CTC Birthday Rides - 2017

Several club members attended the 2016 Birthday Rides and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. With this in mind Steph has forwarded this advance notice for the 2017 event:

The 2017 Birthday Rides are to be held in the Cotswolds at The Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh from Monday 7 August to Sunday 13 August. The prospectus and booking forms will be available in early February.

CTC Birthday Rides started in the mid-1970’s as the Club’s Centenary approached, CTC having been founded on 5 August 1878.

If possible the Rides are held in the week which includes the 5 August. The aim is to hold the Rides in a different part of the country each year so that members can ride in areas, perhaps new to them, as well as meet friends old and new. The current format is to hold the event somewhere that can accommodate CTC Members in residential buildings, tents and caravans on the same site so that there is a sense of unity. Rooms are on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis and breakfast and/or dinner packages are available for campers.

Usually entertainment is laid on for the evenings and members can socialise and plan the activities for the next day or two. We also try to include a couple of coach trips to places of interest for non-riding partners or those wanting a change from cycling.

The 6 night holiday does not require all to be able to ride to the same standard so there are 5 rides in each of four categories:

A rides (60 – 80 miles)
B Rides (40 – 60 miles)
C Rides (20 – 40 miles)
D Rides (up to 20 miles)

Members choose the ride they want to do on the day that suits them. Traffic conditions mean that led rides are no longer feasible but Buddy Boards are normally set up to facilitate the finding of riding partners.

Route sheets, gpx files and a gazetteer of places worthy of a visit are sent out by e-mail in advance so that activities can be pre-planned but printed route sheets are also available at the venue.

The routes are planned and suggested by members, local to the venue but with CTC CH&T oversight to ensure a consistent format of the route sheets.

The event is planned by CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours, a subsidiary of CTC, but run by unpaid volunteers.


CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours Ltd
Registered in England and Wales no. 4106179

Invitation to enter the Photographic Competitions

Please see the full details of how to enter the 2016 Photo Competitions on the Wayfarers blog or click on this link which will take you there.

We'll look forward to seeing your masterpieces. If you have any queries please contact me.

~ Tim

Award of the Arthur Jessop Shield

Congratulations to Shirley Quemby on receiving the Arthur Jessop Shield for outstanding achievement and contribution to the activities of the SWL CTC. She has been a tireless supporter and activist in promoting cycling in the Sutton area and beyond particularly in regard to Dr. Bike and the activities of the Beginners group based in Nonsuch Park, Cheam at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon. As Jeff Tollerman said it is amazing that Shirley has not been awarded this shield before and it is very fitting that her name will now follow on from last year's award to David Aylett who also championed the Beginners cause for many years.

The pictures show Chairman David Vine presenting the shield (with secretary Tim Court in the background).

~ Mike Morley

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