Short Report for Short Ride - Leading Leaders 14th December

   

From Karen

Short Report for Short Ride - Leading Leaders

For the short ride to Ashtead Common, Colin was fortunate to be led by not one, not two, not three, but four ride leaders: Colinq, Helen, Steve and myself. So not much chance, hopefully,  of losing Colin or losing our way!  We also enjoyed fairly light traffic and bright sunshine, a welcome break from the dank weather of late.

It was all going so well until we reached Ashtead high street and spied Handleys staff removing the outside tables. That's okay,  we weren't thinking of sitting outside anyway.   Alas, the café was in fact closing.  After some pondering,  the ever-resourceful Colinq was first to make a suggestion, so off we headed to The Woodman (or so I thought!).  Our initial coffee plans having been thwarted, my thoughts turned (obviously) to perhaps my first mulled wine of the festive season.  It was not to be ......Colinq sped ahead and turned in the opposite direction, heading towards a parade of shops. We stopped at the Ashtead Cafe which, contrary to its "greasy spoon" appearance, served quality hot drinks and cake.

                                                                   Coffee at last!

Darkness descended all too quickly as we headed back through Ashtead Common, all of us managing to avoid slipping on the occasional mounds of wet leaves. It was completely dark when we reached the Nonsuch path potholes.  My front light wasn't man enough but Colinq saved the day......

 

A Christmas card from Paul Carpenter

 

 

                                                        Merry Christmas everyone 🎄 

The Customer is always right; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers 14 December

Ten of us turned up for a ride at Nonsuch Park on Saturday, and Roger had walked to meet everyone and remind us he was still alive and recovering well from his pacemaker operation.  Early days, but I have not yet downloaded the App which will remotely control him so I can stop him charging past me up hills and send him to buy the coffees.  Good to see you recovering, Roger.

Despite Wednesday's experience I was game for the scheduled ride up Box Hill but there were those who, for incomprehensible reasons, don't like going up hills and I was persuaded to offer the punters an alternative.

A month ago the Hampton Court area would have offered a sensible target for a decent length ride without serious hills but as we approach the shortest day one has to think about getting there and back before the Christmas shopping traffic in the dark.  Then the light bulb came on; we have not been to L'assaggino in Kingston for ages.  Nice cafe, nice coffee, within winter range.

So that is what we did.

The slow riders discuss shortening the ride 

The faster riders consider how far they can go

Steve took those with a steeper inclination and itching for a bit more pace and I took the rest through Old Malden and New Malden to Ladderstile Gate, down the hill to Kingston Gate and thence to L'assaggino.  It turned out a decent ride, 40km door to door and an enjoyable one in weather that was mild compared with recent days and indeed nearly sunny.

Inside Ladderstile gate

We didn't have the heart to tell him there is going to be a cull tonight.

   

Contributions for Sou'Wester required

 From Paul

I am short of material for the next Sou'Wester which I will be putting together mid January. So if anyone is doing any interesting riding or has a tale to tell about cycling, please put pen to paper, ie fingers to keyboard. Adventures you might think are run of the mill are often of great interest. So share, please.

A four way split; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers 30 November

Saturday afternoon provided cycling conditions as good as you are likely to get on the day before meteorological winter; the temperatures were milder and the drizzle was holding off.  Nevertheless it was a pretty miserable day, yet all-in-all we had twenty one riders turn up at Nonsuch, albeit some of them a bit late!  Six of them chose the 2-o-clock start and the short, roundabout ride to Carshalton, and eventually we had fifteen for the earlier ride.

The destination was Leatherhead and it was obviously sensible to split the group, so Nigel took off with Paul, Karl, Lorraine, Rob and Stuart and Ken, Anna and Karen joined Maggie and me in a more modestly paced group.  By the time I took off we knew that John and Kasumi were going to follow and in the end a group of four, led by Steve, took a ride to Bocketts Farm, a mile or so past Leatherhead.

We had an uneventful trip, though there was a lot of stationery traffic around Ewell, and we ducked in to Lucio's in Leatherhead just as the ominous black cloud came over.  Nigel's group had already hung up their bikes at Charlie and Ginger's.  We did well, finding seats inside and the shower finished by the time we emerged to ride home.

The leader seems to be hiding behind his saddlebag

The consensus was that we needed to go home by a different route and Ashtead and Epsom Commons turned out to be quite passable despite the recent rains.  It was dark just as we were getting home, and Wallington at the moment is a traffic nightmare with Manor Road closed for days because of an unsafe building and impatient drivers clogging up the few alternatives.

A decent, well-timed ride then.  Thanks everyone for the company. 

