The Wombles aren't so daft; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers, 8 February 2025

The BBC weather report was pellucid, and I have recorded it for legal purposes.  Mainly dry on Saturday morning, maybe the occasional light shower, and sunshine and roses after midday.  Instead, it rained.  It was raining when we got up, it was raining harder as we tried to get the bikes ready and it was still raining when we set off for Nonsuch Park.  With the rain came that damp coldness that gets through to your bones much more than it should at these temperatures.  I drew up a new route for getting to Wimbledon and then seriously considered not even leaving the house.

It wasn't particularly heavy, the rain at lunchtime, but it felt as if it was here to stay.  Had nobody turned up at Nonsuch I should not have been surprised and we would simply have cycled home.

But Nigel met us in Cheam, on the way, and Ribble Rob was already at the Mansion and then Stuart turned up.

We had convinced ourselves that if the weather got silly, then my new route, past the crematorium and the old village parts of Morden and then Merton Abbey Mills and up the Wandle Trail to Earlsfield, offered places for possible decisions about cutting for home.

But we didn't.  We made Earlsfield by 2.15, when one of our gang of five wanted to have our coffee and turn around.  But the others thought we could easily make it to Wimbledon Windmill and home in the light, so on we all soldiered.

Haydons Road, Wimbledon Park and up the steep bit to Inner Park Road, we emerged on Wimbledon Parkside and decided to risk a path we had not ridden before through the woods in the vague direction of the windmill.  There were no Wombles to be seen; I couldn't remember if they hibernate or not but if they don't then they would not have been as stupid as cyclists by venturing out and about in this sticky mud and insidious drizzle.  I hope their underground home has efficient damp proofing and heating.

The path at ground level, though, was muddy only in bits and soon the buildings around the windmill could be discerned ahead; we homed in on the Windmill Cafe where we sat indoors.  I have never seen it so empty; there was no difficulty finding a table!

Four fellas soaking up the sun on the top of Wimbledon Common.  Note the handily placed bench!

Maggie took the photo.

Back home we crossed the waterlogged common in a southerly direction, stopping only for a photo on our way to West Side, down Wright's Alley to The Downs and from our vantage point on the brow of the hill there from where you can see over Sutton and Croydon to the North Downs, you could look at the vanishing point on the dismal South West horizon and (if you then closed your eyes) imagine that there might be just a chink of a break in the cloud signalling the BBC's sunny weather, five hours too late.

Lower Morden, Morden Park, Rose Hill, Carshalton Green.  The rain had nearly stopped when we got in and, d'you know what?  It had been a really enjoyable ride, five companions trying out a new way round, keeping up a steady pace, no moaning on the hills, nice chat over coffee.  What on earth possessed me even to consider wimping out and slinking home for a wet day on the computer assembling Sou'Wester Shorts?  Forget the admin, the bike and the friends is what it is about.

National Leave-your-car-in-the-middle-of-the-road Day; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers to Leatherhead 1 February

Dull, grey, cold; anybody would think it was early February as we gathered at the Mansion on Saturday.  The schedule had us riding to Box Hill and Walton but with Roger still not match fit after the installation of his pacemaker I felt that we might end up with a fatality on Box Hill.  Other options were to go up the back way, over Epsom Racecourse and Tadworth, or to take everyone to Rykas and give people the option of continuing or returning via Leatherhead.

There were eight of us, and initially we agreed the Rykas option.  Off we set through the traffic jam to Ewell.  But we all felt cold waiting for Roger to catch us up at the top of Wilmerhatch Lane, above Epsom Hospital.  It was no colder than it has been, on and off, for weeks, but it just felt colder and. frankly, the thought of sitting on the wooden tables outside Rykas was deeply unappealing.

So, once Roger and Anna had joined us, and Roger had got back his breath, I put it to the rest that we might just look for a coffee somewhere warm in Leatherhead and come back over the common.  It was good of them to agree, because this is their weekly chance of a decent group ride.

So we went only as far as Leatherhead, where we split into two for coffee preferences, some to Charlie and Ginger's, some to Lucio's.  At C&G's, Rob discovered he had mislaid his credit card, so he and Stuart shot off home leaving Nigel, Maggie, Roger, Anna, Ken and me to complete the return leg together.

Roger adjusting his pacemaker

Our group on Ashtead Common, headed by "Two Bikes" Ken.

both photos by Maggie

And I don't know if anybody else was aware, but apparently 1 February has been declared National I'll-Leave-your-car-in-the middle-of-the road-and-block-everyone-else Day.  We came across five such instances.

