You are invited to join Maureen on an all day 40 mile ride on Saturday 11th September starting at Nonsuch Mansion House at 9.50 & 10.00 to Newdigate.
After minor surgery I was not allowed a strenuous ride on Wednesday. I was all for coasting up to Caterham to at least meet the B riders, and take it from there. Maggie, declared otherwise, and with the news that Colin would be in isolation on Saturday and I would have to lead the Beddington Ride, this gave us an opportunity to try out a new route, proposed by Colin, to a new Cafe, at Elmers End.
You had to pick your weather report come Saturday, for although they all forecast heavy rain, they differed on its timing. I selected the BBC National forecast because it was the only one that said it would not be raining during ride time. Gone lunchtime, when the usual crew might be leaving their homes, the precipitation was fairly steady, the clouds a threatening blue-grey but, hey, I had science on my side. Maggie and I set out to man the Beddington Beginners station fully expecting to find no takers, and indeed there were those of faint heart who had chosen to trust the wrong weather forecast, but as we rounded Beddington Cricket Club we were delighted to spy a cyclist at the Pavilion and amazed to discover Ken "I never go out in the rain". Even better, Sharon turned up to show off her new bike. And the rain stopped.
The stay-at-homers have no idea what they were missing; Croydon after the rain is a poetic experience. It is a little known fact that it was hearing the Pigeons and Seagulls cooing and crying on Purley Way after the rainfall that inspired Beethoven to write his Pastoral Symphony. And Joy, for whom, three symphonies later the Ode to Joy was written; she lived in Queens Road. So where better to celebrate weak sunshine than around the damp multicultural stalls of Broad Green on a Saturday where modern musical masterpieces are being written?
Maggie was the one who was unwittingly to be most immersed in the Croydon experience. A friendly motorist left a gap for us in the queue so that we could turn right on the London Road, but a driver coming the other way, from our right, indicated left and then changed his mind, accelerating towards Norbury as if we were not there, and colliding with Maggie's bike.
Leading, I was unaware of the drama behind me until Maggie, a little shaken, turned up at the rendezvous spot to say her bike had been hit by a car, which had driven off. Everybody was in no doubt there had been a collision but Maggie's front wheel spun well and true (once she had taken her hand off the brake) and it took a forensic examination of the most thorough kind to spot that the paint had been taken off her front wheel hub nut. She was desolate; a scratch on her blue bicycle! She was also pretty lucky.
On with the ride, shaken but not stirred, through the handful of fans going to Selhurst Park, along the path by the Selhurt Railway Club and through Heavers Meadow, a green space I'd never even noticed. If you pretended there were no railway sidings and chose to ignore the men attending to the call of nature in the bushes, you could have felt you were deep in the idyllic English Countryside. We zig-zagged our way through North Croydon to the Croydon Arena (where Croydon Football Club were just starting their match) and over the wet cobbles to cross South Norwood Country Park, a candidate for United Nations Heritage status if ever there was one.
We were dry, and the cafe for which we were aiming, Branching Out, proved a splendid Coffee Shop with good coffee, excellent cakes and an awning to protect us from the rain. And when it stopped, we followed Colin's quiet route home, through the leafy suburbs of Shirley Oaks and Addiscombe to enter Croydon through Park Hill Park.
We were all quite cheered up after our leisurely Saturday ride as we passed the rebuilt Elizabethan brick wall along Church Path in Beddington. And somewhere in the sought-after back streets of Fort Neaf some cool dude has a scratch on his precious motor.
The Nonsuch crew
Helen's report
Our all day ride combined both the best and worst of luck on Saturday; the best, because we had the first sunny and completely rain-free day out for weeks, perfect for the leisurely and easy going day we were planning to enjoy.
The worst, because while we were at lunch, two petty thieves, too lazy to earn an honest living, happened by our group's locked up bikes and helped themselves to one each.
Two groups set out from Nonsuch Park, lead by Christina and Helen. At Motspur Park, Christine's group was joined by Bernard and Sabina. Within half a mile, Sabina's tyre exploded so they peeled off to have it repaired, hoping to re-join us later in the day...
Our route to coffee at Merton Abbey Mills took a little longer than planned. From Motspur Park we went over Grand Drive. crossing playing fields to Whateley Avenue and then Watery Lane into Merton Park. Looping back slightly via Poplar and Kenton Road (Christina's group went a little astray here) to the entrance of Morden Hall Park nearest to Morden; then following the new tarmacked path through the watermeadows to the tramway, past Deen City Farm, arriving about 20 past 11 for coffee. Here Christina's group followed us in; and we met Will (my son) and Gemma, new to the group and feeling a little impatient as they'd been waiting for a while. Apologies and introductions all round, we stopped for coffee and they departed with the Beddington crew.
