A healing brace of Nigels; Nonsuch Beginners 29 October

Paul writes

A day fit for early September graced our last Saturday ride of British Summer Time and a healthy crowd turned up at Nonsuch.  It was really good to see Nigel T there, courtesy of Caroline, albeit on his crutch.  Steve W, as usual, had turned up to lead the long ride during Nigel's incapacity and I led out the first of the groups heading for Cobham through Stoke d'Abernon.  We had Sue, Anne, Anna, Roger, Maggie, Ken and Nigel C, by no means a newcomer, but welcome as he took another step towards recovery from his nasty tendon injury of two years ago.

I took a near miss from a white van driver, Nigel C behind me reckoned it was four inches or so, quite deliberate, done for a laugh with his female passenger.  I spent the rest of the ride designing in my head a little paint spray device to be affixed to my right pedal in order to decorate offending vehicles.

Which was a pity, since it was a lovely day for a pleasant ride through the Birds Hill Estate and Cobham Park; pleasantly warm sunshine and a gentle breeze.  Nowadays one is spoilt for choice for coffee in Cobham; we chose the cafe on Hollyhedge Road. Maggie and I shared the last piece of lemon drizzle cake and we want you all to know that it was absolutely delicious.

Home through Stoke d'A , Leatherhead and Ashtead and Epsom Commons.

They have at last resurfaced the railway bridge at Ewell West, so you no longer have to pull a metre away from the curb to surmount the apex of the bridge.  Everybody made it back to Nonsuch, and for Nigel C it was a bit of a triumph; farther than he has ridden before in his rehab.

For us it was 55.5 Km, though we travel a little further than most and Nigel C will have done about 40 Km (24 miles or so).  A good day out.

Pictures by Sue

  

A Return from the North; Nonsuch Beginners 22 October

 A Return From The North

By Ian Prince

Saturday 22nd October 2022

After a longish stint up north, riding both road and recumbent cycles at generally half decent mileages of around fifty miles a day,  I finally got the chance to turn up at Nonsuch Park Mansion Café for 2 pm, and join the group being organised by Colin into long rides and short ride groups, myself deciding to ride with the longer Leatherhead Bocketts Farm  ride. 

I was pleased to hear Shirley’s recovery is progressing well and had other conversations before we set off a little time after 2pm , myself on my two gear Brompton and a usual selection of bikes from others in the group plus a tandem and an electro assist bike just as it threatened to rain. 

However, this was soon left behind as we headed through Epsom and onwards via some familiar routes to pass Woodcote Park and on through Ashtead to Leatherhead and ultimately down to Bocketts Farm for a well earned bite to eat, and drink. 

It was said that road traffic seemed light; in my view, not light enough! 

In total there were around a dozen or more of us on this ride, including the tandem and Thomas in his trailer with his own machine strapped securely to the top of the Burley trailer. 

Suitably replenished we all set forward once again, this time reaching the main road on the track up from the Farm tea rooms (which was remarkably busy, waiting for streams of cars to pass to be able to cross the road) 

Once underway again we found ourselves back in Leatherhead before crossing the M25 to Ashtead, and some familiar routes through the forest and minor roads working on our way back to Epsom,  Ewell and ultimately Nonsuch Park before it got dark. 

(Clocks change soon, so good to enjoy these last autumnal rides before darker colder winter days are with us)

Back at Sutton, my mileage for the day was just under twenty five miles. 

A good day was had by all and thanks to Steve for leading and everyone else for good company, conversation and a steady paced ride in remarkably warm weather for the end of October. 

See you all again soon

Ian Prince

The Crystal in Palace; Beddington Beginners 15 October

Report by Paul

Third Saturday, it's Beddington Saturday.  Two-o-clock, as always!

The weather forecast was for a dry day, if a grey and windy one, but Colin could not be there to lead and we knew one or two regulars would not be turning up.  We had a new Beddingtonian, though, in Alyson and since Nigel had told her that we met at a quarter to two we thought we had better be sharp, but Roger and Anna and Matthew and Thomas had got there before us, as had Ray, who was not planning to come on the ride but just to say hello.

