Nonsuch and Beddington 1-o-clockers to Caterham, 18 November;

by Paul

Our resources were stretched on Saturday, so Maggie went to lead the 1-0-clock ride from Beddington Park and I went to Nonsuch Park.  

Raining all morning, the promise of a brief tour of some local hills in the damp wind, what was there not to look forward to?  The host of riders awaiting me at the Nonsuch Mansion numbered one.  And Karen, on her heavy bike because of the wind and the slippery roads, did not know where we were going!

Nevertheless we set out, a group of two and went up to Banstead and down to Coulsdon and up Farthing Down, where we met up with the Beddington riders.

by Maggie

Ken, Anna and I were joined by Malik at Beddington Park.  Unfortunately by the time we got to Wallington station Malik had decided his bike needed  a service and some oil and he politely and regretfully turned back home.

We three then cycled up through the Wallington backstreets, towards the Webb estate and down  Woodcote Grove Road to Coulsdon where we made our way across the roundabout and turned right on Ditches Lane to the viewpoint (car park) at the top of Farthing Down. 

Turning to admire the cloud covered view we spotted two brightly jacketed cyclists making their way towards us.

Paul again

Up Doctor's Lane together and over the switchback to the C and C cafe, where they have enclosed the outdoor area and we kept warm while we had a pleasant coffee and cake.  

Happy snacks at Caterham-on-the-Hill

Down the long hill to Coulsdon and then one last steep climb up to Clock Tower before working our way across to the Smallholdings on Telegraph Track and going our several ways.

A good ride, a bit of exercise and some pleasant company.

1pm Nonsuch Beginners 11 November; Anna leading to Hampton Court

 

To Hampton Court and back via Weston Green – my first ride as leader

by Anna

As this is my first official ride as leader, I am hoping for a small group; we are twelve altogether.  In a moment of bravado, I reject the idea of two groups of six and decide to take the whole group together.

Paul is convinced I know where I am going, whereas I don’t even know how to get out of the park, but he tells me to follow the Ride with GPS instructions and sure enough, it takes us out of the park to the correct exit.

There I stall all the traffic by encouraging everyone to block the road, as I expect the traffic to move more quickly than it does and we end up in a muddle, but eventually reach the other side of the road, in line and facing the right way.  I am now at the back of the group of riders so quickly whiz to the front to reclaim my position as leader.  We make it safely to Worcester Park.

When you ride an electric bike and there is no one in front of you, you tend to go at maximum speed, which is usually at least 15.5mph, because that is the point when your motor cuts out.  Mindful of those toiling behind me without electric assistance, I try to keep the speed to between nine and eleven miles per hour, but it feels extraordinarily slow.

The GPS seems to repeat some commands, so when it says to turn left onto Central Road for the second time, I assume I am on the right track but miss the left turn after Worcester Park station, so we go off piste.  Nigel saves the day by leading us down some nice quiet backstreets until we are back on the right road and we continue, only going off course a couple of times.

Even though I have been on this ride several times with Paul or Nigel leading, I don’t recognise some of it, which is a bit of a nuisance when you are supposed to be the leader.

All twelve of us make it to 8 on the River and we enjoy some lovely tea and cakes, marred only by the worry that my phone will run out of juice before we get home, on account of the cable from the energy store I borrowed from my son is not charging the phone. Better go home at top speed to get there before
the phone dies!  Not to worry, says my son – turn it to airplane mode and all will be well.

Photo by Maggie, on Weston Green in the afternoon Autumn sun

It has now gone very cold, so we set off home and make only one wrong turn, and I speed up a bit because it is very chilly.

At South Lane we all agree that no one needs to go back to Nonsuch Park so we get back to Worcester Park and everyone cycles cheerfully away, and Roger and I arrive home while it is still light, which is the big advantage of starting a 1pm.

Cold and hungry, we are relieved to get into the warm and I still have 37% left of my phone battery, so airplane mode has saved the day.

Thanks for the route, Paul, and thanks for back-marking, Maggie. Thanks, Nigel, for saving us having to make a U-turn on a very busy road.  Thanks to everyone for not falling off, not getting punctures, and for being good companions along the way.

I had a nice afternoon – let’s do it again sometime.

Nonsuch Beginners first winter 1pm ride, 4 November

 Weather-dodging in the daylight hours

The clocks have gone back and the time had come to implement the decision at Beginners AGM to start the longer winter rides at 1pm.

The weather, however, has been miserable and although the BBC forecasters promised some remission on Saturday afternoon, the morning was as wet as could be. 

The sun came out temporarily and there were nine of us for a ride to Garson's Farm, out through Ewell, Claygate and Esher and back through Sandown Park, Weston Green, Lower Ditton , Surbiton and Worcester Park.

Garson's Farm

Most would say that the BBC forecast was wrong; rain to the left of us, rain to the right of us, rain before us and a downpour while we were in the garden centre having a slowly-served tea and cake.  But for 1pm Beginners it was right; incredibly, none of it fell on us.  Moreover, we all got home without riding in the dark through South London streets.  To this end the rides might have to get a little less ambitious as the deep midwinter comes.

Rain's over, back on the road!

Thanks to everyone for the company.