Hertfordshire/the Chilterns/Buckinghamshire
June 29, 1998

Distance: 60 miles
Elevation: approx 6,000 feet (my Avocet acted up)
Difficulty: 5/10
Scenery: 7/10;
Route: Hemel Hempstead-Nettleden-Little Gaddesden-Ringshall
Ivinghoe-Aldbury-Tring-Dunsmore-Little Hampden-Bryant's Bottom-
Holmer Green-Little Missenden-Chesham-Asheridge-Hastoe-Tring

An absolutely gorgeous ride easily accessible via trains from London. This ride is almost 100 kilometers (62 miles) long, but can easily be shortened by creating a loop variation from either Chesham or Tring (approximately 30 miles NW of London). The ride starts from outside the train station in Hemel Hempstead, heads NW around beautiful Asheridge Park, then south on to Tring and the Chilterns before heading north again to Chesham and finishing at the Tring British Rail station.

The ride manages to avoid busy A and B roads, and is almost entirely on quiet narrow lanes. There are a few steep climbs, though none longer than 1/2 mile or so. Highlights include the roads around Asheridge Park, the steep climb to Dunsmore, the quaint town of Little Missenden and the undulating roads just outside of Chesham.

Below: Hempstead Lane in Potten End near the start of the ride.

Above and Below: Nettleden Road just north of Berkhampstead is a perfect road for cyclists. Three miles long, it's got everything: climbs, straightaways, shade, smooth surface, and best of all, traffic free!

Below: At the Ringshall end of Nettleden Road near Asheridge Park.

Below: Beacon Road is almost 2 miles long and picks up where Nettleden Road leaves off. The road is fairly straight and flat, then gradually climbs and crests at the point just before it joins up with busy B489. The wide-open views of Ivinghoe Hills and surrounding areas on the descent from Beacon Road reminded me of the wide-open, 11% drop on the Marshall-Petaluma Road in Marin County once described by John C. as "nectar."

Below: Lower Icknield Way continues the succession of perfect riding roads on the way to Tring. The road features a short but nasty climb in the middle, followed by an enjoyable gradual descent on the other side (shown).

Below: The most memorable road on this ride has to be Tom's Hill in Aldbury. It's a steep, rather twisty shaded climb on what felt like 7-8% grade of a hillclimber's delight; Tom's Hill was much like the roads around the Bonny Doon/Big Basin area near Santa Cruz, California. This road was not really a part of my original intended route, but this serendipitous discovery made my detour worthwhile.

Above: St. Peter and Paul Church in Tring. The church was 12th century in origin although much of the present structure dates back "only" to the 15th century.

Below: Looking back on the ascent of a road just after Dancersend, outside Tring. The pavement is a bit rough and patchy, and quite narrow--there is barely enough room for a bike and a car side-by-side. It's a roller-coaster of a road, punctuated by a left-curving ascent that can catch one unaware because of its steepness (felt like 9% for about 100 meters). A delightful road in a nature reserve.

Below: On Dunsmore, after a protracted climb of about 300 feet of 7-9%. The road then descends towards Hampden Bottom in the Chilterns.

Above: Approaching the quaint village of Little Missenden.
Below: Church Road, Chesham (an ancient market town).

Last Updated: July 03, 1998