Rubber Hole; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers' coffee bar crawl

Having for the first time this year achieved a decent weekly mileage before the weekend, I was looking forward a pleasant Saturday spin.  The rides list said Richmond Park, and why not?  A good 45-50 Km round trip with a few inclines to keep us warm on a cold day and perhaps a new way round the park.  Left at Ladderstyle, down the hill, right at the corner up to the track to the Pen Ponds kiosk then past the Ballet School and down the hill for tea at Roehampton Gate.  Back home through Robin Hood Gate.

There were nine of us at Nonsuch and they who had not been sidelined did Richmond Park last week, so Steve led a group to Bushy Park.  That left Anna, Roger, Maggie and me to go to Richmond Park.  Ideal, with two electric bikes we could establish a good pace to combat the cold.  Richmond Park, here we come.

Somewhere on Dewsbury Gardens I heard the rhythmic hissing noise and wondered why, every revolution of my wheel, there was a ticklish draught on my leg.  Doh!  I made the announcement and stopped, but then the hissing stopped and the tyre was still very rideable.  My companions were interested in warmth, so we decided to detour to Hookey Street Cafe at New Malden where they could get their warmth and have a coffee and I could mend my puncture.  Maggie brought me a coffee.  My tyre had in it two holes each large enough to accommodate a thick nail but we found nothing inside the tyre.

The puncture repair could not have gone better; ten minutes at most and the tyre went on without too much hand pain and in I went to announce that we were rejoining the route and resuming our ride as planned.  We had just gone under the A3 and were still on South Lane when the steering became difficult  and I looked down to see my new inner tube flat as a Beddington Park Beginners ride.

This time it was Woodies, where you can sit inside in the warm with your coffee and watch your leader through the window as he repairs his puncture.  As before, Roger stayed with me at least until the analysis stage.  There was no inner tube puncture and it seemed to be a faulty valve.  My easy repair luck had run out and the tyre resisted being removed.  My electric pump was running out of juice and Anna's did not seem to pump air in properly (set for a schroeder valve!) and boy, did the tyre resist being put back on.  

When I had done I just decided that someone up there was determined to stop me getting my ride, and I knew from committee meetings that I was within ten yards of a pint of Youngs Ordinary.  So I had a beer and we went home to Wallington Cycles, where I left the bike and asked them to fit a new tyre for Monday.

Lesson.  Electric pumps are great but they only do two inflations, so in future I will always carry a hand pump for back-up.  

Royal scandal in Ashtead; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers 28 February

Not for the first time this month some of us had an evening engagement, so we offered a shorter ride alternative, to Ashtead.  Roger and Anna took up our offer and the four of us enjoyed a short breakaway ride on a dry but cold Saturday afternoon.

Across the muddy pot-holed The Avenue in Nonsuch Park, up the pothole-strewn cycle track of Woodcote Green Road behind Epsom Hospital and along Rookery Hill, whose broken, uneven concrete would not be out of place in the remote regions of Nepal, and which ends with a truly spectacular pothole by the gates on to Dene Road.

Coffee at Handley's Cafe and a trip back through Ashtead and Epsom Commons, stopping only to take a picture of the Edward VIII postbox on Overdale.

Roger, Maggie & Paul embarrass the Royal Family by pointing to the symbol of a naughty king.

Anna took the picture.

A pleasant, if shortish ride.  Thanks for the company.

Change of venue for the Beginners AGM on 21 March

The Beginners AGM on 21 March 4.30 - 6.00 will be held in The California, 267 Brighton Road, Belmont SM2 5SU. They are generously allocating a room for us and hope we will take advantage of their food and drink menu. There will be parking for bicycles at the front. The afternoon rides will aim to finish at The California.

Conspiracy! Beddington one-o-clockers to Merton Abbey Mills, 21 February

There was a conspiracy afoot on Saturday.  The Famous Five were going to see the Irish Guards Band in Epsom that night so the plan was to go on a fairly short ride so that everyone could safely get home and turn around for a night out on the tiles.  But we had a pleasant surprise in store, for we had a newcomer, Roland.  He had ridden from Nonsuch last week and wanted to try out Beddington this.

The general consensus was to go for a trip to Merton Abbey Mills, which is not our shortest ride at all, but from which we knew we could get home in time.