Thanks to everyone for your co-operation and your company.   

The 2024 Photo Competition has closed

Please note that the photo competition is now closed to new entries. Thank you to numerous people who have sent in their photos.

~ Tim

Invitation to our 2025 Annual Lunch

CTC SWL Annual Lunch and Prizegiving

5th March 2025 at 12:30 for lunch at 1 p.m.

We are delighted to tell you that Jennie has booked the Ristorante Sorrento (379 Ewell Road, Tolworth, KT6 7DE) for our annual lunch.

This has proved to be a most popular venue for the occasion since our first visit in 2018 and we are pleased to be able to hold the event there again.

The set price for our three-course lunch will be £23.45. This includes a 10% service charge, but does not include any drinks, coffee or tea. This is our menu:

click on the menu to enlarge

Please book by placing your order, and pay in advance by Sunday 16th February.

We expect the occasion will be attended by over 60 members, as it has been in recent years.

Please send an email message to Tim Court with your order for (i) a starter and (ii) a main meal. The waiters will take your orders for dessert after the main course on the day.

The preferred method of payment (£23.45) is a direct transfer via your online banking facility, but we can also accept cash or a cheque. For online payment please ask Tim C for our bank details if you don’t already have them. For a cash or cheque payment please check with Tim or your section representative. For anyone who has yet to pay their 2025 club subscription please consider adding your £2 when you pay for your lunch.

Any food allergies, dietary disorders or Vegan requirements must be notified to Tim when you advise your order so that these details can be noted and passed to the restaurant staff.

All ride leaders please note that your teams should be delivered to the restaurant by 12.30 p.m. so that everyone will have time to buy drinks, chat, and browse the photography exhibition, and settle down ready to confirm orders with the waiting staff.

Thank you

Tim C

Subs due, please, a message from the membership secretary.....

 SUBS RENEWAL

A quick reminder to all those who have not yet renewed that subs for 2025 are now due. Your prompt payment would be much appreciated so that we can update our financial records ready for the coming year. 

The amount is £2 and if you need our bank details please email me, or pay cash to your group rep.

A reminder that renewal of subs is taken as your continued consent to use of your personal data, as per the club’s data protection policy. 

Thank you

Gill Holder

Wayfarers Memb Sec

gillholder9@gmail.com

Just Messin' About on the River; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers to Molesey, 25 January

It was a cold but clear day on Saturday and in all we had eighteen riders leaving from Nonsuch.  Fourteen came to the 1-0-clock meet and since the rides list stipulated no destination this week I decided to offer a ride to Eight on the River at Molesey; we had not been there for a few weeks and it is just about the furthest we can go at Beginners speed while still getting back before dark (ish).

Roger was out for his first proper ride since having his pacemaker installed; the furthest he had done so far was four miles and this would be nearer thirty.  Therefore I picked the route with fewest hills.  We went out through Worcester Park and past Berrylands to Kingston, through Bushy Park and over Hampton Court Bridge.

Karen, Anna, Roger, Ken, Lorraine, Maggie, Sue.  Picture by Paul

Coffee was fine but the cakes cost a bit.  They cost Maggie because she bought them for everyone for her birthday, and they cost the cafe because they served them to the wrong table, who promptly scoffed them, so they had to furnish us with replacements.

Back through Weston Green and the John Bellamy route through Surbiton back to Berrylands.

The ground was wet but we encountered no real flooding.  The wind was cold but not as cold as it has been of late.  And the winter sun smiled upon us most of the way around.

It was a splendid way to spend a winter Saturday.  Thanks everyone.

Ride Leaders Course

 From Sue Foster

Last October  we ran our first Ride Leader course using an external professional coach, Jen Buckley. Many thanks to the brave guinea pigs who volunteered, took part and provided extensive feedback to shape  future courses. I think it is fair to say that it was an interesting learning experience for all of us and 6 of  the participants have now led successful rides, thus increasing the number of members available to lead which is greatly appreciated.

I am hoping to run another course in the next few months and we have 4 places available. The course content has been tweaked slightly following feedback from the first group of participants and I am sure you will find it both useful and enjoyable. The format for the course will remain the same - 1 hour theory delivered via Zoom in the evening and a 2 hour practical session on local roads. As before, the cost will be between £10-14 depending on the number of participants but we do need a minimum of 6 riders.

Please email me to secure a place on the course sue.foster39@gmail.com

Sue F

Fake News; Beddington Beginners 18 January to Merton Abbey Mills

The lady on the BBC said it was three degrees outside but i don't blame her.  The lady on Sky said the same and the Meteorological Office put out the same.  They were all hapless victims of a conspiracy by a foreign power to entice senior cyclists out to death by Hypothermia.

