Remembering Cliff

A very good number of Sou'Westers were present today to celebrate the life of Cliff Whitfield, an active cyclist in this club and a great cycling companion at home and abroad for many years.

Our thoughts are with Maureen and Cliff's wonderful family for sharing their day with us.

~ Tim C

Nonsuch Beginners 23 April; Waiting for Godd....

 ...only knows how long.

by Paul James

Twenty two riders and one two-year-old passenger turned up at a sunny Nonsuch Park on Saturday.  Nigel's intention, following the AGM decision on the matter, was to avoid a free-ranging discussion of where we might ride to by sticking to the published destination, which this week was Wimbledon Park.  This only engendered a discussion on how we might get there, so we mulled around, Nigel and others helping out two or three newcomers who were on their second week with a bit of inflation.  Meanwhile, Lynda turned up and announced a ride to Teddington Lock, gathered a few followers and off she went; Teddington Lock involves no hills to speak of, so the seven to whom this was important in their decision-making followed her.

The fourteen remaining was too big a crowd to drag through post-Covid bad-tempered South London streets, so we split into two groups.  Nigel led a group of seven on an anti-clockwise loop and I led the other seven on a clockwise route.  The idea was to meet up for afternoon tea in Wimbledon Park, but the best laid plans of mice and men.......

We, being Maggie and I, Rob and Ruth on the tandem, Sue B, Matthew and Thomas, and Colin, trailed Nigel's group by a few seconds until at Worcester Park they turned up Green Lane where we went straight. There Colin peeled off to chase Lynda's group to Teddington.  For the rest of us, all went smoothly until we crossed Kingston Road in New Malden to go up Elm Road, where we found ourselves in a queue at the level crossing.  And there we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Not a train in sight and still the barriers were down.  Eventually, Matthew plotted a workaround, an about turn and riding to New Malden Station along South London's most dangerous cycle lane, crossing the railway under the bridge there and turning back through the cut.  At the end of this manoeuvre we emerged the other side of the level crossing, the barriers still down, the motorists and cyclists still waiting.  Perhaps they wait there still.

Entering Richmond Park through Ladderstile Gate

Impressive deer in Richmond Park, but by the time we were riding across Putney Heath, young Thomas was telling us all that he had had enough, so by common consent, we took our refreshments at the Windmill instead of down in the valley in the Park.  And once we had done that, it was the straightest route home; not a sensible choice because of the number of narrow chicanes in the paths.  Next time I will think more carefully for the benefit of tandemists and pullers of carriages.

Trailer repairs at Ladderstile; no problem, you can see Matthew even carries a spare bike

We were upset when we got home to hear of Nigel's misfortune; knocked off his bike at the roundabout on West Barnes Lane by one of his own riders trying to overtake him.  Steve had started the afternoon by giving advice on leaving spaces for motorists and we have leaflets, prepared by Shirley, which give guidance on group riding, but a newcomer can hardly be expected to absorb it all just before a ride.  Perhaps leaders need to consider a brief word of advice on staying behind the leader when we have newcomers riding out.

Nigel resisted the urge to spend his Saturday night in A&E, but instead opted for a DIY clean-up.  We checked up on Sunday, and he was sore but well.  Come back soon, Nigel.

 

  

Ending the Reduced Sou'Westers Subscription Rate

At the 2013 AGM the committee proposed a temporary reduced subscription rate, intending to reduce our bank balance by returning some funds to our members.  Members agreed.  Since then we have returned around £900 to our members.   By the end of this financial year our funds will be around £1230, a little above the minimum reserve of £1000 the committee has set to ensure we have enough to run the club.

So, it is now time to recommend returning to a subscription rate that will cover our costs.

When I started as a novice Wayfarers Membership Secretary in late 2012, the subscription was £3 per year.  It was reduced to £2 in 2013, and further reduced to a ridiculously cheap £1 pa. from 2015 until 2022.  If you ride every week, that’s 2 pence per ride, with a loyalty bonus of a couple of free rides at the end of the year!