Storming up to Banstead; Nonsuch 2-o-clockers 23 November

Storm Bertie was battering Wales and Ireland, and South West London awoke to heavy rain and blustery winds.  The meteorological misery scale had not improved as lunchtime approached and Maggie was convinced the forecast would be accurate and conditions dangerous but we were down to lead the shorter ride from Nonsuch Park and you cannot risk people turning up for a Beginners ride and being disappointed, so we arranged a rendezvous with Anna and Roger (the latter not yet allowed on a bike, so he walked) and got the train to Cheam, cycling from the station there.  As the clock made its inevitable progress to two-o-clock we had to leave the sanctuary of La Petite Boulangerie and ride the short distance  to Nonsuch Mansion expecting (hoping?) that no-one would be there except, of course, Colin.  Colin is always there.

I had my suspicions, though.  Helen is a regular sucker for foul weather rides but it was Nigel who had elected for our ride, it turned out.  Colin was there but opting to go straight home and then, lo and behold, the ever cheery Helen rolls up.  I pointed to the darkening cloud and the steadily increasing wind.  I reminded everyone of the forecast.  I even hinted at a shortened route (to the cosy cafe a mile away).  The punters were steadfast in their demand for value for money, the ride as advertised.  So the five of us set off.

Banstead is to the South and these were southerly winds.  From Nonsuch Park the ride is almost all uphill.  Mostly gently uphill, but uphill nevertheless.  At first it was not quite raining but I pulled my beanie hat over my ears and put my head down and rode a short distance ahead of everyone so that I was unable to hear the mutterings and worse from behind me.  It was hard work into the wind and just when I got my first real rebellion, with the steep bit ahead of us up to Nork, Nigel came up with an alternative and less steep route, and the punters were happy.  Well, slightly less unhappy.

Thus, as the rain restarted in earnest, we had got to Park Life Cafe, which has replaced (and improved upon) Pistachio's.  

Temporary shelter from the storm; photo by Maggie

We probably lingered there a bit too long but the wind was theoretically behind us for the descent past the prisons, and the road had not yet flooded much, the wind blasts from the side roads were enough to wobble us but not to knock us off, and the cars travelling at unnecessary speeds all narrowly missed us, so we got home safely and just before dark.

As we sat over a cup of tea at home, we were glad we had persuaded each other to go and convinced ourselves it had been fun.

The end of democracy; Beddington to the Rookery, 16 November

The problem with democracy is that people make the wrong choices, even when faced with the most obvious binary decisions.

There was a time that the Rookery ride was a regular event on the Beddington calendar but since the pandemic the ride leadership has become more democratic, so every month we waste valuable cycling time outside the Pavilion Cafe in a loosely structured "Where shall we go today?" debate.    This is all very well for the followers but not so good for this leader, who if he can't recce the route, however familiar it might be, likes at least to think it through.  This allows him to exude during the afternoon a convincing illusion of leadership, which puts the followers at ease and (he thinks) generally enhances the overall experience.  Moreover, the debate, while earning maximum brownie points for mindfulness, openness, member empowerment and other endoplasmic notions of which Human Relations Departments are fond, ends up with us just repeating rides. 

This month I had no inclination to do same old same old but little energy to devise something new and in a discussion with Maggie about how we might change things a bit, the Rookery Ride came to mind.  It feels as if we have not been there in a very long time.  Gibsons Hill is steep, the coffee at the Rookery cafe is not up to scratch, the loos there score minus 1 on a scale of 0 to 10, blah, blah, blah.  But it's different, and Streatham Common is not an unpleasant space, the woods above it dark and deciduous, Norwood Grove has a fine old house (mentioned in one of the Sherlock Holmes stories) and who could not enjoy a meander through the chocolate box lanes of West Croydon and Fort Neaf?

It had been so long since leading that way that I had had to plot a route on Ride with GPS to take me through the tricky bits, and those who turned up were getting no choice.  Roger is just out of hospital, Colin was otherwise engaged, Ken needed to pack for an expedition up the Amazon, but Anna and Jackie, an infrequent but very welcome visitor, made us a group of four.

Off we set on a cold, grey but dry and windless day, and a jolly pleasant ride it was, too.  West Croydon had lost none of its picturesque charm and Fort Neaf has history (quite apart from Crystal Palace FC); not many people know it is where Dick Turpin, the notorious highwayman, was finally apprehended;  I've always wondered why they did not search there for Lord Lucan.  Nobody has yet tarmacked Gibson's Hill and it has got no less steep, but Maggie and Jackie walked.  Norwood Grove was splendidly autumnal.

