A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall; Nonsuch Beginners 28 October

O where have you been my blue-eyed son?

O where have you been my darlin' young one?

I been to Nonsuch Park to meet with Beginners

I been riding to Stoke D'Abernon with Nigel a-leadin'

I been to Cafe Barbera where the staff were all welcomin'

An its a hard, its a hard, its a hard, its a hard

Its a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

And what did you see my blue-eyed son?

And what did you see, my darlin' young one?

I saw ten people turn up but only seven on the long ride

I saw they fixed the potholes on Christ Church Road highway

I saw Malden Rushett with no traffic in it

I saw the gates of private estates openin' for me

I saw ten thousand cakes but I only got one

I saw black clouds a-gatherin' on the Western horizon

An its a hard, its a hard, its a hard, its a hard

Its a hard rain's a-gonna fall

And what did you do, my blue eyed son?

And what did you do my darlin' young one?

We cycled pretty fast for a bunch of Beginners

We tried a new route with an extra hill in it

We got a bit wet but nothin' too scary

Because we got home before the clouds opened 

and a hard, a hard, a hard, a hard, a hard rain began to fall. 

Between the Showers; Beddington Beginners 21 October

Storm Bebet (If you work in the Met Office, do you get a chance to name storms after people who have upset you?) was wreaking its havoc and tragedy across the United Kingdom and relatively speaking merely sprinkling those of us in the South East.  

Nevertheless we softies had been watching from the kitchen windows and contemplating staying at home.  Elizabeth on the BBC Weather had assured us that the storm would have passed by around ten-o-clock but she proved unreliable; noon passed, and then one, and the rain if anything got heavier.

Thing is, we had business to conduct; a discussion on winter start times, and so it came to pass that we left home in what had become a fine drizzle only to arrive in Beddington Park in the dry, much more comfortable than the group of unfortunate youngsters being made to lie with weapons full length and then crawl through the cold wet grass by some military man.

There was a lethargy about the group which met at the Pavilion and no-one argued with Colin when he suggested a short ride to Flitton's, albeit via a circuitous route; the clouds still looked ominous.

Indeed it was a short and easy ride; Mellows Park, Roundshaw Down, into the privileged maze that constitutes the Webb Estate, going up to the French war memorial and then as the sun came out, making straight for Flitton's in good time before four-o-clock, when the cafe closes.

There we had a meeting which culminated in - wait for it - a vote (who says there is no excitement at Beddington Park Beginners?) before making our way home on what had become a lovely, sunny, autumnal afternoon.

But our timing was perfect; the rain came down with a vengeance once we were indoors enjoying our cuppa.

Thanks to Colin for leading and to everyone else for the company.

Two are chatting, one is contemplating her shopping list, two want to look serious and good in the photo and one is contemplating the bravery of the French soldiers at Verdun.  Come on, chaps, pay attention........  

....that's better!  Photos by Maggie

  

Change in Times for Winter Saturday Beginners Rides

 

From Paul

Change in Times for Winter Saturday Beginners Rides.

Following a discussion at Beginners AGM early this year the Saturday ride times have been amended.  Starting on 4 November and throughout the winter months the long Saturday ride from Nonsuch Park will leave at 1pm.  The short ride will continue to depart at 2pm.  Beddington Park rides will also begin at 1pm.  When the clocks go forward at the end of March, all Saturday rides will revert to a 2pm start.

Please let anyone know who does not read the blog or WhatsApp group messages.

First Aid Training Day

 By Simon Lambourn 

First Aid training day

Every so often someone has a tumble on a ride, mostly with minor scrapes and bruises, but we sometimes worry about how to cope with a more serious incident.   Jennie Jackson organised a first aid training session for a group of nine volunteers, run by a nurse, cyclist and trainer at Wimbledon First Aid Training.   It was an excellent session, tailored for cyclists, and covered most of the things we could think of, and several we hadn’t! 

Recovery position

The topics covered were:

• First aid kit contents
• Priorities at the scene of an incident (keep everyone safe as the top priority)
• Assessing  an injured person
• Recovery position
• CPR
• Head and spinal injuries
• Dealing with bleeding
• Broken bones
• Incident reporting

And then we got to practice some of the techniques, which I think made us all feel more confident that we would know what to do if called upon to help.  It was a very worthwhile and thought-provoking day.   Thank you to Jennie for organising.

Watching a video of real-life CPR (it ended well!)

If there is sufficient interest, Jennie may be able to arrange further courses.   Please contact Jennie if interested.

