A Christmas card from Paul Carpenter

 

I like to ride my icicle; Nonsuch Beginners 10 December

By Paul

With Nigel now, thankfully, on the road to proper recovery but still some weeks from venturing out on a bike, I prepared myself for leadership.  The schedule had us down to get to Garsons Farm but with sub-zero temperatures when the sun is not up we did not believe that with a two-o-clock start we could get there and back and have coffee before the ice formed on the roads; two-o-clock really does not make much sense as a start time at this time of year.  Therefore I concocted a shorter route in the same direction.

Surprise, surprise, there were no Beginners at Nonsuch; merely a collection of regulars old enough to know better than to assume that in this weather the cannon balls would not remain frozen to the brass monkey; Colin, Steve, John, Kasumi, Tony Hooker, Alan, Maggie and me, and since no-one could hatch a better plan than mine through chattering teeth and Maggie, disconcerted by a slippin' an' a slidin' through Sutton, opted to go home, I ended up leading the seven of us.

Nonsuch Park on Saturday evening

In the tradition of British expeditions through the ages, however, our trip was plagued.  The weather itself was fine, though the wind on the chest was sufficient that we could have done with some newspaper to stuff down our fronts, but we got no further than Horton Golf Park before the first of our team was struggling.  John caught us up when we stopped, saying he had a puncture but none of us could see that his tyre was flat and in the cold I cut short the conference and continued on our way.  It was when we got to Chessington North that Steve told me there were only three of us left, and there we waited and waited and waited until Steve said he would go back.  Then Tony and I waited and waited until the icicles grew on our extremities and decided that everyone had been told the route and the ratio of leaders to non-leaders in the missing group was 1:1 so on we went to prevent total annihilation of the party.  By the time we had turned off Clayton Road and reached Squires at Woodstock Lane our toes and fingers were pretty painful.

Last sighting of Steve on Saturday

Never mind, there were vittles and warmth available.  Or were there?  At the entrance we met Colin and Alan (how had they got there? They refused to say!) who announced that the restaurant was not open to the public.  And that John and Kasumi were making their own way home.  And that Steve was lost.  Brave soul, I clearly heard him say "I might be some time" as he left us.  Nobody has seen him since.

The rest of us reformed as a team of four and completed the greater part of the ride, through Surbiton and Berrylands and back through Worcester Park, tea-less and coffee-less and, worst of all, cake-less.  Still, losing three out of seven riders in twenty five miles must be some kind of club record.

 

   

Short & Steep; Nonsuch Beginners short ride 26 November

Paul writes

It was my turn on the rota to lead the short ride but there were not a lot of takers at Nonsuch as many believed the latest Atlantic weather front would put a windy dampener on the afternoon's pleasure. 

It was no coincidence that the short ride I had been volunteered for is the hilliest short ride that Nonsuch Beginners regularly do, and there was a small breakaway group who opted for an unscheduled, shorter, flatter ride but we had seven souls willing to undertake the ride and so on a grey day Stephen P, Nigel C, Roger, Anna, Maggie and Colin all followed my mud-free variation of the standard route, which I had recced in the morning so that I knew it would work.

We avoided the off-road bit of Nonsuch Park but worked our way up the long, slow incline that took us around Cuddington Golf Club to Banstead Station and thence up Nork Way before turning up the slightly steeper inclines of Beacon and Tumblewood to approach Pistachio's cafe from the west along the splendidly newly tarmaced Garratts Lane.

The dreaming spires of the Big Smoke in the distance, the leader waits patiently for the team to complete the Hillary/Tensing Tumblewood route onto the infamous Banstead Ridge.  Back to the traffic, the photographer, Colin, twice nearly got run over taking this masterpiece.

The thing about the Banstead ride is it takes an hour to get there and ten minutes to get back, down past the prisons and back into Cheam.

No Audax credits, then, but a nice day out, a bit of air in the lungs, and good company.

Home in the dark; Beddington Beginners 19 November

 By Paul

We were really lucky with the weather on Saturday; we have all got soft with increased temperatures, and it seemed cold, but the heavy overnight rain had moved on and we actually had some sunshine.

The problem with meeting at two, though, is that darkness falls so quickly and South London's busy streets are no welcoming place for nervous cyclists on a dark Saturday evening.  Consideration of the light, and uncertainty that the cafe at the Rookery in Streatham would have room inside, led us to opt for the (not so very) long way round to Merton Abbey Mills.

There were eleven of us, including two returners, Jim and Jackie, and a regular with other club groups but a not-so-regular rider with BBs, Frank.  Our traditional route through Mitcham Common, Mitcham Eastfields, Figges Marsh and Colliers Wood has quite a lot of off road but a significant chunk of this, the Beddington Farmlands Nature Reserve and the little corner of Mitcham Common between Beddington Lane Halt and Croydon Road was going to be unrideable for Matthew and Thomas and their articulated Little People Carrier, so Colin used the less scenic route through the Beddington Lane Industrial Estate, crossing the tramway at Therapia Lane.

