by Steve H
With the strictures of the last many months slowly and cautiously being lifted, organised cycling in small groups of up to six riders is now permitted. Transmission risks are further reduced by the fact that this activity takes place outdoors, usually in the teeth of a stiff headwind which should help to keep the virus at bay. So a merry band assembled on another cold and cloudy Saturday (semper eadem) in the car park of Sutton library for our first group outing in recent memory, ironically next to an empty virus testing centre. Paul was leading again with Maggie back-marking as we set off for Hampton Court, creaking legs and tender situpons notwithstanding, or sitting.
Paul and I
had done this ride before and our previous route out through Worcester Park and
Tolworth took us via the Dittons, Long and Thames, to the green opposite
Hampton Court Station, much less crowded on this occasion with the lack of
sunshine. We visited the small cafe that we found last time and queued up for
coffee and cake although with outdoor seating being in short supply, we
resorted to our not so scenic bench across the road. Subsequently it turned out
that another group lead by Lynda was similarly bench hunting just upstream at
Molesey lock.
Back again through Weston Green, an unexpected place with a village pond and the Italian style church of All Saints, a 20th century design by the architect of Guildford cathedral. Someone there kindly offered to take a photograph of the whole group by the pond so we duly mustered an arm's length apart, army style. This was the same spot at which the first photograph of me was taken on my return to Saturday cycling a month ago now and it makes for an interesting point of comparison.
The Famous Six
A year off
the bike has definitely slowed me up, not that I was particularly rapid before
but a lack of energy remains a concern. Maggie has suggested that I may need to
pay more attention to nutrition, this was discussed in a pre-Covid Sou'Wester
article* and it's not something that I've thought much about before. Although I
do now carry a few nibbles on board it could be that pre-flight fuelling is the
key, after all you wouldn't expect a car to go far with no petrol in the tank.
The knee protectors seen in the previous picture turn out to be somewhat of a
mixed blessing, although not called into action so far (tempting providence I
know) they do cause chafing on the legs and I suspect that they are not
intended for long distances. All in all though, very much a positive outcome of
being back in the saddle and the social aspect of group riding has also made a
welcome return.
When we
reached Worcester Park the others returned towards Sutton but I elected to
carry on up the High Street and back through North Cheam, past the pile of
bricks that was the empty building at the crossroads. A little blue sky was in
evidence towards the end but we definitely missed out on the Easter sunshine.
*Preparing for a Ride: Louise Gagnon The Sou'wester July/August 2019
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