Report for the 2-o-clock ride on 9 August

 

From Stuart Allen

Report for 14:00 ride on 09/08/25

I was unable to go on the All Day ride today due to family commitments but I was able to go on the 14:00 ride. I suspected that it could be a leisurely ride so I opted to take the heaviest of my four bikes. When I got to the Mansion House in Nonsuch Park, there were a few cyclists there already including Sue, who I had bumped into earlier in the week in Worcester Park. She told us that since she and I met, she’d lost the sight in her right eye! Her vision had returned a little but it was blurry and she was due to have an operation on Monday to improve things. There was also a lady there called Jenny. She was from a CTC group in the South West and was visiting relatives in Mitcham. She sussed out our group and came along for a ride.  Alas, her chain had broken and we were unable to fix it. She may ride with us in the future. 

Youngsters ready to depart Nonsuch on the shorter ride

I offered to lead the ride and asked if there were any preferences for the destination. The consensus seemed to be Eight on the River at East Molesey, as we know a fairly flat course. Five of us set off out of Nonsuch Park but by the time we got to the Sparrow Farm Road exit, there was already consternation about the state of the path, which is lethal for cyclists in a few places. They've recently "improved" the path and it’s mostly OK but there are about three stretches where the shale has not been compacted and your wheels slip about all over the place. On behalf of CTC, I am going to report it to Hannah, who is a local councillor at Epsom and Ewell Council and lives in my road, to see if we can get it fixed. (I’ve got form having recently got double yellow lines extended by Sutton Council at a junction near where I live where there have been two accidents.)

Anyway, we continued our ride and I was right about the pace being leisurely. As we know, the speed we go at is dictated by the slowest rider in the group. Before we got to Worcester Park we’d lost our backmarker who'd decided to go his own way. Then there were four. I decided to forgo a backmarker and just kept an eye on the back of the group. I made my way to a cycle path that runs alongside the Kingston to Raynes Park railway, a lovely path free of traffic. We turned off just before the A3 and rode along the A3 slip road to the Robin Hood Gate of Richmond Park. Straight on and out through Ham Gate, then over Teddington Bridge. I’d decided to ask the group whether we still wanted to go to Eight or alternatively, The Pheasantry in Bushey Park or the Flying Cloud, just next door to where we stopped. We were worried that Eight would close at 16:00 and, as it was then about 15:30, we decided to go to the Flying Cloud. Grant, who will be 89 shortly but was by no means the slowest in the group on his “classic” bike, kept us amused by showing us pictures his father had taken of the previous Teddington Bridge in the 1920s! He has numerous bikes, the oldest being built in 1951, the year I was born!

We continued back on the “usual” route through Bushey Park, Hampton Court, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, up Ditton Hill, Tolworth, Old Malden, Worcester Park and back to Nonsuch Park. I told the group in Bushey that I was going to give it some welly and that I’d see them at the exit of the park. I rode hard and got round the big roundabout near the exit and only one got to the exit before me. By the end, it was about 17:30. An enjoyable ride in lovely weather.

Tales from the Riverbank; Nonsuch short ride 2 August

 

By Steve H.

 

With the long ride going to Stoke D’Abernon on Saturday afternoon, the Famous Five of Phillip, John, Sue, Karen and myself leading set off for a riparian adventure along the Wandle Trail. We left Nonsuch under rather gloomy skies and made our way through Cheam past the Red Lion pub (no stopping!) to cross the A217 dual carriageway, mercifully clear in both directions for once. Thence along the bottom of Sutton to view the scenic bus garage, across Angel Hill at the traffic lights and up past All Saints Church, Benhilton. A campanologist friend tells me that this church contains one of the few rings of bells in the neighbourhood, a peal of eight at which he has done the honours on occasions.

From there along All Saints Road with me trying to remember which of the four left hand turnings was the right one, Wood something or other. Ah yes, with Woodend duly selected we carried on up to Grenell Road and onto the path across Rosehill Park East. I understand that this was one of the first bike paths created in the borough and the open space gives a good view to the south-west. This leads to St Helier Hospital where we crossed over to Robertsbridge Road which represents ‘top of climb’. The odd thing is that the route then leads you slightly downhill to Poulter Park and the River Wandle, it always feels to me as though the river is too high up at this point and that we haven’t descended enough.

The River Wandle used to be an industrial sewer with all the factories and dye works along its banks but with the demise of such activities and a general clean-up it now resembles a clear chalk stream in places. People fish along it these days, we passed one chap trying his luck although we didn’t enquire whether he had caught anything.

The ride took us along the river heading towards Hackbridge where the path runs through the beautiful Community Garden; a kind lady took a group photograph of us there among the flowers and ornaments.