Bright colours in the Autumn

The woods are one of those little remnant pockets of the ancient Great North Wood and fully deserving of a mention (which they did not get) in Tolkien.  The Rookery Cafe has reinvented itself, much cleaner and smarter and a smiling, welcoming service, the cakes were superb.  And the loos (which in fairness to the cafe we think are managed by the local authority) have been upgraded by at least two points, to 1 out of 10.  It was good enough weather that we could all laugh when I discovered that Ride with GPS had done what it sometimes does and taken me on a traffic-wise suboptimal route home, but we ignored it, found the cycle paths which Colin showed us years ago, under the bottle-strewn low railway bridges, and got back to Beddington Park before dusk and in good spirits.

So successful was the experiment that (certainly while Colin is away and I have complete control over both houses) I will be doing away with this democracy nonsense.  Beginners First!

  

  

Riding through the Bush; Nonsuch 1-0-clockers 9 November

It was seasonably cold this Saturday but I had tested negative after a week of Covid so had no excuse not to ride to Nonsuch to ensure we had a listed leader.  The temperature had dropped further along the way and I just could not get the thought of merino wool out of my head; certainly I began to regret my decision to wear fingerless gloves.  As I approached Sutton, Nigel appeared from his road and, disconcertingly, we were the only two when we arrived at the Mansion.

Never mind, regulars turned up until we were eight, including the very welcome returning Mark, an erstwhile Beginner and co-founder of the Beddington rides, whose twins (now six years old) have kept him from the bike for a while.  It was pleasing to hear that he found himself available for a bike ride today and looked up his alternatives on the internet; when he searched us out he had found the wording quite clear and therefore turned up at one-o-cock in hope of a ride.  I report this because several regulars still find the change in times confusing.

IN WINTER THE BEDDINGTON RIDE 

AND THE LONG RIDE FROM NONSUCH START AT 1PM.

Hampton Court/Bushy Park was on the rides list but in my pre-Covid state last week I had taken a group to Molesey.  Now in my post-Covid state I did not fancy anything too hilly or too long.  Nobody present today had been on my ride last week, so everybody was happy to go to Bushy Park and then, at the last gasp, the cavalry arrived in the form of Steve W.

We all agreed on Bushy Park but Steve offered a more exciting route through Wimbledon, Roehampton and Richmond Park.  Karl, Tarantino Rob (the infamous film producer), Stuart, and Nigel went with him; Sharon, Lorraine and Mark with me.  I went the Tolworth, Long Ditton route.  The weather may have been a bit dull but at least there was no precipitation.  My only difficulty, and one I have not solved yet, was how best to get my group from the Cycle path on the east side of Hampton Court Way to the Lion Gate at Bushy Park.  The "safe" cycle route involves crossing the busy main road three times.  I decided next time either just to ride over the busy roundabout up Hampton Road or to execute the route in reverse order.

We arrived in Bushy Park before the others and had finished our coffee and cake (note, next time avoid the lukewarm vegan sausage rolls at a fiver a throw) when Steve's group turned up.  Forced to sit outside because less deserving people (ie those not wearing shorts) had taken all the indoor tables, we had got cold enough not to be sociable, so we made our excuses and left, as the News of the World reporters used to say.

Mark with two very cold ladies at Bushy Park

On the way out we met Carolyn, who was volunteering and cheerily told us she did not feel very well.  Having just had both the vaccines and the disease, I need not have backed off so abruptly.

The ride home was distinctly colder but even so the path along Cobblers Walk to the Timothy Bennett memorial is always a joy.  It is like riding through the bush; the vast open space, the lakes, the fallen trees, the herds of wild deer; one almost expects a Kangaroo to stick its head up from the long grass, or a leopard to come leaping out of it.  

At Kingston Market the only thing that leaps out is a pedestrian staring at his mobile phone.  We split, as usual, at Worcester Park and made our several ways home.  Thanks everybody for the fine company on a cold day.

Remembering Ron Weeden

Yesterday we said farewell to Ron.

Ron's grandchildren delivered their personal tributes at the service. They are here in this folder.

~ Tim

Six over the Eight; Nonsuch winter one-o-clockers to Molesey, 2 November

It was an unpromising morning; grey and misty, drifting in and out of drizzle, we had children and grandchildren staying and I had a bit of a cold.  But the announcements reminding riders of the winter time change had not gone smoothly and with Nigel on slow recovery, Steve away the last couple of weeks and Tony down to take the short ride at two-o-clock, we had no idea how many would turn up at the Mansion and whether we would have enough leaders.

A one-o-clock start gives us a minor lunch challenge, and Maggie's experiment to meet up with Anna and lunch in Cheam would have worked perfectly had I not underestimated the size of the savoury pastries.  I had to ride with a cherry tart wrapped in serviettes in my saddlebag!  We had a guessing game about how many would turn up, and knowing that Nonsuch riders have a history of good attendance on bad weather days, I was the one who guessed correctly.

