Nonsuch 1-o-Clockers to Stoke D'Abernon - Saturday 23rd December

It was Christmas Eve Eve, and not many were stirring. Or if they were, they had important Christmas stuff to do. So only six (John, Karl, Tony, Paul and Justine) turned up for the long ride departing at 1pm. After a quick discussion it was concluded that some venues would be far too busy and I should lead. So we made our way via the Horton estate, Malden Rushett and through the Oxshott mansions to Café Barbera in Stoke D'Abernon. It was surprisingly quiet - maybe everyone was actually at Garsons Farm and Gail's as we had feared - and so a member of staff could be persuaded to take a photo.

Now we know who's organised enough to be able to come out for a cycle

Once refreshed we opted for a bit of off-road to and over Bookham Common and again over the River Mole at Fetcham. We turned from Lower Ashtead into Ashtead and Epsom Common, and came back via Green Lane and The Hogsmill path into Stoneleigh where, as it was getting darker, we could enjoy the Christmas lights. Thanks to everyone who came out on a mild but blustery day, and to Tony for back-marking. 

Shorter Days; Nonsuch and Beddington 1-o-Clockers to Merton Abbey Mills, 16 December

Temperatures have risen to sub-tropical levels for this time of year but we had a bit of a third Saturday of the month leadership crisis on our hands with 1-o-clock and 2-o-clock rides at Beddington and at Nonsuch to organise, Lynda having pulled out of the leadership list, Karen (scheduled for this one) injured, Maggie injured, Steve still recovering from surgery and Nigel at a wedding.  

Colin took on Beddington 2-o-Clockers, I moved across to take Nonsuch 1-o-Clockers, Sue Bellamy stepped into the breach at short notice for the later Nonsuch ride and AnnaandRoger agreed to take the earlier one from Beddington.  AnnaandRoger was confident that it could find the way along the Wandle Trail to M.E.D and once Maggie had shown their group to the river (thus overdoing the ten minutes the physio had allowed her on the bike) they did just that, resourcefully using Ken's experience.

The Beddington group; great to see Ray fit enough to come and wave them off, and Maggie, also of the walking wounded, who showed them the way and then split for home.  Photo taken by an interested passer-by; perhaps a future member!

Meanwhile at Nonsuch, Peter was awaiting my arrival and then Sabina and Bernard turned up, just returned from Switzerland.  I've been to M.E.D dozens of times, and to Nonsuch hundreds of times, but never have I cycled from one to the other, so I set up a route on Ride with GPS and led using the App, thus proving once again that I do not do very well relying on electronics and that there is no substitute for recceing a ride properly.

Fortunately my group was extremely patient as we deliberately took the circuitous route skirting Mayflower Park Wetlands and the Crematorium, across Cannon Hill Common and along The Path and The Higher Path to approach Merton Abbey Mills from the north, but we also had to make a series of Oops-a-Daisy U turns.

Rendezvous successful, at M.E.D.  Photo taken by Paul.

Rendezvous was successful and both groups rode back to Sutton together, shedding riders as we went.  There were only four of us left as we crossed Gander Green Lane approaching Nonsuch from the east and it therefore took extraordinary leadership skills to lose fifty percent of my group at that juncture.  Peter and I tracked back every which way and it was a relief to get a WhatsApp call from Sabina and Bernard that they had found their bearings and were homeward bound.

Thanks especially to Sue and AnnaandRoger for filling in at short notice.

Ice on the cake; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers 2 December

The temptation was not to go out at all, but a promise is a promise and there is always someone there to lead a Beginners ride.....

At first as I rounded the bend at the cafe I thought phew, there's no-one here, I can just go home, but Nigel has to have a jolly good reason to be a no-show and Peter was there too, going for quick walks to keep his circulation going.

Leatherhead was the published destination but we had not got to the Ewell By-pass before we decided to cut it short in the freezing cold, and Nigel led us to Horton Arts Centre, where we never go, possibly because it is too close to Nonsuch.  Better than that, Nigel paid for our food and drink.

What a pleasant place it is, even if there is always an air of sadness around the old Epsom mental hospitals; so many sad histories and wrongful incarcerations, and the Arts Centre was originally the chapel for the hospital.

Still, the quiche and the chocolate were hot and outside we met a man riding a Viking Conqueror who was persuaded to take a picture of the magnificent three but appeared never to have handled a mobile phone before!  I have a collection of fuzzy images of feet and headless cyclists but one of them came out.

After the picture shoot we scooted off home.  28km door to door, shorter for the others, but at least we got out.  I forgot my overshoes but remembered to try wrapping my feet in silver foil.  Perhaps I need to try two layers of foil (and overshoes) next time it's this cold.