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.

Nonsuch 2-o-clockers to the Pheasantry, 28 March

Sue B writes

Sue shows true leadership in Bushy Park

Today was a cold bright day for my first official ride leading.  There was just myself, Michael T and Colin L. We went to Bushy Park via South Lane and through the slightly flooded underpass under the A3! It was being cleared on the way back, but still flooded!

We went through Kingston Town centre into the 1^st entrance to Bushy Park. I introduced them to the family of 12 Egyptian Goslings in there! We then went to the Pheasantry for coffee. Our return trip was via the River Thames towpath which we had to ourselves for most of the time and Kingston  Don’t know where everyone was!

A very pleasant afternoon even if there was a biting wind at times! Managed to get them safely back to Green Lane in Worcester Park, where we then all parted company.

Not a warm day at the Pheasantry

Last 1pm ride is this Saturday March 28th

From Saturday April 4th all the beginners rides will be at 2pm from Nonsuch and Beddington Parks.

ALL DAY SATURDAY RIDE: 11 APRIL 2026

 Hi fellow cyclists

On 11th April 2026 there is an all day Saturday ride which I will be leading and hope you enjoy.  We will leave from our usual Saturday starting point next to the cafe in Nonsuch Park at 11 am.  We will then cycle to The Old Moat (where we will briefly stop to allow me to load the rest of the route onto my garmin) and head on to lunch at The Plough Inn in Leigh.  We then head on to Leatherhead for our finish and coffee/tea at a place to be agreed by us all once we get there.  Having recci'd the ride it is a very pleasant country ride in the Surrey Hills and we will go at a gentle pace ensuring no one is left far behind and we all have a great Spring bike ride.

This is the link to the gpx route from Nonsuch to the Old Moat:

 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54395306?privacy_code=IUHeNhEwPgcoHIa03Bdnh2dKI1DjdRnu

And this is the link to the gpx route from the Old Moat to Leatherhead via Leigh, ie the rest of the ride:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53904069

If anyone has any queries or problem with the route or its downloading you can whatsap or telephone me on: 

07453912049

Or e-mail me on

de_prado@hotmail.co.uk

Have a great weekend

Bernard P

URGENT - new Hon Sec required

 

From Sue F

Following on from my blog post last month, we have not yet had any applicants to take up the role of Hon Secretary which will become vacant when Dave F steps down after the AGM next month. This is an extremely worrying situation as the Hon Sec role is one of the official roles required by Cycling UK and without a secretary we cannot function as a club. I quite understand that most of us, despite being largely retired, have lots of other commitments so with that in mind I have asked CUK if the role could be shared which they have agreed to. If this puts a different complexion on your thoughts about applying, please email me ASAP and remember, ‘a job shared is a job halved’, as they say!

Dave has kindly agreed to handover / assist / mentor his successor for their first full year cycle of duties so there will be plenty of support available.

A full description of the role can be found here

Secretary's toolkit | Cycling UK

With best wishes

Sue F

sue.foster39@gmail.com

California Here We Come; Beddington 1-o-clockers and Nonsuch 2-o-clockers to Belmont 21 March

By Roger 

It was a fine spring day to be riding along the Wandle en route to the AGM at The California pub at Belmont.

Sue, Colin, Mick, Anna and Roger were joined at the mansion by Paul, Roland, Ken and Sharon who had met as usual on the third Saturday of the month at Beddington at 1pm.

We set off heading for Carshalton High Street and Spilt Milk.  Having ridden the route the day before and aided by Beeline we soon threaded our way through Sutton and Rosehill Park and via Robertsbridge Road onto the Wandle trail.

It was an easy relaxing ride, alongside the river; even the flies took the day off, as we made it along the trail all the way to Carshalton Park and the prospect of coffee and cake at Spilt Milk.

Sue decided to make her own way on from Carshalton and despite us telling them that the best was yet to come, the coffee and cake got the better of Colin and Mick, so it was a somewhat depleted group who headed uphill all the way to Belmont, weaving our way and climbing steadily until Roland left us at Langley Park road and so missed out on the long fast drift down Chiltern Road and eventually the ample bike parking at The California.

An interesting ride to a venue that made us very welcome, along a sometimes hilly route of about fourteen miles, which was made easier by having ridden it previously and recorded it on Beeline.

50% of the requirements met; Nonsuch Park to Molesey, 14 March

It is Spring; is it too much to ask for a dry day and seasonal temperatures?

On Saturday at least we got the dry day.  Indeed, had you been indoors looking through the window, or in a sheltered spot in the park, or anywhere except on the bike, it might have appeared the perfect day for cycling.  But there was this Northwesterly wind and I got only a short distance from home before turning back and putting on an extra layer and there were downhill moments when I wished I had brought a newspaper to stuff down my front!

But rain is the worse enemy and we certainly had none of that.  Fourteen turned up at Nonsuch Mansion and although the rota named Bushy Park or Hampton Court as the day's destination, Steve had led the faster riders to Bushy Park the previous week, so he decided this week to go out to Walton on Thames.

I was not sure our lot would make it back from Walton in daylight, so I offered a ride to Moseley and had seven takers.  Not only no rain, but no punctures either.  And only one of us had an engagement that evening and she only had to get back to Worcester Park, so we were under no pressure and enjoyed a ride along the usual route through Tolworth and Long Ditton to Eight on the River, which was warm and comfy for our tea and coffee.

Witnesses to a high speed rowing accident at Moseley. 

Back through Weston Green and Surbiton, and a splendid time was had by all, except those affected by the cold.  Good company as always, a lovely day out, and a decent 45Km ride.