Plans for Sunday 3 July 2022

As published, our meeting and elevenses point will be Clandon Park Garden Centre.

Those riding to elevenses will already have covered a moderate distance, so a shortish route is planned to Catteshall Boathouse (aka Hector's Bistro), and back to Guildford (ride back or train back from there as preferred).   Some off-road sections are included but the route https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/113611925 may be adapted to replace the final, 'technical' offroad section before lunch with something still off-tarmac but a little less fiendish!

Train-assisted is possible - the best option is to buy an Anytime return to Guildford but alight at Clandon on the outbound journey.

Ride Report - Sunday 26 June 2022

 

Today's ride should have been our annual train-assisted jaunt to Kent, but the RMT put paid to that!   Never mind, I hope to find another date for the ride from Petts Wood to Cudham before the autumn.

Anyway, instead of The Sovereign of the Seas we met today at The Edmund Tylney.   A Leatherhead elevenses always gets a good turnout (even when it coincides with the Dieppe Raid, seemingly) and today I was joined by no less than Bob, Diane, Keith, Lilian, Ed, Terry (not back on his bike for a few months yet), Graham, Ann, Brian, and Ray.

Six of us (Graham, Ray, Diane, Ed and Lilian) chose to go on to lunch and the route was a straight copy of our Easter Sunday route to The Sportsman, Mogador, giving those who had missed it then a chance to sample its delights!    Today it seemed it easier somehow - the golf course track had dried out and there were no giant puddles or fallen trees to avoid.   The climbs were still as steep but somehow seemed much easier than they had in April!

The Sportsman was not too busy and remains a generally good lunch stop, especially in summer.   Everyone found what they wanted (some too much of it!).   After that it was back across the golf course before a long glide down over Epsom Downs and along Chalk Lane where I veered off homewards.

Thanks to all for your company.

Late Notice of Change to Ride - Sunday 26 June

Owing to the ongoing effects of the rail strike as well as engineering work at Raynes Park, Sunday's ride will now begin at The Edmund Tylney, Leatherhead, lunch stop to be arranged.

Apologies for short notice of this change, but I'm only returned from my holidays yesterday.    

It seems a shame to miss what is now the Cheam and Morden's only annual trip to Kent, so I hope to rearrange the Petts Wood and Cudham ride for later in July or August!

19 June - a trek to Mont Northala

I'm proud to report the success of a brave attempt to scale Mont Northala today, possibly the icing on the Queen's Jubilee cake.

Base Camp was established at The William Webb Ellis, Twickenham, where the advance party of Bob, Tony, Lillian, Simon, Pam and Graham consumed their rations and considered the task ahead.  We were joined by a large number of rugby supporters who were perhaps just there to get C&M ride attendance points, or maybe getting hydrated ready for a different challenge, England vs the Barbarians, kick off at 3pm - vital advance preparation.

Lillian, Chris, Pam, Simon and Graham at the last C&M
attempt to scale Mont Northala, in 1924

Bob and Tony stayed at base camp, while the remainder were joined by Chris for the next stage of the expedition, a very welcome surprise addition to the team.   Crampons were fixed, and we set off into the urban jungle, navigating by following the Grand Union Canal and River Brent to the high ground of Ealing's Bunny Park, where we nearly got lost in the maze but decided not to go in, as we were all taller than the hedges.

After a long, arduous and rough trek we were at the rarefied atmosphere of the A40, where we conquered Marnham Fields and Northala Fields to reach the base of Mont Northala, a beastly, treeless conical mountain of rubble made when the old Wembley football ground was demolished.

Mont Northala

There was only one way up, well, two actually, but the other one was ridiculous.   Pam bravely volunteered to wait in case we never returned, and dreadful news had to be relayed to relatives and the waiting world.   We donned our oxygen masks and started up the spiral slope leading to the top.   We had all forgotten our ice axes, and it was tricky with only slender tyres to give us grip on the rough scree surface, but we all made it.  The views from the top were stupendous.  It was like standing on the top of the world.   Well, the top of Greenford, anyway.   Unfortunately we were all too oxygen-deprived to take any photos.   The descent was nearly as tough.   Chris decided to descend using the ridiculous route, manhandling his bike over sheer drops, but we all arrived at the bottom at the same time.

