e2e.bike

Cycling adventures across Yorkshire, Britain and beyond

Menu
  • End to Ends
    • Britain
    • Ireland
    • France
    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Luxembourg
    • Denmark
    • Germany
    • Austria
    • Switzerland
    • Czechia
    • Slovakia
    • Poland
    • Latvia
    • Cuba
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Isle of Man
    • Faroes
    • Liechtenstein
  • Coast to Coasts
  • Yorkshire Ridings
  • Others
  • Writings
Menu
← PreviousNext →

Stevenage: On trains, chaos rains

Posted on 14 September 202117 September 2021 by Rob Ainsley

At last, life is returning to normal: trains delayed an hour by signal failure, just like the Before Times.

I did a quick jaunt to Stevenage today, to investigate the very agreeable Spoke CC cycle cafe in Codicote just outside. And got very wet in the process: it pelted down with rain all day. The only glimpse of sunshine and scenery was on the giant wall print of an alpine view on the cafe terrace.

Dripping on the menu: The wet journey to Spokes CC cafe

The rain, seeping into the signal box at New Barnet, was presumably the cause of the severe delays on northbound trains from London, including those which eventually got me back over an hour late. Which at least meant the return leg of the trip worked out free, under Delay Repay.

That wasn’t the biggest rail-related bike challenge of the day, though. The trickiest times were in the morning, on my way in. As my train rolled into Stevenage, I went to get my bike out of the stupidly cramped cupboards that pass for ‘cycle storage’, only to find it bricked up by a pile of heavy crates…

I’ll just get my bike, then
Previous
←   Matlock 5: Bamford Clough, Britain’s new steepest uphill
Next
Berwick: Borderline brilliant →

You are here

e2e.bike > Other > Route research > Stevenage: On trains, chaos rains

Recent Posts

  • Star Carr: This old house 10 December 2025
  • Chocs away: A York chocolate cycling trail 2 December 2025
  • East, west, home’s best: A York Side to Side 27 November 2025

Random Posts

  • France 10: Sarlat to Gramat17 September 2015
    Despite drizzle all day, the fabulous scenery more than made up. With …
  • France 1: St Malo to Pontorson8 September 2015
    By ferry – especially when you’re cycling off it – is a …
  • Britain 15: Amble to Coldstream19 June 1997
    An action-packed day in Northumbria, more eventful than the mileage suggests. I …

Search e2e.bike

Find me

        
Facebook • Bluesky • Linked In • Email
© 2026 e2e.bike | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme