Thursday, 30 October 2025
Richmond to Kew towpath reopening
Tuesday, 28 October 2025
A Leisurely Ride to Teddington Lock; from Nonsuch, 25 October
Report by Roger
The rides to Carshalton and Leatherhead did not appeal to
me, so when someone suggested having tea in “the Flying Cloud” we decided to
head for Teddington Lock.
Maggie Anna, Sharon Ken and Mark thought coffee at The
Flying Cloud was a good idea too and we were joined by Jenny who usually rode
with CTC Portsmouth but had ridden with the Saturday riders when she had been
in the area previously.
We set off up the track from the Mansion leading out to The
London Road and to our dismay, found that it had been dressed with a deep
loosely gravelled surface that made for uncomfortable and unstable cycling.
At the park gates Maggie announced that she had suffered a
puncture and blamed the new dressing on the path. Sharon sympathised as
that the same path had been responsible for her suffering two
punctures only the week before.
Maggie decided to abandon the ride and make her way
back to the mansion.
We crossed into Sparrow farm road and made our usual way to
Cheam Common Road and the junction at Worcester Park.
Stopped on an adverse slope at the lights by the junction
with” The Hollands” we pulled away up the incline slowly gaining momentum.
I was alerted by Anna shouting that someone had come
off their bike and on returning found that Jenny had ridden into the back of
Sharon who had been forced to slowdown to avoid coming into contact with Ken.
Jenny complained of a sore shoulder and a strained neck and superficial
damage to her bike but she was otherwise unhurt.
It was accepted that in this case there was no time to shout
a warning of “Stopping” as evasive action took priority. Perhaps the lesson
here is to ride with longer gaps between bikes when starting off on inclines,
or to ride offset to the bike in front in case they have to stop without a
warning. [* please see comment
below]
Jenny opted to abandon the ride and return to the mansion,
so Anna accompanied her, saying that she would catch us up later.
So now the seven that started out had reduced to four. We
cycled into a headwind with the occasional heavy gusts hinting at the several
short showers later
We carried on up the cycle lane on the London road, turning
into South Lane through the underpass and turning left at Thetford Road onto
Windsor Avenue and past the sportsground and along the trail past Berrylands
alongside the Hogsmill and the sewage treatment works to Kingston.
Making use of the signposted cycle routes we made our way to
Kingston High Street, turning left before the bridge to ride alongside the
riverside walk and parallel to the Thames Path we picked up Barge Walk which
for once was not seething with walkers and other cyclists and carried on until
it became Three Cranes walk.
We crossed on the suspension bridge next to the weir and
made it to a rather quiet “Flying Cloud”. The cakes were as lovely as always
and we had barely been handed our coffee when Ken spotted a flash of” Dayglo
orange” travelling at speed and a few seconds later Anna joined us having
barely broken sweat and extolling the virtue of her Giant “Anytour” electric
bike.
As it was by now becoming gloomy and threatening more rain
it was decided to take the quickest route back to Kingston, so we exited the
Flying cloud and turned immediately left down Ferry Street leading on to and
ultimately across on the cycle lane over Kingston bridge. We retraced our steps
back to Worcester Park where we went our separate ways. This was a short but
eventful ride of about 20 miles which when the sun shone was delightful,
especially alongside the river, but at times was a damp reminder that winter is
not far off.
Saturday, 25 October 2025
Beginners Long Ride 25th October
1pm start for beginners Long rides from 1st November
Monday, 20 October 2025
FIrst Aid Course 11th November
Sunday, 19 October 2025
Beddington Biggles, to Elmers End; Saturday 18 October.