It became evident as soon as you got out on the road; burning cheeks, shriveling fingers.  We wondered if anyone would turn up at Beddington Park and if not, whether we would go on some form of short ride or just go home.  But Ken was there waiting for us and just as we were about to give up and set off I espied Roger and Anna.

I proposed Elmers End; we have not been there for a bit  But Roger wanted to come on his first ride with his new pacemaker and he did not fancy it going wrong in Croydon.  So on a freezing day we ended up cycling towards the Arctic when we could have been going South.

I kept up a steady Beginners pace, which took some self-control because I just wanted to get warm.  I almost envied the Nonsuch riders, who would at least be going fast up a hill or two and getting warmed up.  Eight miles an hour on the flat was no thing to be trying this day.

The spread of broken bottles and bent cans and much other detritus made the Beddington Industrial Estate seem even more desolate than usual and at the Colliers Wood intersection the leader had to explain to the team that they were enjoying themselves.

Happy Campers leaving M.E.D in brave defiance of the North Wind

M.E.D was as warm and welcoming as ever but we had to leave and in Morden Park the Happy Campers needed reminding that this was better than sitting at home on the sofa.  Who makes up this stuff?

Well done Roger, the pacemaker did not freeze.  Neither did your electric bikes, Anna and Ken.  And we all got back in time to have a warming meal before it got dark.

British oldies are more resilient than the enemy realises. 

Invitation to enter the 2024 Photo Competition

Attendance for all groups was high in 2024 and many have been off on other adventures too. So we hope that you have been busy with your cameras and phones and are keen to review your photos and send the best ones in for the competition.

Please submit your photos before the end of January using this method:

Visit this website: '2024 Competition Dropbox' and follow instructions to select and deliver your photos. This is what you should see:

N.B. When using this website to post photos to the Dropbox it is not necessary to sign up to, or log into Dropbox even if you are invited to do so.

Click on 'Add files' to select the source of your photos then select your photos (or folders), or if you already have your file list open just drag and drop photos from the list into the white box.
 
Once you have selected one or several photos fill in your name and email address then click 'Upload'.

Send an email to me, Tim, to provide this important information about each photo:

•           the photo filename (e.g. P1040276.jpg)
•           a caption which we will inscribe on your photo
•           the competition category (see below)

The rules and categories are simple. The full 'Competition Rules' document is available under the 'Information Hub' heading on our website.

Competition Period: Photos taken during the 2024 calendar year.

Your photos must all illustrate a connection to cycling by depicting a bicycle or cyclist for example, or some obvious cycling association.

You may submit two photos in each category:

  6.1. Male      one or more male cyclists
  6.2. Female    one or more female cyclists
  6.3. Action    cyclist(s) in action
  6.4. Scenery   scenery or landscape
  6.5. Building  buildings, architecture
  6.6. Humorous  funny or amusing
  6.7. Group     any mix of male and female cyclists

Note that the award for a winning photograph in each category will be given to the photographer who took the picture, not to the model(s).

This method for submitting photos should work with any device (PC, Apple, iPad, iPhone, Tablet or Android phone) but if it doesn't work for you, please let me know so that we can address the problem. It does depend on you being able to locate the folder in your phone, tablet or PC where you store your photos. It does not require you to install the DropBox software.

This is the best way of sending photos. Please note that some methods of transmitting photos, such as WhatsApp, shrink the photo before sending, diminishing the quality of the original photo as it is in your camera or phone.

We're looking forward to seeing your photos. Note that this year Andy and I will be collaborating to organise the competition.

~ Tim and Andy

January, 2025

Wheezing and Whizzing and close encounters of the absurd kind. Nonsuch two-o-clockers 4 January

Today was my turn to lead the two-o-clockers on the short ride and Maggie and I rolled up on a cold, grey day to find the ever present Colin, and Ken, at the Mansion, along with a very welcome infrequent visitor, Colin 2.  The one-o-clockers had long gone on their superior adventure but there was no wind to speak of, and no rain, so for January it was as good weather as we're going to get for an hour or two out on the bike and it was pleasing that a few more turned up; Jackie, followed by Anna and Roger.

Anna had acquired a new cold but I expect she was there to keep her eye on Roger, who has acquired a new pacemaker and on Monday, at last, was given the all clear to join us on a bike instead of on foot, as he has been doing.  I was not sure whether they had fully taken on board that we were going up to Banstead; sometimes I suspect that their memories choose to forget that this run, though short, is a gentle but persistent climb from the start until the tea stop.

