Epsom & Ewell Virtual Round the Borough Bike Ride

 

      Round the Borough Bike is back... and this time, it’s virtual. Take the route at your own pace throughout the month of May. Register and complete the challenge to be in with a chance to win a hybrid road bike, courtesy of @fudgescyclestore https://bit.ly/331ACAZ  #VirtualRBB21

My, my, my, Delilah; Sutton Beginners, 24 April

The weather seemed good for a slightly longer ride than is usual on a Saturday afternoon, so the plan was to leave Sutton Library at 1.30.  There was a delay at the start for Roger's bicycle repair and the leader was a little worried, for he had had to book a table for six at Squires in order to ensure coffee and cake at the only place en route with a loo on Saturday.  Godfrey briefly joined us on his way to join the 2pm departures from Nonsuch, but we said farewell and skirted the park to avoid the gathering.  It was the turn of Ken's electric bike to give a problem at West Ewell but the management had taken care to ensure our table booking was timed conservatively, and a good job too, because we arrived at Stoke d'Abernon on the dot of three after steady progress through Maldon Rushett and past Oxshott station.

The magnificent six at Squires; colder than it looks

The staff at Squires were astonishingly helpful and welcoming as if we were long lost customers they were delighted to see, but we have been using the Patisserie during lockdown; today, of course, the Stoke station toilets were not available because the waiting room was closed, and anyway, the Patisserie was closed as we cycled past it on our way through Bray Road and over the River Mole to Downside Common.  The route through Bookham Road to Great Bookham Common is delightful, especially on a sunny day, and though familiar to regular B Groupers is slightly too far out for a Beginners group to get home to Nonsuch in time for tea.

The common did not disappoint, though the ground was a bit hard after the dry spell; we were surprised to see so few walkers; perhaps they had realised before we had how cold was the wind, though we were protected by the thick foliage on the common, and River Lane is fairly enclosed as we recrossed the Mole.  They have filled in the worst potholes on River Lane, the ones near the football field.

It had been a beautiful ride, everyone agreed, along paths seldom taken, but the journey home is almost entirely eastwards and the wind from that quarter was neither warming up nor decreasing in power as the day was drawing to a close and we were all pretty tired as we crossed Ashtead and Epsom Commons.  We got home to Wallington at six, Steve having peeled off at Nonsuch and Ken and then Anna and Roger as we went through Sutton.  Maggie and I were grateful to find the cafe in Manor Park willing to serve us tea and a Bakewell tart despite being in the act of closing and the order of the evening was fish and chips because we could not be bothered to cook.

57.92 km at 14.1 km/h despite there being only 375m of climbing, the vast majority of that gentle.  Yet a few weeks ago Steve and I had tried a harder version of the ride, going over Banstead and Epsom Racecourse, in inclement weather, 59.72 km with 538 m climbing, and without hurrying kept up a more respectable 15.4 km/h.  So why was Saturday so tiring?  We all felt it.  Was it the repairs breaking our rhythm?  Was it the Saturday traffic?  One of us felt it was insufficient cake.  Most settled on the debilitating effect of riding constantly into the East wind.  But I knew the secret.  For months now, the men had been increasing in strength like Samson as our hair grew long.  This week we have all had our locks shorn after Lockdown, and our strength is lying on the floor of the barbers' in clumps of grey curls.  You wait, Delilah.  It will grow again, and then there will be no catching us.   .

     

An Upgrade……. Beginners Ride Saturday 17 April 2021

 

By Karen C

 

Good turnout at Nonsuch Mansion today.  Our group of six set off for Home Park.  Heavier road traffic than usual en route and Kingston Bridge pedestrian traffic overflowing onto cycle lane in places.  Cycling in to Home Park was a delight - surprisingly deserted on such a lovely day.

 

We stopped adjacent to a lake just before 3 o’clock.  A nesting swan swan joined us for a minute’s silence, it's calm serenity appropriate to the occasion.  At one stage, Mr Swan appeared to be heading in our direction to give us a piece of his mind.  However, he decided to have an afternoon nap instead.  Mrs Swan seemed quite unfazed by our presence (but was probably hoping we'd be quiet for a bit longer).

 

We were quite taken with Mrs Swan but our reverie was rudely interrupted when our leader solemnly announced:  “It closes at 4 so we'd better get going”.  Panic-stricken, we quickly set off down the river for coffee and cake.  Shallow? Us?

 

Molesey Boat Club pulled out all the stops and upgraded us to first class: proper table with all mod cons (i.e. seats) and coffee served to us in proper cups. Warmed by the sun and enjoying our new freedoms, the conversation turned to outside amenities.  One of our party indicated an interest in a summer house and was trying to explain the difference between a summer house versus a shed.  Liz remained unconvinced:  “It's still a shed.”

 

When the conversation turned to caterpillar cakes, we knew it was time to leave.  Does Colin know there's a caterpillar cake named after him?

 

We headed back to Cheam via Thames Ditton and Chessington. I experienced a couple of close passes on Chessington Road - perhaps a helmet camera would be a good idea.

