Fingers crossed.....All Day Saturday Rides, the first on Saturday 10 April

 

Restrictions permitting........

Tony Hooker's All Day Ride for Saturday 10 April

Departure from Nonsuch Park cafe at 9.50, 

For those on Strava, details can be found here

Tony is looking for sub-leaders, assuming we will be able to ride in groups if six by then

Stef will lead May's ride to West Horsley via Box Hill, also from Nonsuch at 9.50, on 8 May

Tony will lead on 12 June to Virginia Water

Paul will lead on 10 July to Greenwich

Tony is looking for leaders for the remaining months, second Saturdays, up to and including October.

Sue B's year of cycling alone

 From Sue B

Well, who would have thought it’s now, almost a year since the 1st lockdown and I am still solo cycling and walking.

We did manage a few weeks of cycling in groups of 6 thanks to the leaders and co leaders for all their hard work organising these. I, along with a lot of other members really appreciated these and enjoyed them.

I haven’t been as adventurous as most of you. Although I did get down to Dorking once, the Stepping Stones weren’t visible due the River Mole flooding! Most of my rides have been looking at the wildlife in Home, Bushey and Richmond Parks. If I didn’t keep stopping to take so many photos and watch what  was going on, I could either get home sooner or cycle further, but I really enjoy that part of it as much as the cycling.

                                             

I managed to go along the towpath in Richmond twice during high tide. Never experienced this before. Pleased I didn’t get stuck anywhere like some people did. In January I walked to Nonsuch Park. What a good job the rides weren’t still going out, as the entrance I go in was completely flooded, even with wellies on it was still deep. Not many cars were in there due to depth of the massive puddle as you can see from 1 of the photos.

                                             

Really looking forward to seeing you all again soon, that’s if everyone behaves and our Covid numbers don’t go up too much.

                                             

Please stay safe and well everyone.

                                             

A Hunting We Will Go

By Steve H.

Saturday was cold and cloudy so I had put on every layer of insulation I could find before Paul and I headed for Richmond Park.  A route through Cheam and Worcester Park took us on to New Malden for the long climb up Traps Lane, where I had to stop for a breather half way up.  We then entered the prestigious Coombe Estate and at the far end of Warren Road past Telegraph Cottage, the house occupied by Dwight D Eisenhower during World War II.  This was named after a nearby semaphore tower that was part of the London to Portsmouth optical telegraph line at the beginning of the nineteenth century.  On a good day a message could be sent from the Admiralty to the fleet at Portsmouth in under eight minutes.  You'd struggle to do that today!  Crossing the main road we entered Richmond Park at Ladderstile Gate.  Richmond Park is a wonderful oasis of rural in urban surroundings, a Royal Park originally established for the purpose of deer hunting although this is now limited to the annual deer cull.

We made our way round to the main cafe at Roehampton Gate but this was very busy with lots of cyclists and walkers out for their permitted exercise and social distancing so we decided to press on, dancing on the pedals up past White Lodge,  to the Pen Ponds cafe for a much needed hot drink, as much to warm the fingers as anything else.

Steve wearing cycling, rather than ballet, shoes

Descending to Robin Hood Gate we decided that Wimbledon Common might be a bit muddy so we took the scenic route back via the cycle path alongside the A3.  This is sadly strewn with much fly-tipped rubbish, dumping a mattress next to a busy dual carriageway must be no mean feat.  The return to Sutton through Raynes Park and Lower Morden took us to the path next to St Helier Hospital, which passes a good viewpoint as the trees open out.

I was definitely low on fuel for the final ascent from Sutton and had switched to the reserve tank by the time we reached the top of Banstead Road South.  Fortunately there were no more close encounters on the final approach to the house and my thanks again to Paul for a good ride.  I must remember to eat plenty of cake at the cafe stop next time!   

Nursery slopes

Ken and I last cycled to Wimbledon Common in November before the current lockdown. It had been busy then and we were under no illusion that it would be less crowded today but we'd both had the first Covid vaccine a month ago so had some protection from whichever variant was out there!

It was a cold afternoon but no snow or rain were forecast.  Immediately we were cycling on the grass through Beddington Park as families milled across the path and youngsters happily meandered on their new bikes and scooters. We left the the park to cycle over the bridge by Hackbridge Station and turned left at the mini roundabout onto Hackbridge Road planning to join the Wandle Trail at the Hack Bridge. I could see there was a problem ahead as a cyclist was facing tall barriers where the path joins the road. Imagining we were going to have to rethink the route we  cycled down Riverbank Way just in case there was an exit onto the path. Thankfully there was a new short, narrow path leading us onto the trail. 

It was an afternoon for families to be out with their children and it was lovely to see.  Children, some of them really quite small on their own bikes and babies in seats in front or behind their parents'. We repeated the route of November ending up climbing the hill and making our way through muddy puddles on  Wimbledon Common before stopping briefly at the windmill cafe for a comfort break. The cafe was too crowded so we cycled back to Eastfields for tea.  

The Windmill at Wimbledon Common

The temperature had been dropping and when Ken took his gloves off his hands were blue. We quickly downed our drinks and set off back along the Wandle trail to return to our warm houses. As I left the Wandle trail I was behind a young boy of about 5, with his Dad, returning from cycling to the Thames!  I wonder how far he'll be going in a few years.

