Weald to Childwickbury and Redbourn

This is a challenging ride that takes in a number of riding environments including some busier sections of road and off-road tracks. It also has a significant amount of climbing.

We head towards St Albans, from where we’ll take an off-road route to the pretty hamlet of Childwickbury. We’ll then head to Redbournbury Watermill before taking refreshments at The Hub Cyclists’ Refuge in Redbourn. We will need to negotiate a few steps at the ford near the mill.

The return journey starts on the Nicky Line before heading south through Hemel Hempstead, Bedmont and Abbots Langley. We complete the route on the more familiar roads of Watford and Carpenders Park. Note that the second half of the ride involves riding in heavier traffic.

Speed 10mph. 1740ft of climbing.

Ensure that your bike is in good condition and that you can deal with punctures or mechanical issues. Use this guide: https://lcc.org.uk/advice/bike-safety-check/. Have a plan for how you will get home if your bike becomes unrideable or you are unable to continue. Bring a spare innertube, a pump and tools to fix a puncture. Dress appropriately for the conditions. Bring a drink and snack (or money to purchase).

Before signing up for this ride, ensure that you are able to cope with the distance, speed and amount of climbing for this route. The time for the ride is a best estimate by the Ride Leader. Sometimes this can be affected by factors such as the weather, mechanical issues, the queue at the cafe, etc.

Due to the off-road sections, this ride is not suitable for road bikes with skinny tyres.