Thirteen of us had gathered and as the only registered leader willing to lead I explained that with a bit of a cold I did not fancy a hilly ride in the country; my suggestion of Hampton Court seemed to go down well.  The group was uncomfortably large so I was mightily relieved when on the cusp of our departure Steve breezed up the path offering a slightly faster ride to Walton Bridge, so we split and seven went with Steve, five with me.

Six is a really comfortably sized group for an urban ride, I kept a steady pace, my cold behaved itself, and the weather slowly cleared, so we ended up having a delightful ride through Tolworth and Thames Ditton to One over the Eight, the Molesey Boat Club cafe south of the river.

Friendly staff, a leisurely coffee, a delicious cake, back through an autumnal Bushy Park and Kingston Market, home in the light before five-o-clock and nearly 50 Km door to door to help me creep towards my annual mileage target.  What more can you ask of a Saturday?

Bushy Park on Saturday; picture by Sue

During Sunday, however, Maggie and I began feeling really rough and on Monday we tested positive for Covid, despite having had the vaccination four weeks previously.  I expect we will not be round and about until at least next weekend.

Change in Times for Winter Saturday Long Rides.

 Change in Times for Winter Saturday Long Rides.

As agreed at the Beginners AGM the Saturday ride times have changed for the winter months starting on 2 November.  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 2pm start.

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

Over the Heath; Nonsuch Saturday riders to Stoke d'Abernon, 26 October

Saturday began unpromisingly, light overnight rain dissolving into damp mist.  By lunchtime it was grey and none too warm but a decent number turned up at Nonsuch Manor and despite Steve W's absence and Nigel's incapacity we had Tony and Paul to lead the long ride, and for the short one Karen had nobly stepped in to sub for Steve H.

It was great to see Nigel back, medically forbidden to ride hills but going with Karen's group down the Wandle Trail.

Tony, meanwhile, led us out of Nonsuch Park the long way round because there was a run going on and we had all had to scoot quickly along The Avenue last week to avoid the leading Park Runners, who ran quicker than we were cycling! 

The plan was for Tony to take us past the old asylums to Christ Church Road and for Paul to take over there, and we used Tony's favourite route up Mill Lane and over Chamber Mead avoiding the one-way system at Ewell.  But when the moment came for handover and Tony discovered that Paul was planning to use the long-established route through the Birds Hill estate at Oxshott, he said he would go his own way with less traffic and more countryside, so we twisted his arm to lead us all that way.

And what a pleasant route it was, over Oxshott Heath along Sandy Lane and down Fairmile Lane towards Stoke.  To add to our pleasure, the afternoon had turned out to be ideal Autumn cycling weather, so it was a happy bunch who arrived in Barberer's, surprising the lone man on duty there who suddenly had fifteen coffees to make and fifteen cakes to serve (we arrived with a few walkers).

We lingered as long as we dared against our target of getting everybody back before darkness fell, and Paul led us home past the clutch of eager autograph hunters waiting outside the Chelsea FC training ground, past Leatherhead Crematorium and Leatherhead and Ashtead Stations, and over the slightly damp Epsom Common  back to Nonsuch.

At 55 kilometres (door to door for me) it was ample for an Autumn Saturday afternoon ride, and everyone had enjoyed the different route.

Thanks to Tony, who had not really wanted to lead, and everyone for their company. 

 

Club Kit

A reminder to all who are thinking of purchasing some of our club kit; to see what is available visit our website and click on the ABOUT US menu header then 'Sou'Westers Club kit' where you will find details of items and how to order .

It can take up to 6 weeks from order to delivery, so you could have your new items for Christmas.

Should you have any problems, do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours

Jennie Jackson

Mediterranean sun at MED. Beddington Park beginners Oct 19th

 Mediterranean weather at MED

It was a miserable morning, heavy rain and grey clouds. However,  the weather forecast was good for the afternoon and so it proved. Paul J and Roger though had other commitments, Paul B is convalescing and Colin was needed at Nonsuch Park. So just 4 of us gathered for the last 2pm ride from Beddington Park this year. Regulars, Maggie, Ken and Anna were joined by Jackie R. Not to be confused with new Jackie who came a month ago.

We left the park to make our way down Beddington Lane on the wide cycle track past Asda, crossing at the new bicycle crossing and on to the industrial estate.  Here we turned right on a deserted road that led to the Tram stop at Therapia Lane and crossing we made our way through the backstreets to avoid Mitcham Road for as long as possible. Eventually though we can't avoid it and quickly cross over to cycle on the path alongside then traversing Mitcham Common. 

More backstreets, crossing at Mitcham Eastfields and we are at Figges Marsh before cycling down a pretty autumnal path to the busy junction at Collier's Wood. Once we've navigated our way across the lights we take a track by the river to Merton Abbey Mills and sit in the sunshine to enjoy tea and cake.