First Aid Kit contents

A simple first aid kit can be very small, easily carried in a cycling jersey pocket, and might help treat a minor injury or prevent something becoming more serious.

Contents can vary but might include:  a dressing for grazes, antiseptic wipes, a foil ‘space blanket’, plasters, paracetamol & aspirin(*NB), safety pins, protective gloves, a bandage.

If you have been trained, a CPR mouth protector is also recommended.

(NB.  giving medication is generally discouraged (get advice from 999 responder) but can be helpful – for a consenting adult.  You must record the time given and dose for the emergency services.)

The trainer, Jen Craven, also recommended that everyone should have the What3Words app on their phone – this identifies your location if you need to call emergency services.   She also stressed the importance of documenting all incidents and any assistance given, for the protection of all involved.  Cycling UK has an incident reporting form – if you need assistance contact any ride leader or Committee member.

14 October; Last of the summer All Day Rides

 

All-Day Saturday Ride – 14^th October – Ride Report

By Alan Clark

On a bright, but chilly morning, eleven riders joined the last of the Saturday All-Day Rides for 2023, following a varied, scenic route on quiet lanes and roads through Caterham, Woldingham and Horley before returning via Betchwork, Brockham and Leatherhead to Nonsuch Park.

The riders split into two groups. Four riders starting at Nonsuch Park and seven riders starting at the Pavilion Café, Beddington Park. Both groups met at Caterham for coffee before riding the rest of the route together.

The outward route passed through Wallington, and then followed a beautifully quiet route through Woodcote to Coulsdon, stopping briefly to view the Lord Roberts on the Green (previously a Temperance Inn / Pub that sold no alcohol) in Upper Woodcote Village. The group then descended to Coulsdon on the busier Woodcote Grove Road.

After being caught in traffic approaching the A23 Roundabout in Coulsdon, we turned onto “Ditches Lane” on Farthing Down. Ditches Lane is almost traffic-free and has open space on either side of the road with good views of the surrounding countryside and downs. We all took our time and rode steadily to the top. We stopped at the top for a break and to enjoy the warm sunshine and views across the downs. We had beautiful clear views of London and the surrounding countryside and could even see the London Shard.

After the break, we rode to Chaldon, stopping opposite Chaldon Church to discuss the Chaldon Mural, a twelfth-century mural on the church’s west wall. We then rode through quiet lanes to Caterham-on-the-Hill where we stopped for Coffee at the Café 181. Café 181 is a large café with friendly staff and plenty of space. It had a welcoming atmosphere, plenty of fresh cakes and rolls, and a place to park the bikes. It is worth another visit.

In warm sunshine, we rode as a group through Caterham and then descended the long and steep Burntwood Lane Hill, getting beautiful clear views across Woldingham and the surrounding area on the way down. At the bottom of Burntwood Lane Hill we came to the busy A22 Caterham Bypass Roundabout.

Officially called the Wapses Lodge Roundabout, it was opened in 1939 and was Britain’s first “elevated traffic island” and included a pedestrian subway and foot-tunnel! We used the subway to cycle under the roundabout and join Woldingham Road, before turning right under the rail-arch towards Woldingham School.

At Woldingham School

The road leading up to the school was quiet. It had a steady, easy gradient with open views of well-kept grassland on each side and cows grazing on both sides of the road. We passed the occasional cyclist but saw no cars. We stopped to take a photograph, and to enjoy the scenery and the sun. We then rode through the school’s sports complex which had speed humps across the full width of the road every 100 yards!

After a long descent on Quarry Road and Flower Lane, with good views of the landscape on both sides, we crossed the A25 and rode through Churchtown to The Enterdent. The Enterdent is a short, steep hill on a quiet, but narrow lane with no traffic - apart from a Sainsbury’s van delivering food to a local house on the day of the ride which blocked our way! We all got off our bikes and walked around the van and then rode to the top. Although this stopped our momentum, it provided an opportunity to enjoy this quiet wooded lane, shaded from the sun by trees beside the road.

We regrouped at the top for a short break and then continued through Horne and Smallfield to lunch at the Farmhouse Pub. Luckily, we were able to find enough space inside the pub to have lunch at this popular and busy pub.

After lunch, we followed a relaxed and undulating route on quiet roads, cycle tracks and paths through Salford, Whitebushes and Woodhatch and then on to Betchworth and Brockham. We occasionally stopped on the way to enjoy the views or take a photo – and had clear views of Box Hill in the distance.

We stopped at Brockham Village for a break and to watch local volunteers who were building the Brockham Bonfire. The Bonfire is an annual event, when the local community build a bonfire from hedge trimmings to raise money for good causes. It is held on Brockham Green each year.