The money raised is mostly spent on the printing of the Sou’Wester newsletter and the costs of running our annual competitions, which are open to all Sou’Wester members.

During that time we have generally made a deficit of around £200, with smaller deficits in years when we run occasional self-funding events such as the Tri-Vets ride, which make a small profit for the club.

The committee will propose at our forthcoming AGM on May 11th to return the annual subscription rate to £2 for 2023, with the likelihood of a further rise to £3 the following year.   We hope you will agree that it still represents good value for money.

Simon Lambourn

(Sou’Westers Treasurer and Wayfarers Membership Secretary)

Tri-Vets 2022: 15th June

As you may have noticed in Cycleclips, CTC has begun to advertise this year's Tri-Vets. The Wayfarers will be organising one of the events, starting at 0800 on the 15th June in Brockham Cricket Pavilion.  The routes are in a figure of eight, for lunch back at the pavilion so those unduly tired/injured/bitten off more than they can chew can quietly withdraw at lunchtime if necessary.  There will be groups at varying paces. 

Arrangements will be much the same as 2016/19 with three rides being offered:

50 Kms, a normal Wednesday A or B Group Ride; 

100 Kms, an Audax-Style challenge; and, 

100 miles, the CTC Tri-Vets, with a badge available for those that complete the course in 12 hours.

It is intended to ride the same routes as 2019 with the 100 mile ride completing the longer, western, loop before lunch and groups aiming for 8/10/12 hour times.

The cost may increase from the £5 we charged before – that will be finalised by the end of April when I will send out the registration document with a request for payment. In the meantime keep the date free and email me Brian Greenwood to book your place on the event. Numbers will be limited to 80 and the event will be posted on the CUK website in the next week or two.

Here's the map of the 100 mile route, for information.

 

More detail on the routes can be found at:

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/800655?units=km for the 50 km route;

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/800690?units=km for the 100 km route; and,

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/760851?units=miles for the 100 mile route.

More details to follow.

Easter Enders; Beddington Beginners Easter Tour to Elmers End

By Paul James.....

Easter Saturday was perfect for a relaxing cycle ride.  Sunshine but not too warm, little wind, traffic thin, presumably because many people were down on the coast.

Nine of us turned up at the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park; Colin, as always; regulars Anna and Roger, Ken, Maggie and me; Matthew and Thomas, who are fast becoming regulars, and Jim who had been a while ago and had also been riding a little from Nonsuch Park.

After a short debate, and with Jim's self-confessed lack of fitness we settled on a trip to Elmers End, but Colin asked me to lead and I had not thought about a route.

In the end we used the route through Croydon past the parish church and East Croydon Station, along the old railway track to Blackhorse Lane tram stop and through South Norwood Country Park to coffee at Branching Out in Elmers End.

A happy bunch a Branching Out in Elmers End

The trip back skirting Ashburton Park, flirting with Lloyd Park and through Park Hill Recreation Ground is a nice one but I wish I had given a few seconds' thought when asked to lead and made more of a loop by leading the outward leg through West Croydon and Thornton Heath.

Still, we all had a good ride at a leisurely pace in the Easter Sunshine.

  

Cliff Whitfield - funeral arrangements

Maureen has sent us this information about the family's plans for Cliff's funeral:

The funeral will be held on Tuesday 26th April at 12.40.

The venue will be:

The North East Surrey Crematorium, Lower Morden Lane, Morden, SM4 4NU.

A celebration of Cliff's life will be held afterwards at:

Woodies Freehouse, The Sports Ground, Thetford Road, New Malden, KT3 5DX

You are invited to attend. For catering purposes Maureen will need to know how many are coming by Saturday 16th April. For this please advise Tim Court by email or by private Text or WhatsApp message (07767 385 596), by Friday 15th at latest, if you are intending to come.

There is a good cycle track from the Crematorium to Worcester Park and Woodies is approximately 10 minutes further on (on the New Malden side of the A3).

~ Tim C