Ride Report for Sunday Oct 29th - Director’s Cut

On a gloriously sunny Autumn day, a lucky 13 cyclists gathered at the round tables of The Vineries Garden Centre. No-one had been soaked through on their journey from Ealing, not even to their under garments, and all were served promptly. 

While Niall, Carolyn and John stayed back to feed the unicorns, the fellowship of 10 set forth towards the majestic Greene Dean. No floodwaters blocked our  paths, and all sailed effortlessly up and down the other side.

Roads as dry as old bones

Pranksters at large!

David, Terry and Tim enjoying the sunshine

Here dear reader there was a small occurrence, but fear not, for our knights with their special powers fought back with great determination, while muttering about multi-tools and cycle smiths who do things up too tightly. 

Heading into Shere a yurt appeared on the roadside, bedecked with fairy lights and with a warm and cosy interior. David and Keith went in search of more adventures, so the remaining 8 dined inside where it is rumoured that The Ducks do go Dabbling.

Nice yurt! 

Time passed swiftly in this enchanted place, hence once everyone was refreshed Andy went to collect some pots of gold from the many rainbows all around us, while Terry returned home to his castle. The depleted fellowship of 6 opted for the flatter lands of Albury and Chilworth, before coming into Shalford and Guildford. From here Alan continued the quest alone, ensuring no dragons were being troublesome in all the realms he passed through. 

For the rest of us, golden carriages awaited. As leader it was behoven on me to throw my gauntlet under the first golden carriage as a token of respect, before it whisked myself, Ann, Martina, Simon and Tim back to our homelands. 

Inside the golden carriage 

A grand day out, with the kind and caring souls from the Cheerful & Merry. With special thanks to David, Keith and Simon for their mechanical assistance,  to Tim for back-marking all day, and to all for being flexible and upbeat throughout all the adversity which apparently didn’t happen. 

Scam email purporting to come from Graham Hill . BEWARE

 I have received a scam email purporting to come from Graham Hill, with the email address nicolas marcel etc claiming to evoke memories. This is  from some pathetic scammer. Stay alert and please delete pronto.  My paranoia level is rising to stratospheric levels. The men in white coats are at my shoulder!

Please let me know if I am losing the plot.

Jeff

Sunday October 22 2023 Windsor

With other parts of Britain under water, (at least!) 19 enjoyed perfect autumnal weather at Shepperton Nauticalia for my first e-bike lead. A few went no further and we split the rest into two groups; the second ably led by Tony assisted by Simon, Dave, and Ray.

It didn't start well - on Chertsey Road a loose pannier strap and cassette came to blows but were soon separated. We continued to Chertsey Bridge before turning north beside a fast flowing Thames to Laleham. The next obstacle was the Crocked Billet roundabout where a one time grotty subway has been replaced by five(!) sets of traffic lights. To compensate we now enjoyed the car-free between the reservoirs path to Stanwell Moor (Junction 14) where one metal barrier and eight concrete blocks can't keep out the bikers.

Just after noon saw us in Horton so I added an impromptu diversion into Datchet via Colnbrook, and an embarrassing "It's behind you" moment on "old" London Road. From Eton we ascended to a very busy Cinnamon Cafe; somehow all found seats for a leisurely lunch.

We left well before two. After Home Park came Datchet, Wraysbury and Staines. In Commercial Road and after a prolonged though inconclusive pow-wow I led a "we're not stopping" group to BP, Hampton and Bushy Park. They said Kingston Bridge. I opted for Teddington. Along the way we'd met Tony's group on a slightly different course and more surprisingly Ray twice!    

Now for those all important stats: 302 feet ascent in 27.4 miles from Nauticalia to south Ashford. This  includes four bridges and short sections of three roads (Staines Worple Road, Datchet Horton Road, Windsor High Street) used in both directions. Door to Door 44 miles.  

Sunday 15th October 2023

A select group of three joined me at Boxhill NT café on this cold but sunny morning.

Rather busy too, even with the servery open as well but at 11.04am we left the mass of walkers/cyclists/motorists for the relative tranquility of the nearby stepping stones.

There used to be a ford here serving the Burford Lodge (built 1776) & the original stepping stones were destroyed during World War II as a security measure.

The ones you see today were dedicated by PM Clement Atlee in 1946.

The climb of Ranmore Lane was free of cars, just speeding cyclists coming the other way & we all rode at our own pace with the leader having to zig-zag near the top.

What's zig-zag I hear you ask?

Courtesy Rehook website.........

A climbing switchback is a type of route often used by cyclists to ascend a steep incline. It involves a series of tight, zig-zag turns that allow the cyclist to gradually climb the hill without having to pedal too hard. 

Statistics show that the use of a climbing switchback can help cyclists use up to 30% less energy when compared to riding straight up a hill. This makes it a great option for cyclists who are looking to conserve energy and make their ride more efficient.