We're anticipating warmer weather soon and also possibly returning to cycling in groups of six around Easter.  Let's hope so!  

Two arms. two legs, keep moving

 

From Steve H

Steve modelling the latest PPE

Just as the dreaded lurgy was getting into full swing last March an unexpected health problem put me off the road for the duration with the advice not to drive or cycle for at least a year in case of interruption of service.  Later on, riding was allowed but only in groups which, of course, was not allowed.  This left me with at least six idle wheels and unable to take advantage of last summer's unique but unfortunate combination of fine weather and quiet roads.  Nonetheless my New Year resolution was to break the Lockdown Lethargy and get back into the saddle.  To mitigate the possible consequences of a solo unplanned dismount I decided to equip myself with some elbow and knee protectors of the type worn by mountain bikers to hurl themselves down hillsides, reasoning that it would be easier to mend a limb than a joint.  The knee ones were fine, but although the elbow set was the correct medium size according to the measurements they were extremely tight and caused my forearms to swell, better even than spinach.  The large size replacement turned out to be a bit too large but as they did not sell a Goldilocks size I had to strap them on as tightly as possible and persevere, although I haven't tried zip ties yet.  Thus accoutred I decided that the time had come to bite the bullet and, er, hit the road.

A bit apprehensive at first after such a long lay-off, I was delighted to find that as soon as the wheels started turning I was away, the bike almost riding itself until I came to the first climb when it became immediately apparent that light pedal assistance was required.  After a few local loops through Banstead, Woodmansterne and Epsom Downs I was ready for the fray.  Although group riding is off the menu we are allowed to ride in pairs and Paul kindly offered to take me out on my first long ride, so on Saturday we set out from Belmont for Hampton Court in glorious sunshine and blue skies.  We skirted Nonsuch Park and made our way through the back roads to Worcester Park.  Being away for so long I had forgotten the routes and didn't recognise the roads and junctions but it turned out that we were going a different way to avoid the traffic.  On out through Tolworth and Thames Ditton, heading for the river.

The green opposite Hampton Court station was very busy with everyone having to stay outside, fortunately we found a small cafe and bench far from the madding crowd.  Suitably fortified by tea and cake we returned through picturesque Weston Green, pausing at the lake for a photo op, thence through Berrylands to north Cheam for another short break.  We passed the famous bottle house in Sutton and later the ornate house once lived in by the artist Graham Sutherland, he of the infamous Churchill portrait.  We parted company at Downs Road, and when I got back I had exactly 25 miles on the clock; not bad for a first effort and my thanks to Paul for a grand day out.  The climb up from Sutton was hard work with the Lockdown lack of fitness beginning to tell, hopefully this will improve with the miles, although I suspect that climbing will remain a work in progress.

Blood, sweat and gears

The sting in the tail was having to fend off a large car that was attempting to overtake just as I was signalling the final right turn into the house, it nearly was my final right turn.  Welcome back to cycling!

Why are viewpoints on the tops of hills?

 

Last week Ken pointed in the direction of a viewpoint down a flat, straight road in Caterham. The trouble is you have to climb before you reach the flat road.  So on this beautiful Spring afternoon we set off to find said viewpoint. Retracing our steps and turning right from Rook Lane onto Chaldon Common Road our attention was drawn to two carved owls on a tree stump.

This was rather a sobering find and we were saddened to read the story of Lily.

We continued on our way and very soon this flat road was undulating and we were experiencing the Surrey Hills at their best but one of us had electric power and one of us just leg power! We climbed and descended Roffes Lane, then War Coppice Road then Gravelly Hill, and all the time I tried not to worry too much about the return journey.  We reached the Caterham Viewpoint and sat and enjoyed the sunshine and view while a bird of prey circled overhead. A splendid afternoon and we retraced our tracks, stopping for tea and cake in Caterham on the Hill before returning home.

The South Wind doth blow and we shall have...

.......standstill on Farthing Downs! 

Ken and I decided that the warmer weather and longer afternoon sun meant we could venture further this afternoon.  So Caterham-on the Hill was our destination. Cycling up through Wallington,  saying 'hi' to Ray, then to Sharon on her way to Beddington Park  we can now do this route blindfold (almost).  But I wasn't finding this easy , I just wasn't moving at a comfortable speed. Not sure if it was the bike or my legs I wondered if Ken might be put off the ride when we felt raindrops. But no, on we cycled to the bottom of Farthing Downs where Ken overtook me on his electric bike.  The problem was the wind and here on Ditches Lane it was determined that I would make my way very slowly.  Recovering at the top , then struggling to get back on the bike we continued passed Chaldon Church and turned left up Doctors Lane. At least when the road was sheltered it wasn't quite the struggle. 

We were now turning left on Rook Lane towards Caterham-on-the-Hill and Ken pointed out the road to a view point - for another week.  We needed coffee and cake! We were doing alright on the switchback when we came to traffic lights at the bottom of the hill! Very frustrating but it wasn't long before we crossed the mini roundabout and found Coffee and Creams for our well earnt break.

 

  Not too much lace on show!

Sitting having our refreshments we realised it was actually quite cold so we didn't delay and took the very pleasant route back to  Old Coulsdon, mostly downhill via Tollers Lane but with potholes galore. Now back on familiar territory we made our way back to Wallington, very pleased that we'd succeeded against the wind.

Thanks Ken, I was close to turning round at the top of Farthing Down.