mud X' and 'Panaracer mud pros' are 2 of the favourites.

Still hope to see you one Sunday - 8.30am Pine Hill Hospital, Hitchin.

Regards - John

evo3ben

Finally can get out sunday without something getting in the way. Anyone else riding sunday morning?

johnhighfield

Hi Ben

Of course ........we are still going strong ......Pine Hills Hospital, Hitchin at 8.30 for about 2.5 hours & 20-25 miles.

Last Sunday we were out in glorious sunshine doing one on Mike's famous rides over the Weston & Wallington area covering some 27 miles. Despite 3 of our regulars having other commitments we welcomed newcomers Tom & Hannah & had 6 of us out.

If your definately coming we could head up through Ickleford (meeting you there) & head on to Arlsey, Stotfold & loop around to Weston & Gravely.

Hopefully see you Sunday Ben.

Regards - John

evo3ben

Yep im definately up for it John. Looking forward to seeing you guys, its been a while. Meeting in Ickleford would be cool 8)

johnhighfield

Another great ride on this gloriously sunny Sunday morning.

Had 11 out this morning, which is our new record, and covered some 26 miles. We put 2 rides together to make a big loop we taking in - Hitchin - Ickleford - Arlsey - Stotfold - Bygrave - Wallington Weston - Gravely & back towards Hitchin.

We're out every Sunday leaving Pine Hills Hospital in Hitchin at 8.30am. If you would like to join us post here or send me a PM.

John

pastasauce

Saw this on a local clubs forum yesterday - one to be aware of .....

"I've been advised by Herts police to contact local cycling clubs, following the theft of 2 of my bikes from my garage this week. I'm a Hitchin resident and the police are investigating a spate of bike thefts from North Herts residents. Apparently 11 households were burgled the night my bikes were stolen (Friday 23rd Sept) and only bikes were taken. The thieves are targeting sheds and garages that are not attached to the house. My bikes were in a locked and alarmed garage, surrounding by motion sensitive security lights. They made off with my 2 best bikes, leaving my training bikes and those of my wife and kids. The police advise that the gang are targeting higher end spec bikes, which are often sold locally or on ebay. So, they are determined and know what they're doing. The police think that the thieves may well have followed me home after a training ride. Please advise your members to keep their bikes safe and perhaps they might keep an eye open for mine please."

On a lighter note, are you still out Weds eves ? I'll try and join you for the next two if things consipre in my favour !

Cheers