Ride Report - Sunday 27 February 2022

 

A fine morning with a cloudless sky saw Bob, Simon, Tony, Lilian, Ed, Pam, Liz, Graham, Gemma, Richard and I meet for elevenses at Bourne Valley Garden Centre.

All but Gemma, Richard, Bob and Tony set off for lunch via Sheerwater, Horsell, and West End, taking in Pennypot ford on the way.   To my surprise, no one else seemed prepared to join me in 'sampling the waters' although I did helpfully suggest they could take off their shoes and socks like the midweek 'A' group riders who had negotiated the Landsend ford at Charvil in this fashion!

We had a very friendly welcome at the ever-dependable Sun at Windlesham, always a good choice, and the weather was so pleasant that we were able to have our lunches outside on the terrace.

Eventually it was time to drag ourselves away for a straightforward but pleasant ride to the tea stop at Walton Bridge.  Thanks all for your company and to Graham and Simon for back-marking.

Cheam and Morden Sunday the 20th

Not really a day to be on the bike, nevertheless 4 met at Weatherspoons, Leatherhead, Terry, Dave, Simon and Bob, but then called it a day.

3 others, Pam, Liz and Tony took the easy option and met at Nauticailia, Shepperton Lock, much nearer home, (no photo) and also called it a day.

 

Tony..

Sunday the 13th

The weather forecast was dire, wind, rain, pestilence, well maybe not the last one but we were close.(Covid)

11's at Nauticaliar and a good turnout. Dave, Graham, Pam, Terry,  Ed, Lillian and me, the day's leader. Simon had left home to come but I  think the wind had taken him elsewhere and he ended up at the Pheasantry?

No one was eager to leave as the weather onslaught hadn't yet started, well the wind had and was felt on my ride there. We lingered,  eventually Dave, Terry and Graham headed off for home. 

I decided that our advertised lunch destination would have a tailwind going but a headwind and rain coming back. So a compromise was agreed and we headed to the Harrow pub at Charlton for lunch, all of 2 miles distant.

 

 

The Harrow Pub with Black clouds looming

So, Pam, Ed, Lillian and myself enjoyed a warm lunch in the cosy surroundings of the Harrow at Charlton, very few people were there so service was quick. Again plenty of chatter.

We soon noticed that the rain had started and reluctantly we donned our wet weather gear and headed for home. Pam headed  West for Egham while Ed, Lillian and myself headed East, Luckily the rain wasn't heavy and the wind was a sidewind so did not impair our progress too much. 

 

We parted company at Hampton and I benefited from a tailwind for the last mile and a half home. The day turned out well considering the forecast and gloomy outlook.

 

Tony..

C&M Easter Tour, 15-18 April

Here are details about the Annual Easter Tour, organised by Ann Bath and Steve Gordon.  Wayfarers most welcome!   Currently 47 people are booked, split between road and off-road riders.

We have a hotel booked for this Easter. Staying for 3 nights starting Good Friday 15th till Easter Monday 18th April at the Red Lion Hotel, Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2AN www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/best-western-red-lion-hotel.   Of course this is subject to any unexpected Covid developments, but we are hopeful that it will go ahead after being postponed from 2020.

Organised rides on Saturday and Sunday, around B group pace.

The price is £65 pppn db&b sharing a twin or a double room. £12.50 supplement pppn single and the meal is a 3 course set menu with options.

There is indoor bike storage. Being in central Salisbury, the hotel has limited, chargeable parking (only 6 spaces at £15 per night). There is a public car park nearby at £10/24 hours (Sundays free)

Contact Ann (or any of the many people who've been previously) for further information if you’re interested.

~ Ann

SUNDAY the 13th

 This Sunday, the 13th

11's meeting place is Nauticalia, and the scheduled lunch stop is the White horse Longford. 

I propose to change the lunch destination to Flowerland at Iver, about 30 miles round trip back to Nauticalia.

If the weather, as forecast, is rain then we will shorten the ride as required.

Tony..

Sou'Westers Club Kit Consultation - Tell Us What You Think

 Our current blue and yellow Sou'Westers outfit has been around for quite a while now and has done us good service over the years.   Some like it, some don't, and some members have asked us to consider changing it, so we are consulting you as a member.  What are your views?  Would you pay more in the future or is it already too pricey*?   Do we need our own club kit anyway?

Please tell us what you think by completing a short online survey about Sou'Westers' club kit.

Whatever the outcome, club kit will still remain strictly optional on rides, and, if we do make changes, there will be nothing at all to prevent anyone continuing to wear the present design.

Responses are completely anonymous and we'll share a summary of the results in due course.  The survey will be open until 28 February 2022.

Please note that when you open the survey you may be invited to sign in to Google but you don't need to sign in to Google to do the survey.

Anyone without internet access can get a paper copy of the survey from any committee member to complete anonymously - please help spread the word.

*(Just as a reminder, Sou'Westers current kit costs about £35 for a short-sleeved jersey, £40 for a long-sleeved jersey, and £65 for a heavyweight long-sleeved jersey).

Sou'Westers Committee

Sunday 06/02/2022 - A Tour Of South West London Parkland

When I awoke prospects seemed dismal - heavy rain driven on by near gale force winds. But by nine the rain had stopped and by ten it was time to head for Bushy Park under a hint of sun. Surprisingly there were ten at the Pheasantry including newcomer Mike.

I made two adjustments to the published route, no Duke of Northumberland's River in case of mud and unwittingly fans heading for the Stoop. And there would be no muddy bridleway around Osterley Park.

The Grand Union Canal (Norwood Top Lock) was chosen for the photo shoot followed by history lessons at Windmill Bridge (or Three Bridges - IKB's last project), Hanway locks and Ealing hospital. 

The River Brent and The Fox Hanwell were reached around 1230; the pub was virtually empty. We dined alfresco but under cover with hearty meals for most.

One hour later we departed with the interior now packed. We didn't immediately return to the towpath instead used residential streets and Elthorne Park (or was that Rough?). At Brentford High Street Dave, Ed, Lillian, Mark and Mike cried "Enough". So just five (GFH, Pam, Ray, Simon, Tony) rode past Griffin Park (not a park!), under the M4 and into Gunnersbury Park. South of Acton Town Pam realised we were still headed east so after some discussion Tony led to Chiswick Bridge. Here I turned for the Stag Brewery and the rest continued in a southwesterly direction. From Sheen the wind was fierce across Richmond Park but I was home by 1530 (0 miles - flat battery).

Photos courtesy of Simon. And I haven't mentioned parks we passed but didn't enter! 

Sunday 06.02.22 Ride

I'm not 100% and the weather doesn't suggest a dry start or mudfree journey.

But I'm less than three miles from the start so I will be at the Pheasantry sometime between ten and eleven depending on the rainfall. The route was intended as a Xmas ride so under 30 miles with max elevation of 98ft.

    

Update - Sunday 6 February

As previously advised, our ride on Sunday 6 Feb will now start from The Pheasantry,  Bushy Park and not, as originally published, Twickenham.

The plan is for Graham to lead us on an interesting ride through the parks of west London.

Advance notice - Sunday 13 Feb.   A ride to delight all plane-spotting cyclists!    As published, Tony will lead us from elevenses at Nauticalia, Shepperton to lunch at The White Horse, Longford