New faces! Beddington Beginners to Merton Abbey and Morden Hall on 21 May

By Paul 

Saturday was perfect weather for cycling, mostly though not entirely sunny, not too hot and with little wind.  And we were really pleased that of the twelve riders converging upon the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park, three were first-timers with the club.

With 25% newcomers we decided to keep it reasonably short and as gently off road as possible, and established Morden Hall Park as our target, though the slightly long way round.  In two groups for easier management, Colin in the lead and Paul with the follow-up group, we went North on a peaceful Beddington Lane (closed to traffic but the blockage penetrable on a bike), across Mitcham Common, past Mitcham Eastfields and across Figges Marsh.  We rode along the waterside path to Merton Abbey, each group independently weighing up whether to have coffee there but each deciding that we had agreed to do so at Morden Hall.

Where have they got to?  A leader impatient for his tea and cake in Morden Hall Park

It was a decision we mildly regretted because of the painfully slow service at Morden Hall, and one we might revise next time.....

Tardy tea at Morden Hall

Eventually refreshed, we made our way back to Beddington along the Wandle Trail.

                                                        Paul's group on the Wandle Trail

A pleasant, easy-paced afternoon which the newcomers seemed to enjoy.

What's all this stopping and starting when there's a playground to get to?  

Two year old Thomas sets the pace in Beddington Park

So, welcome Sarah, Howard and Suzanna, thank you for your company, and we would love to see you again.

Beginners at large on Box Hill

Beginners team riders feeling happy after their conquest of Box Hill

Matthew distinguised himself today by riding in our club's gruelling Hilly50km event with over 3000 feet of climbing, culminating in the ascent of Box Hill. Wondering how he might profitably spend the afternoon after the ride he rode back to Nonsuch Park to see what was going on there and to find out the destination of the longer ride. To the great surprise of all of us who had been chatting for ages at the National Trust Café at the top of Box Hill Matthew turned up again, this time with six fellow riders from the Saturday group.

 

Well done everybody!

~ Tim C

Notice and papers for 2022 AGM on 11 May

 The AGM for CTC South West London will commence at 11:00 in the Hersham Church Hall on Wednesday 11th May .

All Saints Church Hall, 13 Queens Road, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 5LU

The location is close to the 11's Hersham Day centre for those attending and wanting a quick coffee before the Meeting. Please leave the day centre by 10:50. 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/51%C2%B021'59.5%22N+0%C2%B024'03.5%22W/@51.3665276,-0.4031648,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xa9b88f29b6baafe6!8m2!3d51.3665276!4d-0.4009761

Signing in sheets will be circulated once you are sitting down. The Agenda, Minutes of the 2021 AGM, Treasurer's Report and our Annual Report are available to read (and print what you need to bring) in advance online via the links below . Please take the time and trouble to do so as this will help the meeting run smoothly and get us all back on our bikes quicker. 😀 

In the interests of being more environmentally friendly, a reduced number will be printed this year and be available on the day to share.

Please be considerate about where you park your bikes.👍


Click the relevant google drive links below to read the:

AGM Agenda

Annual Report

Treasurer's Report

 Minutes of 2021 AGM

Dave Ferrett

Hon Secretary

An extra hill; Nonsuch Beginners 30 April

By Paul James

A goodly crowd turned up at Nonsuch Park on a Saturday that was not quite as warm as it looked.

Nigel was not there and Steve W had kindly stepped up to the plate to lead the longer ride, and he had chosen Bocketts Farm as his destination; it is somewhere we have been before, though not for a while and somehow, despite turning up to Beginners on and off for a good few years now, I had never cycled there though I knew where it was.

Originally sixteen of us elected for the longer ride, and after Steve had given his leader's brief on riding with gaps, we decided to split into two groups to make the gap a permanent one. Eight went with Steve and then I hung back to lead the follow-on group.

We went through Nonsuch Park to Ewell, past Epsom Sainsbury's and skirting Epsom centre to the South, made our way to the bottom of Chalk Lane to ascend Woodcote Green Road and Wilmerhatch Lane behind Epsom Hospital to Pleasure Pit Lane.

Thus far we kept together, though my group had grown by three along the way and Steve's shrunk by one.  Steve chose to go down Ottways Lane but wanted (partly for Matthew's sake) to avoid the hassle of Linden Pit Path but instead to cross the M25 over the busy roundabout at the Leatherhead By-Pass, and there, at the Grange Road lights, they moved clear of us.

No matter, we knew where we were going so I led down the A3 cycle path and up Young Street, because I had seen the sign to Bockett's Farm at the roundabout on top of the hill.  I didn't know there was a sneaky path half way up to save a good bit of the climbing but there was not a murmur of complaint from my group, even when we had to descend the hill to get to the tea room itself and it became obvious that we had gone half a hill too far!  

Relative newcomers Justine, Marcia, Pablo and Gary with more familiar faces at Bockett's.  

We all had tea together and returned to Nonsuch via Leatherhead and then Ashtead Station car parks and over Epsom Common.

A good afternoon.  Thanks to everyone for the company.