 

                                                        

                                                        Morden Hall Park in the sunshine 

Having enjoyed warm sun we make our way back along the Wandle trail to Beddington Park. Ken and Anna departing on their routes home.

A lovely afternoon. Good to see Jackie again.

Yahoo Mail: Search, organise,

The Return of the All Day Ride to Worthing - a Series of Fortunate Events

It was an eclectic mix of riders who signed up for the October ride - riders drawn from all sections. We unfortunately lost a few in the run-up due to various illnesses and whatnot, but fortunately gained Karl, who I placed with Steph my very able sub-leader. Unfortunately I forgot to tell Karl, so he promptly followed me out of Nonsuch Park making mine a group of 7 riders, and Steph's a group of 5, but no matter. As everyone had arrived promptly we were fortunately able to leave a few minutes early and via a dirt track to avoid the Park runners eagerly lining up, and it was nice to see Colin and Carolyn there for the run. 

The route to Tanhouse Farm was fairly standard, with maybe some tweaks here and there as this was intended to be a route on quieter roads. Up and over the North Downs, the highest point of the day, and then down through Betchworth and Brockham and out towards Newdigate. Fortunately the rain only started as we approached our elevenses stop, and was at its heaviest when both groups were safely inside. And fortunately I didn't need my sunglasses much after that, as I had unfortunately broken them within the first 6 miles.

First leg under our belts, we set off again, a little late due to waiting for the rain to pass over and the unfortunate situation of only one toilet being open. We took a fairly straight line through Rusper and Littlehaven, staying wide of Horsham town centre and heading to Copsale and Maplehurst, finally arriving at Partridge Green where the pub was expecting us. I didn't need to have booked as the pub was pretty empty, the food was basic but reasonably priced and served by friendly staff. Steve left us there after lunch to cycle back home and clocked up quite a few more miles.     

Karl keeping his gloves safely behind his back....or was he??

Angie was meeting us at Worthing, so a quick update sent to her and off we went again - the last leg through Ashurst and picturesque Steyning, with the South Downs looming ahead. Fortunately for us there were just a couple of short sharp climbs to deal with and then it was over the River Adur and onto the Downs Link, where it was then flat for the rest of the way. We got as far as the Shoreham memorial before unfortunately the rain started again, so jackets went back on. We decided to continue the ride, having got this far, and started along the NCN2 coast path from Shoreham to Worthing, but by the time we got to Lancing I was fed up with cycling headlong into the rain and wind. Fortunately we had stopped right beside a lovely café right there on the cycle path, so made the decision to go inside for our hot drinks, cakes and sea views. Steph's group came past not long after and perhaps wondering about all the parked bikes they stopped, and joined us inside. Which was really fortunate, as Angie had meanwhile discovered that the intended tea stop was in fact closed for a private function which perhaps had surprised even themselves, as they hadn't mentioned it days earlier. 

Blinking cyclists photo-bombing the River Adur 

Fortunately the rain had stopped again while we were inside, so we completed our route along the coast path and then took a right through Worthing to land up at the station, where fortunately the ticket office was just being re-opened, allowing those of us in my group who were unfortunately without an advance ticket to purchase one with a group discount. And so we made our various ways home, with some train journeys being more fortunate than others.

Five Go Down To The Sea

Thanks to Steve and then Simon for back-marking, and for their company along with the rest of my group of Rob, Alan, Bob and Karl, and especially to Steph for sub-leading.  Let's do it again!   

Rob's amazing video gives a taste of the day and can be viewed here: CTC SW Worthing 2024

Steph writes: 

Steph's group set off quickly after Diane's and by cutting through a footpath just cleared the main avenue before hundreds of Park runners began to chase us.

The toil up onto Epsom Downs was rewarded with slightly misty views but a downhill run through Pebblecombe and beyond made the first 17 mile chunk to Tanhouse an easy wheel.  There were lots of cyclists out and the queue at the one working toilet was growing but Helen asked them to open the "staff only" facilities and soon we had wee'd and were on our way again. This middle 17 mile chunk was a mixture of pleasure and pain, the great green cycle bridge helped us avoid the centre of Horsham but the 17% climb on Kerves Lane was a muscle builder to help us tackle the lesser but more frequent uphills that were to come. Lunch at Partridge Green with our big bowls so full of melted cheese (we couldn't see the baked potatoes) fortified us as rain fell outside.

The last 17 miles were a challenge, Steyning was beautiful, St Botolphs church was charming, but the rain began to batter us as we crossed the bridge in Shoreham and turned right for the coastal deluge!  We battled through and were rewarded by an earlier tea stop than planned and fantastic views across the sea as the rain stopped but dark clouds and a turquoise sea were highlighted in the shafts of sunlight.

