A Night on the Tiles; 17 October Beddington Park Ride

It had been a long while since I rode on a Saturday for one reason or another and it was good to use a beautiful sunny autumn day to reacquaint myself with the Beddington Park Cafe, the dazzlingly original new name of the Pavilion Cafe.  This was especially so as Maggie was coming out for the first time in a while to continue rehabilitation of her shoulder.  As she was restricted to 15Km by the Physio and to no hills, the Wandle Trail was her only realistic option.

Since that destination had apparently been a regular one during our absence, we were prepared for me to lead the others on a different ride while she went to see Willian Morris' old printing house.

There was another consideration, too.  Five of us were planning a knees-up night out and since I had seen somebody googling Night Life in Wallington I was looking very much forward to this and wanted to get back in good time to get changed for an adventure and a few ratafias and absinthes in the Hellfire Club.  The only potential fly in the ointment was the possibility of a newcomer; I could hardly just take them for two laps of the park and a cup of tea in the caff just because I wanted to live the life of a dissolute.  

All five potential stay-outs were there but we were really pleased to see Clive had turned up too; he had not been put off by his August ride with us.  And it all fell in place because the other ravers felt even Elmers End would be too far in the circumstances and Clive had already decided to accompany Maggie rather than ride with us lot.  So we agreed to meet at MED, Maggie and Clive going the short route up the Trail, the four of us going the exciting route where you get to pass no fewer than two bus garages, cross two tram lines AND - get this - wait at a proper level crossing.

We might even have got there before them, too, had I not forgotten where we were going and headed off towards Elmers End instead.  Nobody said anything; they all assumed I had invented a new route!

All turned out well, to a point.  The pumpkin and ginger cake at MED was especially delicious, Clive enjoyed himself and the rest of us got to go out.  It was not a night club to which Ken and I were taken but the Epsom Philharmonic where we watched a six foot fourteen year-old lad play Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto rather well.  He must have been practising.  And Anna and Roger went to the picture house to watch a talkie.  I hope their night out was more exciting than The Whispering Moon in Wallington; ours certainly was.

The last all day Sat ride for 2026

Brilliant blue skies tempted 3 cyclists out today on a scenic ride to East Horsley. Thanks Lillian, Alan and Anne for their good company and Alan for a lovely pot of tea at Claremont to round off the day. The Barley Mow did not disappoint with quick service from their Thai menu. Our route criss crossed with a big running event centred on Boxhill and Denbies, with 30 km and 50 km distances for runners. They were well spaced out so not difficult to pass and interesting to see some carrying walking poles for some steep descents. A great day out with some fab views.

Last all day ride Saturday 10th October

This popular route will run again as the last all day Saturday ride of this year. Starting 9.15 sharp at the Nonesuch cafe this coming Saturday and visiting the scenic highpoints at a leisurely pace. Coffee at Box Hill . Lunch at Horsley. Book your places now to avoid disappointment. Steph and Alan. text 07909774234

Coming soon - the new-look Sou'Westers website

The website gnomes have been working to update our website, to make it more easier for us all to find the info we need, and to make it simpler for prospective new members to discover the joys of riding with us.

We hope you will still find it simple to use and to get access to the blogs, rides list, and other important information.

The website address will not change, so when you go to the website you will see an updated front page like the picture above. 

Many thanks to the webmasters, Paula and the committee for their input into the re-design.  We hope you like it.   

If you discover any mistakes or if you have any queries about how to find things, please do drop me a line at simon.lambourn@gmail.com.

Short Ride to Merton Abbey Mills - Saturday 19 September 2026

 Anna writes:

Beddington to MED

With Paul and Maggie out of the country and Roger incapacitated with a swollen ankle, it was left to me to lead the ride from Beddington. Although I would have liked to go to Elmers End, the only route I had on my Beeline was to MED, so MED it was. Or at least that was the plan. Two turns in, I realised we were heading towards Elmers End after all. Naturally, I blame the bike and not my own inability to pay attention to the Beeline.

A quick detour restored both the route and the illusion that the leader knew where she was going.

We crossed the tram tracks where Roger nearly got himself killed last time we were there (without incident this time) and eventually ended up at MED, much to my relief.

After coffee, cake and a good chat, someone spoiled the mood by asking if I knew the way back. The Beeline route ended at MED, so from that point on the plan was less “navigation” and more “confident improvisation”.

We set off and, with commendable efficiency, almost immediately took another wrong turn. Fortunately, I spotted it in time for a discreet turning in the road, then nearly missed the next turning as well, at which point Ken’s local knowledge became less a bonus and more the entire navigation strategy.

Dropping Ken off at the end of his road, Karen, Sharon and I sailed on until eventually Karen said goodbye and it was left to me to lead Sharon back to Beddington, which she didn’t really need as she knew the way.

Still, we got there and back without too many detours, punctures or nasty accidents, so I shall declare my accidental leadership a complete success.

All Day Ride to Charlwood - Saturday 12 September 2026

Fine weather, good company and no spills or punctures. What's not to like?! We fought our way through the park runners to assemble at the mansion house and Steve's group set off first - but we caught up with them as they faltered at Epsom Downs.* 

The pre-elevenses climbs on this route never seem to get any easier. Thankfully Anne, our back marker, did a sterling job keeping us together. Sue had to leave us at Walton on the Hill but our numbers picked up again with the arrival of Dawn and Madeleine.

Steve met up with Yasmine en route and headed to Brockham for coffee, where he "lost" Paul and Justine to other commitments. Meanwhile our group was making that delightful Pebblecombe descent, although some attacked it with relish. But it was all worthwhile once we passed through Betchworth and onto Kiln Lane where we were rewarded with panoramic countryside views. 

We made steady progress through Brockham and Leigh, overtaken by more cyclists than I care to mention. We still however arrived in good time for lunch at Charlwood to find that Steve's group was only just receiving their orders (I suspect because they tarried a while at elevenses, rather than our group being on their tail!) 

Unfortunately (or fortunately as it turned out) we had discovered during recce that our proposed lunch venue had closed down. However, we were made very welcome at the 52 The Street Cafe, which has quite an extensive menu. Apparently it's popular with cycle clubs, but mainly as an elevenses stopover.

There was a slight delay in departure when Yasmine's chain came off but, with the assistance of Stuart and Colin, she was soon on her way again, easily catching up with Steve and co. 

 A pleasant, fairly traffic-free return leg took us past Ichy-Coo Park towards Parkgate and then onto more familiar roads towards Brockham. Madeleine left us at Dorking and by the time we reached Leatherhead a decision was made to abandon plans for tea. Thanks to Steve for offering to lead a group, and to Anne, our group's committed back marker.

. * okay, maybe we're in the realms of fiction here!

A Wandsworth Cycling Campaign project of interest to many of us

A request from Mags McKinlay

Please see the link below to a short video we at Wandsworth Cycling Campaign have made about the Earlsfield missing link on the Wandle Trail.  

I would like to encourage people,  particularly those resident in Merton or Wandsworth,  to write to their local Councillors asking for the missing link to be sorted.  Also, if people could share the video as widely as possible with their local communities, e.g. street WhatsApp groups , community organisations etc.

Any help you can give with this would be much appreciated. Hope to see you soon on a ride.

Best wishes

Mags

https://bsky.app/profile/wandsworthcycling.bsky.social/post/3muudonivc22e