With the forecast for the day to be cold, wet, and windy four riders ventured out on the long ride to outer Hertfordshire while Liliane, Phil, and myself eventually decided to ride to Black Park and make a decision on how to proceed over coffee.
We left Uxbridge across Rockingham Recreation and up Chandlers Hill to Iver Heath where the “liquid sunshine“ became a downpour and we sought partial shelter by the shops. Onward through the Pinewood Green estate to Black Park. Cycling through the park we noticed cyclists on mountain bikes weaving through the trees marshals directing them. It turned out to be a well supported event run by the West Drayton Mountain Bike Club. Over coffee in the warmth of The San Remo Café the sky brightened a little and we decided to lunch at The Red Lion, Langley Marish.
We left the park along Rowley Lane, down Wexham Street past the hospital, and Church Lane to the Uxbridge Road. Crossing the busy road into George Green we rode along Middle Green to St Mary’s Road over the canal and railway to The Red Lion and lunch.
After lunch leaving the warmth of the pub we retraced our route to Pickford Drive and made our way through Trenches Farm, up Trenches and Billet Lanes to Hollybush Lane to join Langley Park Road en route to Iver. From Iver it was straight down to Cowley where we three dispersed the the warmth of our homes.
We encountered some rain and even sleet along the way but it was an enjoyable short ride.
Uxbridge to Uxbridge approx. 16 miles