The trusty regulars met for the year's last British Summer Time ride from Beddington Park on Saturday but we had a new member to welcome, who goes by the name of Biggles. Biggles does not need to join Cycling UK, nor pay a subscription. Although he never answers back nor comments unfavourably upon our choice of destination Biggles does, it seems, need some careful handling and apparently needs to learn to do as he is told. But he is a joy and a source of never-ending conversation for his proud owner and, frankly, a source of relief to the rest of us, who have watched his owner stubbornly fight atrial fibrulation up hills which we could see more than he, were no longer advisable on a push bike. Biggles is, of course, an electric bike, splendidly scratchless in a colour his owner describes (obviously not within earshot of Biggles himself) as "metallic turd".
So; Maggie, Paul, Roger, Anna, Sharon, Ken and Biggles got going (because the temperature was such that one needed not to stand around too long) along a mutually agreed route, safe for one who is used to riding an ancient contraption assembled, like Frankenstein's monster, out of the parts of previous entities and held together by string and elastoplast, to get used to a spanking new state-of-the-art machine with afterburners, an adjustable seat and, I dare say, climate control.
In short, to Elmers End, where the coffee and cake at Branching Out are so good that I must contrive some day to end a Wednesday ride there.
As if the motorists of Croydon were aware of the significance of the situation, they were all unbelievably helpful, stopping and letting us out, or across, at turn after turn. And only on Shirley Road did the impatient hoot the driver who delayed them all of twenty seconds in making the generous gesture.
It was a dream, a dream that will be etched into the memory for at least a week. So enthralled were we all that we nearly forgot to take a photograph. And what would a ride report be without a proper photograph? This one taken where the women in the group found a bunch of wild flowers growing. The colour of Parma Violets. Cyclamen, apparently.
Wednesday, 15 October 2025
All Day Ride to Newdigate 11th October
All Day Ride to Newdigate, by Karen
One of my favourite routes, if not THE favourite, although I
still remain unconvinced of the appeal of Pebblecombe…..
Steve kindly agreed to lead the faster (and farther) group,
first out of the blocks, accompanied by Pablo, Justine, Vanda and Connell.
Steve's plan was to crack on to Brockham for coffee.
Anne and John led the second group of Lorraine, Jacqui and
(from Walton on the Hill), Dawn. I followed shortly thereafter with Ken,
Sue, Domenika, Maggie and Paul. It was Domenika's first all day ride and
she was having some difficulty with her gears initially - thanks to Maggie and
Paul for helping out and leading an alternative easier option to
Tadworth, rejoining the rest of our group just before the coffee stop.
The advance party at Walton was already tucking in when we
arrived. Dawn had already eaten her cooked breakfast and was chomping at the
bit. We managed to distract her with a couple of well-placed cute dogs
for a while.
We enjoyed the advantage of small groups, not becoming too
strung out, and Paul was on hand in my case to keep me apprised (unless there
was an appealing steep downhill when it was every man for himself!)
Steve's group was enjoying the ride so much, a decision was made to have lunch at Tan House Farm, while the rest of us met at The Surrey Oaks. It was just starting to brighten up so my group opted to eat in the beer garden.
"Yes, we have no bananas"....... No traffic incident on the return leg this year, but we did happen upon a lone cyclist struggling to release his wheel. Paul was able to assist with an allen key set and commenced a deep search of his saddle bag, to find...... a week's supply of bananas! The bananas weren't any help, but eventually the key set was located and the wheel duly released. Once the groceries were fastidiously re-packed, we were again on our way.
Happily, the roadworks leading to Old School Lane had
cleared, so we managed to avoid the part-gravelled bridleway route. Instead we
were greeted by a delightful herd of cows heading in for milking.
Domenika was enjoying the ride so much, she declined the
offer to peel off at Dorking. So we cracked on towards Leatherhead where
we met Anne and John's group as they were finishing their cake at
Lucio's. I received an update from Steve that they'd decided to take a
shortcut home via Box Hill!
Anne reported later that she had a lovely day and a great
group. I echo that, and I should also report that no bananas were hurt
during the course of this ride, except possibly some slight bruising.
Monday, 6 October 2025
All Day Ride to Newdigate from Nonsuch Park - Saturday 11 October
From Karen