Plans for Sunday 4 July 2023

Our elevenses meeting will be (as published) at Coliccio Cafe, Roehampton Gate, Richmond Park.    We will be leaving promptly at 11.00 am to ride just under 10 miles to Maida Vale for lunch, then back another way (but also about 10 miles) to Richmond Park (or Palewell Park if preferred) for tea.    The outbound journey takes in various central London sights including the South Kensington museums, Brompton Cemetery and Hyde Park.   Spoiler alert - for once we will be spared the ignominy of trudging over Hammersmith Bridge!

Shortly after leaving elevenses we will pass Barnes railway station so we can meet anyone there by prior arrangement, and also drop you off at Mortlake station on the return journey.

A reasonably strong bike lock is advised!

Acknowledgements to Kingston Cycling Campaign for using one of their routes!

Sunday 25 June 2023 - No Ride Report!

 

It was very hot today, right from the start.  Steve D, Ann, Graham, Ray W, Keith and I met for a very leisurely elevenses, al fresco, at Wetherspoons, Leatherhead, but there was no appetite for a group ride any further.   Some did their own thing, some went home a long way round, some just went home.   It happens that way sometimes!

Sunday June 18 2023

No Climping, and due to the threat of afternoon storms, no Pirbright. So just 7 of 11 were game for an untested sortie to The Herbert Wells.

From the Stoke D' cafe Plough Lane was reached well above its water line. At Bridge End Farm we climbed to barley fields (ex - Wisley Airfield, ex-Warhorse film set) and down to the metal A3 bridge and a large construction site. Here we paused to count the legs on the new bridge (three), and the slow moving vehicles (innumerable) below.

Muddy Lane has no signpost (last seen Xmas 2020). After the Anchor, Pyrford Lock and Pyrford Marina came a parting with Brian turning left for Pyrford Green, (and no doubt Pyrford Golf Course and Pyrford Village). The rump turned right climbing to Pyrford and its small parade of shops. Here we turned almost 180 degrees to re-emerge beside a seemingly isolated bus shelter on Pyrford Common Road. That's more than enough Pyrfords for one day! Up East Hill and down Maybury Hill brought us alongside the railway. A final right just after Paul Weller's Stanley Road carried us down to 'Spoons.

We dined alfresco in the muggy heat. Eventually (1330) the return took us through Sheerwater (rebuild almost complete) to West Byfleet where the lure of water proved too strong. So the Basingstoke and the bumpy Wey Navigation towpaths closed the day at Coxes Mill and Black Bridge (like last week!). 

Having said we wouldn't and despite the risk we did stop at Walton Riverside for cakes. The rain arrived  as I reached home. It did no more than settle the dust. Just under 40 miles.

 

Alternative Ride 18/06/23

 Start: Stoke D'Abernon (Cafe Barbera) 1100 hours

over or round airfield to Ripley

Old Woking (if now too hot head for Spoons Woking (lunch) and non-towpath to Addlestone(tea))

Mayford

Fox Corner

Pirbright (choice of 3 pubs(Royal Oak,White Hart, Cricketers), 1 yurt cafe or picnic) - bring food or fat wallet for lunch

Cemetery

Jacobs Well

A3

Ripley Pinnocks(tea)

25-30 miles (under 20 for Spoons option)

Postponed 18/06/23

 For various reasons (holidays, Father's day, replacement buses, the weather, etc) I've decided to postpone this Sunday's ride to the coast. Currently I've no alternative plan.

Groundhog Day - 11 June

Last year I led a ride from Effingham to Guildford, on a very hot day.   This year's ride came around and lo and behold, another hot day was forecast.   I decided that, in view of the heat, my previous short and shady route could not be bettered, so we did almost exactly the same route again.   Did anyone notice?  They were all too polite to mention it if so.

