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.

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.