Hilly 50 April 25th Don't miss it!

 The date for the Hilly 50k fast approaches - Saturday 25th April starting from Ryka’s, Dorking. Sign on from 9.00am. Finish at the top of Box Hill.

This year we have revised the route to include friendlier hills, scenic descents, and fewer potholes. I’m sure everyone will find it a significant challenge, but hopefully the new route will attract a wider group of riders who might not normally attempt such a ride.

For full details see our Hilly 50 web page.

If you are not familiar with the route, or nervous of the hills I plan to organise a sensibly paced group ride, including a mid-ride coffee stop at Kings Head Shop on Pitland St, Holmbury St Mary. Please let me know if you are interested (d.vine207@btinternet.com).

As in previous years we ask riders to support St Raphael’s Hospice. Donations of £10 (or more if you prefer) via our JustGiving page to this most deserving cause.

All day Saturday Ride, 11 April 2026

April is festooned with classic cycle races, not least the Paris-Roubaix, a crackpot of spitting cobbles, equivalent to running the 800 metres bare foot over burning coals.  Not on the pro calendar... yet... surely only a matter of time, comes the Leigh Challenge.  This is a little known (very little... in fact not known at all) one day tour into the burning furnace of the Surrey Hills. It attracts riders from all corners of the... (globe?... no...) all corners of... no... better said within a few miles of Leatherhead, perhaps... anyway riders who have been on holiday somewhere, anywhere, or not, who knows.  In any event, whatever holidays we had been or were going on we all lined up for the photo shoot.  All of us with killer instincts, ready to devour any opponent who so much sniffled in our direction.  Bernard Hinault, ‘The Badger’, snarling as always, Eddy Merckx, ‘The Cannibal’ smiling with sadistic intent and Luis Ocaña with a fixed straight line stare ready to tear away never to be seen again. 

 

“How’s your write up coming along?  You’re a little late with it” Sabina called over to me as I sat typing away, one finger at a time, cigarette hanging from mouth, in a dark corner of a rundown café in the backstreets of Paris.  “Non, Je ne regrette rien” sang a lonely heartbroken soul in deep guttural French barely rasping the smoke laden atmosphere.  Think of a black and white photo, creased and torn at the edges, of a pensive Jean-Paul Sartre and you will have a pretty accurate picture of the scene.  “I hope you’re not getting carried away and letting your imagination run away with you... remember it’s a cycling club and people will want to know how the ride went and some information about the route!”  “Yes Yes...!” I replied.  The artist’s genius is forever pierced by the trifles of everyday mundane life.  But there’s a kernel of truth in what she says... a bit of info’ about what actually happened wouldn’t hurt and would act as a backdrop to the thrust of this piece and so here goes; we started off at the café in Nonsuch with a couple joining us at The Old Moat (Dawn and Carolyn).  Altogether there were about 20 or so riders (the record books will have the exact number... who has those, I don’t know).  It was cold and grey and we were all wondering if we had made the right choice in coming out when we could have remained warmly tucked in bed.  There were one or two hills (Church Lane and Trumpets Hill Road) to ratchet up our appetites in time for our arrival at The Plough (no pre-ordering required) in Leigh.  By then the sun was out and we were all in good spirits.  Back on our bikes, one last mighty climb up Tilehurst Lane and then the long flat straight into Leatherhead.  The weather held for us and those of us who had not peeled off home enjoyed coffee and cake at Charlie and Ginger.  A final run back to Nonsuch and the ride was done.  Just as well since the morning nip in the air had returned.  And now back to the ‘real’ report... 

 

And then he went, without warning... Ocaña shot off recklessly with no thought of what lay ahead... pursued by hired assassins, Merckx and Hinault and behind them the pack of hyenas, known in polite circles as the peloton, baying for blood.  At the foot of the first climb this group of three had broken the peloton’s chains... wrought iron, forged in the cycle furnaces of France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Ireland, England and others where uncontrolled flames lashed and spat the steel of which now cut into the muscles and sinews of every limb on every rider.  Then, suddenly... “You’d better submit your report or people will have forgotten the ride!”  This was pressure, the pressure every writer comes up against... the dreaded deadline.  It tore at my soul but reality had struck hard.  A deep cutting gash of a wound.  I had to tear myself away from the road to literary greatness and get the report on the blog.  Then I heard his whisper in my ear, Hemingway, “There will always be a blank page waiting”.  He was right and he should know.  A quick read over and the report was on the blog.  No one would ever know who won this year’s Leigh Classic but a local upcoming reporter, Norman Mailer, informed me that they were still racing... it was not over... those greats of yesteryear are still out there, riding, racing, hurting... their spirits live on forever. 

 

_________________________ 

 

I hope everyone had a great and enjoyable ride. 