Phewley Down

Most of us started with outdoors elevenses at Effingham Vineries.  Just before setting off, Terry noticed that his bar bag bracket had cracked on one side, so had to return home in case the whole thing came off.  The rest of us set off up Green Dene.  Once we got to the top, it was all downhill to Guildford, across the parched earth of the North Downs Way to Newlands Corner, and continuing on to Pewley Down.   A brief discussion about semaphore language at the Semaphore Tower before re-entry into Guildford for an early lunch.

Semaphore

Lunch

After a while, Graham joined us, bloodied, after making his own way from Effingham through the jungle which is the A3 cycle path, and also Ray, who had unfortunately missed us by a few minutes at Effingham.   It was still cool enough to sit outdoors at this stage, but on the way home it became stiflingly hot and humid.  David W made his own way home from Guildford.

Our return route was along the Wey navigation, up to check on Jacob's health (he was still well), and then along the Basingstoke canal, all very similar to a year ago, but then!   Graham led us on a detour, new to most of us, under the M25 to avoid Woodham Lane, where we met with the Banksy family just redecorating the underside of the M25 bridge.   At my request, Graham also showed us the route from Crockford Bridge farm/garden centre to Coxes Lock, and we made our wey back along the river to Weybridge.

Coxes Lock

By now the air was thick and sticky with humidity and the scent of hedgerow flowers, and the sky had turned black ahead of us.   Our relaxed riding pace became a little more purposeful for the final few miles towards Walton Riverhouse Barn.   Keith left us to head for home at this point, and the rain came just as we were ordering, first a few spots and then a deluge, to cheers from the people inside the cafe (not us of course: we were hoping that Keith had found shelter).  Ironically, there was a choir performance  happening in the attached theatre:  "Songs for a Summer's Day".  There were some extremely close claps of thunder as we were re-hydrating, and we were forced to wait a bit until the rain had subsided before heading home on wet and steaming roads, with newly-washed bikes.

Thanks to all for your company, especially to David, Tony and Keith for back-marking at various stages, David for the photos, and Graham for the  Frank Patterson drawing below.

Black Bridge on the Wey Navigation,
showing a youthful Graham?

Ride report - Sunday 4th June

Today’s ride to Redhill was a proper team effort, leveraging the collective knowledge of the C&M members present. But first we played a game of how many cyclists could we get around one table at the Old Moat – the answer was 11 (Bob, Steve, Ann, Pete & Pete, Graham, Ed, David, Terry, Mark and myself). Mark had made it in good time after an emergency dash to Halfords, but Ray missed out on elevenses altogether due to a broken spoke. 

Elevenses at The Old Moat 

Leaving Bob, Graham kindly led us out of Epsom via the Stew Ponds and the level crossing at the edge of the Common to avoid the closed bridge. Mission accomplished, 9 of us (with Ray and without Graham and Ed) climbed up Hurst Road to Walton on the Hill, where Pete took over to guide us enthusiastically through the aptly named Warren at Kingswood and up the second climb to Chipstead. 

Pete about to try educating us about a house in The Warren
(or about a previous owner, I was distracted)

Then it was all downhill to Gatton Bottom, where David was keen to show us a shortcut over a little bridge into Quality Street, Merstham, and eventually we all landed up at The Sun in Redhill. Now down to 8 with David heading straight off, we sat out the front in the sunshine and were quickly fed and watered. 

Quality Street - charming houses but where's the chocolate?

At this point we decided that one delicious church tea with homemade cakes is as good as another delicious church tea with homemade cakes, so rather than head as far south as Ockley we would cut short to Brockham. So now without Mark and down to 7, we wiggled through the back streets south of Redhill and Reigate to come out on the delightful Flanchford Road and from there on to Brockham, where we once again sat in glorious sunshine, supporting charity by consuming large slices of cake.

Supporting the Brockham Village Church Cake Sale

Ann made a move towards home first, then the rest followed along the usual roads towards Pixham, after which cyclists started peeling off left, right and centre. Thanks to everyone for your inputs and good humour, for helping to lead and to David and Steve for back-marking.