Ivinghoe Beacon

Anyone up (and down) for this attempt at a new route? It might not even be raining that much.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46817399

St Albans City start/finish. 20min nonstop train from St Pancras 1906 Thameslink platform B (1903 train is slower and arrives later), so we can be rolling around 7:30. Head over Dunstable Downs then across to Ivinghoe Beacon, followed by 8 miles downhill to Hemel and then back to St Albans past the sights and smells of the Buncefield fuel storage tanks.

For pre-train refreshments, I think we can try the Mad Squirrel Tap which is down a little alley once we get back into town.

Trains back every 20mins, last sensible one 2347 but there's a 0025 too. ~25 miles BTCL.

Dunstable downs cafe closes 5pm sadly, but it's still a reasonable pitstop with a good view.

This is a bit more road-y than lane-y so let's see what we make of it.

The list

Train out

1. rhowe
   
   

Ride out

1.

Always up for some new roads.

Train out

1. rhowe
   
2. ruserius
   
   

Ride out

1.

Lovely route that, used to be my old stomping ground. Enjoy all!
Looking forward to the ride report and pics :)

Needs to go a bit further north for some tiles. Interesting idea though.
Wonder what the ride eastbound is like at peak hour.

I wanted to go a bit further north to avoid that nasty road between the Downs and the Beacon but I think it would've tipped into 40-mile territory

I modified the route to add a slight north deviation. Looks OK on streetview although I've never ridden it. Swaps a stretch of fairly dull main road for some single track lanes and a bonus ford.

If you downloaded the route already, please re-download.

would love to join but i can't on thursday

Looks really cool, what are people's opinion on a be seen front light only, though? Thinking could hop on a train when it gets too dark, few train stations along the south west side of the loop

It is pretty unsafe, especially if you have to peel off for some reason. Sunset is 2105 so we'll only be halfway round by then.

I have a spare Moon Meteor Vortex which ought to be enough.

If you haven't been on one of these rides before, you're very welcome but please familiarise yourself with the ride protocol to make sure you're adequately prepared and we all have a fun and safe evening.

That'd be really cool if I could borrow it, would love to do it, thanks for the heads up as well, I'll give it a read

It's in my bag. See you at St Pancras around 6:45

Reminder for @Skülly that the train is from St Pancras, not Aberdeen

Sick sounds good, thanks

Train out

1. rhowe
   
2. ruserius
   
3. clemnet
   
   

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The diversion round totternhoe/Eaton bray will be fine. Nothing amazing but better than the main road. Doolittle lane is quite quaint.

Didn't grab any photos of the ride but we dodged the rain, didn't completely die on the climbs although they definitely confirmed my lack of fitness.
I dropped a bottle as is customary.
The pub (Prae Wood) was stunning.

@clemnet always good to see a new face and congrats on doing it brakeless!

Ride home to Enfield was smooth enough. Someone was filming me from a car so hopefully I'll be famous.

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That routes a keeper, loved it. Thanks so much @rhowe sorry thought I heard you say you were going to get the train so we raced off. Made it just in time for the cancelled train.

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Oh no! Did you have to wait an hour?!

No, there was sposed to be another one. All good, home by just after 12. So can confirm route works in all respects.