The roads were pretty busy but we comfortably negotiated the various intersections and minor hazards being hooted only occasionally and had a pleasant tea at Med.

Our homeward trip was through the early dusk and by the time we got to Beddington Park, several riders had peeled off home before we remembered that we should take a photograph.

A pleasant ride in acceptable conditions, and little Thomas apparently insisted upon riding a significant chunk of central Croydon on his tricycle, which gave his parents a welcome lie-in, so tired did it leave him!

Hampton Court sunset; Nonsuch Beginners 12 November

By Paul

Yet another unseasonably warm day saw a fair few riding to Nonsuch on Saturday, but when we got there we found ourselves in a film set.  They were making a programme about weddings, apparently, and they didn't seem to want too many cyclists involved, even as extras, so our fifteen minutes of fame was postponed once again.

The long ride was scheduled for Bushy Park but Steve left it late, even by his standards, and we had an alternative leader in Sue lined up when Steve suddenly appeared.  Just like that!  Everyone wants to ride with Steve, so he disappeared with a dozen or so for a Nigel route through Richmond Park to Bushy Park.

That left eight for my group, and I opted for a different route in order to avoid conglomeration.  We had a pleasant, even-paced ride on the Woodies and Berryland Station route to Kingston, where the market was as crowded as any of us has seen it since before the pandemic; so much so that it was sensible to get off and push.

As we entered Bushy Park, the youngest fully paid-up member of our club decided he had had enough of sitting in his trailer and wanted to ride.  We agreed to go on to coffee and cake at the Pheasantry where Matthew and Thomas would join us when he got fed up of riding, but we had all finished our refreshments when they had still not appeared, so we sent out a search party and it turned out that Thomas was riding the entire distance.  Unsurprisingly, we had a tired three year old but with a chocolate bar bribe he was persuaded to sit in his trailer, his dad had made coffee at home and brought it in a Thermos cup, and we were able to set off home while Steve's group were supping away.

It was a good job, too, because dark descended pretty quickly for our ride back through Thames Ditton back to Berrylands and thence home.

The pictures below are by Sue.

No ride to Barnet; Nonsuch Beginners on Guy Fawkes Day

 Paul writes

Saturday was a grey and pretty miserable day and this leader was just not in the mood.  Eleven of us turned up at Nonsuch Park and luckily it included four registered leaders; Steve, dependable as ever, to lead a longer ride, Lynda wanting to go somewhere shorter, Tony, who was down on the rota to lead a short ride up to the Smallholdings, and Diane.  Because it was on the rota we had agreed to meet Roger and Anna, who were also not in the mood, at the Smallholdings.

Steve went off to Eight on the River, taking Diane and John.  Tony needed a haircut, though, and we all decided that we preferred tea and coffee and cake to sitting and watching him in the barbers, so I agreed to do his ride and off he went to have his barnet beautified, and Maggie and Matthew and little Thomas came with me through Sutton and up Carshalton Hill.  We left Lynda and the others mulling.

It is years since we did this route, because it is so short, and I had forgotten that for Beginners it is quite hilly (though none of us were Beginners anymore).  It was a pleasant enough ride, and when we got to Flitton's R & A were there already and we all went into Blossoms cafe.  "There is always time for coffee" says the friendly sign, but it was contradicted by the sign on the door which said they closed at four and further so by the lady behind the counter who had watched with horror as we came through the door and greeted us with "You know we close at three thirty".  It was just after three.  Still, the tea came and the other staff were friendly so we had a half hour chat before making our different ways home.

On the way we passed a new coffee place, called Naturally Thinking, on the Telegraph Track going down to Boundary Road.  We might be trying that next time.  If it's open.

The whole experience was so thrilling that we forgot to take a picture, so here is one we took from the car on the A23 early on the wettest Sunday morning in recent history while driving our grandson to Stansted Airport.  (It was the annual London to Brighton veteran car run).

  

A healing brace of Nigels; Nonsuch Beginners 29 October

Paul writes

A day fit for early September graced our last Saturday ride of British Summer Time and a healthy crowd turned up at Nonsuch.  It was really good to see Nigel T there, courtesy of Caroline, albeit on his crutch.  Steve W, as usual, had turned up to lead the long ride during Nigel's incapacity and I led out the first of the groups heading for Cobham through Stoke d'Abernon.  We had Sue, Anne, Anna, Roger, Maggie, Ken and Nigel C, by no means a newcomer, but welcome as he took another step towards recovery from his nasty tendon injury of two years ago.

I took a near miss from a white van driver, Nigel C behind me reckoned it was four inches or so, quite deliberate, done for a laugh with his female passenger.  I spent the rest of the ride designing in my head a little paint spray device to be affixed to my right pedal in order to decorate offending vehicles.

