Damp moustachios at damp Pistachios

Third Saturday is Beddington Park Saturday for those of us wanting to meet at the eastern side of the SW London area.  Would it be rain, or just drizzle?  At decision time it hovered irritatingly at the cusp of shall we go out or shall we not, but for us and for Colin there is a sense of duty; perhaps some new Beginner will turn up, perhaps someone destined in ten years time to be a leader with the Wayfarers or one of Cycling UK's top one hundred women.

In the event, it was the same old loyal all-weather riders; Roger, Anna and Ken, Maggie and me, and a drizzle which was nowhere near enough to persuade us, having bothered to get out the bikes and go, to go straight home.  We had done Coombe Woods last time and would probably be doing the Wandle next time so it was to Banstead we decided to go.  A video about getting fitter for cycling had imposed itself upon our browsing during the week, telling us that to improve our leg strength we should choose a 1% to 3% hill of around 1 kilometre and cycle up it one gear higher than we would normally do.  For that, this ride is perfect because Bute Road, Clarendon Road, Onslow Gardens, Buckingham Way and Woodcote Lane (aka Millionaire's Row), then Meadow Hill and most of the length of Woodmansterne Street all foot the bill.  As the dearly missed Roy Flowers once told an inquisitive Beginner "There's only two things you need to know about Banstead; whichever way you go there, it's uphill, and whichever way you leave it, it's down."

The rain had stopped by the time we got to Pistachio's but my suggestion that we sup our tea and scoff our cakes outside was nevertheless met with derision.  Tea and Cake in P's for the first time in a long time was pleasurable, doubly so because, as Roy had observed, we all had downhill trips home.  We zinged past the prison, where three continued straight down to home in Sutton and Cheam, and three turned up by the Royal Marsden to disperse more eastwardly.

For us 22 Km door to door with 200m of climbing.  A sensible ride in such unpromising weather.