 

My fellow cyclists were; Sue B, Lorraine, Karen, Anne C, John C, Ken J, Lillian, Dawn, Karl, Carolyn B, Paul, Justine, Jackie, Sharon, Robert, Colin L, Rob, Stuart and Sabina. 

 

_________________________ 

           

All of us at the start, barring Dawn and Carolyn who joined us The Old Moat

 

Sorry, wrong photo!

Proof that Dawn and Carolyn joined us! Trumpets Hill Lane.

 

 

Notice of the AGM for CTC South West London

The AGM for CTC South West London will commence at 11:00 on Wednesday 29 April in the Long Ditton Village Hall (Upper Hall)

Long Ditton Village Hall, 2 Ewell Road, Long Ditton, KT6 5LE

N.B. This location marked below proved popular from a show of hands in favour at the last AGM and was therefore retained for this year. An exhibition of photos from this year’s annual competition will be available to view before and after the AGM. Ride leaders please allow a short time for this before heading off afterwards

 Signing in sheets will be circulated once you are sitting down. The AGM Agenda, 25/26 Annual Report, Treasurer's Report and Minutes of the 2025 AGM, will be available to read download or print at home in advance online via links. Unlike previous years, other than 30 A4 copies of the agenda, no other paper copies will be provided. Please take the time and trouble to do so as this will help the meeting run smoothly and get us all back on our bikes quicker. 😀

We have to vacate the Hall and return it “as found” by 13:00. No rubbish please. (Many hands made light work of this last year, thank you.)

There is no official bike parking but there are plenty of sturdy railings around the building within sight of the meeting room windows and, less securely, the park over the road.  Security however cannot be guaranteed, so please feel free to use your more secure locks and ideally please “double up” with someone in your subgroup to both save bike parking space and increase security.👍.

Please send any apologies via my dlferrett@hotmail.com rather than any subgroup WhatsApp’s.

 NB:  Links to read/download the AGM documents will be posted on the Wayfarers Blog 2 week before the AGM.:

Posted 13/04/2026

A Ride for All Seasons; Nonsuch moderates 11 April

By Roger P

On a Saturday afternoon where the clouds drew over often enough to threaten, we were still unsure if we really did want to cycle – the all day ride had long gone and with it most of the Saturday riders, so as we wrestled with delicious but decidedly muscular baguettes we decided that after lunch the least we could do is go to the Mansion and see if anyone else turned up.

It was warm now but still with a threat of rain, and at the Mansion it was good to see Colin back on his feet and on his bike. Jennifer and then Helen joined us and then Nigel.

I suggested we cycled to “the Horton” as I thought I could remember the route, it was not too far and it was new to Jennifer and Helen.  

 Five of us exited Nonsuch onto the A24 and after turning right at Bourne Hall, Colin joined us as we rode into a steady headwind up over bridge crossing the rail line and on to Chessington Rd.  Locating the entry to the path through Chessington Road Recreation Ground, adjacent to the pedestrian crossing.

 We slipped through the chicane and onto the quiet broad path through the recreation ground and past the rear of the houses in the estate, dodging overhanging foliage in bloom and resultant showers of petals. After crossing Hook Road, at the pedestrian controlled lights, the path became a shared bike and pedestrian pavement alongside Chantilly way.

We were heading for Longrove park and the sharp left turn into it which leads directly to the roundabout at the entrance of the park.  In the park we took the left track as it is the designated bike route, skirting around the edge away from the children’s play area as we toiled uphill into the face of a strong and cold headwind.

We paused by the exit at the gate at the far end to regroup and to let those not on electric bikes get some respite, and once through the gate, followed the path alongside the site of what was once the mental hospital complex, now replaced and repurposed by new housing developments.  A few minutes later on our right we saw a path at right angles to our own and followed it into the housing estate.

Immediately after the bollard protecting the paths entrance we turned left along Horton Crescent and followed it through to the right where it joined Haven Way and then along Haven Way to the fenced off compound surrounding The Horton.

We made use of the new bike racks where Nigel demonstrated that it was easier to steal the bike racks than the bikes and whereas it was a good idea to attach the bikes to the racks it would have been an even better idea if the racks had been bolted to the concrete!

Anna gets ready to put a coin in the slot...........

........in order to give us a quick Toccata and Fugue

The Horton was not busy and before long we were enjoying coffee and cakes and pointing out to Helen and Jennifer all the beautiful surviving original features of this lovingly repurposed old chapel.  The permanent display outlining the sites former use as part of this vast complex of mental hospitals brought forth as it has before, more questions than answers about the fate of those who had lived here.

When it was time to go we turned left out of the compound along Haven way to its junction with Chantilly way and used the bike lane to drift down to the junction with Hook Road. The wind was blowing flurries of pink and white blossom when we picked up the long quiet path past the back of the housing estates. As this “Blossom” pinged off my helmet and then sent an ice cold shiver as it slid down the back of my neck I realised we were cycling through a sun filled hail shower! 

