Old Friends; Beddington Saturday riders to Merton Abbey Mills

A beautiful sunny morning suddenly turned to threatening grey in the minutes before our meeting.  Was it an omen?  

Far from it.  For various reasons I had not ridden with Saturday riders for a while, and Maggie was back, testing her shoulder for the first time in what seems ages on a full ride.  And she had the idea that we could meet up with the Nonsuch Saturday riders, who were scheduled to go to Merton Abbey Mills.  Needing a short ride, darkening skies and meeting everybody; a treble whammy of the best sort.

It was just the old faithfuls today, me and Maggie, Ken, Anna and Roger, and apart from Roger doing his level best to end up under a tram, it was a really enjoyable ride.  Nobody wanted to dawdle because of the cold, brisk wind, so we got on with it.  There was a fair on Figges Marsh, typically English, roundabouts and sidestalls garish in the cheap lighting, fairground music blaring out, hardly anybody there on a freezing cold day.  But soon enough we were rounding the curve to the William Morris factory and homing in on M.E.D, where it was full inside and sheltered just enough outside that we could sit there.

And, aligning perfectly with Maggie's cunning plan, along came Carolyn and the short ride riders fron Nonsuch.  Lots of old friends now.

....sat on the MED bench like bookends.

Home south on the Wandle Trail and the rain, which had held off all day, came about half an hour after we had got indoors (via another tea stop, at the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park).

Old friends, Maggie's shoulder tested, kept dry, had a good ride, two tea stops, Roger survived to tell the tale.  Can you envisage a better Saturday?  Thanks everyone for the company, and Anna for taking up the role as back marker.  

All Day Ride to Egham, Saturday 9 May

A Grand Day Out

From Roger

Stiff legs and uncertain knees confirmed the next morning that it had been a good ride.

We had chosen a lovely day to make our way to Egham when eleven of us set off from the Mansion.

We split into two groups a few minutes apart making the usual way Ditton and on through to the rear of Sandown Park where it made commonsense to let Paul G, Ann and Alice ride on ahead lead by Karen as they were so much quicker on their road bikes.

I was on my trusty Anytour electric and Ken, Helen and Anna were on electric bikes too. Sue on her conventional bike had no problem keeping up with us.

It was tempting to sit all day in the courtyard of the Barn theatre café at the Walton coffee break and we savoured the ten or fifteen minutes extra time in the sun while Karen and her crew toiled on ahead of us. Walton to Chertsey bridge was uneventful except for the Bee Line navigation to sometimes decide to switch off or to issue directions just a hint too late.

At Chertsey bridge we began a delightful ride alongside the river, just us, the sun and the Thames – the Thames path was as lumpy as ever but had few walkers and everywhere the gardens were in bloom and even the Swans looked freshly scrubbed and polished.

Staines was the usual conundrum of busy town centre roads and fast traffic and the problem of ascertaining how we could safely get onto the cycle track back over the bridge without threading through pedestrians. We tried crossing the traffic by stopping it (which was surprisingly easy and effective) and once on the correct side of the road, we soon found the cycle track.

All day we had to deal with road works and closed carriageways, but they saved the best until last when they dug up the pavement and carriageway under the bridge leading to Egham town centre and the high street. We did in the end find a way past and though the barriers and blocked off lanes and safely made our way through, to the usual warm welcome at The Crown.

As previously, they were very bike friendly, letting us bring the bikes through the bar so we could keep an eye on them as we sat in the rear garden. The service was good and the burgers overstuffed and of the dimensions you could only eat in the company of friends.

Again, the temptation was to just stay, replete in the sun in the back garden enjoying the company.

We gave Karen a head start and were soon following Bee Line towards Lyne and Shepperton and even negotiating Chertsey town centre avoiding the impromptu tour of housing and industrial estates Bee Line had directed us to in the recce trips.

This time the unrelenting head wind we had experienced as we checked out the route the week before, had relented into a refreshing breeze that allowed us to revel in the countryside as we made our way up the long gently rising gradients and the short sharp pulls where the road crossed and then recrossed the motorway and we could relax and enjoy the downhill.

We easily found the almost hidden turning to the splendidly named Dockett Eddy Lane and on again to the Thames path, lined this time with six figure bungalows with gardens in full bloom and a wonderful view of the river, complete with a handy place to park the motor cruiser.

At the ferry café by Shepperton lock the whole group were reunited and over coffee and cake, Sue announced it was her birthday. This brought forth a ragged rendition of “Happy Birthday to you” – and most of us knew all the words. A large slice of cake with a candle appeared which was ceremonially lit and extinguished and the cake pronounced delicious by Sue.

Happy Birthday, Sue

Back on the bike, the Bee line had fits of staying silent when one needed reassurance, but by the detour round Sunbury, we were navigating by memory and experience and the route was just as lovely as ever. We found the track alongside the reservoirs and up into Hampton and eventually into Bushy Park where Sue showed us some alternative tracks which got us out to the foot of Kingston bridge.