In Claudio Funari's Community Garden

Following the river upstream brought us to Carshalton Grove and the outdoor Sassis café where we ran into Paul and Maggie, metaphorically speaking. They were with their grandchildren, the lure of ice cream and mini golf had obviously proved irresistible, to the kids of course.

Another ride leader photobombs

Suitably refreshed, we left Paul and his grandson competing for the Augusta Green Jacket while we crossed Carshalton High Street to make our way back towards Cheam, taking on the climb up Wales Avenue with myself leading gallantly from the back (way back…).

Sue and I were the last survivors when we reached the Mansion, ironically in warm sunshine, but a good time was had by all with lashings of tea and cake into the bargain.

All-Day Ride 9th August

From Steph Sat 9th Aug - all day ride leaving Nonesuch at 9.30. Coffee at Walton on the Hill Lunch/picnic at Rykas PM through the vineyards and across the top of Ranmore to descend to Cafe Barbara for tea. Return to Nonesuch via Esher and Thames Ditton/Berrylands. All welcome please PM me if you wish to come. Thanks Sue B and Dawn, got you 🚴🏼‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️ Steph 07909 774234

Easy Ride to The Horton; from Nonsuch Park 26 July

by Roger P

On a warm Saturday afternoon that had a threat of rain about it, there was the usual melee around the Mansion as friends met and chatted, querying – “where do we go today”. While those who had read the list suggested the long ride go to Wimbledon Park or Nork and Banstead. Neither of these held any charm for me so I was relieved when “The Horton” was suggested as a short ride.

I had driven to a concert at The Horton last year and realised it was very easy to get to from  Horton Lane, but I considered there must be a more interesting route avoiding fast main roads, so a few weeks earlier,  I had  dredged my memory to piece together a route from scraps of remembered rides and set out to explore an offroad  route and quiet streets that would take us somewhere near “The Horton”. 

We did in the end find it after much exploring of dead end streets and crescents and closes and rewarded ourselves with a coffee and cake. More importantly we had recorded our confused wanderings on” Bee Line”, in the hope we could at least use it next time to plot a route through the housing estates.

Now, eleven intrepid explorers, including one or two brave souls who had survived the previous attempt to find The Horton, decided to risk coming with me. We exited Nonsuch onto the A24 and turning right at Bourne Hall carried on up over the railway line and on to Chessington Rd.  I remembered that the key to finding the entry to the bike track through Chessington Road Recreation Ground was to look for the pedestrian crossing immediately before it, and sure enough just past it on the left was  a  close marked Bakers Field and alongside it the path that eventually, after crossing Hook Road, the track develops into a shared bike and pedestrian pavement alongside Chantilly way.

Cycling alongside Chantilly way, the left turn to Longrove Road can easily be missed, but this short road leads directly to the roundabout at the entrance of Longrove Park.  The path divides soon after entry.  We took the left fork onto the designated bike route around the edge of the park which had the advantage of being well away from the skate park and playground and associated pedestrians and dogs.

The route exits the park via the gate at the far end and continues alongside the site of what was once the mental hospital complex now replaced and repurposed by new housing developments.  What is visible today is only a small part of what had been a place where tens of thousands of patients lived out, all too often, their whole lives.

 As the long stay mental hospitals were phased out in the 1980’s many of the  buildings  were demolished and their extensive grounds were sold off for development and became a golf course,  parks and open spaces interspersed with a mix of  substantial hospital accommodation redeveloped into high quality apartments and housing  with low rise housing packed into in a mix of crescents and closes all looking remarkably similar and linked by service roads and roundabouts.

The cycle track from the park passes the Abbots Avenue playground, ending at one of the many roundabouts. We paused here to consider our next move. Instinct and previous attempts to work out the location of The Horton indicated that it was to our right and slightly behind us.

We decided to defer to technology and” Bee Line” was consulted which confirmed the general direction of the target, so we turned into Cavell Way looking for a road through the estate that would take us to Horton Lane.  After only one dead end we did find a way through to Abbots Avenue once more and soon after had sight of the roundabout by Horton Crescent. As we drew nearer signage pointed us to Haven Way and the fenced compound containing the repurposed chapel that is “The Horton”.      We entered the compound and secured the bikes at the newly installed cycle racks there.

Those who had never visited “The Horton” were captivated by its transformation from what had been the main place of worship for the massive hospital complex into a café, display space and performance area.  

The café does good coffee cakes and even hot meals and customers can make use of the superb facilities or sit at a café table and admire the sensitivity the buildings preservation and the simplicity of its sympathetic transformation complete with original organ pipes, pulpit and tiled floor.

We sat outside where it was cooler and enjoyed coffee and cakes while one or two of us popped back indoors to read the information panels about the history of the one time mental hospital complex and learn about the patients and why so many mental health colonies were created around Epsom and Chessington.

