Breeze Watford Graceful Greens: Flaunden Foray Revisted, Revised & Extended to Include Chenies Loop

Hi all! Firstly, this ride will be 20.2 miles. To get the 'Steady' categorisation - I had to type in 19.9 miles so no one saw the 'challenging' label & thought this would be a faster paced ride! This is a pace pressure free ride! Just come along to enjoy the beautiful countryside at a pace which is comfortable for you. : ) This ride is not a beginner ride but the next tier up: you need a bike with gears and need know how to use them, as the route is 'undulating' - Breeze code for there's hills! However, this will be a leisurely paced ride, averaging about 8 mph, with no pressure to go faster, and on the country lanes, I will lead from the back to support the last rider. : ) Graceful Green Rides are for ladies who want to see the countryside by bicycle, but at a pace where there is no pressure to go faster - you will not be too slow - if you can cope with the distance and are prepared to climb some hills - with the promise of cake at the top of the hill up to Chenies (!) - you are very welcome. : ) Walking up a hill is actively encouraged at this level, and there's always next time to make it all the way to the top! : ) The total elevation for the ride is 1, 156 feet, and my route is available at: https://www.strava.com/routes/4828759 Strava is free, and the mapping tool is a real help. I have been asked to put on this ride to provide a safe, beautiful training loop, where Breeze ladies can go and train. The only part I would not suggest doing solo (unless you have the experience) is the Chenies loop which is an addition to the last time I led this ride, and has been added: to make the route a little longer and slightly more challenging; because it's very beautiful; and because Van Hage serve huge slabs of cake! : ) The route takes us from Watford Cycle Hub, via quiet roads and cycle paths, to Rousebarn Lane (which is quiet but not recommended for road bikes), through the woods (still lovely with bluebells); to Chandlers Cross; Belsize, Flaunden; Chenies; back to Flaunden; through Sarratt; and then back through Chandlers Cross, Rousebarn Lane, & back to the Hub. There will be: one big, steep descent; one steep, short climb up to Chenies for cake (!), and one long slow climb back up into Flaunden (after cake), and the rest is 'undulating' with some lovely lanes, where if you are finding the pace too slow, I can let you go on ahead to an agreed rendezvous point. : ) Please bring: a drink; money for the cafe at the Van Hage Garden Centre; a bicycle pump that fits your valves if yours are Presta valves (the 'skinny ones'); and a spare inner tube (which if you don't have, you can buy from Watford Cycle Hub: a new one for £4; a refurbished one for £1 (unpatched), or 50p (patched). I love this route, and it is my joy to give you the guided tour of where I love cycling myself! : ) Regulars are warmly welcomed back, and newcomers are warmly welcome to join the group! :) See you Sunday! All the best, Georgia