Which was a pity, since it was a lovely day for a pleasant ride through the Birds Hill Estate and Cobham Park; pleasantly warm sunshine and a gentle breeze.  Nowadays one is spoilt for choice for coffee in Cobham; we chose the cafe on Hollyhedge Road. Maggie and I shared the last piece of lemon drizzle cake and we want you all to know that it was absolutely delicious.

Home through Stoke d'A , Leatherhead and Ashtead and Epsom Commons.

They have at last resurfaced the railway bridge at Ewell West, so you no longer have to pull a metre away from the curb to surmount the apex of the bridge.  Everybody made it back to Nonsuch, and for Nigel C it was a bit of a triumph; farther than he has ridden before in his rehab.

For us it was 55.5 Km, though we travel a little further than most and Nigel C will have done about 40 Km (24 miles or so).  A good day out.

Pictures by Sue

  

A Return from the North; Nonsuch Beginners 22 October

 A Return From The North

By Ian Prince

Saturday 22nd October 2022

After a longish stint up north, riding both road and recumbent cycles at generally half decent mileages of around fifty miles a day,  I finally got the chance to turn up at Nonsuch Park Mansion Café for 2 pm, and join the group being organised by Colin into long rides and short ride groups, myself deciding to ride with the longer Leatherhead Bocketts Farm  ride. 

I was pleased to hear Shirley’s recovery is progressing well and had other conversations before we set off a little time after 2pm , myself on my two gear Brompton and a usual selection of bikes from others in the group plus a tandem and an electro assist bike just as it threatened to rain. 

However, this was soon left behind as we headed through Epsom and onwards via some familiar routes to pass Woodcote Park and on through Ashtead to Leatherhead and ultimately down to Bocketts Farm for a well earned bite to eat, and drink. 

It was said that road traffic seemed light; in my view, not light enough! 

In total there were around a dozen or more of us on this ride, including the tandem and Thomas in his trailer with his own machine strapped securely to the top of the Burley trailer. 

Suitably replenished we all set forward once again, this time reaching the main road on the track up from the Farm tea rooms (which was remarkably busy, waiting for streams of cars to pass to be able to cross the road) 

Once underway again we found ourselves back in Leatherhead before crossing the M25 to Ashtead, and some familiar routes through the forest and minor roads working on our way back to Epsom,  Ewell and ultimately Nonsuch Park before it got dark. 

(Clocks change soon, so good to enjoy these last autumnal rides before darker colder winter days are with us)

Back at Sutton, my mileage for the day was just under twenty five miles. 

A good day was had by all and thanks to Steve for leading and everyone else for good company, conversation and a steady paced ride in remarkably warm weather for the end of October. 

See you all again soon

Ian Prince

The Crystal in Palace; Beddington Beginners 15 October

Report by Paul

Third Saturday, it's Beddington Saturday.  Two-o-clock, as always!

The weather forecast was for a dry day, if a grey and windy one, but Colin could not be there to lead and we knew one or two regulars would not be turning up.  We had a new Beddingtonian, though, in Alyson and since Nigel had told her that we met at a quarter to two we thought we had better be sharp, but Roger and Anna and Matthew and Thomas had got there before us, as had Ray, who was not planning to come on the ride but just to say hello.

We had been discussing routes with Anna and Roger, who felt it was getting a bit "same old....", but it's not easy around here to pick routes which meet the criteria; not too hilly, not too long, not too short, not too much traffic, a decent cup of tea/coffee.  So we had settled on Crystal Palace Park, where we had not been for a while.

Church Path.  We knew we were approaching Croydon when we passed a shopping trolley in the River Wandle, but the journey through the centre is largely cycle or bus lanes and passed, we felt, pleasantly.  Along the railway path, Croydon Arena, and in South Norwood Country Park Thomas decided he had enough of being a passenger and out came his trike.  He rode the length of the park and was persuaded to get back in his trailer only by the promise of ice cream and freedom in the dinosaur park a mile or two further on.

There the rain ignored the forecast but it had the decency to be insufficient to stop play in a cricket match until we had finished our cake and coffee, which were splendid, and got back to our bikes.  There we discovered that Maggie had a flat tyre.  She remembered the broken glass in Croydon and I found a piece of it in her tyre.  Croydon, of course, is as famous for glass as is Waterford or Venice; it's just that the glass in Croydon is at a later phase of its life cycle.

An enthusiastic audience for the entertainer!

As is traditional with puncture repairs, the heavens opened.  So much so that along with several families we took cold, windy shelter beneath the pedestrian bridge next to the athletics track.  Until we worked out we might still be there after Thomas' bedtime.  So home it was, past Selhurst Park football stadium (Palace were playing away at Leicester; we had checked) through the architectural wonders of Fort Neaf, and over the intersection at Broad Green, an experimental route that might have worked better had the driver in a huge 4x4 been capable of manoeuvring it into the place they had chosen to park it without forcing several other drivers to reverse.  You can't say life in Croydon is dull.

Wandle Park and home, by which time the rain had stopped and we were all just a bit damp.  It was a good ride, though, and a nice group.  Thank you everyone, and come again, Alyson.

