Short Ride to Telegraph Track, 7th November 2026

 Short but sweet.... like this report:

Karen writes:

Arrived NSP later than planned but not many riders in attendance, nor did we have a leader for the ride to Telegraph Track.  However, following a scrum down with Anna, it was agreed that I would lead the outbound route (subject to the vagaries of Beeline  - and my memory!).  Anna was confident in her knowledge of the return route so off we set, with Roger, Mick, Clive and Mark.

We passed Paul coming into the park, delayed by a puncture, but in the event he decided not to join us.  We then met Roland as we passed through Sutton and thankfully he did decide to join us (otherwise I would have developed a serious inferiority complex!)

Arrived at Telegraph Track without any navigation errors, despite Beeline taking a nap in Carshalton. We paused briefly on the narrow path to allow for a nervous filly being led past us.  Then we headed off again until we reached our coffee stop at Flittons.

Apart from a soon-remedied chain malfunction on Clive's bike, ably assisted by Mick, we sailed through the mostly traffic-free roads of Carshalton Beeches and Sutton.  Most of the group peeled off at Mulgrave Road, leaving just Mark and I heading back to Cheam (meeting ColinQ pedalling in the opposite direction!), and arriving long before darkness descended. 

Ride to Wimbledon Common, 7th November 2026

 Stuart writes:

Steve is still on holiday in Tenerife (he and his cycling buddy, Marie, cycled up Mount Teide!!) so I led today's ride. It was "TBA" on the rota and I proposed that we try Wimbledon Common, a shorter ride than last week's ride to Putney, in the hope that we would get back before it got dark.  

It seems that Paul James was planning on riding with us but he got a puncture on the way to Nonsuch (I follow him on Strava) and he missed the start, sorry to hear that, Paul. Eight of us set off with Nigel again backmarking - thanks, Nigel. The first part of the ride was the same as last week - Painter's Estate, under the A3 on South Lane, up a cycle path alongside the railway to New Malden station, across the B283 and continue on the cycle path to Raynes Park (I love this path). Then, up Durham Road and past Cannizaro Park, then on to the A219 - Parkside. Then left to Wimbledon Windmill. The last time we rode there, their coffee machine wasn't working so we didn't stop and rode on to the cafe at Roehampton Gate in Richmond Park. The time before that at the Windmill, there was no queue 😀 but this time, it was back to normal - coffee machine working and a long queue. We sat outside and made the most of the weather - cool but dry, little breeze and some hazy sun.  

After the stop, we headed towards Roehampton, across the A306, down Danebury Avenue and into Richmond Park at Roehampton Gate. Out through Ham Gate and along some quiet roads to Kingston. Then to Berrylands, South Lane and on to Worcester Park. When we got back to The Mansion House in Nonsuch Park, it was still light - yea!!! This ride is about 22 miles to and from NP. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and Wendy mentioned that she liked the unusual route mainly on quiet roads. Before I joined CTC in Sept 2022, I used to ride on some fairly busy roads (eg one of my standard routes involved riding on the A243 that goes past Chessington World of Adventure). Now I look for quiet roads and cycle paths when possible - much nicer.   

With many thanks to my fellow riders who were, as usual, great company, Justine, Karl, Nigel, Paul, Peter, Rob and Wendy. Also, thanks to Wendy for the photo.  

Ride to Putney 31 October

 Report by Stuart

Hammersmith Bridge

Steve is on holiday and asked if I'd lead this ride.  More than happy. It was down as 'TBA' on the rota and I decided to go to Putney.  At Nonsuch Park, 14 riders turned up. Five went on the short ride to Teddington and I led a group of nine to Putney. A lovely sunny day, not too cold.

The Putney ride involves going through The Painters Estate (all the roads are named after artists) in Old Malden, under the A3 on South Lane, across the A2043, up a cycle path alongside the railway to New Malden station, across the B283 and continue on the cycle path towards Raynes Park.  Well, guess who we met on this path coming the other way, the Teddington riders!  Good choice, Alan (who was leading them).  We carried on along the slip road of the A3, into Richmond Park at Robin Hood gate and out through Sheen gate.  Then across the South Circular Road, past Pearsons bike shop and down South Worple Way, left on to White Hart Lane (not that one!) then through Barnes, on to Lower Richmond Road and to The Clubhouse, a cafe on the Thames embankment at Putney that sells Raptor bikes. 

We've been there before, their coffee is great but unfortunately, on previous visits, they've not had any goodies!  Also, there is only one toilet. On a recce ride, I'd tried another cafe on the other side of the river.  They had lots of goodies so on today's ride, I decided to stop at The Clubhouse to see if they had any goodies and if not, to carry on to the other cafe.  When we got to The Clubhouse, as expected, they didn't have any goodies but Peter asked if he could pop in and have a look at the lovely bikes (Rob's swooned over them previously).  

Then we carried on over Putney Bridge and on to the new cafe.  They had lots of goodies and public toilets right next door!  I think everyone enjoyed this stop.  We set off past Craven Cottage (Fulham's ground, I'd checked and they were playing away at Aston Villa) towards Hammersmith Bridge.  Helen was delighted we were going over it and asked if we could stop for a photo opportunity.  I duly obliged.  Then down Castelnau which used to be very busy but has been quiet since H/smith bridge closed.  We passed Marc Bolan's shrine (for the youngsters, he was the lead singer of T Rex who were big in the early 1970s - still baffled, Google it!), then along Priory Lane and into Richmond Park at Roehampton Gate where we had a brief toilet stop.  Out through Ham Gate and along some quiet roads to Kingston.  Then to Berrylands, South Lane and on to Worcester Park.  By now, it was starting to get dark (there was a beautiful sunset) and, by the time we got back to NP it was properly dark. This ride is about 30 miles to and from NP - I wonder if, maybe that is a little too ambitious for this time of year ... 

With thanks to my fellow riders and great company as always, Helen, Jacqui, Justine, Karl, Nigel (who backmarked), Paul, Peter and Rob.  Also thanks to Helen and Justine for the photos.