The ride ended at Kingston but the square was still busy with the meandering souls preoccupied with the smells from the food stalls, as we threaded through the square and onwards to home.

Door to door we had covered 53 enjoyable miles enjoying lovely weather and good company and the electric bikes were a joy to ride, returning with an average of 45% battery to spare.

Invitation to join the All Day Ride to Egham on 9 May

From Anna

The all day ride on Saturday 9th of May is to Egham. Approximately 50 miles along highways, byways and cycle paths, down secret alleys and alongside the Thames. Mostly flat with one or two gentle inclines.

We stop at Walton on Thames for coffee, the Crown in Egham for lunch and The Ferry café at Shepperton for tea.

If you would like to join us, please WhatsApp Anna on (07939) 036939 by Thursday evening, 7 May.

Sunny with a Chance of Rain Later; Nonsuch short ride 2 May

 

By Karen C

Having finally recovered from a wind-beaten recce to Egham on Wednesday, and buoyed by the fine (for now) weather, I headed over to NSP for a more leisurely option.  Some of our faster members had headed out on the long ride earlier, and Steve arrived thereafter to take up the slack.

However, there was still a fair few chomping at the bit in anticipation of the short Malden Church option. There was much milling around awaiting TBD leader to step forward when, thankfully, Tony arrived and volunteered his services.

So it was pretty much the usual suspects joining us for the short ride, with the welcome additions of Sandy from the Midweek Wayfarers and Nigel C, returning to cycling after an extended injury-related absence.

After leaving the hustle and bustle of Cheam and the Sutton bypass, we followed the cycle route to and through Fairlands Park and the back woods of North Cheam.  We then headed towards Raynes Park via the Sir Joseph Hood recreation ground.  We eventually made it to the World of Golf after what seemed like multiple slopes and subways criss-crossing the A3.  It was somewhat of a start/stop route so not ideal for Nigel's return to cycling on a heavy ebike, but he soldiered on without complaint.

After coffee, natter and observations about golf balls caught in the netting, we set off towards Motspur Park - with the inevitable footbridge thrown in.  Intermittent drizzle was falling by the time we reached Stoneleigh but most of us (sorry Sharon!) made it home before the heavy stuff arrived.

Saturday Gang go Hilly; 25 April

 

Report by Steve W

One beginners long ride, a couple of weeks ago, I asked whether anyone fancied doing the Hilly 50, you know, that annual ride for charity, where we ride up several of Surrey’s finest hills because they’re there and not just to get to a nice coffee stop? Once I’d dragged everyone back out from behind the benches and trees they’d run to, to hide behind, I found I’d got 5 very willing volunteers.

So, six of us got to Rykas around 9.45 on Saturday to sign on, 3 by train, Peter from some family duties, not too far away and Stuart and I cycled from Nonsuch Mansion.

                                 Steve, Peter, Justine, Stuart, Paul and Rob – ready for uppage

We’d signed up for Dave Vine’s expedition but because of a very good turn out, Dave suggested we ride separately, to avoid an unwieldy group size. Oh no, I thought I could do a bit of following today, for a change lol. Undeterred, off we set at 10.05 sharp for the first challenge of the day.

Unfortunately I forgot to recommend taking the almost hairpin, near the top of Ranmore Common Road, as wide as possible (if no cars) to avoid the nasty incline increase on the inside. This caused a couple of the gang, on not properly warmed up legs, to stall. We regrouped and recouped at Denbies back gate and the second group replaced us as we resumed pedalling.

Next came the first weeeeeeeeh moment of the day, down Ranmore Road, to Dorking and on to the start of Coldharbour Lane (which used to go to Brixton, when I was a kid but seems to have been moved and pointed up). Everyone found this fun and we spent a few moments laughing about it at the beginning of Logmore Lane.

Hahahaha

After the interesting surface features of Logmore and a nip of adrenaline on the A25, the scent of tea was beginning to be sensed in the air, when a tyre incursion by sharp and leak producing object occurred, in Hollow lane, not far from the Pasturewood Rd turn. Paul was instantly on the case, with well-practised efficiency (I keep trying to persuade him to get something tougher than the GP5000 S TRs but he has a need for speed).

The second group passed while the plug injection procedure was in progress, we got a few hellos but no offers of help, I guess because of our aura of cool competence.

                                                         Competent flatness alleviation

After a few more undulations we reached the King’s Head tea stop, where the second group were in various stages of being served and it looked a bit busy, so we back tracked to Heartwork’s, which was relatively quiet and new to the rest of the group.

Undulating onwards, passing through Shere without stopping at any of its excellent eating places (shocked emoji, sad emoji) and a jink across the A25 lined us up for Combe Lane. This is another climb with a sharpish left turn on it, best taken wide if possible, that not everyone was aware of but I definitely didn’t hear any swearing behind me.

At the top we went into The Pitch, in West Hanger car park for a bonus tea stop.

Bonus tea stop – not sure what Peter said

We proceeded to proceed along Combe lane, with its nicely wooded edges and clumps of (probably invasive) bluebells. “Is this it, now, until Box Hill?” A voice enquired. I had to say that there was one more gravity realisation experience before then. And in what seemed like no time at all, we turned into Crocknorth road.