We had been discussing routes with Anna and Roger, who felt it was getting a bit "same old....", but it's not easy around here to pick routes which meet the criteria; not too hilly, not too long, not too short, not too much traffic, a decent cup of tea/coffee.  So we had settled on Crystal Palace Park, where we had not been for a while.

Church Path.  We knew we were approaching Croydon when we passed a shopping trolley in the River Wandle, but the journey through the centre is largely cycle or bus lanes and passed, we felt, pleasantly.  Along the railway path, Croydon Arena, and in South Norwood Country Park Thomas decided he had enough of being a passenger and out came his trike.  He rode the length of the park and was persuaded to get back in his trailer only by the promise of ice cream and freedom in the dinosaur park a mile or two further on.

There the rain ignored the forecast but it had the decency to be insufficient to stop play in a cricket match until we had finished our cake and coffee, which were splendid, and got back to our bikes.  There we discovered that Maggie had a flat tyre.  She remembered the broken glass in Croydon and I found a piece of it in her tyre.  Croydon, of course, is as famous for glass as is Waterford or Venice; it's just that the glass in Croydon is at a later phase of its life cycle.

An enthusiastic audience for the entertainer!

As is traditional with puncture repairs, the heavens opened.  So much so that along with several families we took cold, windy shelter beneath the pedestrian bridge next to the athletics track.  Until we worked out we might still be there after Thomas' bedtime.  So home it was, past Selhurst Park football stadium (Palace were playing away at Leicester; we had checked) through the architectural wonders of Fort Neaf, and over the intersection at Broad Green, an experimental route that might have worked better had the driver in a huge 4x4 been capable of manoeuvring it into the place they had chosen to park it without forcing several other drivers to reverse.  You can't say life in Croydon is dull.

Wandle Park and home, by which time the rain had stopped and we were all just a bit damp.  It was a good ride, though, and a nice group.  Thank you everyone, and come again, Alyson.

 

Tony's All Day Ride to Biggin Hill, 8 October

Tony writes

The Hills where alive with the sound of cyclist on the last all day ride for 2022.  14 Riders left Beddington Pk in 2 groups.  The first group led out by Alan and second group by Tony

The  weather  could not have been better and at the airport cafe we could all sit  down outside for lunch watching the planes taking  off.

On the way back to tea we stopped in Shirley to view the windmill .

Matthew and Thomas led us back along the Wandle to Beddington Pk but as the cafe was so busy we made for the cafe at Carshalton ponds.

Thanks to Alan for leading and to the back markers. 

If anyone.fancies leading an all day ride in 2023 let me or Paul know

Tony

Beddington Park to Elmers End, 17 September

By Paul

The usual crowd gathered at the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park on Saturday in perfect cycling weather, ready for a pleasant, easy ride somewhere of Colin's choosing.  Matthew was otherwise engaged in the Park because it was Thomas' third birthday and he was having an open air party; we went over and wished him a happy one.

We were joined by Neil, fresh from his adventures with B Group on Wednesday for his first Beginners ride, and Ray.  I say a destination of Colin's choosing but when Colin chose Blossom's, just up the road, there was general consensus that that would be a little too easy, so we mulled around the alternatives.  I think it was Ken who came up with Elmers End.

The traffic was lighter than usual through Croydon and for the last few hundred yards at Elmers End, where it can be busy; the rest was the usual urban roads and parkland both rough and manicured.  The cakes were wonderful, the company was easy going, the pace was such that nobody could pull a muscle and hopefully we will see Neil again, maybe at Nonsuch, too.

Somewhere in Woodside, Shirley

Karen's All Day Ride to Newdigate, 10 September

Karen writes.....

We were blessed with good weather for the all day ride to Newdigate.  Helen led the first group, comprising Anna, Roger, Ken, Diane, Steve and Tony. Paul and Maggie caught up with the group en route to elevenses, having been delayed by a puncture.

The second group, led by Karen, comprised Dawn, Ed, Alice, Margaret, Matthew, Thomas, Maureen and Sue (official photographer).

The traffic in the Epsom Downs area was heavier than when we conducted the recce.  Nonetheless, we enjoyed a smooth journey to Walton on the Hill, mainly thanks to efficient corner-marking.

