After very cold and gloomy weather of one sort another for all our Sunday rides in December, it is just possible that Sunday 1 January might see slightly better conditions (sunshine might be asking too much)!
We will be meeting for elevenses, as published, at Colicci Cafe, near Roehampton Gate, Richmond Park from 10.00 am.
No lunch ride has been planned on this occasion, but a short trip is possible if there is any interest.
Happy cycling for 2023!
Yet another bleak and cheerless Sunday (a rare event, the third dud in a row)! Dire Met office warnings of ice and freezing rain had caused us to move elevenses closer to civilisation (although prices at The Pheasantry could hardly be described as civilised)! Despite this, my expectations that any other Cheam and Morden riders would be mad enough to brave the elements were low. Imagine my surprise then when I was joined by no less than Diane, Tony, Simon and Paula! Well done and thanks all! Rain began to set in as we sat and chatted and there was understandably no appetite to go anywhere but back home!
For some reason there will be no C & M ride on Sunday 25 December (when the weather will very likely be sunny, dry and mild) but on Sunday 1 January 2023 we will continue our tour of Royal Parks cafes with our traditional first-footing elevenses meet at Colicci Cafe, Roehampton Gate, Richmond Park (all welcome)!
The next 'normal' ride (the first in what seems like a long time) will be on Sunday 8 January and we will hope for better things!
Merry Christmas to all C & M members and thanks for your company during 2022!
A severe weather warning for icy surfaces and freezing rain is in force for today. Rain may now begin any time this morning. In view of this, our elevenses meet today has been moved from The Old School Cafe, Longcross to The Pheasantry, Bushy Park. Apologies for the short notice, but this will put most people closer to home.
The Longcross and Chobham ride will be rescheduled for 2023.
If you are coming to elevenses, do take great care and look out for any worsening of conditions!
Today was very, very cold and unrelievedly gloomy day, probably the antithesis of good cycling weather! Still, not for nothing is 'Per ardua ad Wetherspoons' the unofficial motto of the Cheam & Morden and no less than two of us (Keith and I) mustered at elevenses at The Old Moat Garden Centre to fly the flag.
Flag flying is one thing, but continuing to lunch on such a beastly day would have been going over and beyond, so we unanimously resolved to end the official ride at elevenses and make our own ways home from there.
The catering arrangements at The Old Moat were fine but the heating arrangements were less than optimal and I started off from elevenses already cold, so the next part of my ride found me 'well chilled'! I hope Keith fared better!
To say today was somewhat gloomy would be an understatement - it was like twilight all day from sunrise to sunset, and bitterly cold. However, these intemperies failed to deter Tony, Ged, Graham, Ray and Terry from joining me for elevenses at Morrisons, Weybridge. Disappointingly, their catering arrangements were rather less than optimal on this occasion (a very slow moving queue only to be told there was no coffee available) and I think we will put them on the subs bench for a while!
It was such a revolting day that only Ged, Ray and I were tempted to continue to the planned lunch stop at The Cinnamon Cafe, Windsor. The cold got to Ray after we had descended Crimp Hill and he decided to turn straight for home and add new gloves to his Christmas wish list, once his fingers had thawed out, that is!
That left Ged and I to soldier on to the Cinnamon Cafe where the catering has never been found to be at all lacking, and where you move through the long queue at remarkable speed! Refreshed and inspired we rode back to Shepperton at remarkable speed too, and went our separate ways. Thanks all for your company.
