So I visited my friend down in St Albans this weekend. He took the opportunity to show me around that fine county with a 90 mile road ride.
Dear Lord, what a truly miserable ride. I'm usually of the opinion that ANY time spent on a bike is enjoyable, but with the combination of disgustingly poor road surfaces, complete lack of hills and scenery comprising nothing but fields, the ride left me feeling quite sad.
Maybe my friend unknowingly linked up every rubbish part of the county into one ride?
Can anywhere compete with Hertforshire for such miserable roads and scenery?
Is Greater London a county?
I'm sure if I road for 90 miles from St Albans I could find some scenery and even hills. Where did you go. The Chilterns are just the other side of Hemel Hempstead.
Or are you more spoilt with your local rides
It was a circular route heading counter-clockwise towards Sandy, and back down through Dunstable.
I'm based in West Yorkshire, so I'm probably spoilt by the roads around here to be honest.
Try a round trip from St Albans to Croydon next time, you'll then appreciate the fields.
road riding - thats the issue
St Albans, that's the issue. Whaddya expect, it's farming country most of it, gonna be flat init.
Whereas Yorkshire and all that has bumps.. and sheep.
Whaddya expect, it's farming country most of it, gonna be flat init.Whereas Yorkshire and all that has bumps.. and sheep.
ehhh doesn’t having sheep constitute farming nowadays or is this just collecting?
You definitely should have gone to the Chilterns, theres loads of nice riding round there, and you often get followed by a huge shadow from a red kite above you. I've no idea why you'd want to cycle up to Sandy.
I don't think I can imagine roads worse than west yorkshire (except round wakefield, where they are quite nice IMO)
sounds like a stitch-up ride ) there's loads of nice riding there, but not where you went..
Hertfordshire is the local patch! Whilst yes it isn't Sheffield, there are some good little climbs, and some nice lanes & roads to ride! Also nothing wrong with riding around fields & woods for views.
The fact that you said "visited down" would suggest you are used to more hills, so you will probably be a little disapointed.
well i grew up in dunstable and i can confirm its quite dull
and im not a roadie however there are infact some decent hills and even scenery in the area........, dunstable downs is part of the chilterns
[img]
&cropratio=3:2&width=500&height=320[/img]" title="TOWNTALK.CO.UK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" >
&cropratio=3:2&width=500&height=320[/img]"and head towards aylesbury via ivinghoe beacon
[img]
and ashridge woods, stop to admire the view from the top of the monument
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
youll reach aston hill
[img] 
[/img]
and some decent enough climbs
ill admit its not the matterhorn but theres plenty of nice stuff to ride (certainly off road if you look hard enough)
So in summary, the OP got shafted and his friend needs to learn some new routes.
Another mystery solved, and we even managed top squeeze in the usual helpful post from TJ.
Yes, it seems I was well and truly shafted, although unintentionally.
I shall point my mate to this thread so he can plan a better route if I ever visit again.
Try some of the Chiltern Hundred too, 110 miles, nearly 9000ft of climbing...
http://www.chiltern-hundred.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=78
