It was a lovely, sunny morning but rather cold.   Bob, Simon, Keith, Brian, Ed, Terry, Richard and I met for elevenses at The Vineries Garden Centre.   It was going on 11.30 when those of us who were continuing the ride (Simon, Terry, Keith, Brian and I) managed to drag ourselves back into the cold, so we took a shortish route to Guildford, although still managing to ride a few quieter roads we haven't used of late,  and to take in an extemporised round tour of the town.

Brian had left us before lunch, so, after leaving Wetherspoons, it was just Simon, Terry, Keith and I who headed for Ripley, pausing en route to puzzle over the tank traps still guarding London Road station.

Thanks all for your company.

Information for 30 January and 6 February 2022 (now corrected)!

30 January - Elevenses meet at Vineries Garden Centre, Effingham as published.   Lunch at Guildford - The Rodboro' Buildings, The Kings Head or Stoke Park Kiosk, to be decided on the day.

6 February - Elevenses meet now changed to The Pheasantry, Bushy Park, followed by a tour of west London parks led by Graham.

Ride London May 29 2022

A message was left on my house phone. Lords Taverners have ten spaces for the above.
If interested ring/email or whatever me and I'll provide a contact number.

 

Ride report - Sunday 23 Jan

A select group of the Staines & Windsor subsection of the Cheam & Morden section were out today.    Pam, David, Tony, Graham and myself met at The George, Staines for unlimited elevenses and chat.  Many important topics were discussed at some length before eventually we couldn't put it off any longer and it was time to go outside into the rather cold, damp and grey morning.   Pam had forgotten to bring her bike so she was unable to ride with us, leaving four who ventured as far as, you've guessed it, Windsor, using a well-known route via Datchet, but with a little wild flourish at the end for variety.

Joyful cyclists at Cinnamon Cafe, with heaters and glove warmers

We were lucky to bag one of the tables under the heaters at Cinnamon Cafe, and we watched the other cyclists come and go, with a certain amount of bike envy (and possibly age envy too).   As we left, we realised that sitting under the heaters may not have been such a great idea, as the cold damp weather seemed more pronounced, although the temperature never varied from 5 degrees all day.   Graham left us after lunch, David peeled off near Chertsey (which was quite a sight, I can assure you!), and the two remnants returned towards Shepperton for tea with a Nauticalia theme.

26 miles from elevenses to tea: a short ride for a short day, but with good company, good grub and good conversation.   Thank you all for your company.

Ride Report - Sunday 16 January 2022

 

There were so many at elevenses at Stoke d'Abernon today I can barely remember all their names - Bob, Tony, David and Jennie J, Simon, Keith, Ed, Maureen, Lillian, Terry, Graham, Brian G, Carolyn and me spring to mind but I may have missed a few!    It wasn't a very nice morning and, once we finally managed to drag ourselves away from the comfort of Squires, Tony, David and Jennie, Simon, Graham, Terry, Lilian and me decided to limit our ambitions and head the relatively short distance to Epsom.  The best way I can describe our route is fairly direct but slightly roundabout,  just roundabout enough, I hope, to be able to convince ourselves we had had a bit of a ride!    David and Jennie retired at Leatherhead with puncture problems, and Maureen, Ed and Bob also rode to Epsom but by direct routes which definitely weren't roundabout, but they may still be convinced they had a bit of a ride too!

Wetherspoons at Epsom wasn't too crowded at all and we lingered over lunch.   By the time we left, sunshine had miraculously appeared.   Graham, Tony, Simon and headed off towards Hampton Court, the rest making their own ways home.

Thanks all for your company and thanks to Simon for back-marking.

Plans for Sunday 16 January 2022

Elevenses will be at Squires Garden Centre, Stoke d'Abernon, as advertised.     Our lunch stop could be changed  from Woking to Epsom or Leatherhead to suit.   We'll discuss on Sunday.

Sunday January 9 2022

 Although innocent Dave decided to isolate following Wednesday's A ride Covid positive so we five arrived at Bourne Valley without a leader!

Saturday's heavy rain ruled out most offroad antics so I strung together: Byfleet (E8 letterbox), Woking, Horsell, Penny Pot ford (no takers!), West End and Windlesham (via Rye Grove) arriving before one. One hour later we now four (Terry having departed in Byfleet) rode past Surrey Cricketers,  Brickmakers, Four Horseshoes, and Red Lion, most with a sprinkling of hardy outdoor "diners". Pam turned for home in Addlestone where there was time (just) for mugs of tea in The Golden Cafe (cash only). Around 20 miles (and 25 miles from/to home) .

PS Riders with time on their hands might wish to check out the teastop potential of the Big Smoke Brewery (KT10 8BL) and Carly's Cafe (KT15 1DE). 

 
 

Plans for Sunday 9 January 2022

Elevenses remains as published at Bourne Valley Garden Centre, Woodham, and lunch at Windlesham (either at The Sun or Fieldhouse Coffee shop, as preferred).

Ride Report - Sunday 2 January 2022

 

Our first elevenses of 2022 was at Wetherspoons, Leatherhead.   The plan had been to sit outside and it was mild enough and dry enough, but rather breezy and, as it turned out to be very quiet inside, we opted for that.    Bob went home from elevenses, and Keith left us on the way to lunch, then Terry, but Graham, Simon, Pam, Mark, Sue C and I struggled on into the teeth of the wind through Great Bookham and Effingham, before taking a rather neat route of Graham's through private roads to Horsley, where we picked up our favourite railway path west, then veered north to Ripley.

Pinnocks proved to be an excellent stop for lunch.   A table with a cover was free outside, there was a good choice of light lunch options, and there was hardly any queue.    The cloud became increasingly threatening as we lunched, so we hastened for home hoping to dodge the promised rain.   I didn't quite make it but didn't get too wet - I hope everyone else fared better!

Thanks to Graham for back-marking and for route suggestions, to Pam for the photos, and to everyone else for your company!

Plans for Sunday 2 January 2022

Happy New Year!

Our elevenses meet on Sunday will be at Leatherhead as published.  The weather forecast suggests it will be mild enough and dry enough to sit outside at The Edmund Tylney (and order with the Wetherspoons app if you have it).   Failing this there is the Caffe Capital nearby, or, if closed, Costa Coffee, also nearby in The Swan Centre, which has outside tables too.

Lunch will provisionally be at Ripley (perhaps Luff's Farm Shop?), but bring your own food if you prefer, but subject to change if a better suggestion is made!!!