Sunday 23 April - ride to Iver

Fifteen cyclists met at Upper Halliford, including Bill and Margaret Squirrel, Lilian, Maureen and Bob who were not able to join us for the ride, leaving ten intrepid riders to head for the Malt Shovel near Iver.   Only eighteen miles to lunch but following the Thames path from Chertsey to nearly Staines, and then the track by the M25 across Stanwell Moor (with planes roaring overhead - the joys of the countryside!).   David Ward departed at this point, and we then followed a more conventional route from Colnbrook to Iver village before a detour onto NCN 61 for a bit more off-road, rather too exciting with sandy/gravelly patches and a few young nettles to liven things up.   We sat outside by the canal to eat lunch while Irene and Tony went to try the tea room by the lock.

Return journey included the lovely Old Mill Lane and a bit of canal towpath before rejoining the traffic at West Drayton, heading south to Harlington and then directly east to re-join the canal at the top of the Hanwell locks, and descending to Brentford and Syon Park.   Thank you to Tony for back marking and keeping us all together, and to everyone for your company.  An enjoyable day out.

Easter Tour 2017

Enormous thanks as ever to Ann & Steve for all the hard work in planning and organising yet another very successful Easter Tour to Falfield near Bristol including a ride over the Severn Bridge and up to Tintern Abbey. In all I did 361 extremely hard and cruel miles for me. I rode my Van Nic for the first time in full touring mode with panniers only to find that some of the hills were just too severe for an old and rather declining man (also not in good Nic!). The gears were not low enough and I will have to lower for my next tour (Birthday Rides). I hope I can manage the IOW Randonee next weekend. Hope to see you on that Graham Holder.
Congratulations also to Simon L on his first Easter tour he seemed to really enjoy it and with the help of Neil's OS map plotted a homeward rout on his Garmin to bring us home from Streetly YHA on Tuesday through country lanes, some rough stuff and along the Thames Tow Path for much of the way, eventually back via Virginia Water and Ascot race course then Walton Bridge, Esher and Claygate for me, 60 miles on the day.

Some photo's of the tour.

Above Good Friday on the Ridgeway.

Below Peter Southworth and Simon having fun

Below Severn Bridge

 

Sunday April 16 2017

Sunday dawned sunny but with a biting wind which plagued us all day.  Eight members gathered at Polesden Lacey for elevenses and five hardy souls continued to Godalming. The ride to lunch took us along five off road sections including a long section of the North Downs Way.   Given the recent dry spell, there was no problem with mud and our road bikes coped admirably, although Keith was taking no chances on his mountain bike!   The ascent of Shere Road was slipped in to give a bit of relief from all the rough stuff!

Lunch was served with the usual efficiency at Godalming Wetherspoons and we then set off  via Mount Browne and the towpath to the Wooden Horse, eventually ending up at Ripley for tea after a quirky route to Jacobs Well and the A3 path.   With another two off road sections from lunch to tea and the two I also rode to 11's and from tea, that makes nine in one club ride (including two sewage works paths). Is this a record?

Easter Sunday (16/04/17)

Please note:

 

11s is the Granary Restaurant  (not Cowshed Cafe near entrance) at Polesden Lacey. Prompt departure at 11.00 am.

 

The ride includes five off-road sections, unsurfaced but in good nick; any mud can be avoided.  There are a couple of moderate climbs before and after lunch.

 

Dave

Sunday the 9th April

Windlesham for Lunch.

What a glorious sunny day. 11‘s at Saville garden (with the new re-vamped interior (reflected in the price)) saw a good crowd of Simon, Chris, Bob, Pam, Irene, Alan, Jeff, Vic, Lillian, Graham, Ed and Terry. We left on time and headed down Crimp hill to Datchet and onto Windsor riverside and Vansittart road and into Windsor G P at Windsor cemetery. We stopped for a photo at the Queens Jubilee statue and then out of Rangers gate to Ascot, South Ascot and to lunch at the Sun pub Windlesham.

Lunch in the garden and nice to feel the warmth of the Sun. A longish relaxed lunch and then off on the Chertsey road before an off road stint and then under the M3. Through to Burrowhill and Stonehill, Chertsey, at which point several headed their own way home, and along Thames Side to tea at Notcutts at Laleham. Again a long relaxed tea in the sun before reluctantly headed home. A great days cycling with a great crowd.

Tony..

Sunday April 2 2017

I wasn't sure if there would be any takers at all for Sunday's ride but was very pleased to be greeted by Graham, Paul and  Rachel  at Oaks Park.   We took a relatively easy but pleasant route via Purley and Marden Park to Oxted (a mere 28 miles for me) and the cool, cloudy conditions fortunately soon gave way to warm sunshine!   

At Oxted we found several other members had made their own way to 11's, and others continued to trickle in until, eventually, after a small delay over Richard's slice of cheesecake, twelve of us rode off towards lunch.  The main group travelled via  Broadham Green, Crowhurst Lane End, Blindley Heath and Smallfield with some very pleasant lanes included.  We suffered the ignominy of twice seeing Bob, riding alone and to a slightly different route, streak ahead of us at junctions!

The service at Wetherspoons at Horley was friendly and efficient and there were no delays in setting off homewards via Lonesome Lane and Brockham.   At Denbies there was a parting of the ways with different tea factions going different ways, but I think we all enjoyed the ride, and especially, the weather!  Well ridden all!

Ride update

Please Note: This coming Sundays rides lunch venue has changed to the Sun pub at Windlesham.

Tony..

Sunday the 9th

Please note that this Sundays ride lunch venue has changed and is now the Sun pub at Windlesham. Tony..