Where Horatio and Emma once took coffee? Merton Abbey Mills
After modern fortresses on Enterprise Way, we cut through to the Thames bank and into leafy Wandsworth Park, with its beautiful outlook across the Thames. Our destination, Putney bridge, was in sight and we headed along the Thames towpath towards it.
Fulham Palace and Bishops Park are just on the north side; after the noisy traffic across the Thames, it was a relief to enter their quiet embrace.
Briefly, we stopped by the International Brigade memorial, commemorating Fulham men who went to fight fascism in Spain in the 1930s. Then we wandered through the park, to the entrance to Fulham Palace and its gardens. Time for lunch! Some of us enjoyed our picnics on the lawns, others dined on food from the café. Will, Gemma and I took a brief wander through the walled garden and the bishop's walk through the little graveyard to the church. There was a wedding of course on this lovely summer Saturday - that explained the church bells pealing while we were having lunch!
And then we walked back, to meet Maggie with news of the theft of John's bike. Will's, it turned out, had also been stolen, and his helmet. Both bikes were locked. It was sickening to have our day spoiled by criminal theft. The palace staff were most helpful; there was a witness to their escape, the bicycle lockup area has CCTV coverage and both were able to contact the police for crime reference numbers. But they had to miss the rest of the ride, to find their own way home, and to claim insurance afterwards. If only people would keep their sticky hands to themselves.
The rest of us continued our afternoon ride through quiet roads past Fulham football ground (playing away this first game of the season) to cross Hammersmith Bridge, back to the south side of the river. The bridge has only recently reopened, and only to cyclists and pedestrians, so this was a very peaceful and enjoyable crossing.
We stopped briefly on the other side for photos and to admire the engineering of the historic iron bridge - and the very pretty view across to the Blue Anchor and lovely buildings and promenade along the north bank towards the Dove. Then we got back on our bikes to enjoy the towpath along the river, through Barnes and Mortlake, passing Chiswick bridge and skirting Kew Gardens, past Richmond Lock and under its bridge, carefully through the crowds, to arrive for tea in Terrace Gardens on the slopes of Richmond Hill. Nowhere to lock up our bikes here, (Paul's group had most of the accessible railings!) so we laid them on the grass; some of us took our tea there, others sat above on the cafe's terrace; all enjoyed chatting and relaxing in the golden afternoon sun, some of us with cake, gathering our forces for the last leg of the ride.
There was still a couple of miles to Kingston, passing by Ham House and the ferry, waving to Teddington lock as we sped by, enjoying our last views over the sun sparkling waters of the Thames. Then we were at Kingston bridge, and away through the market back onto route 75 and heading for home.
My grateful thanks to Paul and Maggie, to Christina, and to Diane and Sue for leading and backmarking. Without your support, we could not have brought 20 people together for a lovely day out. Thank you all for your pleasant company, for looking after one another, and for sharing enjoyment of our beautiful river routes along the way. Looking forward to seeing many of you again for Maureen's ride to Newdigate on 11 September!
The Beddington crew
Paul's report
It was not a hot day but the weather was fine in Beddington on Saturday morning and the Beddington Park group were all there, raring to go, before Maggie and I arrived; Roger & Anna, Matthew & Thomas, Thomas, not yet being two, in his dad’s trailer.
The barriers on the southern end of the Wandle Path were a
good test for Matthew’s trailer but it passed with flying colours and before
long we were at M.E.D, the agreed meeting place at Merton Abbey Mills.
According to the song, Matthew and Son should be taking a
mere five minute break with a cup of cold coffee and a piece of cake, but the
riders from Nonsuch Park were slower than we thought and we had a pleasant half
hour, the coffee was lovely, and Dad’s only problem was in failing to persuade
little Thomas that a yoghurt-based rice cake was as delicious as a slice of
millionaire shortbread. I wouldn’t have
fallen for it, either!
What with leader absence and software failure, the groups needed re-jigging and off we set, before the others, with John and Anne, and Will and Gemma on the pleasant, gentle-paced ride up the Wandle trail through Colliers Wood and Earlsfield to Wandsworth town centre. Negotiation around the one-way system there at the Ram Brewery was always going to be tricky but we made it without incident and were soon coasting through the park by the river to Putney Bridge.
