All day ride to Harmondsworth - 17th August

Thanks to our ride leader Steph W for this report, and for a lovely day out along an historic and interesting route.

Setting off after lunch...l to r Bernard, Alice, Diane, Stephanie, Sabina,
Lorraine and Sue ( just behind Lorriane)
Photo by Helen outside Five Bells, Harmondsworth

Six cyclists left Nonsuch Park on Saturday and another 3 joined us at Kingston Bridge. We cut into Bushy Park before heading north to join the tarmac surface of the river Crane towpath. Entering Pevensey Nature Reserve we took an adventurous route through the former Feltham Marshalling Yards and through a tunnel under the railway to follow the Crane onto Hounslow Heath. The path was a little muddy after heavy rain the previous day! It is hoped that rights of way will be granted over this land to enable continuity between the separated bits of the River Crane path.

Shortly we were on a straight route west to the 14th century Tithe Barn at Harmondsworth, passing the proposed site of the 3rd runway on our left at Sipson.

Lunch was enjoyed in the garden of the Five Bells pub. Returning via Osterley Park we stopped for tea, ice creams and cake before returning through Twickenham and Richmond Park.

Thanks to all who came along, and especially back marker Helen and mechanic Godfrey.

~ Steph

Brownies on bikes round Nonsuch Park...1 July 2019

  Shirley asked for helpers with an evening ride for a local brownie group...We met at Sparrow Farm gate at about 5.30, some of us did bike checks and then we accompanied small groups of the girls on free rides in different directions all over the park. Each of the groups had two adult helpers, one of our volunteers to lead the ride and the other supporting (these were parent helpers). After the first ten minutes, the brownies took turns to lead the group rides under the watchful eyes of adult helpers. They rose to the challenge and enjoyed deciding for themselves where to take us all. 
We all gathered together at Mansion House and then rode back to Sparrow Farm gate to meet the parents and finish around 7 pm. Beautifully organised and great fun for all.

Last of the summer evening rides...

l to r: Helen,Roy,Ken,Steve,Anna,Colin and Shirley

On  Monday, eight of us met for the last Cyclism evening ride of the season.  These leisurely rides are a great way to make the most of the longer evenings from mid-May to the end of July, with friendly company! Many thanks to Shirley (far right) and Colin (2nd right, at the back) who have planned this annual local programme for over 30 years, and to the volunteer ride leaders who make it possible.


We met at Manor Park Sutton on a gloriously sunny evening. Our photo was taken at the top of Cheam recreation ground by a charming lady who longs to join our group, but needs to learn to ride a bicycle soon!  Perhaps we'll see her husband on one of our Saturday rides...


We swung by Mansion House and headed through lovely Nonsuch Park to Sparrow Farm gate.  Steeply downhill through Cuddington Park, we crossed Central Avenue and entered Green Lane just before Worcester Park station.  We turned left after the primary school to take quite a rough path through to Joseph Hood memorial park, waving hello to Saturday regulars Sabina and Bernard on the way through...and took a little footpath on the other side of the field to find our way back through to Green Lane stables .  Here the puncture fairy made herself felt as my back tyre deflated...

Thanks to Colin and Steve, we were soon on our way again! Though we had to turn on our lights at about 8.45 as the evening drew in...we made our way back to Sutton via Lower Morden Lane, following the cycle route through under the railway line and right into Glastonbury Rd, crossing the Reigate Road into Rosehill Rec and past the Tennis Academy without further incident.


Thanks all for your company, and for all the lovely summer evenings when we've been able to enjoy our local excursions together.

New Date! Saturday 17 August All day ride

Stephanie will lead an all day ride along the River Crane path to Harmondsworth.  Leaving Nonsuch Park Mansion House café at 9.30, with pickup at Kingston Bridge at 10 am.


Bring snacks, water and dress appropriately for the weather!  We can hope for a sunny and pleasurable day out...

All day ride to Brighton - Saturday 20th July

Despite the dire weather forecast 3 cyclists left Nonsuch Park on a dry morning, meeting up with Rob and Ruth on their tandem at Banstead. We stopped for elevenses at Tanhurst Farm. By now the sun was breaking through the clouds, and despite a strong south westerly wind we made it to Partridge Green for lunch, sitting outside in the sunshine!!!

We continued our ride to Shoreham. After Steyning we left the road for the new Downs Link cycle track which we found very smooth and wide. On reaching the end of the Downs Link we stopped for a photo call at the new sculpture.

From Shoreham the wind blew us along the seafront to Brighton where we stopped for tea, (no swimming though). The sea was far too rough as seen by the red flag. After tea we all went to the Train station for our journeys home.

Thanks to all who accompanied me.

Don't always believe the weather forecast 😎

Regards Tony

July Beddington Park ride

Torrential rain overnight and intermittent showers this morning were enough to deplete our numbers this afternoon. But Trevor joined us with his 4 week old bike having been encouraged to take up cycling when he acted as support to a charity fund raiser London to Paris cycle ride.

We couldn’t compete with Avenue Verte and Croydon was our destination, not generally twinned with Paris! However, Colin, Ken, Maggie & Paul set out with Trevor through the South London roads. We left Beddington Park by the church and took the paths by the Wandle to Croydon. One driver in a hurry decided to weave between our bicycles and get in front of Colin only for us to be directly behind him at the next two sets of lights. We turned right up to East Croydon and left our smoking, inconsiderate driver to face central Croydon traffic. We passed Croydon Court and crossed to Park Hill Park leaving by the water tower. We then cycled through the quiet roads to Lloyd Park where we stopped briefly to orientate Trevor. It's then across the park, downhill and a short ride to Coombe Wood for tea and cake and a robin flying between the tables and selecting the best crumbs.

We turned left out of Coombe Wood through the undergrowth to descend to Croham Road. Making our way through South Croydon we can't complete a ride without a hill so up Haling Park Road we go. Recovering our breath we cross Purley Way and return to Wallington where we separate to make our way home. We hope to see Trevor again at future rides.

Wimbledon tradition

It was my turn on the second week of Wimbledon to lead the traditional Cyclism ride from Garth Road to the tennis championships.  Our grandsons Rufus and Felix came with Maggie, Stephen, Sue, Tracey, Anna, Roy and Steve W and Daniel joined us having cycled from work in Canary Wharf; eleven in all.

It was a fine evening for a ride and luckily Maggie and I had recced the whole thing on Friday, because since the route was created Cannon Hill Common has become entirely no cycling.  It was no problem to carry on up Cannon Hill Lane to the footpath after the river bridge, but best practised beforehand!

I reckon The Downs is probably the steepest route up Wimbledon Hill, but that is the tradition, so we did it and the ride to the windmill was pleasant across a dry common sprinkled with after-work runners.  The conveniences at the cafe up there are just what they say; open when the cafe was closed!  Down Somerset Road to the tennis, we arrived just in time to catch the big crowd going home after one of the fourth round matches and had to push our bikes up Church Road, not because it was steep but because it was a traffic jam with hundreds of tired spectators on foot making it impossible to mount.

The traditional view of the gleaming spires of Croydon from Denmark Road (earth has not anything to show more fair!) and a pleasant, mainly downhill cycle home.  34 Km door to door at a pleasant summers evening 14 kph.