 

Tony's All Day Ride to Biggin Hill, 8 October

Tony writes

The Hills where alive with the sound of cyclist on the last all day ride for 2022.  14 Riders left Beddington Pk in 2 groups.  The first group led out by Alan and second group by Tony

The  weather  could not have been better and at the airport cafe we could all sit  down outside for lunch watching the planes taking  off.

On the way back to tea we stopped in Shirley to view the windmill .

Matthew and Thomas led us back along the Wandle to Beddington Pk but as the cafe was so busy we made for the cafe at Carshalton ponds.

Thanks to Alan for leading and to the back markers. 

If anyone.fancies leading an all day ride in 2023 let me or Paul know

Tony

Beddington Park to Elmers End, 17 September

By Paul

The usual crowd gathered at the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park on Saturday in perfect cycling weather, ready for a pleasant, easy ride somewhere of Colin's choosing.  Matthew was otherwise engaged in the Park because it was Thomas' third birthday and he was having an open air party; we went over and wished him a happy one.

We were joined by Neil, fresh from his adventures with B Group on Wednesday for his first Beginners ride, and Ray.  I say a destination of Colin's choosing but when Colin chose Blossom's, just up the road, there was general consensus that that would be a little too easy, so we mulled around the alternatives.  I think it was Ken who came up with Elmers End.

The traffic was lighter than usual through Croydon and for the last few hundred yards at Elmers End, where it can be busy; the rest was the usual urban roads and parkland both rough and manicured.  The cakes were wonderful, the company was easy going, the pace was such that nobody could pull a muscle and hopefully we will see Neil again, maybe at Nonsuch, too.

Somewhere in Woodside, Shirley

Karen's All Day Ride to Newdigate, 10 September

Karen writes.....

We were blessed with good weather for the all day ride to Newdigate.  Helen led the first group, comprising Anna, Roger, Ken, Diane, Steve and Tony. Paul and Maggie caught up with the group en route to elevenses, having been delayed by a puncture.

The second group, led by Karen, comprised Dawn, Ed, Alice, Margaret, Matthew, Thomas, Maureen and Sue (official photographer).

The traffic in the Epsom Downs area was heavier than when we conducted the recce.  Nonetheless, we enjoyed a smooth journey to Walton on the Hill, mainly thanks to efficient corner-marking.

Rob and Ruth joined Karen’s group at elevenses, bringing the total number to 20.  Thomas was joined by a friend called Rex.  However, he was somewhat “green about the gills” for the duration of the ride, so it’s unlikely he’ll be signing up again anytime soon.

Karen's group in need of help after hill climbing?

Karen’s group, ably back marked by Maureen, maintained a steady pace towards Leigh.  We paused briefly to attend to what was considered to be a slow puncture on Maureen’s bike.  However, within a few miles it was apparent that a more permanent remedy was necessary.  We weren’t far from the lunch venue so it was agreed that the group should split whilst Maureen’s inner tube was changed.  (I understand it was a joint effort involving Rob, Matthew and Ed!)

Helen’s group were already tucking in to their lunch when we arrived at the Surrey Oaks.  Our staggered arrival had some benefit – lunch orders were taken and served with military efficiency.

Following lunch, we made good headway towards Leatherhead, no doubt already wondering whether to have carrot cake or a scone at Amici’s.  However, we were hindered by another puncture on the approach to Brockham.  Matthew, ably assisted by Thomas, came to Maureen’s rescue again.  When we reached Amici’s, Helen’s group was preparing to leave; not before informing us of a broken chain which Steve had the capability (and tools?!) to repair.  

Some went their separate ways at Leatherhead and the remaining few managed to return to Cheam without further incident (unless someone knows otherwise!)

Thanks to all for a lovely day, with particular thanks to those who assisted with the cycle repairs.

Helen writes.....

Early in our ride we nearly went astray, when I led us into  Beech Walk cul de sac at the bottom of Reigate Road, instead of Ewell Downs Road and the Green.

Epsom Down was soon overcome, then my phone dropped from my unzipped bag, at the very bottom of Kingswood Road, delaying the upward climb to Tadworth! No damage or losses except the Strava recording of the first half of our route... At this point, Paul and Maggie caught us up, departure from home having been delayed by a basement flood (blocked drain) and a flat tyre (could not get the wheel off, rushed to Wallington Cycles).

The rest of the morning ride went smoothly.

We enjoyed our coffee at Walton, and Pebble Hill was fun. The views towards Box Hill from Kiln Lane are always beautiful, and we enjoyed the peaceful and pretty lanes from Brockham to lunch. Service and food were good at the Surrey Oaks, and we set off for home soon after 2 pm.

Repairing a puncture?  Child's play compared with...........

.....mending a broken chain!

Just after Henfold, as we turned into Red Lane, my chain broke! Praise be to Tony, who had a spare chain link, and Steve, with his multi-tool, which included a chainbreak kit. Thanks to their skills we were all back on the road in 15 minutes or so, and enjoying the lovely afternoon route to Amici in Leatherhead for tea.

