Five Miles to Fabulous was initiated by the CTC as a weekend of rides in June 2007.   Some CTC local groups have incorporated 5MTF rides into their programme, and South Herts is one such group.  The rides are for women who want to cycle, but are put off by the state of the roads and the traffic and the lack of suitable group rides.  The format is an easy ride incorporating a coffee stop, using quieter roads and traffic free-routes.  The ride thus gives an opportunity both to gain confidence in traffic and discover routes that avoid busy roads.

Experienced riders are very welcome on these rides, your support and advice is appreciated! 

Date	Start*	Leader	Time	Destination & Coffee Stop
Sat 17 March 2012	Morrisons, St Albans	Rona	09:30	mystery tour
Sat 21 April 2012	Morrisons, St Albans	Rona	09:30	mystery tour

Exact route to be determined on the whim of the leader taking into account the coffee morning listings in that week's local news and the preferences of those present.

Those of you who are CTC members will have seen the article on the Chester Fabulous Ladies in the CTC's CYCLE magazine:  Sue Booth leads monthly rides with a very similar approach to our group.  I enjoyed the article, and would recommend Sue's blog – it has lots of useful advice.

Our rides programme used to be based on coffee mornings at Sleapshyde Methodist Chapel - now that the chapel has closed, we will have to go elsewhere.  I will check for likely coffee stops in the week before the ride and plan accordingly.  All rides in the summer list are therefore ‘mystery tours’ - expect church jumbles and village shops to feature, possibly also garden centres and pubs!

*All rides start at Morrisons Supermarket, Hatfield Road, St Albans.  We meet by the cycle stands below the canopy.  You do not need to be a CTC member to try these rides.

12 November: Quilters Our last ride of the autumn programme was another longer ride.  The Mead Quilters exhibition in Wheathampstead had caught the eye of more than one of the five riders, and we felt we could go the distance.  It was milder than expected, and even a hint of blue sky.  Out by way of Woodstock Road, Marshals Drive and Sandridgebury Lane.  Through Sandridge and across Nomansland Common, to take Bull Lane over to the Elephant and Castle and on to Wheathampstead. Our group separated into those that wished to view the exhibition and those to whom needlework did not appeal.  The latter section of the party headed off to Ushers for an enjoyable coffee and cake.  The rest of us joined the throng in the Memorial Hall.  There was in fact a sporting link, a display be Quilts 4 London of some of the pennants that have been made to be presented to each athlete.  Your leader was obviously not looking like a competent sewer, as she was given one of the simple kits.  So, now you know, if you want to participate in the Olympics - join a Five Miles ride!  The website is www.quilts4london.org.uk We returned to St Albans by way of Beech Hyde Lane and Jersey Lane, riders peeling off for home en route; with a sole representative getting all the way back to Morrisons to do her shopping.