Notice for 2016 AGM

The AGM for CTC South West London will commence at 11:00 in the Hersham Amenity Hall on Wednesday 9th November.

Signing in sheets will circulate once you are sitting down. The Agenda, Minutes of the 2015 AGM, Treasurer's Report and our Annual Report will be available for you to read.

Please be considerate about where you park your bikes.

Tim Court
Secretary

Saturday, 15th Oct - Tony's ride to the Ally Pally

Nine riders set off from Waterloo Station to Alexandra Palace. We found the new cycle route through Parliament Square to be very good. The ride took us through Hyde Park, part of the Regents Canal, Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath, stopping for lunch at Alexandra Palace.

We returned via Finsbury Park, Parkland Walk (which follows the old railway track), through Regents Park accompanied by Will's harmonica and then back for tea in Hyde Park. The ride finished at Clapham Junction for our trains home.

Thanks to Tim G for back marking.
 
Approx. 30 miles. 

Subject: Beginners all day ride, Saturday 17 Sept 2016

Liz Scrivens lead us on a lovely all day  ride into the beautiful Surrey Hills, via coffee at Effingham, on Saturday 17 September 2016. The weather was somewhat unpromising, dull and cloudy; it felt quite chilly as we set out, but then we have all become used to temperatures in the upper 20s and early 30s in recent weeks! This was the first morning of autumn, it seemed, at around 17 degrees and it didn't get really warm all day. But it was really comfortable for riding and at least there was no rain!

Our picture was taken by a kind passing hiker on the way down from Ranmoor Common. Behind us is a familiar and favourite view of Dorking from above Denbies. We enjoyed a well deserved lunch at the Stepping Stones pub shortly after, then rode home via Ashtead and Epsom Commons, cycleways through Horton and Hogsmill conservation area. Many thanks Liz for an enjoyable day out.

~ Helen Tovey

Correction to ride details

Please note that the dates originally advertised in the Rides Lists for September and October were incorrect and have now been corrected to read:

Sept 17 Ranmore Common and Box Hill with Liz Scrivens

Oct 15 Alexandra Palace with Tony Hooker (meeting at Waterloo Stn)


~ Tim Court

Beginners’ Ride Saturday 27 August 2016

For our weekly gathering in Nonsuch Park on Saturday the short ride on offer was to Thames
Ditton, stopping at Squires’ garden centre for tea and cakes. There was no longer ride
designated, so I offered to lead one. The intention was to offer something slightly faster,
slightly hillier than usual with a shorter tea and cake break.

The weather was a little windy but dry, intermittently sunny. Four of us met at Beddington
Park, Wallington, to cycle the 9km to Nonsuch Park. There nine more members joined us,
including Nigel, who rode at the rear.

We went up the off-road foot/cycle paths to Epsom and up the hill on Wilmerhatch Lane,
through Ashtead Park, up Ottways Lane over the M25 on the footbridge. We completed a
brief circuit of Leatherhead and returned via Ottways Lane to the Cycle Bean Cafe in
Ashtead for refreshments.

Returning through Ashtead Park, we turned up Headley Road and then up the hill on Langley
Vale Road to the B290 along the top of Epsom Downs alongside the finishing straight of the
racecourse. From Tattenham Corner we went through Shawley Way (our last significant
hill), Nork Park, The Drive and Garratt’s Lane to the Pistachio Cafe at Banstead where we
parted company. Those who wanted to return to Nonsuch were led there by Nigel; the rest of
us returned to Wallington through Woodmansterne, The Oaks Park and the smallholdings.
Wallington to Wallington was 43km (28 miles) in all, taking 2 hours 34 minutes of cycling at
an average of 16.5 kmph (11mph). Total ascents added up to 950 ft. Those who started at
Nonsuch would have done about 34km (22 miles). In real time we started at ten past two and
finished at a quarter past five.

~Paul James

Riding across Wisley Airfield

  Stephanie's ride to Pyrford least Saturday encountered problems crossing the derelict Wisley airfield.

Fences and barriers of earth and old car tyres now cross the runway, though this possible to circumvent these on foot round the edges. Bikes then have to be lifted over the gates at the former entrance.

 Apparently, the planning application to "develop" part of the site with 2,000 homes and a school with access to the A3 at Ockham roundabout was rejected in April. Another plan to build a waste transfer site near the end at the Ockham Roundabout has not progressed, so this monument to a bygone age of aircraft manufacture at Byfleet remains. Bridle paths cross the site which allow transit, though these are not always rideable on bikes.

  Nevertheless, the group out last Saturday posed for this picture, taken by Stephanie.

Stephanie's ride to Pyrford on Saturday the 20th August.

The ride was uneventful and all seemed to enjoy the route.  The 'Bermuda triangle' around Coxes Mill claimed a couple of stragglers but luckily they joined us at lunch.  They  got stuck behind at a traffic light and missed the wiggle through the fruit farm.  A cyclist called John (sorry, there are so many of them I should have asked for a second name, distinguishing feature was a grey beard )  joined us at lunch, he had seen the blog and decided to join us on his way back from a ride to Guildford.  

  Crossing Wisley airfield was interesting  as attempts are being made to restrict access. Piles of tyres have been placed at either end of the airfield and new railings affixed at the farm gate where we usually squeeze out. All obstacles were easily surmounted as we followed the tyre tracks of the many cyclists who obviously continue to use it.  I don't know if planning permission has been granted or not but the farmer is certainly making the most of his land in the meantime with bumper crops of sweetcorn surrounding the airfield on all sides.

  We were very lucky with the weather after the torrential downpour at precisely 10 o clock that meant many arrived soaked to the skin.  Not a drop more all day, though the wind was beginning to get up as we all departed for home after tea at Garsons Farm.

Steph