Rob and Ruth joined Karen’s group at elevenses, bringing the total number to 20.  Thomas was joined by a friend called Rex.  However, he was somewhat “green about the gills” for the duration of the ride, so it’s unlikely he’ll be signing up again anytime soon.

Karen's group in need of help after hill climbing?

Karen’s group, ably back marked by Maureen, maintained a steady pace towards Leigh.  We paused briefly to attend to what was considered to be a slow puncture on Maureen’s bike.  However, within a few miles it was apparent that a more permanent remedy was necessary.  We weren’t far from the lunch venue so it was agreed that the group should split whilst Maureen’s inner tube was changed.  (I understand it was a joint effort involving Rob, Matthew and Ed!)

Helen’s group were already tucking in to their lunch when we arrived at the Surrey Oaks.  Our staggered arrival had some benefit – lunch orders were taken and served with military efficiency.

Following lunch, we made good headway towards Leatherhead, no doubt already wondering whether to have carrot cake or a scone at Amici’s.  However, we were hindered by another puncture on the approach to Brockham.  Matthew, ably assisted by Thomas, came to Maureen’s rescue again.  When we reached Amici’s, Helen’s group was preparing to leave; not before informing us of a broken chain which Steve had the capability (and tools?!) to repair.  

Some went their separate ways at Leatherhead and the remaining few managed to return to Cheam without further incident (unless someone knows otherwise!)

Thanks to all for a lovely day, with particular thanks to those who assisted with the cycle repairs.

Helen writes.....

Early in our ride we nearly went astray, when I led us into  Beech Walk cul de sac at the bottom of Reigate Road, instead of Ewell Downs Road and the Green.

Epsom Down was soon overcome, then my phone dropped from my unzipped bag, at the very bottom of Kingswood Road, delaying the upward climb to Tadworth! No damage or losses except the Strava recording of the first half of our route... At this point, Paul and Maggie caught us up, departure from home having been delayed by a basement flood (blocked drain) and a flat tyre (could not get the wheel off, rushed to Wallington Cycles).

The rest of the morning ride went smoothly.

We enjoyed our coffee at Walton, and Pebble Hill was fun. The views towards Box Hill from Kiln Lane are always beautiful, and we enjoyed the peaceful and pretty lanes from Brockham to lunch. Service and food were good at the Surrey Oaks, and we set off for home soon after 2 pm.

Repairing a puncture?  Child's play compared with...........

.....mending a broken chain!

Just after Henfold, as we turned into Red Lane, my chain broke! Praise be to Tony, who had a spare chain link, and Steve, with his multi-tool, which included a chainbreak kit. Thanks to their skills we were all back on the road in 15 minutes or so, and enjoying the lovely afternoon route to Amici in Leatherhead for tea.

All of us thoroughly enjoyed our day. Many thanks Karen for planning it, Tony for back marking and to all for a relaxed and fun social ride.

What CTC South West London does best!

 

Cycling legends in Nottinghamshire; a missive from Ian Prince

Ian writes

After a mad fortnight first riding my ICE VTX recumbent in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, then going to Belfast and London (not cycling or for the obvious Royal events), I am at Harworth in North Nottinghamshire today and riding the Tom Simpson memorial ride tomorrow.

The afternoon today has been all about TdF 1967 rider Tom Simpson (from Harworth obviously) with classic films and news reels from the 1960s, with his daughter Joanne doing an interview but more than that with Team Sky riders interviews plus Barry & Helen Hoban being present, there was also cycling royalty from Audax and her 1982 World Champion racing days….Mandy Jones.

Mandy Jones being interviewed

One of her bikes

We used to do Audax’s from Rochdale when I lived in Manchester just because Mandy was there or organising. Still little changed and immediately recognisable despite the forty intervening years since her World Championship win at Goodwood. I went and chatted to her but what do you say to your absolute heros?

Anyway, she is riding tomorrow but as in the old days she will no doubt leave me as “lantern rouge” as she used to from Rochdale.

See you all again, probably on the Brompton on a Saturday afternoon at Nonsuch.