After we had looped under the bridge to Bishop’s Meadow and paid a respectful visit to the memorial for the local people who had died in the heroic but futile effort to stem the rise of Fascism in Spain in the 1930s, we repaired to Fulham Palace for lunch.
Little did we know that the thieves were at work.
It seemed a pleasant day until John and then Will returned
to the bike racks to discover that their bikes had been stolen. Both padlocked with combination locks, both
padlocked to their partners’ bikes (which were not stolen). The security people were helpful, there is
CCTV footage, we have a description (ginger beard, generally sounding
suspiciously like Prince Harry to me) and all the right steps were taken to
inform the police, obtain a crime number, etc., etc but our group was sadly
depleted for the rest of the ride.
In almost any other circumstances the afternoon ride would
have been a delight, for Helen’s was a beautiful route along the towpath all
the way from Hammersmith Bridge to Kingston Bridge, and unlike the recce, which
was conducted in conditions of storm and flood, we were riding through dappled
sunlight in a cooling breeze as the weather improved. Tea was at the Terrace Gardens, just upriver
from Richmond, and this time we all secured the bikes where we could see
them. What is that you are thinking
about bolting the stable doors?
Tea at the Terrace, in the sun but under a cloud
Back to Beddington via Kingston and Berrylands and little
Thomas had been as good as gold, even telling his dad when we took the wrong
route out of Sutton!
Thank you, Helen, for a wonderful route, and thank you all
for the splendid company. If only it
hadn’t been for those two thieves.
Hi folks, just wanted to remind you of the all day ride to Fulham Palace Gardens coming up on 14 August. There will be two starting points; Beddington Park and Nonsuch Mansion House. Coffee at Merton Abbey Mills; then we will follow the Wandle trail up to the Thames, crossing Putney bridge to have our lunch in Fulham Palace Gardens.
After lunch we will follow the Thames Towpath through from recently re-opened Hammersmith Bridge to Kingston, stopping at Terrace Gardens in Richmond for tea. I reccied this route last Saturday and even in the rain, it was delightful to follow the river all the way! (There were many bridges to shelter beneath!)
I
look forward to sharing the pleasures of the route with you. If you
would like to join me, please email toveyhelen@btinternet.com
I would be most grateful for sub group leaders to support the ride, and can offer recces on Saturday 7th and/or Monday 9th if needed.
~ HelenIs this a permanent fixture in the Saturday calendar? And how much can we vary it while retaining the essence, keeping its length down, and minimising the traffic risk inherent in riding the streets of South London?
Last year we managed to slot in the ride in September, during the window between lockdowns. We took Harry's old route and changed it, melding it with some of Ged's London Ride but discovering for ourselves (with considerable help from Simon, I recall) the joys of Brixton Windmill. This year we kept the highly popular ride up the Ravensbourne and Route 21 to get to Greenwich Park, but then followed Route 4 and 14 (while it suited us) along the river to Westminster before taking the CS8 along the north bank to Chelsea Bridge and Battersea Park and (some of us) the CS7 back to Merton.
The weather has been so dreadful this year, and one or two regular All-Dayers were away, so we had a slightly reduced starting line-up of 26. Simon, Dave V, Helen, Tim C, Tim G and Steph had all answered the call for sub-leaders (and Tim G and Dave not only came, like the others, on one of our recces but actually took another day out to re-ride in time for the big day). Thanks to them all, and to Steph, Helen and Tim G for volunteering to shepherd riders from North Cheam to our official start at Beddington Park.
Thanks to Maggie's management we got the rides out on time, especially as last year we had groups overtaking each other; an unannounced latecomer was accommodated. I took out the last group with Madeleine, Maggie, Tim and Steph, the final two part of my leadership back-up, with the intention of us being there to sweep up any problems. Good job too, for after a pleasant and uneventful ride along the riverbanks (a bit too much mud near South Norwood Lake, but there were no hippos) and a bit of minor chain and front brake management we had freewheeled past the dreaming spires of Croydon and the regal architecture of Lewisham (would you believe it has fewer canals than Venice, let alone Birmingham?) only to arrive at the Meridian to find Helen's group stricken with the injury to Alice, who was in pain and looking decidedly poorly. Luckily we had a back-up nurse (Maggie got Alice a cup of hot tea and made a sling for her arm) and a good samaritan (Madeleine offered to take Alice and put her on the train at Waterloo so that Alice could be met off the train by her dad). We reorganised the groups so that those not needed could carry on their ride and the three of us walked Alice and bike down to the Cutty Sark, where the Uberboat staff could not have been more helpful in embarking women and bikes on the trip upriver.
