Sunday's Route F

After last Sunday's marathon City recce ride in freezing temperatures, it was time for a change as I headed out towards Chorleywood and the countryside! As you might be able to see from the screen grab of my route laid out on Google Earth, I had a 26 mile trundle this morning in mild temperatures and even some sunshine.

Leaving North Harrow I travel north towards Hatch End, Pinner Green, and Northwood on the A404 where I hit the first climb of the day to pass the aptly named Mount Vernon Hospital. As one catches ones breath the road undulates before a steep descent into Rickmansworth with a top speed of 36 mph! Still on the A404, I work my way around Rickmansworth and on towards Chorleywood on a constantly climbing road and I cross over the M25 before turning left and dropping into Chorleywood. Once through the village I turn sharply left and start the second climb of the day that needs the "extremely" low gear of 42 x 18t - as low as my straight through freewheel allows! I start out of the saddle and then settle into the slow ascent back in the saddle. Not a long hill and I'm soon back in the usual 16t and away from housing and into wonderful Hertfordshire lanes. These lanes rapidly close down to single track and one has to be very careful as the Sunday drivers are already out. I eventually emerge onto the B4442 towards Chalfont St. Giles before immediately turning left onto an undulating section that precedes the best descent of the day into Maple Cross. There are two bends that need to be respected but otherwise a fast downhill that never disappoints. Onto the main road to Denham but I soon turn off left towards Harefield and the last big climb of the ride. Through Harefield I take the Harefield Road that eventually pops out back onto the A404 near Mount Vernon. From here it's a fairly downhill run back to North Harrow only hampered this morning by a freshening head wind. Back to North Harrow after just over 26 miles, completed in 1 hour 46 minutes - not a record time but again, good for me at this stage of the year.

Image shot last July just before the Tour de France arrived in London - not the usual matrix sign text content for the Marylebone Road!
Camera specs - Nikon D2H c/w 50mm f1.4 lens