Taken by Paul

The return ride was both quick and easy. Turning right out of The Horton’s car park we retraced our steps to Abbot’s Road and entered the cycle track at Horton Lane. There followed an easy downhill ride down to the Hook Road roundabout. We took advantage of the pedestrian controlled crossing to get to the cycle track alongside Hook Road until it intercepted the track from Chessington Recreation field. We turned into the track and retraced our route to the exit marked” Bakers Field” at Chessington Road and retraced our route back to Nonsuch via Spring Street and the A24.

 A comfortable and easy short ride of not quite ten miles.

The Great Escape; Cretaceous Park Beginners to Elmers End 19 July.

Over fifty years ago, when we were first married, Maggie and I used to live on Crystal Palace Park Road and I wrote to the council then that the security arrangements at Crystal Palace Park were completely inadequate for the beasts kept there.  They seemed to think I was some kind of fruitcake when I told them their so-called-extinct Dinosaurs were playing possum and you could see by the fact that they were millimetres out of the previous day's position that they became active at night and those puny fences would never keep them out should they get adventurous.  Even the Raving Loony Party candidate of the time would not give me the time of day.  

Well, the councillors have moved on, the Raving Loony Party would no longer be PC, and Maggie and I moved away a while ago.  But when you have been living nocturnally one hundred and fifty thousand times longer than Dracula, fifty years is not even an instant, and this week my apocalyptic prediction has materialised.  The dinosaurs have escaped.  The horror can be seen on Anna's face as she fails to differentiate between a herbivorous monster and a carnivorous one.  Anyway, she might be right.  It's a little-known fact that Stegosaurus killed as many humans as did Tyrannosaurus.

We could not get out of Cretaceous Park fast enough, Dominika, Maggie, Anna, Roger and me.

It's behind you, it's behind you

It had been throwing it down most of the morning but we had a dry run in reasonably pleasant though increasingly muggy weather, using the Greenwich route of last week to get to Elmers End, and the Addiscombe Park and Lloyd Park route to get back.  No monsters in those places.

A modest, enjoyable ride.

But steer clear of Beddington; the fences there are no better than those at Crystal Palace.

The Greenwich Concerto. All Day Ride 12 July 2025

This year’s Greenwich Ride was conducted in a heatwave though in the morning especially there was a deceptively refreshing breeze.  We had a few last minute drop-outs (Frank, get well soon after your spill) but a couple of late joiners, too.  There was plenty going on elsewhere (a Way of the Roses ride just starting, a Guernsey trip just ended) and some were put off by the heat forecast, but we had a turnout of sixteen riders and rode in three groups.

Group 1 leader Julie writes

The first group set off promptly from Beddington Park in an attempt to get ahead of the intense heat of the day. In my group was Linda, Sue B, Rob, and Stuart who was my back marker. Ayla cafe was delightful as was the lunch stop at the floral Dog and Bell in Deptford. Linda enjoyed the nostalgic ride through Wandsworth passing her childhood school and tennis club. Everyone enjoyed the ride despite the heat. Linda and I were the last ones standing as we stopped for tea at MED cafe in Merton Abbey Mill before heading for home and a cool shower

Group 2 leader Tim writes

Mad dogs and Englishmen (and CTC cyclists) go out in the midday sun !

The recent heatwave and forecast of further high temperatures did nothing to deter a good number of eager enthusiasts to gather at Beddington Park to start today’s adventure to Greenwich.  

My group consisting of Ian, Sharon, Jackie, Alyson and back-marker Andy headed out towards the metropolis of Croydon then out on calmer treks through suburban streets and green spaces to our first pitstop of the day at Ayla cafe in Kent House. Suitably refreshed we headed out via Catford and Lewisham then made our ascent to Blackheath and across to Greenwich Park to admire the clear and spectacular view of the city across the river. There was quite a carnival atmosphere amid craft stalls and live music.  

After a few customary photos we headed down to Greenwich to admire the Cutty Sark by the riverside. Following the river we soon reached our lunchtime stop at the ‘Dog and Bell’ at Deptford. Good food was promptly served as we sat outside surrounded by an impressive floral display. 

Our afternoon ride took us further along the river and parkland at Rotherhithe then Bermondsey, London Bridge and a very crowded Borough Market. At this stage Ian peeled off to make his own way home by train and the group became temporarily split. Soon reunited we continued along the Southbank, across Westminster Bridge and through Parliament Square to follow a well marked cycle path to Battersea Bridge and into the park.  The shade of the trees and relaxed atmosphere made for a good opportunity to rest and recharge our batteries. The final leg took us via Clapham, Wandsworth and Earlsfield where we picked up and followed the river Wandle to our final destination at Merton Abbey Mills. 