Admiring the bonfire being built

Astronauts on the Space Station will be spotting bonfire night in Brockham 

After leaving Brockham, we followed a familiar route through Betchworth Golf Club, then along Reigate Road before turning onto Pixham Lane. We then rode along the Dorking to Leatherhead cycle path, beside the A24, where we could ride and chat safely on our way to Leatherhead for tea.

Tony, Karen and Robert made their own way home from Leatherhead.  The rest of the group had tea and cake at Lucio’s Café before riding on our usual route back through Ashtead, Epsom, and Ewell to Nonsuch Park. Helen, Steph and Alyson broke away at Epsom, leaving the remainder of the group to ride to Nonsuch before dark.

Many thanks to everyone who came on the ride for making it such an enjoyable day; and to Tony, Paul, Maggie and Steph for leading, back-marking and support. Thanks also to Tim C for the route between Caterham and Leatherhead, and to Paul and Tony for the routes to Farthing Down.

An enjoyable day with good weather and some great scenery along the way.

14th October - Eight Ride to Morden Hall Park - as planned!

Finally the day dawned - fully working brakes, no heavy rain and just eight cyclists (on account of the All Day Ride I believe) all happy to do a flat ride together to Morden Hall, via the "official" route. We were able to welcome a new lady - Sabera - along with Saturday regulars Sue B, Lorraine, Steve, Roger and Anna and with Nigel back-marking. 

Only one little tweak was needed to wiggle around the ongoing works near Green Lane Stables, and then we were treated to nice quiet backroads through Morden and into the Park where we able to sit outside in the Autumn sunshine.  

Outside the NT Cafe

We came home through the Park and along the Wandle for a stretch before navigating around the Rose Hill and St Helier area and down into the bottom of Sutton, turning right before the high street and coming back into Cheam with the busy roads away to our left. Well done all - we arrived where we originally meant to go, avoided any flood water this week and enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon out. 

 

  

 

Shock! Horror! Nonsuch beginners 7th Oct

By Maggie

It's Saturday, it's 2pm, we're at Nonsuch Park but something is very wrong!

Colin is nowhere to be seen!

We stand around, we search the cafe, the loos, the Mansion House but to no avail.  So search parties must go out.  Lynda is cajoled into leading a group to Kingston. Helen Rees, whose new knees were inspected by all, decided to retrace her steps home and that left Nigel to lead a 10 strong group to all Colin's favourite spots. So we left the park and circumnavigated our way by  circuitous route toward Squires in Long Ditton. Thus we cleverly searched the highways and byways, taking little known routes and stopping briefly at the Thames in case a maritime rescue might be necessary.  Almost retracing our steps we began to make the ascent towards the vital stop for nourishment when Sue decided that Bushey Park needed inspection.  With camera in hand to record her discoveries she valiantly left the group.

Now our worry was what would happen if Colin wasn't eating a toasted tea cake at 3pm. Would the wheels fall off his bike or some other dastardly mishap occur? So we gathered in Squires to discuss our next steps over tea and cake. Down to 9 now!

The search party

Revitalised we turned out of Squires but only half the group made it. Like a police spike strip empty flower pots were thrown across the road from the roof of a car stopping our exit. Justine courageously stopped to rescue the situation.  

We now sped back to Nonsuch Park across the Hogsmill river and we dispersed to continue the search. 

It turns out Colin was safe and well.  He was last heard of sharing his daughter's birthday cake!

Not the Nork and Banstead ride; Beginners Saturday 30th September

I arrived at Nonsuch Park ready to lead the short ride to Nork and Banstead, however this was not to be. There was, unusually, a shortage of leaders, and so I offered instead to take the long ride which was planned to go to Richmond Park, but this was also not to be, although everyone decided they would come. Traffic was heavy through Worcester Park and so Colin wisely suggested splitting the group of about 14 riders. At this point I still thought I was leading to Richmond Park, and happily continued on through Kingston with Sue, John, Roger, Stephen, Navaid, Lorraine and Sharon. But our scenic route along the Thames Path was a little long, and time was moving on. As we approached the Ham Gate The New Inn pub beckoned, and so that's where we stopped for refreshments. 

Happy in Ham

Colin meanwhile had it in his mind that we were going to Teddington Lock, so took his group there, which is why we never saw them again. Our homeward route did take us that way, and on through Bushey Park where the stags were bellowing. Three of us arrived back to the Park by 5.30pm, around 21 miles.