Regrouping at the top, as had been our practice all day, we performed the Saturday gang Haka and headed for Ranmore. All present confirmed that the Common Road is more fun going down than coming up.

And so to the Col De Box. There was definitely a sense of foreboding as we approached it but I think the consensus at the top was that it wasn’t as bad as expected, probably due to the nastier stuff that preceded it!

We signed out, grabbed further refreshment from the cafe and chatted with the other riders still around, until it was time to go. A little debate ensued, then everyone decided to ride home. Peter went down the hill and the rest of us turned right. Justine and Paul went their own way and myself, Rob and Stuart aimed for Headley, a bit more climbing but one last nice  weeeeeeeeh down the other side.

All in all a great day, great route and great beginners effort – a much bigger funload (it’s still not work!) than the usual Saturday ride.

A Lazy Ride by the River; Nonsuch Moderates to Eight on the River, 25 April

By Roger P

It was ideal cycling weather – warm with a fresh breeze as we met at the Mansion.  It was the day of the “Hilly 50” so some regular riders were missing, Caroline decided to take the short ride to Telegraph track.  No one seemed eager to lead a longer ride, so I suggested Eight on the river with the prospect of good coffee and relaxing in the sun terrace above the boathouse overlooking the Thames.

We welcomed Liz, who had not cycled with us previously so  we were a group of eleven as we set off on the usual route to Worcester Park and on to Kingston. The market at Kingston was heaving with people waiting to graze at the food stalls, as we wound our way through them and up onto the cycle track across the bridge, and into Bushy Park.

The track through the park had its fair share of suicidal young rabbits dashing out almost under one’s wheels and the track was bone dry and seemed to have lost none of its potholes, though many had been partly filled with gravel.  There were few people enjoying the sun until we neared Hampton Court.

At the palace we took the usual route across the bridge and then turned right to head alongside the riverbank and onto the rough track leading to the clubhouse. The rowing club was packed and the available space littered with racing shells with the pursuit boats on trestles while crews manoeuvred the long racing shells in and out of the water.

 We sat out in the sun enjoying an Iced coffee and cake and could have stayed longer, but the café was shutting early at 4pm. I decided that I would like to return via the path past Hampton Court palace and along the Thames leading to Kingston Bridge – it was a lovely sunny day and I thought the view of the river and craft to be more interesting than backroads and high roads.

Frank left us here deciding to make his own way home.

We retraced our steps back across the bridge on the shared cycle path and crossing on the pelican crossing opposite Hampton Court, we set off alongside the river heading for Kingston.  It was a lovely relaxing ride with even the river looking pretty and not too many pedestrians or other cyclists.

At Kingston we retraced our steps on our usual route via Berrylands and on crossing under the Kingston bypass Jackie and Dee indicated they knew the route back to Nonsuch and they were joined by Liz. While the rest carried on towards Worcester Park and Green lanes. 

Nigel was backmarker but unfortunately, his chain came off bringing him off with it. Unhurt, he was soon back in the saddle, but the main group lost contact with him and waited for quite a time, at Green Lane in case his chain had slipped off once more, or he had come to grief.  When calls to his mobile went unanswered messages were left and contact was eventually made with him. He had discovered Liz who had become lost and he decided to accompany her back to the Mansion.

Despite some concerns at the end of the ride, it was a pleasant easy ride of about twenty miles through a lovely park and back alongside the river, while other hardy souls toiled on the Hilly fifty.

Beddington Parkers to the best cheese scone ever; Saturday 18 April

Saturday was a pleasant Spring day in Beddington Park.  We had walked it in the morning and there met Sue Sowden, who for years has given cycling lessons to adults to improve their confidence and fit them for the London roads, and she said she had two learners who were ready to move on to CTC Beginners.  We chatted to them both and they seemed keen enough to come back at 2-o-clock.  Then there was Katie, who cycles to work in StThomas' every day but her first outing with the club a couple of months back was keeping up with the fast Nonsuch group and she decided she had to get fitter.  She had contacted Maggie and said she might come, so we had high hopes of welcoming an unprecedented three new riders from Beddington Park.

In the event, neither Sama nor Rekha turned up but Katie was there and said she was happy to come along on a ride which would be gentler than the Saturday fast group.  We would have taken the other two to M.E.D at Merton Abbey but with Katie we felt we could go to Elmers End, where the good coffee awaits the other side of a busy multi-lane road junction, unsuitable for those nervous on the roads.

Maggie was fit enough to cycle the mile down to the Pavilion and then go straight home and off went the rest of us; Sharon, Katie and me on leg power and Ken, Roger and Anna battery assisted.  Waddon, Central Croydon, past the Croydon Stadium and across South Norwood Country Park.  Coffee and the five star cheese scone at Branching Out, back through Shirley Oaks and Addiscombe. 

 Ashburton Playing Fields

Thanks everyone for the company and we hope to see you again Katie.