All of us thoroughly enjoyed our day. Many thanks Karen for planning it, Tony for back marking and to all for a relaxed and fun social ride.

What CTC South West London does best!

 

Cycling legends in Nottinghamshire; a missive from Ian Prince

Ian writes

After a mad fortnight first riding my ICE VTX recumbent in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, then going to Belfast and London (not cycling or for the obvious Royal events), I am at Harworth in North Nottinghamshire today and riding the Tom Simpson memorial ride tomorrow.

The afternoon today has been all about TdF 1967 rider Tom Simpson (from Harworth obviously) with classic films and news reels from the 1960s, with his daughter Joanne doing an interview but more than that with Team Sky riders interviews plus Barry & Helen Hoban being present, there was also cycling royalty from Audax and her 1982 World Champion racing days….Mandy Jones.

Mandy Jones being interviewed

One of her bikes

We used to do Audax’s from Rochdale when I lived in Manchester just because Mandy was there or organising. Still little changed and immediately recognisable despite the forty intervening years since her World Championship win at Goodwood. I went and chatted to her but what do you say to your absolute heros?

Anyway, she is riding tomorrow but as in the old days she will no doubt leave me as “lantern rouge” as she used to from Rochdale.

See you all again, probably on the Brompton on a Saturday afternoon at Nonsuch.

Sprockets to Brockett's; Nonsuch Beginners 3 September

It was a bit windy on Saturday, but otherwise a fine day for cycling, the torrid heat a thing of the past, the thunderstorms not yet upon us, and a healthy crowd turned up at the cafe.

Steve W took the long ride, to Brockett's Farm, but because people were socialising, and not paying attention, it was difficult to ascertain how many wanted to go long, and how many short.  Sometimes you get the feeling that people come to cycling just to enjoy themselves!

When the number got to fifteen, we decided to split into two groups for safety and seven riders went off with Steve while I stayed behind a few minutes and my group numbers began to fluctuate with the undeciders being indecisive.  In the end we had nine, which is manageable in South London Saturday traffic; there might be more aggressive driving on a weekday but there is definitely greater incompetence on a weekend.

Our leader and his acolytes first caught up the tailenders of the front group at the top of Wilmerhatch Lane where temporary traffic lights interfered with our precision planning, so we had a swig and let them get away again, only to come across Isamu and his puncture on the A24 at Ashtead.

There were enough cooks dealing with the broth so we became the lead group and this time I courted popularity by turning in the gate to Brockett's half way up Young Street instead of leading my group to the top and back down again.  

Soon Steve and his advance party joined us for coffee and cake, but the puncture turned out to be a double puncture and the repair party left it until we were beginning to worry about them.

People enjoying themselves and not cycling, before the repair party arrived.

We took slightly different routes home, but both over Epsom Common to West Ewell.  A decent, enjoyable ride, more or less 30 miles door to door.

Thanks to Maggie for backmarking my group and, of course, to Steve for taking the main responsibility.

 

Invitation to the All Day Ride to Newdigate on Saturday 10 Sept

 Invitation to All Day Ride to Newdigate on Saturday 10 September at 9.45am from Nonsuch Mansion.

Elevenses at Walton on the Hill and lunch at a pub in Leigh/Newdigate area.

And for those in need of further sustenance, tea at Leatherhead.

Those who wish to join please email karen.cochrane@live.co.uk

Gate crashing the wedding; Beddington Park Beginners 20 August

Report by Paul

We were missing one or two familiar faces on Saturday and with Roger performing at the Edinburgh Festival and newcomers failing to show there were six of us at the Pavilion.

Colin led the short trip to Coombe Woods but there was a wedding, complete with Routemaster bus at St Mary's Beddington so we chose the northerly path out of the park to Beddington Village, rather than interfere with the wedding photos getting to Church Lane.

It was a fine day without being too hot and despite the broken glass and cycle lane parking, even Croydon seemed pleasant enough.

The rest of the group are unconcerned at the sudden disappearance

of one of their number in Lloyd Park 

Lloyd Park is not the best bit of off-road in South London and in the dry (the much heralded rain on Wednesday never reached here!) the surface provided a test for the saddle-to-bum interface.

But for whom did we have to pull over on Coombe Farm Lane?  The very same wedding party, laughing and cheering in their Routemaster bus.

They have reorganised the cafe at Coombe Woods but the gents loo is still permanently locked.

A tricky ride home for Beginners, the short, dusty descent off Conduit Lane and the steep climb up Haling Park Road, but none of it it very long and overall it is a leisurely ride with a few breathless bits.

Thanks for leading, Colin.

2022 Greenwich Ride, 13 August. Mad dogs and Sou'Westers.

by Paul

By nine or so, when folk across South London were in various stages of preparation for the traditional annual ride to Greenwich, it was seriously warm out there.  A number of riders had called off, some citing the heat, but the Magnificent Seventeen turned up and we had ourselves a convoy; two convoys, in fact!

