Elsewhere Graham has asked for input from local event co-ordinators to explore new areas for the Polaris. At Alston I joked with Graham and Roger about running an event in Hertfordshire and rather than being laughed at they took me seriously. This all stemmed from 1991 after a friend and I competed in the first Polaris and thought we could do the same sort of thing on our home patch, well the provisional control points were visited and mapped but then the idea died a death. However the map still exists!

So the purpose of this thread is to gauge opinion on whether it would be a worthwhile exercise?

For your information, Hertfordshire is not just an extension of London as many think but away from the main roads (M1, A1(M) A10 & M25),is surprisingly rural with a dense network of bridleways and Byways, most in a good state of repair although equally there is a dense network of minor roads. The County is undulating (certainly not flat) runs from the Lea Valley in the East to the escarpment of the Chilterns in the West. The South of the County is on London Clay (sticky) and the North on Chalk (slippery) and often a combination of both exists (horrible). There is a good amount of woodland, some of it ancient but a large proportion of the land outside the towns is given to agriculture.

The downside? Well a lot of time would be spent on tarmac linking the rights of way, traffic will be heavier than you might be used to on a Polaris, the ROW network is shared by a very large number of horse riders (with the consequent effects on the surface at times) and then there is that Clay and the predominance of hawthorn and blackthorn hedges (regular punctures can be a problem).

So that's the background, any comments on a potential Polaris with a difference?

Well, I think it's an excelent idea, but living in Hertfordshire might make me a bit biased :)

BTW I think you've summed up the pro's and con's fairly accurately.

I've ridden in Hertfordshire before and it would certainly be different to the Lakes or Peaks but yes I'd still definitely be up for it.

Personally I'd have to say no. I prefer my riding to be in proper wild hill terrain. Muddy hedge-bashing and traffic dodging is not really my thing.

I'm a bit vague on exactly where Hertfordshire is, but last time I rode down south (south downs, north downs and chilterns) there was plenty of trails and definitely some tough riding to be had that was both difficult and rewarding. I'm sure a well planned event, even in a relatively populated area, could provide as much of a challenge as any previous event to date.
Go for it Tony - I'd enter :)

You must be mad last time I rode in herts there were few tracks most of which we mud baths. I used to live in herts by the way so I have riden there.

Keith

No not mad but as I live here it's what I ride so you get used to it, spare a thought for us flatlanders when we come up North and find hills.

As for "few tracks" I beg to differ, if like me you have highlighted every bridleway, RUPP, Byway and Cyclepath on the OS sheet for Herts, it is impressive just how much is available. OK you so you have to use the road a lot to link them all up but it's there if you know where to look.

I don't know when you last rode here but over the last few years Hertfordshire County Council has done an impressive job of resurfacing byways and bridleways. OK so the mud baths still exist but that's what would make it different.

Ian B

For your information, Hertfordshire is imediately North of London, roughly between the M40 and the M11 whereas the Downs are South of London but the Chilterns are on the Western edge of Herts so you might have already been here!

I appreciate there will be differing views but that's why I put up this thread to get some healthy debate.... keep it coming!

Point taken but living in manchester I have reasonable access to the lakes,dales,north wales,peaks etc. Last time I rode in Herts my partner was doing a course in welwyn and I rode quite a few tracks and was not particularly inspired so may be I just missed the good ones.So maybe a Herts Polaris may not be a bad idea after all!

Keith

I'm sitting in Welwyn (Garden City) as I type and I rode home to Stevenage yesterday, 12 miles and I reckon 60 -70% was off road and OK some of it was bl**dy muddy!

As I say, you have to know where to look!

So far that's one against and three in favour (now four following your "convertion")

Keith - when did you last do a polaris and not get muddy? ;)

Living in Reading, I wouldn't mind Hertfordshire, at the drive is not 4.5 hours, like it will be in two weeks time.

I live in Hampshire and would appreciate a shorter drive as well. Apart from that I have travelled much of the UK and although I haven't riden it all, I can attest that there are some perfectly challenging aspects to 'Southern' riding - it may not be quite the same as the wilderness experience of the Northern hills and moorland, but it is different and requires a diverse range of skills other than hill bashing!

So, count me as another YES.