Cyclists braving the cold

It was a cold start to the day with temperatures around minus two when riders set off for the start at Hemel Hempstead Cycle Club HQ.

The ride was cancelled in February when the cold weather and snow put paid to any plans of safe riding, which includes many lanes around the three counties.

The start was delayed by 30 minutes to allow the temperatures to warm up, whilst the 150 riders from all over Herts, Beds, Bucks and beyond crammed together in the clubhouse trying to keep warm.

The ride is over either 100km or 55km and tackles such hills as Bison, Dunstable Downs, Ivinghoe Beacon, Aston Hill and Ley Hill to name a few with half the entry fee going to a local charity.

The LBRCC riders all set off at 9:30am in a group, road conditions had improved greatly by then with only small patches of ice on the lanes and the main roads easily rideable.

The group soon spilt as they hit the first slope as there were riders of all different abilities.

Many of the club did the 100km and got back in times from 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes with lots of weary faces arriving back at Hemel Hempstead Cycling Club to tea, cake and sandwiches and lively discussion over which hill was the biggest challenge.