For the journey north we used the familiar route.  Maggie and I are thinking of trying to plan a bit of a change next year, maybe involving Crystal Palace and Dulwich parks, but we were too busy this time around.  We have also experimented with different routes through Croydon but the one past the the Parish Church, the Town Hall and East Croydon Station presents the fewest high-risk spots.  Coffee at Kent House Station is not cheap but it is the only practical option and at eleven in the morning we found some shade and the coffee and cakes were good.  

Kent House coffees.  The proprietor brought in extra cake (seriously!)

As the years go by the bridges across the Pool and Ravensbourne rivers become increasingly worn but the ride through South East London parks, weaving over the rivers, remains a relaxing one with little reference to the busy urban traffic or the cares of life off a bicycle.

The mazy trek through Lewisham went smoothly; the traffic was light; many people must have been on holiday or hiding from the sun, and the only real hill of the day was the climb up to Blackheath.  On the parched top of the Heath the lack of cover was mitigated by a welcome easterly breeze.  

Dave's group on the Heath.....

....and at the viewpoint......

....and Paul's group arriving at the statue of General Wolfe

General Wolfe still looks out across Wren's astonishing demonstration of imperial power (and amid the gherkins and walkie-talkies you can make out his dome at St Paul's).

The following few miles are a history lesson; Hawksmoor, the nineteenth century wool trade, Peter the Great, Brunel, Turner, Judge Jeffries and Edward III, not to mention the lightermen and stevedores and the rest who slaved in the dockyards and the immigrants who arrived there.

Dockers?  Immigrants?  Dave shows off his private yacht

Paul's group at the Dog & Bell

The Dog and Bell remains the best pub in Greenwich; the Red Thai Curry was as good as the Green had been on the Thursday recce.  The sadness was having to eschew all those East London ales and sit with a pint of Coca-Cola!  The volunteers at the Brixton Windmill could not have been more welcoming for a much needed tea stop and their tea seemed like the elixir of life itself.  Those strawberries on top of the cake were delicious.  

Brixton Windmill on a scorching afternoon.  The volunteers there had home made cakes for us.

And MED at Merton Abbey Mills was still open for a farewell coffee and ginger beer when my group got there at around 5.30; Dave's had already left for a cool drink in the garden at home.  Not Coca-Cola, I presume!

A warm day out, but a splendid one.  Thanks especially to Dave Vine and Helen for helping with the leading, and to everyone else for the company.  See you next year, when there will be a special reduction in price for those mad enough to cycle in the sun this year. 

Greenwich Ride Saturday 13 August; order of play

The ride itself will start from the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park.  It is an urban/park/riverside ride through some busy places and to make things easier and avoid annoying drivers and residents, we will go in three groups.

At 09.30, from the crossroads at North Cheam (eastern corner of junction between Malden Road and London Road), Helen Tovey and Steph Wyatt will lead those who said they would prefer to meet there to Beddington Park.  These we know of are Mayuri Patel, Jen Carmichael, Debbie Sands, Maggie Gibson, Kasumi and John Brooker.

Morning tea/coffee is at the Kent House station cafe.  They should be ordering extra cake for us, though be prepared to take out a small mortgage if you want two cakes!  There is a loo; only one, but very smart.

Lunch is at the Dog and Bell, Prince Street, Deptford.  Thai curry recommended, plenty of loos.

Tea is at the Brixton Windmill.  Unbelievably reasonable in price (to make up for the morning) and splendid home made cakes.  One loo.

The ride formally ends at Merton Abbey Mills.  We will ensure that those who are not sure of the way will be led back to Morden Hall Park and/or Beddington Park, though you may have to wait for the final group to get in if you require that service. 

Group 1 will depart the Pavilion Cafe at 10.00.

Leader, Dave Vine.

John & Anne Connaughton, Alan Clark, Sharon Smith, Anna and Roger Parsley, Ken Jones.

Group 2 will depart at 10.15 or as soon as Helen arrives with the Cheam contingent (allowing for a comfort break if necessary), whichever is the later.

Leader Helen Tovey

Mayuri Patel, Jen Carmichael, Debbie Sands, Maggie Gibson, Sue Bellamy, Kasumi and John Brooker

Group 3 will depart at 10.30, or if Helen is late off, ten minutes after her group.

Leader Paul James

Maggie James, Steph Wyatt, Madeleine Shearer, Justine Hawkins, Paul Guiste, Kamaljit kaur heer, plus any late applicants.

Please remember to bring plenty of water (we recommend freezing it overnight), a spare inner tube, a bike lock (though at all the stops the bikes can be parked within sight of some of the group), and some spare energy of your own choice (eg banana, cereal bar, etc.).  Despite the hot weather, there is a fair amount of shade along the way and much of the ride is along waterways.