 

A minute's silence; 17 April Beddington Park Ride

Saturday was bright and sunny, but not warm.  There were some familiar faces at Beddington Park, some which were familiar eighteen months ago, and a couple less familiar, one brand new.

It was clear that we would need to split into two groups; the larger group chose the flatter ride to Merton Abbey Mills and four of us opted to go up to Caterham-on-the-Hill.

Ken, Maggie, Steve P and I made our way through Millionaire's Row and Coulsdon.  We had hoped to make Chaldon Church for three-o-clock to observe the one minute's silence for the Duke of Edinburgh but we only got to the car park on Farthing Downs to pay our respects. 

From there we went up Doctors Lane and along the ridge to Coffee and Creams in Caterham-on-the-Hill.  The weather was mild enough for us to sit in our coats and enjoy our cake and from there we went across Kenley Aerodrome and down Old Lodge Lane to Purley Fire Station, where Steve peeled off to meet his five-o-clock business.  It was good to welcome you to the club, Steve, and we hope to see you again.

Maggie's photo of Ken, Paul & Steve P at Dollypers Hill Nature Reserve on Old Lodge Lane

The three of us used Hartley Down to avoid the A23 back in to Coulsdon and climbed up to Woodcote Park Golf Club on our way home.

    

   

Tony's 10 April All Day Ride to Lots Road and Battersea Park

28 riders in five groups left Nonsuch Park and made it to Battersea Park via Richmond Park and Putney all returned by different routes.

Tony's group in Battersea Park........

.....and at the pagoda

The tea and lunch stops varied accordingly.  Our group stopped at Richmond Park and the Skylark cafe on Wandsworth Common. Although cold the weather stayed dry.

Thanks to all the leaders for their help.

Regards Tony

Steph's group at All Saints, Bishop's Park, Fulham, where she found a route under Putney Bridge that did not involve getting run over by buses.

Debbie, Angela and Nikki at Clapham Common bandstand; Paul's group

Paul's group on the South Bank at Battersea

Our group had coffee at Richmond Park, lunch at Battersea Park and Afternoon tea at Earlsfield.  We overtook/ were overtaken once or twice by the other groups but we all kept separate for the stops.  This was achieved by variations of route between leaders and the wide choice of cafes in Battersea Park.  Staying dry?  There was a heavy cloud layer and a chill wind and raindrops kept falling on our heads at the rate of three drops a minute all day, but the heavens never opened.  In Putney we worked out that the snowflakes were in fact blossom petals, but it was the kind of day they could have been either!

It was nevertheless a brilliant ride and we all enjoyed ourselves.  Thank you Tony.

Paul  

Battersea Park ride 10 April

We were the first sub group from Nonsuch Park at 10 am, but we didn't stay in front for long...first stop was back to my house (only just off the route) to pick up a pair of gloves Anna lent me last time we were out together in October! Our group was Roger and Anna, Diane, Sabina and Bernard, all looking forward to a leisurely all day ride. Our second stop was in Old Malden, where Diane's front brake suddenly needed some attention. While a running repair took place, we were passed by Tony's group. Soon sorted and we followed on their tails towards Motspur Park but soon lost sight of them. Up through New Malden, we had a little detour as we took too early a turn on the way up to Ladderstile gate. We decided to coffee at Painswick Park, where the cafe is usually a little less busy than the ones in Richmond Park, so detoured through Isabella plantation, which was looking pretty as we walked through with our bikes. None of us had followed the route from Putney bridge before, so we were all looking out for the cycle route signs and paying attention to the route map from time to time as we headed along the north side of the Thames towards embankment via Chelsea. Then across the bridge to Battersea Park for our picnic by the river. It was quite chilly, so we didn't linger over lunch, but decided to circle the park before heading towards Clapham Common. Alas we left by the wrong gate! Fortunately Roger used to live in the area so he set us along a nice direct route and we were soon back on track! Familiar paths across Clapham and Wandsworth Commons lead us through to Broomloan Lane and with great pleasure we joined the peace and greenery of the Wandle trail following the noisy traffic by the old greyhound track. At Morden Hall park we bid farewell to Roger and Anna, who headed for Sutton while the rest of us made our way back towards Worcester Park and Cheam. Many thanks to Tony for planning a wonderful route for us and to all the group for your pleasant company on the day.

All Day Ride the gentle way through the Surrey Hills on 8 May

All-day ride No 2 will depart from Nonsuch on Sat 8th May.  We will take a route up to Epsom Downs and through Walton on the Hill to the top of Box Hill for coffee.  We descend and cross over to make a slow ascent of Ranmore on the very pretty route through Denbies.  Noone will be left behind and the ride along the top makes the climb worthwhile.  We'll descend Crocknorth to lunch at East Horsley and then downhill all the way to Cobham for tea.  A return to the Ewell area will be by Stoke D'Abernon, Oxshott and Horton Country Park.  We may have to carry sandwiches as I am having difficulty booking a pub in the area on a Saturday lunch time.

If you would like to come or sub-lead email haremale@hotmail.com   

Or text 07909774234