We turned right along Chessington Road and then left at Green Lanes and followed the lane to the start of Hogsmill trail. We followed the left hand fork down into the deep dip  to the bridge over the Hogsmill river and up the steep slope on the other side turning up  Manor Drive and following it through to and crossing Kingston road  then right,  and left  and   the path on the right leading under the railway line emerging into the Sparrow farm estate and back to the A24 and into Nonsuch

On a day when it was good to see Colin cycling with us again it was a comfortable and easy short ride of not quite ten miles in good company with our fair share of wind, blossom, hail and sun.

Bushy Park - Part Deux; Nonsuch moderates 4 April

 

Karen writes...... 

After some cogitation on the delights (or otherwise) of open-air refreshments at Teddington Lock, a decision was made to return to Bushy Park.  So, with the sterling assistance (and photography skills) of Sue, nine of us set off from NSP.

It wasn't as cold as anticipated but certainly windy as we made our way through Worcester Park towards Kingston, where a strong gust caught us as we turned towards the bridge.  We all made it safely to the end of the cycle lane where a considerate driver (thought I was in Spain for a second) gave way for us to rejoin the carriageway.

I was aware that my bike chain was making a bit of a racket throughout the ride so, upon entering the park, Tony and Colin tried to identify (and hopefully rectify) the cause. After much head scratching, we resolved to have a closer look at The Pheasantry. 

The venue is undergoing some renovation but it didn't detract from our victuals. We considered returning via Teddington but, as it was quite late by this point, Sue suggested a more circuitous but far more appealing route back to Kingston, with some goslings thrown in. By this time, it was agreed that my chain mechanism was out of alignment and not something that could be rectified without tools.

On a happier note, I'm pleased to report that the goslings are thriving and the whole family seems utterly unfazed by the attention.  After much ah-ing and aw-ing, we reluctantly left the geese and headed home without incident.  Thanks to Sue and Tony for ensuring group stayed together.

ALL DAY SATURDAY RIDE: 11 APRIL 2026

Evening All

Next Saturday as mentioned in an earlier blog, posted 26 March, will be an all day ride to Leigh.  In case there was any difficulty with downloading the route in my aforesaid post which might be because I forgot to make it public, apologies, I am providing a new link.  Hopefully this will now allow you access to the route and to send it to your navigation device:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53904069

If you still experience any problem getting the route then you are welcome to contact me at,

de_prado@hotmail.co.uk

I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter and tucking in to plenty of Easter Eggs...

Bernard P

Nonsuch 1-o-clockers to Garson's Farm 28 March

Saturday was a bright morning but there was a chilly and brisk Nor'Westerly.  The forecast threatended intermittent showers.  Twenty four hours earlier the rides list had carried a "tbd" but the new rides list was out before I left home and suggested Hampton Court or Bushy Park.  That was where we went last week so I had a look down the programme and, seeing that Garson's Farm was not due until May and I hadn't been there since before Christmas I opted for that.  Posh garden centre chains packed with every kind of good except what you need in the garden are not my favourite venues but the rides there and back are enjoyable and that is what I needed.

Selling it to the others was not difficult especially as most of the healthy number who turned up at the Mansion wanted to go on a longer, faster ride.  So off I set with just Ken, Nigel and Karen in tow; two experienced riders plus an electric bike, so we had the advantage of not having to hang around too much.  

Ken was fretting about his battery usage but it seems to me that battery indicators on a bike are about as accurate as fuel indicators on a car, so he had ample mileage in the tank.  But he has discovered the accelerator on his machine, so he was right behind me as we made our way at Beginners lickety-spit pace and got to the garden centre in about an hour and a quarter, despite that headwind.

There were only four of us, so we found a table indoors where it was a bit too warm for those who had to go out again and brave the elements.  When we did emerge there were, as forecast, some evil looking clouds on the horizon but the choice was to get on with it or stay there for the night so off we legged it up Lammas Lane and down le Col de Sandown, pausing only for a quick photo outside the school where Ken used to teach music.

Good memories for Ken

The indigo clouds were tailing us but we fooled them with a few little shimmies round the back paths of Thames Ditton.  And that would have been that but for the tunnel on South Lane where it was flooded, and upon emerging on the southern side we had a perplexing slow moving collision in which poor Karen was all but crushed by the hippopotamus which settled as if in slow motion on top of her.  A passing zookeeper kindly parked her car and helped us lift the great beast, which had to be sat down on a wall but insisted it could carry on.

Karen got home safely but was not, it turned out, unbruised and felt a bit unsteady after half a dozen gin and tonics.  I escorted the hippopatamus back to its enclosure.

So, a splendid ride but our thoughts were somewhat concentrated on the lessons to be learned from its ending.  After all, passengers on board the Titanic enjoyed three days of wonderful luxury cruising before their mishap, but everybody forgets that bit.