Intrepid Gregarios headed to one of our favourite patches today - the rolling open-vista roads of North East Herts. A tail wind ensured speedy progress with regular pacemaking changes at the front to make it even easier.  Fields of sunflowers, corn, wide open vistas, and thatched cottage villages - this ride had it all. We rode almost entirely on quiet scenic country roads taking in Hertford - the only place of any size, Dane End, and then Ardeley for a coffee ‘n’ snack-attack at the excellent Church Farm. Our every need was catered for with fine fare, hot coffee - plus the fine detail of background music by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers - now where do you get that! http://www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk/.      Cafe review

New guys Martin and Dragos both punched above their weight on the ride back. There was a bit of a flurry on the foothills of the Essendon climb with TonyG the former “Hampstead Harrier” now turned “the Eagle of Sassa” pushing the pace on only to be on the receiving end of a decisive attack by Tony Taylor. The 70 mile ride was rounded off by the inevitable apres ride coffee in Bushey rendezvousing with Mr Brown to hear his weekend racing exploits including his recent tarmac inspection.