Except this only works on hills with little or no other road users coming the other way. 😀

The plunge down to the A25 via White Down was followed by a slow incline to lunch at The Abinger Hatch where the likelihood of being served food was precisely zero.

I knew it's a popular pub..........but a party of 300?

But the story is similar at any country pub in Surrey on a Sunday. 😞

Having being tipped off by a WhatsApp discussion, I alerted Diane & she purchased sandwiches at Boxhill & Terry raided his saddlebag so we all had something.

Not ideal but it sufficed.

Leaving Dave, we briefly climbed then descended to Coldharbour where I noticed the shop next to the Plough serving cakes/coffee.

Monday - Friday 9 - 2

Weekends - 9 - 3

Right turn & the next photo opp at the top of Anstie Lane.

A mile of the A29 to Ockley to arrive at Capel where we sat in the sun whilst waiting for the church to open.

The lady serving the cakes/taking the money appeared very amused when a £1 coin I'd dropped disappeared down a metal grate in the floor.

"You've lost that I'm afraid" she said with a smile.

Doesn't she know there's a cost of living crisis? 😒

On the way to Beare Green it was noted Ruby's café is open everyday 9 - 3.........but Surrey Hills café formally Blue Moon café is not open Sundays (Tuesday - Saturday 8 - 1.45pm).

Thanks to Dave, Diane & Terry for your company.

Ride Report - Sunday 8 October (North Cheam and Putney)

 

This was our second elevenses of the year at North Cheam and, once again, numbers did not disappoint!    Simon, Steve D, Ed, Dawn (most welcome on her first ride with the Cheam & Morden), Pam, Graham, Tony, Brian and Robert all joined me at Wetherspoons on a lovely sunny day.  We reminisced about Clive Oxx, long-time Cheam and Morden member, who very sadly died recently.

All of us except Steve set off on the ride which took us first to The Hamptons, Worcester Park where there is a very unexpected open space with surprising views all around, and even more surprising, an amphitheatre (you do need to use your imagination a bit, but then you see it)!    Various bridges and subways (note the 'underground, overground' theme) cycle paths and back roads then led us to the west side of Wimbledon Common from where we tackled the rather challenging, crumbly and steeply uphill route to Sunset Road (I can see why it is called that now)!    

From the Windmill we headed towards Putney Heath.  The common was very busy with cyclists and walkers but there was n'er a Womble to be seen, sadly, or else they were perhaps crouching in the undergrowth tittering at the leader's navigational glitches!

In the end, we got to Wetherspoons, Putney just before 1.00 pm.   Simon brilliantly reserved us two outside tables looking over the river and out of the sun.   Service today was highly efficient and speedy.   This is a very pleasant spot on a fine day and everyone was reluctant to leave but we eventually set off homewards via Richmond Park.   Those looking for tea went to find it at Ham.

Thanks all for your company.

Capel Teas

We have to thank Keith for: 

https://www.capelandockleychurch.org.uk/events-calendar/ 

October 1st - Rusper and beyond

It must be autumn! Bonfire-building at Brockham

We were lucky to be blessed with good weather as just over twelve of us congregated outside the Edmund Tylney in Leatherhead.   It was good to see Robert back in the UK for a while, and exciting to be introduced to Graham's new e-bike.   Pam, Maureen and Ed were staying for a natter and perhaps a different ride so ten of us set off towards the wilds of Brockham, Leigh and the bonus hills at Norwood hill and Russ hill.   We arrived at The Star just as a large group had sat down for a meal, which sent the bar staff into a bit of a flap, but they served us promptly with excellent food.  

Assembly

Lunch

So far, so straightforward.   I had a half-baked plan to return to Leatherhead for tea by a different route, but over lunch we heard from Keith that Capel church was offering teas.  (I had failed to break into their website to find this information.)   Everyone agreed this was a Very Good Idea, but it was only five miles from our rather filling lunch, so there was then a considerable discussion about longer routes.   Warnham?  Horsham?  The A24?  In the end, minus Geoff and David who were taking the afternoon off, we settled for a lot of smaller roads that bought the distance above eight miles.   Lambs Green, Wimlands Lane, Wimlands Road, Cripplegate,  Lipscomb's Corner were just a few of the rarely-visited (and quite hilly) highlights.  With the help of quite a bit of faffing, we managed to string it out so that we arrived just after they opened at 3pm.

Afternoon break

Home time

There was the usual munificence of cake, and we stayed and chatted for quite a while before setting off in the sunshine back to Leatherhead, via the "closed" Punchbowl Lane, where they had made quite a determined attempt to stop people getting through, but we managed anyway.

Homework

A lovely day out in great company.   Thanks to David and Colin for back-marking, and to Keith, Graham and Andy for very useful help with working out a very enjoyable route from Newdigate to Capel.