The ride will be conducted at Beginners pace and the leaders will ensure no-one is left behind.  If you are split from the group, remember that the rule is to carry straight on because the leader will be waiting for you before or at the next turn.  Dave rode it yesterday and Helen, Maggie and I rode it today.  Just to give some idea of timings we left at 10.30 and in no hurry we were at morning coffee by 11.30, at lunch by 1.15, at the tea stop in Brixton by 4 and at coffee at Merton Abbey Mills by 5.15, home by 6.30. 

For those with electronic mapping the route can be found on Ride with GPS or on Strava, though leaders may deviate if the circumstances require it.

Paul's mobile number is 07718 753 234.  He promises to pay attention to it between 10 and 10.30 on Saturday!

Greenwich ride 13 August; recce on Thursday 11 August

Paul is looking for a couple more group leaders to assist in the All Day ride to Greenwich on Saturday next, 13 August.

He will be riding the route for the final recce on Thursday 11 August, starting from the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park at 10.30am.

Anyone welcome; if you are on the list of insured club leaders and available to lead on Saturday and free on Thursday, just turn up for a 10.30 departure on Thursday.

Otherwise, if you are able to lead a complicated urban route just using the electronic map, let him know and he will publish the final route on Thursday night.

paulandrewjames1949@yahoo.co.uk  

If you are on the way to Beddington Park on Thursday morning and a few minutes behind schedule, ring or text him on 07718 753 234 so he doesn't go without you. 

Messin' about on the river again. Nonsuch Beginners 30 July

By Paul

A decent number tuned up at a warm Nonsuch on Saturday and there was not really a short ride; Lynda took one group to Teddington Lock and I took the other to Molesey.  Bereft of the sea, the river seemed the only sensible thing.

The ferns were huge and richly green in Bushy Park, a reminder that they have been around for five hundred million years and will long survive mankind, let alone this drought.  But with the wide swathes of brown grass and the clutches of young deer gathered at the watering places it felt like we were riding through the Serengeti; you half expected a lean lioness to be stalking in the undergrowth.

There were twelve of us in my group including Rob'n'Ruth on the tandem and, attacked by no predators we had a pleasant ride to take tea at Eight on the River.

Could you just take a step back, please? Eleven on the river at Eight on the River

We meandered back past the lovely pondside church at Weston Green, designed by Edward Maufe, who designed Guildford Cathedral; the only hitch was a puncture for Alan on the way home on South Lane in Old Malden when at the roadworks there he ran over a screw big enough to hold the Forth Bridge together, which made a mess of his tyre and his mudguard.  Oh, and I ran over a huge rat in The Grove at Carshalton. 

Otherwise, another good, relaxing day out.  Thanks everyone for the company.     

Invitation to the All Day Ride to Greenwich on Saturday 13 August

The annual All Day Ride to Greenwich will be on Saturday 13 August, leaving the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park from 10am.

We hope to escort a group of those who can't find Beddington park from Cheam at 9.30.

32 miles back to Beddington Park, flat as a pancake apart from having to climb up to Blackheath (annoyingly, they built the Observatory on a hill!), through South London parks in the morning, up the river to Bermondsey Beach and then through the back streets of Camberwell and Brixton to see the windmill, and home over Tooting Common.

Depending on the uptake, we hope to run an alternative home route to Cheam, and an option of a pub lunch or sandwiches.

Volunteers for group leaders would be most welcome, and a final recce will be available if you want it on Thursday 11th or Friday 12th, or by arrangement.  I will shortly publish the route on Ride with GPS.

Those who want to join the ride please e-mail paulandrewjames1949@yahoo.co.uk   

The Alpine method; Beginners, 23 July

Paul reports.....

Nigel is still injured, so Steve volunteered to lead the longer ride out of Nonsuch Park on a warm day with a bit of a breeze.  The rides list said it was to be Farthing Down but Steve decided that Farthing down was too far away and too hilly for a warm day, so he would go over Box Hill (which is further).  Box Hill, he explained, was not hilly at all except for the Box Hill bit.

Once we had vaguely agreed that those who cannot deal with altitude could turn back from Rykas, he had eleven takers so we decided to split into two, Steve taking the first group and Paul the second, giving him a five minute start.  It became a bit longer than five minutes when Lynda set off with the short ride to Ashtead, but set out we eventually did, Ken, Karen, Anna, Roger, Maggie, Alan and yours truly with Mariaan, a relative newcomer to the club, who is trying to get in the training to do a charity London to Brighton ride in September.

There had to be a balance between maintaining Beginners pace and not being stranded overnight on the vertiginous slopes of le Col du Box, so onward we drove, through the Valley where the glacial waters of the Mole tumble from the Surrey Hills slopes and we set up Base Camp on a wooden table at Ryka's.

The earlier expedition had not even bothered to stop there, but we were taking no risks and the support team made themselves at home coiffing tea and coffee and cakes while the climbers took quicker refreshment and set out for the peak.  