The triumphant adventurers return

Wild celebrations:  Bandits on Bicycles at the Battle of Britain Bunker

There was only one place suitable for celebrating our magnificent achievement: Uxbridge.   Well, two places.   First, we rode to the Battle of Britain Bunker, and, because we were late for lunch, we then went to the Rusty Bike Cafe, where enormous toasties were consumed by several hungry explorers.   By that time we were also going to be late for tea, so I threw caution to the wind and made up a direct route back to Shepperton, which worked out OK, and we arrived at Nutty Lane, a very appropriate place to end our expedition, just before it closed.    A grand day out in excellent company.

Next Sunday's ride - Twickenham to Uxbridge

Next Sunday we will meet as advertised at Twickenham Wetherspoons,  the William Webb Ellis - and follow an adventurous route to Uxbridge. Our lunch destination will now be The Rusty Bike Cafe in Uxbridge, a nice community cafe with a limited menu, so you might want to bring something with you if you don't fancy their menu.  Quite a bit of off road but much of it is tarmac - nothing too hairy.

Best bike parking at Twickenham is just opposite, outside the police station, but you may not be able to see your bike from inside the pub.

18 miles to lunch, a bit less back to tea at Shepperton.  Not to  missed!

C&M Ride Sunday12-6-22

A small turnout at 11's, Nauticailia, as Bob and Ann had gone to The Old Moat at Horton by mistake. This had changed weeks ago, it pays to read the website rides list which is up to date on any changes, or txt, or phone the ride leader.

The cafe wasn't open I when I arrived as no Barista had appeared yet. It was soon in full swing and busy, Simon and Dave arrived shortly then Keith, Pam and Graham, much chatter and coffee imbibing departure time soon arrived, just as did Ray. Dave left us shortly afterwards, he had done a 70+ mile ride the day before.

There was a bit of a headwind as we set off, through Charlton, Ashford and onto Stanwell Moor, and Colnbrook. Just after crossing the M4, the off-road started a lovely route to Thorney and past Thorney Golf club and onto the hidden road. We were soon at Cowley and onto the last off-road section on the Colne River Trail next to Uxbridge Moor. Then onto a short section of the A4007 up to Uxbridge Moor and then a short ride to lunch at Flowerland GC. At this point Keith headed to make his won way home.

 

Although they were busy service was very quick and the food excellent. We had our lunch in a lovely setting outdoors shaded amongst masses of fauna. Warm and well-fed, but on we must go. Down to Iver, Thorney and across Harmondsworth Moor, Harlington and onto tea at Restaurante Saloio, where we sat in the rear courtyard drinking tea, coffee and beer for some. It again was hard to leave and the chatter was endless. Not long after we left, Graham left us at Hatton Cross and we carried onto Bedfont where Pam headed west for Ashford. 

The last 3 of us headed to Hampton where the trio said farewell, Ray about 100 metres to home, myself, about 4 hundred metres and Simon around 3 miles. Another great day on the bike with like-mind friends.

Tony..

Jubilee Sunday June 6 2022

Just six (GFH, Dave, Ann, Diane, Pam, Tony) arrived at the Sunrise cafe in Upper Halliford and only the first two continued.

The outward journey took us through Charlton, Staines(party in Lammas), Wraysbury (unintended visit to station by leader) Colnbrook and Langley. North of the station we turned onto NCN61 with its hint of country. During an unscheduled stop at the (previously unused?) Langley Park Cafe a retreat was debated. So it was NCN 61 to Iver then familiar ways through Richings Park, etc, etc to Ashford where we went our separate ways.

Jubilee Sunday had started with heavy overnight rain but the ride (if not the roads) was dry. Definitely there was no repeat of  Saturday's sunshine and heavy rain returned in the evening. Under 50 miles.