Hilly Teen Hell Ride

This is a three part ride for building cycle-confident families. The out and return are c.7 mile hilly road rides, challenging for cycle-confident teenagers (and their parents). The central recovery stretch is c. 7 miles good quality off-road to include less confident cyclists and younger cycle-competent siblings.

Starting at the car park at Harrow Cycle Hub, confident 13yrs+ riders will warm up on quiet residential roads, a right turn off a small roundabout and graduate up to right turns and straight-ons at larger two lane roundabouts, 40mph main roads and fairly continuous hills. We then turn on to quieter roads and the off-road Ebury Way to Watford Cycle Hub. This is about 6.5 miles with a climb of over 250 feet.

At Watford Cycle Hub, we can be joined by less confident cyclist family members for about 7 miles of flat off-road recovery ride along the Ebury Way, canal paths, Rickmansworth Aquadrome and around the lakes. There are bumpy bridges to cross (sometimes on foot with the bike), pedestrians to navigate, and occasionally dogs or birds asleep in the path. There are cafes around the waterways. We return to Watford Cycle Hub.

We've arranged to dip in the shallow, fast-flowing River Colne halfway around (no facilities). Water temperature estimated in the mid-teens, air temperature high teens. Towelling off, and back on the bikes damp to warm up again.

The final section back to Harrow Cycle Hub is similar to the way out but at over 7 miles, over 300ft of climbing and a brief off-road section which involves being able to lift and manipulate the bike around gates and steps. Again, this is for road confident 13yrs+ cyclists.

In good weather, the whole route is comfortable on a smooth tyred road bike. Hybrids with road tyres are also fine. Mountain bikes and off-road tyres are only suitable for the middle section around the waterways, if any less confident cyclists join us briefly at Watford Cycle Hub.