And so that is where we went.  A day of pleasant weather after another wet week and we had a lovely ride, even if the leader (ho had planned to go to Elmers End) made a couple of brief mistakes en route.

Perhaps becsause of the lack of snow or a named storm, M.E.D was unusually busy but it was nice enough (just) for us to sit outside, once we had mopped up the standing water from the tables and benches.

Four conspirators and Roland at M.E.D.  Maggie took the picture.

The Wandle was in full flood and apart from a particularly unpleasant glass trap on the riverside in Poulter Park we had an uneventful trip.

A pleasant afternoon for everyone and Roland seemed to enjoy his ride as much as we enjoyed his company.  Come again, Roland!

And, yes, we all made the concert in good time.

Social Media and Communications Policy

 

From Sue F

We now have a club Social Media and Communications policy approved by the Committee. More and more of our communication both for practical ride information and other cycling related issues are conveyed via social media and email. This Policy is intended to provide guidance to help understand acceptable standards of use by members and to assist everyone in understanding what the potential risks are in using social media and how these can be avoided and managed.

You can access the policy via the link above or from the Information Hub on our website.

There went the sun; Nonsuch one-o-clockers to Long Ditton on Valentine's Day

There was romance in the air and overpriced restaurants overbooked when Saturday dawned with - and you'll never believe it - sunshine in the air.

My plot was essentially a selfish one.  First time on a bike since caressing the tarmac two and a half weeks ago, see if the old joints still worked, make sure I hadn't forgotten how to ride, turn up at Nonsuch and if necessary just go home on the train.  

But it went well.  Who doesn't get the odd twinge?  The patisserie in Cheam was packed but we still got a table, Tim turned up for club business and to save me a ride, Anna and Roger were there, Nigel rolled up as we were leaving, and we all went to the rendezvous at the Mansion.

A veritable throng at Nonsuch Mansion

There a vertiable throng was waiting and Steve was there to lead a ride down south to Brockham.  I assumed, rightly, that most would want to go on his proper ride while Maggie and I decided that a modest paced pedal to Long Ditton would be as far as was sensible for me.  But Ken, A&R, Sue and Nigel (a fellow casualty, nursing a bandaged foot) slotted in behind Maggie and me, and off we went over well worn tyre tracks through the new safer route around Worcester Park Station, under the A3 tunnel at Tolworth and on to sunny Ditton.

Nice Buns

I didn't think I'd qualify and get past the quality control at the Nice Buns cafe, but there was no age or shape discrimination and they let us all in; they even had red paper roses on the table for us.  So we had a leisurely coffee and made our way back through Surbiton to Worcester Park and thence went our various ways home.

Good company, a lovely day and a problem-free ride.  But next morning the sun was just a wierd memory.  Had it been real or was I dreaming?  Is there really a dazzling orange-yellow fireball in the sky to be seen above the greyness, or is it just fake news?

Invitation to our 2026 Annual Lunch

CTC South West London Annual Lunch and Prizegiving

4th March 2026 at 12:30 for lunch at 1 p.m.

We are delighted to tell you that Jennie has booked the Ristorante Sorrento (379 Ewell Road, Tolworth, KT6 7DE) for our annual lunch.

This has proved to be a most popular venue for the occasion since our first visit in 2018 and we are pleased to be able to hold the event there again.

The set price for our three-course lunch will be £25.25. This includes a 10% service charge, but does not include any drinks, coffee or tea. This is our menu:

Click on menu to enlarge

Please book by placing your order, and pay in advance by Sunday 15th February.

We expect the occasion will be attended by over 60 members, as it has been in recent years.

Please send an email message to Tim Court with your order for (i) a starter and (ii) a main meal. The waiters will take your orders for dessert after the main course on the day.

The preferred method of payment (£25.25) is a direct transfer via your online banking facility, but we can also accept cash or a cheque. For online payment please ask Tim C for our bank details if you don’t already have them. For a cash or cheque payment please check with Tim or your section representative. For anyone who has yet to pay their 2026 club subscription please consider adding your £3 when you pay for your lunch.

Any food allergies, dietary disorders or Vegan requirements must be notified to Tim when you advise your order so that these details can be noted and passed to the restaurant staff.

All ride leaders please note that your teams should be delivered to the restaurant by 12.30 p.m. so that everyone will have time to buy drinks, chat, and browse the photography exhibition, and settle down ready to confirm orders with the waiting staff.

Thank you

Tim C