A quick game of Grandma's Footsteps by St Botolph's

The Bridge On The River Adur

A fab day out. Thanks Diane for routing so neatly into thirds and my friendly followers, Helen, Arwyn, Lorraine and Paul (who was invaluable in helping on the route around Horsham and lending me a charger to get my phone going again).

UPDATED Worthing Ride 12th October - Group Details

There will be 2 groups leaving 5 minutes apart from Nonsuch Park Mansion House, and we need to be mindful of Park Run which also starts at 9am - so will take an alternative route out of the Park via Warren Farm.  

Group 1 - Diane leading 07740 699966 

• Rob 
• Steve W (peeling after lunch)
• Alan
• Simon
• Bob
• Andy (meeting us at Tanhouse Farm)

Group 2 - Steph leading 07909 774234

• Paul J
• Karl M  
• Lorraine 
• Arwyn
• Helen
• Maddie TBC (meeting us at Tanhouse Farm)

For those meeting us at Tanhouse Farm - I expect to arrive there sometime after 10.45am. 

Lunch is at The Partridge, Partridge Green and tea is at Coast Cafe, Worthing.

I will email to those whose email addresses I have. Any questions, please shout asap. 

Remember warm layers and lights. 

UPDATED Invitation to All Day Ride to Worthing - Saturday 12th October

It is my pleasure to be leading the last Saturday All Day Ride of 2024, on 12^th October, to Worthing. It seems this will be the 3rd time for the Saturday Gang to visit the coast, Tony having previously led the ride in 2018 and 2014. Back then the rides took place in July, but for us perhaps the roads and cycle paths will be quieter in October. 

We will gather at Nonsuch Park at 8.50 am (for the first group to leave at 9am - carefully following the Park runners) to make the most of the daylight, returning by train to East Croydon from where those returning to Cheam can cycle with me to West Croydon for the 2^nd train. 

I have chosen the flattest route I could find, but it's not without a climb or two, given the need to cross both the North and South Downs. Elevenses will be at Tanhouse Farm in Newdigate, lunch will be at The Partridge (https://www.facebook.com/ThePartridgePub/) in Partridge Green and tea will be at The Coast Cafe (https://www.coastworthing.co.uk/) in Worthing. There is some off-road as we come into Shoreham on the Downs Link, it's usually a good surface of hard grit.  

Please note:
1) the forecast is for sunshine and clouds, but a bit colder so bring warm layers
2) you may want to purchase an advance train ticket - I recommend the Super Off Peak Day Single rather than a specific train, in case of delays 

3) do remember to bring lights 

I'm planning for 2 groups with my sub-leader Steph. There are a couple of places still available, please contact me (dianelporter@hotmail.com  or WhatsApp 07740699966) by Friday 6pm if you'd like a place.

I remember a huge sense of achievement when I completed this ride in 2018 and want to share this opportunity with you. This isn't a rider for absolute beginners but if you can cycle up to 35/40 miles and get up to Walton-on-the-Hill then you'll be fine and you can of course use any train station to turn for home sooner if you wish.    

  https://swlctcbeginners.blogspot.com/2018/07/saturday-14th-july-tonys-ride-to.html

Addendum:

Here's the route we followed: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1824085869?share_token=aynAmjUpaDKDVXBnjVNIPMyEt29wOyUs2w3aeyvfQfehnNqLvJ&ref=wtd 

And tea was taken instead at Perch, Beach Green, Lancing - a lovely cafe right on the NCN2.   

 

September 28th - Short ride to Nork & Banstead

The short ride this week was due to head to tea at Banstead, via Nork - some up, some along and then some glorious down, following the official route for most of the way but avoiding the track near Nork Park. Here Paul kindly took over for the diversion, and also, as the cafe in Lady Neville Rec is still closed, led us to The Lodge cafe in Tattenham Way Rec instead, which was just delightful. Moreover, the garden was warm and sunny, and we could sit outside with our drinks, cakes and bikes. 

The Lodge

One more short diversion, this time to the viewpoint, which 60% of us had not seen before, and we were on our way through the back streets of Banstead to start our descent. Paul and Maggie left us before Belmont, and I parted ways with Paul and Colin as we reached the outskirts of Nonsuch once more. 

The Viewpoint

An enjoyable ride on the last Saturday in September.

Choices; what choices? Beddington Beginners 21 September

Colin injured, the brief Indian summer on the wane with the harvest moon and early warning from Karen that we might have a first-timer with us, which of our regular rides would the leader choose?

Crystal Palace were at home, so anything in a north easterly direction would be unwise and the Crystal Palace and Streatham rides, both of which pass Selhurst Park, were definitely out.  It was the annual Wandle Weekend, so an easy option up the river to Morden Hall and beyond or to Lower Morden was also unwise.  One regular does not like Oaks Park, another wants to avoid hills (ruling out Farthing Down), someone does not want to ride the broken glass path at South Norwood Lakes.....come on, girls and boys, give the leader a chance.