The rearguard
At the time of writing it seems that Alice is getting a little less sore and has no broken bones, and we wish her a complete recovery in confidence as well as in body.
Sadly, she missed one of the best lentil curries I've had, and the docklands history tour. She missed finding Tsar Peter the Great's mulberry tree (Dave's group), laughing at the flatulence of the rich emerging from Brunel's Rotherhithe Tunnel (which is now the overground rail tunnel), hearing about the tax-dodging embarkation of the Pilgrim fathers from the Three Eagles tavern (now, inevitably, the Mayflower Inn), standing on the spot near the Angel Inn from where Turner painted the Temeraire as she was towed upriver to the breakers' yard, sitting next to Doctor Salter's statue and near his wife Ada's, social reformers of the pre-war years who lived among the poor at Deptford Beach (I bet you didn't know Deptford had a beach; why go to Spain?), marvelling at the ruin of the falconry castle of the Hammer of the French, King Edward lll, or grimacing to think of Judge Jeffreys drinking at the Angel to watch the pirates hanged with maximum cruelty at Execution Dock across the river.
The rendezvous with Madeleine at the Festival Hall worked a treat and with Brian leaving us there to train home, the rest of us enjoyed the river and a tea at Battersea Park before breaking up.
Thanks to everyone who helped and best wishes to Alice.
Paul
Simon's group
My group was scheduled to leave at 9.45, but at 9.40, nobody else had arrived. Had the forecast of 90% rain put them all off? Not at all: Matthew, Brenda, Anna and Roger, and finally Daniel rolled in and we set off more or less on time. We picked our way on quiet streets through Croydon, negotiated round a mud bath in South Norwood Country Park, and were quickly to our elevenses stop at Kent House. After elevenses, our breakaway group got away early and set off up the lovely Waterlink way towards the only mountain on Paul's route, Mont Blackheath. Anna's e-bike made short work of it; the rest of us made slightly longer work but all made it to the top, enjoying the panoramic view of the city. After that, a downhill sprint into Greenwich and along the banks of the Thames to the Dog and Bell where we were well looked after for lunch.
The weather started on a dull note but fortunately failed to deter a good number of cyclists for today’s ride to Greenwich.
I led six cyclists from North Cheam to Beddington Park to meet the main body of riders outside the cafe.
Tim's group at the start
Together with Angela, Debbie, Maggie G and Mayuri we set out for our morning ride after the obligatory photo
Our ride continued on a well planned route to Greenwich via Beckenham, Catford, Lewisham and Blackheath. We all appreciated the number of parks and green areas experienced during the morning ride.
Having taken in the view across the river we cycled down through Greenwich, had a brief stop by the Cutty Sark and then on to our lunch stop at the Dog and Bell. Service was prompt and we all enjoyed the food, drink and ambiance of a local hostelry.
Our afternoon ride, close to the river, provided another contrast and was surprisingly quiet, especially through Bermondsey and surrounding areas. The route through Borough Market and Southwark proved a little busier but we were able to navigate our way through without any difficulty.
Crossing Westminster bridge we continued at a swifter pace by Parliament Square then along the Embankment to cross the river again at Chelsea bridge. Our tea stop in Battersea Park was quiet and relaxed.
The return trip to Morden Hall via Clapham, Balham, Tooting and Colliers Wood was easier due to designated cycle lanes and a reduced volume of traffic.
We all headed home via North Cheam having had an enjoyable day’s cycling.
Thanks to all the group members for their company and contribution in making the ride a successful occasion.
A good day had by all.
Dave's group
Secondly thanks to all my group, Ed, Lilian, Kasumi, Sue and Clive who were delightful company throughout, and ever forgiving of my "occasional" lapse in route finding. Clive backmarked most ably, thoughtfully clad in blue, headlight on, easily visible whenever I looked.
Dave's group at the Cutty Sark
Ed was riding strongly. He and Lilian parted company at Waterloo to get the train home. Kasumi, Sue and Clive then formed a well balanced group. We skipped refreshments in Battersea Park in favour of an easy cruise down CS7, arriving at Colliers Wood at 5pm, where Sue assumed the leadership down the A24 to Cheam, with Clive heading onwards for Leatherhead, while I turned for home.
I hope everyone got home safely from what was for me a most enjoyable day.
However I was sorry to hear that Alice had fallen. I hope she is ok, and please pass on my best wishes when you speak to her.