We climbed in the Alpine tradition, no supplies, no oxygen, to gain the peak and return safely as quickly as possible and that we did, all of us attaining the first objective, the viewpoint, but only the leader making it to Smith and Western.  Just as he got there he believes he made out, in the distance, the shapes of Steve's earlier expedition, some quarter of a mile ahead of him.  It proved a poignant moment, for they were never seen again.  We may never know whether they made the true peak, or disappeared in a valiant attempt, though thee tracks in the snow recorded by Strava suggest that they conquered it.

In contrast, we three returned safely to base camp where the support team were on their umpteenth cake and beverage, and from there we returned to civilization via Ashtead Common, where we took a "short" cut to make the ride a really worthwhile 37 miles door to door.

Sunday 10th July - ride report

 Thanks all for accompanying me on my quest to see the amazing interior of the barn.  Ian - well done for determination to get there after missing us at Kingston.  Thanks to Tony Hopkins for excellent off road route alternatives and Tony Hooker for back marking.

It was a lovely day with a good turn out.  The off road section was improved by avoiding the tunnel by the old marshalling yards nature reserve and heading northeast for Hounslow Heath through better surfaced off road .  A leisurely lunch ...mix of picnickers and Crown pub.  Such was the improvement to the route we arrived before opening time but were able to confirm our orders and order a much needed drink.  The village is pretty and the barn impressive.  Some took in the church with the gravestone of Mr Cox the grafter of Coxes Orange Pippins and testament to the orchards and market gardens that once occupied the fertile soil beneath the concrete runways of Heathrow.     The memorial down the road to Barnes Wallis and his bouncing bombs was visited by John who was then accosted by a lady with news of a time trial shield for West London Cycling club with names engraved on it from the 1950s.  She had picked it up out of a skip but was reluctant to hand it over.  

The return route joined the Grand Union via another section of Tony Hopkins inspired invention.   The notable sign at Balls Bridge informed of the mileage to Paddington if anyone wished to return by train.  We exited the canal into Osterley Park but it being Sunday and busy we kept to the perimeter bridleway.  Soon cruising down Church Rd into Isleworth we kept north of the Thames enjoying the Twickenham riverside with teas and ice creams and finally a viewing of the massive Carrera marble statue of mermaids and webbed hoofed horses hidden away in the shrubbery.

A great day out.

Meeting the requirements; Nonsuch Beginners 9 July

By Paul

With a fairly long All Day ride due on the morrow and my consequent need to get to church on Saturday evening, I was given a string of parameters for Saturday's ride by my various managers.

Not too long, for fear of exhaustion the next day and so I would be back in time, but long enough not to be a short ride; no hills but something different.

No hills is the most difficult thing around here, and unless we are going to do the Wandle Trail again, requires the redefinition of what is a hill.  Great Bookham Common was deemed too far, so I opted for Richmond Park by a different route.  The hills there are all in the mind.

There were fewer riders at Nonsuch Park, perhaps because of the Sunday ride, but Maggie and I were happy to take out a small group and Sabrina and Bernard were keen to join, as was Alan and that might have been it had Alyson (returning to Beginners for the last few weeks after a long absence) not got chatting to Maggie and had John B not been keen to show us his suggested innovations to my route and then, as we set off, up the path with his usual perfect timing came Steve W, who tagged on.

A good size group then.  John took us through the most convoluted twists and turns in Stoneleigh and Old Malden in order to avoid the main road and the traffic lights at Worcester Park.  It was an enjoyable route, and certainly traffic-free, but not one I would want to take trying to get to Wednesday elevenses in time.  We used the well-ridden path crossing the Hogsmill to descend the Col de Berrylands and then into Kingston Market and along the Kingston Riviera.  Then John took over again in Ham, taking us to Ham Gate along Church Road; picturesque and a history lesson on the prison that used to be there.

Up the non-hill into the park, we went across the top, past the Ballet School and made our way to the increasingly expensive cafe at Roehampton Gate.

John Baggins (Bilbo's brother) put on his magic ring after tea and cakes and disappeared from view.  Please tell us if you see him again.  The rest of us split up along the way home through Raynes Park and Lower Morden to get back home at 5.30; 27 miles door-to-door.

A good ride.  Thanks to all for the company.  And thanks, John, wherever you are, for showing us something new. 

Sunday 10th all day ride to Harmondsworth Tithe Barn

10 am at Kingston Bridge

If you would like me to preorder your lunch from The Crown please leave me a text.  There should be plenty of time at Harmondsworth to eat and see the barn.  Return via short section of canal and T at Osterley or Richmond Park area.

Paul and Maggie James

Maureen

Helen Tovey

Lillian and Ed

Alan Clarke

Roger and Anna Parsley

Tony Hopkins

Alice Betts

Tony Hooker

Matthew maybe

Another option for lunch on Sunday 10th

For the ride to Harmondsworth this coming Sunday please note this alternative to the Sunday roast at The Five Bells or a picnic. The alternative is this menu at The Crown in Harmondsworth High St:

(click to enlarge)

~ Tim C

See here for details of the ride.