Out of the park, under the railway bridge at Cheam station and then up Sandy Lane to turn along Cuddington Way, an undulating, privately unmaintained road of particularly portly sleeping policemen separated by cracks and potholes between concrete blocks.  It was at that point that Anna and Roger decided that the pacemaker had done insufficient training, and they sensibly turned for home before the climb up to Banstead station.  What with the incoming weather front it was not a great day for asthmatics and there was a point when we had not only six riders but what sounded like a further couple of ghostly wheezers.

Still, the survivors got to the Cafe in the Park (fka Pistaccio's) in good spirits and probably stayed a few minutes too long in the warm, considering the onset of dusk.  When we braved the cold, Colin nearly met an unhappy fate in collision with a jaywalker, who waited until the last second to spring out at him from between parked cars.  The cold bit was zinging down the hill past the prisons but they have fixed the drain half way down so you no longer have to take an anxious look in the mirror before edging out in front of recklessly driven Twitmobiles.

We split at Downs Road, as usual, the two Cheamer Colins aiming for Belmont Station and the rest of us, Wallingtonians and Carshaltoners, making our way east.

25 km door to door, enough to get fresh air into the lungs.  Thanks to everyone for your company.

 

Richmond Park Cyclists

For anyone who wants to keep abreast of this marvellous organisation's activities on behalf of all cyclists they have a free monthly bulletin, delivered by email. Visit this link to sign up:

https://www.richmondparkcyclists.org/get-involved/

On the website there is a link to back issues of the bulletin. 

Regarding social media they have a presence on Facebook and also post to Bluesky (@richmondpkcyclists.bsky.social.) as well as X (aka Twitter). 

~ Tim 

How far did you ride in 2024?

Your 2024 mileage totals please

Please forgive the cutting and pasting from last last year's request 😕:

This is a request to submit your mileage totals for the last twelve months (1st Jan. 2024 to 31st Dec. 2024) for consideration towards the annual awards for the greatest distances cycled. Your scores will be entered into the Big Spreadsheet where, since the dawn of the 21st century, the precious records of your accomplishments in the club have been maturing.

There are two shiny trophies, one for the woman who has cycled more miles than any other woman and one for the man with the highest mileage amongst the men. Having two separate prizes for persons of each gender might sound a little quaint. But that is our tradition and while the prize money attached to these two awards remains identical for both winners nothing is likely to change.

And we have a special award, the Mark Roy Trophy, for the person recording the largest increase in mileage over the previous year. So anyone who has posted their mileage for both 2024 and 2023 is eligible. 

To summarise the rules, your miles must have been clocked up whilst riding your bicycle, tricycle, tandem or eBike on or off road. Mileages achieved on turbo trainers, Watt bikes or any other static contraption don't count. We know that this is something of a blow to members who have been riding through virtual alpine landscapes with Zwift or Rouvy but we are only considering miles actually, rather than virtually, travelled.

For the competition, contenders for the prizes must be regular riders in the club though we are happy to collect mileage data for everyone who is a paid up member of CTC South West London. And we wish to continue recording mileages for our several members who ride eBikes.

If you are curious at all about how many miles you ride in the course of a year please start recording your distances for 2025 in a diary or spreadsheet.

Just one word of warning; several riders who use a GPS enabled device such as a Garmin, or smartphones running apps like Strava or RideWithGPS have experienced rides when their devices stop communicating with the satellites, sometimes for quite a while, and this can lead to totally unreliable data. So please verify the accuracy of your data. The evidence of this known problem is a long straight bee-line between two points on your ride where you know the road really had many twists and turns.

Fixie Dave's Garmin nodded off for a while with this result!

In my opinion this is not a problem which is specific to Strava or other phone app but is to do with the phone and its own software, memory resources perhaps. This erroneous data can also accumulate if you have hopped on a train with your bike but forgotten to stop recording 😏. Fancy doing that!

Please write to me with your total mileage:

Tim Court (Associate Bean Counter*)

We hope to be able to present the prizes in our traditional awards ceremony at the Annual Lunch, this year on Wednesday 5th March.

A very Happy New Year to you all and if you haven't been collecting your mileage scores please start now, from January 1st 2025.

The Bean Counters need your numbers!

~ Tim C

*Nota Bene: The Bean Counting team has now now doubled its number of staff and we are pleased to advise you that Mick Arber of B Group has flown through his apprenticeship and is now embarking on his new career in our Bean Counting Department.