Helen's group
A cool and cloudy start from North Cheam, where Steph and I had agreed to meet anyone who needed help to get to Beddington Park. My group set off through the little park next to Sainsbury's and worked our way through Sutton and Carshalton, mostly on route 75. We arrived just before 10 am, with most able to enjoy a break before starting the ride proper through Croydon on the first leg of our route to coffee. My group was Brian, Anne and Alice, and with Paul's final advice, "just follow the signs" echoing in my head we made a good start through Waddon Ponds. I'd learned on Monday's recce that Croydon town was the highest point of our morning route, and told Brian, then realised that we were heading _up_ Lebanon Road towards the tram. We headed back downhill to - yes - follow the signs. That, friends, was our last wrong turn all day.
Helen's group at the Pavilion cafe
Kent House does a wonderful carrot cake with its coffee. We enjoyed a quiet break by the old railway station, completely traffic free apart from us cyclists. Pretty parks, former railway lines, leafy waterways and rivers; working our way northwards through south London is an absolute pleasure. It is surprising how few busy roads we encounter, how little traffic on the residential streets. As we get nearer to our destination, Catford and Lewisham town centres are rude but brief interruptions to the general peace and enjoyment of our Saturday morning ride. Finally, just one quite steep hill and we emerge into the broad open space of Blackheath. Beautiful.
But alas, as we were crossing the heath along Mount Ponds Road, Alice went into the back of Brian and took a fall. Luckily they weren't going fast, and there were no passing vehicles, (and no damage to their bikes), but she fell heavily onto her shoulder and it was soon clear would be unable to continue the ride. We walked slowly up to the Observatory, where Paul and Maggie's group soon joined us; Madeleine kindly took Alice on the boat from Greenwich to Waterloo where she was able to catch a train home.
The rest of us continued to our lunch destination, the wonderful Dog and Bell in Deptford. Tim was a little worried that I'd led the group astray (I'd overlooked no cycling signs to continue by the river, instead of following the prescribed route...) but a passing skateboarder, a young girl who overheard our chat as we were crossing the lock gates, broke in to reassure us with very clear directions. I wondered if she was a daughter of the house!
Anne and I enjoyed a pint each of the excellent stout, a rare treat and most welcome; and we all had a delicious lunch. Paul and Maggie arrived, after seeing Madeleine and Alice to the quay at Greenwich; we waited for them to have lunch so we could travel onward together. Afterwards we had to persuade Maggie away from the women's tennis final to continue our journey along the Thames Path, with Paul back in the lead again.
Brief stops at the Mayflower and just along from it, the historic church and school established by Rotherhithe in Victorian times. Another pause to view Tower bridge from the Angel, right by the ruins of Edward lII's 14th century castle. And briefly, along the wonderful cycle superhighway to London Bridge. Past Waterloo and behind the old GLC building to Westminster bridge, which we crossed; left at Parliament Square, we cycled Millbank and Grosvenor Road, crossing back over Chelsea bridge to visit Battersea Park for tea. By now it was past 6 o'clock, so we didn't linger long. Paul had given us a direct route home, round the glorious Queens Circus roundabout, with its special lane and lights for cyclists (why aren't they all like this?!) down Queenstown Road and Cedars Road to Clapham Common. Lovely. Here Steph, Tim, Anne and I peeled off to follow Nightingale Lane and Burntwood Lane downhill all the way to Summerstown and the Wandle trail through to Morden Hall Park. Here we were delighted with the new tarmacked surface from the tram line through to the exit by Kenley Road, a great improvement, installed just this week! Anne and I continued through Merton Park over Hillcross Avenue and via Green Lane to Worcester Park. I was home about 20 past 7.
The last group at Battersea Park, enjoying a bedtime drink
A wonderful day out, many many thanks to Paul and Maggie for bringing it all together for us. Lovely company all day, beautiful route, choice stops for our breaks and refreshments and many highlights and points of interest along the way. We really couldn't ask for more.
You are invited to apply to join the All Day Ride to Greenwich on Saturday 10 July; pre-booking is required.
The ride is about 30-35 miles, flat except for the need to go over Blackheath.
Final route and details to be tweaked but we will be riding in groups of six leaving at regular intervals from about 9.30am in Beddington Park.
If there is a need, we will make arrangements as last year to ferry people from North Cheam to the start.
Coffee at the start in Beddington Park, elevenses at Clock House station, pub lunch at the Dog and Bell in Greenwich (no pre-booking), tea at Battersea Park. The ride finishes in Morden Hall Park
If you want to come, please e-mail Paulandrewjames1949@yahoo.co.uk, if you have not already done so, by midnight on Thursday 8 July.