What about Coombe Woods?  On the plus side a short, quiet ride to a pleasant tea room which we have not visited in ages, on the other hand a few busy road crossings and steep gravel tracks to suggest the risk analysis needs to be taken from the shelf and dusted down.  And surely Haling Park Road is every bit as steep as Farthing Down, if you look at the right angle, only a bit shorter?

Beddington Park

Coombe Woods it was.  We said goodbye to Ray who had come to see us off, and Paul, Anna, Roger, Alison (making a rare and welcome visit to Beddington), Maggie bringing up the rear, yours truly in the lead and a warm welcome to Jacqui, who turned up with such a nice road bike that we wondered if she would find us a bit tame.

Lloyd Park

It did not begin too cleverly, a wrong turn and then a heavy shower that had us hiding under a tree and changing into rain gear.  But the sun-kissed boulevards of the London Borough of Culture had us stopping again to take the clammy waterproofs off and we had a pleasant afternoon negotiating the tree roots of Lloyd Park and Coombe Wood and the slippery, slidy steep gravel path out of the woods.  I was a bit rusty on a route not recently ridden and sprung upon me at the start, but we found our way through and newcomer Jacqui sprinted past me up Haling Park Road.

We hope she comes again. 

The sun shines on Bermondsey. 2024 Greenwich Ride, 14 September.

Paul J's report from the last group

This year my usual co-leaders (and quite a few riders) were unavailable either for the ride itself or the recces, and it is not a ride most people would like to lead without riding the course first because it is complex, in order to make maximum use of parks and riversides and alleyways and, where that is not possible, of side streets.

But in my hour of need Karen and Roger'n'Anna stepped up to the plate and I am extremely grateful that they did, for they took it seriously, embarking on their own recce without me, and did the job splendidly.  

We were blessed with perfect weather, a cold bright morning turning into a mild, sunny day with a bit of a breeze.  Including leaders we had eighteen in all in three groups. 

The start was disrupted a little when we heard that Karen had suffered a puncture coming over with the Cheam contingent, so we re-ordered the departures and got Anna & Roger's group out on the road.

A peloton awaits departure

When, thanks mainly to Tony, the three latecomers arrived with a fully restored tyre, Karen went next, and we left a five minute gap and then followed on, my group consisting of Maggie, Stuart, Paul G, Justine and Karl.

Riding in a group it is simply not possible to keep up the normal pace in a complex urban ride such as this but it did not matter much.  The traffic in Croydon was relatively light, there were a few dog walkers and children on their bikes along the Railway Park but the big event of the first leg was that outside Croydon Arena we came across Matthew and Thomas, and they rode with us to elevenses at Kent House Coffee and Flowers and then went about their birthday present buying business.

Roger'n'Anna's group, the Brunels, at elevenses

Old friends

A coffee clatch of cyclists at Kent House

The Pool and the Ravensbourne rivers were their usual selves as we made our way through parks and across Lewisham town centre (where the traffic lights are mere suggestions) and up on the Blackheath.

Greenwich was at its most royal in the sunshine; Wordsworth might have thought that Earth had not anything to show more fair than the view from Westminster Bridge in 1802 but he should have come up here.

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by a sight so touching in its majesty

                Paul J's group, the Newtons close to the Meridian

Apart from getting poor Stuart's order wrong, the Dog and Bell was its usual earthy self and we had a new route through the Russia Dock woodlands to the Angel at Bermondsey Beach, with brief history lessons along the way about Brunel and the naval gibbet and Turner and King Edward 3rd. and Doctor Salter's moving daydream.

Southwark Park was quiet but there were crowds in Burgess Park because of a festival, the upside of which was that Brixton Windmill was open for tea.  And that was the last time all eighteen of us saw each other, as we made our several ways through Tooting Common, Merton Abbey and Morden Hall Park to home.

Thanks to everyone for the splendid company and especially to the leaders for going the extra mile (!)  

Roger's report from the first group

Let them eat cake

 

It was a perfect day for a ride and we got to Beddington in plenty of time, only to discover that, despite Paul trying to contact them, there was doubt that the message that sixteen riders might be arriving for elevenses at Kent House had got through to them.  Planning, however, is Paul J's middle name and he had conducted a risk analysis on the most important aspect of the ride and bought cakes and  plastic knife; Maggie asked Anna to carry them to Kent House just in case.

We - Rob, Ken, Paul, Sharon, Anna and Roger - were the first group and we set off on time taking the usual route from Beddington to Croydon, Roger relying on memory and Anna on Beeline. We encountered dog walkers and strollers as we made our way alongside the railway and by the time we were approaching Kent house we were more than willing to let Beeline take the strain.