Thanks to everyone who made today’s ride a success and enjoyable experience both in planning and execution. It’s always a pleasure to lead a ride with cyclists who are keen, enthusiastic and good company. A good day had by all !

Group leader Paul writes

The Annual Greenwich Concerto is in five movements.  For my quintet, bringing up the rear with Paul G, Justine, Ken and Maggie, the first movement from Beddington to Kent House, was Allegro Moderato, though apparently not quite moderato enough, because we caught Tim’s sextet, riding  Adagietto, at Kent House Station.

The traditional coffee stop there was closed but this had become obvious during the recces so I had arranged with Ayla on Kent House Road, to ship in some more cakes.  Vitally and unlike our old haunt, Ayla is in the shade in late morning, and Violeta worked her socks off and succeeded in serving us quickly.

The second movement, The Ravensbourne, is Adagio, and majestic on a sunny summer’s day.  The easy cadence sets you up perfectly for Simon’s cadenza through Lewisham and then the closing crescendo up to Blackheath, and the magnificence of its concluding cabaletta.  As Wordsworth wrote from a different vantage point two and a quarter centuries ago, Earth has not anything to show more fair than the view that General Wolfe, the hero of Quebec, now gazes upon in perpetuity.  The music festival there on Saturday did nothing to detract.

The Third movement, really nothing more than an Intermezzo in brisk Vivace, takes you past St Alphege (where Wolfe is buried) and the Cutty Sark and Peter (Little Head) the Great to the Dog and Bell in Deptford, one of the great pubs.  On a good day with kitchen-produced food and decently-priced ale some would say the D&B is the sixth movement of the concerto.  Jackie’s cheeseboard was a wonder.  I am no Wordsworth and will let the flowers speak through Sue’s camera.  We lingered, partly because Tim and his sextet would have lingered until nightfall had I not caught his eye with a bit of signalling and they were supposed to be ten minutes in front of us.

Andy doesn't get his thumb in his photos!

A wondrous cheeseboard

"........and another thing about the Brompton."

The fourth movement  is in three parts, the balletic dance through the shaded gardens that were once Canada and Russia Docks, the Vivacissimo along the river to Battersea, and these two separated by the chaotic homage to Stockhausen that is cycling through Borough Market on a summer Saturday.  So difficult to play that the sextet broke up and we came across their remnants busking in Southwark.  Tim appeared to be phoning his agent.

In many ways, after such inspiration, the final movement, the fifth, can turn into a bit of a plodding deciso, but the finale is rescued by the peaceful diminuendo of the Wandle Trail.

Well played, my quintet; thanks for back marking, Maggie.  A satisfying pleasure to have performed with you all.

And special thanks to Julie and Tim for giving up the time for recces and leading.

All Day Ride to Greenwich, order of play

 Here are the groups for Saturday's ride.

The forecast temperatures are high, though there will allegedly be a north easterly breeze. 

Please cover yourself in sun cream, bring plenty of water as well as a spare inner tube, cover your head and remember all day to wait in the shade, not in the sun.

Because of the heat we are not returning through Camberwell and Brixton, but along the river.  Much of the morning route, and all three victualing stops, are in shade.  Leaders please stop for drinks breaks.

If anyone is overheating, there is an opportunity to get a train home from London Bridge (three quarters of an hour after lunch), Blackfriars, or Waterloo.  Just tell your leader and they can point out the stations, which are very close to the route.

Tim Gibbons will leave North Cheam crossroads at 9.15 promptly to lead those meeting there to Beddington Park.  Lorraine, Stuart and Dawn have each told me they will start from Cheam but you don't need a ticket, Tim will lead anybody who has gathered and wants to be on the ride.

My understanding is that everyone else is making their own way to Beddington Park Pavilion Cafe from where the ride departs.

Coffee will be at Ayla on Kent House Road (about 1 hour).  Lunch at the Dog and Bell in Deptford (a further 1.5 hours including a stop at the Greenwich Observatory).  Tea at the hut in Battersea Park (1.5 hours after leaving lunch).  Those that need should also be able to get a drink at MED in Merton Abbey Mills, the finish (a final 1 hour), before going home.

Group 1 led by Julie 07803 005516, depart 10am

Bernadette (joining en route)

Linda

Sue B

Rob

Group 2 led by Tim G 07756 961505, departing at +10mins

Ian P

Andy C

Sharon

Jackie

Lorraine

Group 3 led by Paul J 07718 753234, departing at +20 mins

Maggie

Ken

Stuart

Alyson

provisional Dawn + Kirsten

The route is here.

Greenwich Ride 2025 final route 33.1 mi, +957 ft. Bike ride in London, England

Thanks everyone; see you tomorrow

Paul & Maggie