Just as we were leaving elevenses Paul J and Maggie arrived with their group so the cakes were handed over and with a lighter load we set off, depending increasingly on Beeline, which was remarkably reliable considering such a complex route. Complexity aside, it turned out to be a lovely ride alongside the rivers and through the parks, and this time not encountering too many sleeping “Lime” hire bikes blocking the path, or deaf strollers who wondered in astonishment at the source of the ringing in their ears.

Having ridden to Greenwich several times before, the one constant on the route had always been the steep hill leading to Blackheath. Today, though, we tried the revised route and a slightly less daunting hill that still left us gasping and wondering if it was really true that the highest point on the ride had been at Croydon.

The view did not disappoint as we stood there in a mass of tourists taking selfies. Rob was active with his GoPro – if only to prove we had all survived the climb - and then it was the swift descent down to the river, dodging the wandering tourist and dog ambling across the road and negotiating the excavations and diversions, to arrive alongside the Cutty Sark.

Roger'n'Anna's group at the Dog & Bell

The route around and along the Queens Path was complex and again we would have been lost without Beeline, which, just to see if we were paying attention, occasionally switched to "telling the time" mode when one desperately wanted to know turn left or right, but ultimately did identify the next move in time.  Burgess Park was very busy with bike riders seeing just how fast a hire bike could go and having no particular regard for the convention of riding on one side of the road or the other and slowing for pedestrians.  Drums thundered and music played, and the park filled with wandering groups just out to enjoy a walk and listen to the music. We tried several ways out of Southwark Park until we hit on the right one and even Beeline got confused, commanding Anna to “KEEP STILL” while it calibrated its giro – but in the end we made it to Brixton and the Windmill and, mindful of the no cycling rule, pushed our bikes to the green by the windmill ready for another injection of coffee and cake. Paul B left us there and Tony joined us for the final leg through Tooting Common and on down into Morden Hall Park.

It was a lovely ride on a route that was convoluted and impossible to memorise but was always interesting

Karen's report from the middle group

Mishaps and Malfunctions:

My day didn’t start on a positive note, incurring a puncture before we’d even left Sutton. Thanks to Tony and Karl for coming to my aid.

Things could only get better….

So it was a somewhat delayed departure for my group, consisting of Dawn, Frank, Alice, Helen and Tony. Paul’s group was chomping at the bit so we set a healthy pace to and through Croydon. Thereafter we made our way via fairly quiet residential streets and parks, reaching Kent House elevenses in good time (and well in advance of Paul’s group!)

Beeline started (intermittently) giving me the silent treatment, acting as a timepiece rather than a navigation device.  So there were a few minor (soon remedied) deviations en route to Greenwich.  The fine weather had drawn throngs of tourists to the Royal Observatory viewpoint, competing for photo opportunities!

Our lunch at the Dog & Bell was served fairly promptly, although Tony’s selection took a little longer for some reason. We managed to get a head start on Paul as one of his group also experienced order difficulties.

Karen's group, the Pepys, at the Dog and Bell in Deptford

At this point Beeline failed to reactivate, so I had to rely on my phone screen (not ideal with my poor eyesight!). The afternoon was a mixed bag, which included delightful riverside paths and parks, taking us through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, with (for Blackadder aficionados) more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing.

Alas, approaching Camberwell, my phone battery was dying and, to make matters worse, my mobile charger wasn’t working! Tony consulted his 30-page route planner but I was fairly optimistic we were close to the familiar territory of Camberwell and Brixton.  I was extremely relieved when St Giles’ Church hoved into view.

Just enough phone battery helped to navigate the maze of streets leading to the Brixton Windmill where my reliable back marker Tony had to leave us. After some liquid refreshment and comfort breaks we powered through Clapham and Tooting.  Thereafter, Helen offered to take the helm and led us through quieter sections of Colliers Wood towards Morden Park, where Frank left us.  We said our goodbyes to Alice and Worcester Park, leaving the remaining tres amigas to make our way home.

Thanks to my group for your support, especially when the gadgets were conspiring against me!

Greenwich ride 14 September 2024

 These are the groups, which will leave at ten minute intervals from Beddington Park from 10.00am, though we may adjust the order of departure depending upon events.

Group One, the Pepys; 

Karen Cochrane in the lead 07970 847 216 

Helen (please download the ride Helen to give Karen assistance)

Rob 

Frank B

Dawn

Tony H (please also stand by to help with the route)

Group 2, the Brunels;

Anna & Roger in the lead 07939 036 939

Sharon

Paul B

Ken

Alice

Group 3, the Newtons;

Paul J in the lead 07718 753 234

Maggie (to help with directions)

Justine

Paul

Karl

Stuart A

Please see your individual emails for complete instructions.