Ride Report - Sunday 28th January 2024 (North Cheam and Redhill)

It had been eerily quiet on the C&M WhatsApp group – by Sunday morning only 2 had made their apologies, the rest were keeping their cards close to their chest. So I was somewhat surprised by the large group already at The Nonsuch Inn when I arrived, with more trickling in to make no less than 18 gathered for elevenses!

Everyone loves a 'spoons elevenses!   

Tony, Maureen and Ed had alternative plans for a more local lunch at Claygate, and so the rest of us made to leave. But what was this? 80% of the assembled A riders hatched a little plan to spend a bit more time in the pub, and wriggle out of the 16 mile route to lunch at Redhill, stating "they would catch us up"! I won’t go into detail here, for fear of copycats, but it seems they all kindly supported each other in this misadventure and deserve some recognition!

The remaining 11 struck out through Cheam and Belmont, with a slight headwind as we made our way across a short stretch of Banstead Common and up to Banstead. Here Helen peeled off, and 10 went on through Woodmansterne, Chipstead and Coulsdon, re-grouping for photos at the top of Farthing Down. There was a request to stop at the beautiful little church at Chaldon, to admire the “internationally renowned” twelfth-century wall painting, which I for one had not seen before.

Up Farthing Down

Here's the church, here's the steeple...look inside...

Meanwhile the breakaway group had finally left the pub and were cycling like bats out of hell to make lunch via a more direct route. Travelling on down (thankfully) the steep hills into Merstham and then along the traditional route into Redhill to The Sun, we arrived just before they caught us up. Dave and Steve did not stop, making it 13 at lunch as we found Terry there waiting for us. Lunch was quick enough given the pub was quite busy.

After lunch, Steph and Brenda (her first C&M ride – welcome!) opted for a more direct route home and Dawn headed to the train station, leaving 10 to meander through the back streets of Redhill and Reigate until we came to the glorious familiar lanes that take us through Brockham and Pixham, where Terry peeled off home, to wind up in Leatherhead. Graham, Keith, Tim and Colin did not stop as it was getting a bit late, so just 5 of us – myself, Sabina and Bernard, Andy and Simon, stopped for a well-deserved tea at new-to-me Lucio’s Coffee and Deli.  

Thanks to everyone for coming out on a very pleasant sunny Sunday, and to Graham and Simon for back-marking at different times. 

Ride Invitation for Sunday 28th Jan

Firstly please note that the destination has been tweaked from Reigate Hill to The Sun at Redhill - despite the very reasonable weather forecast I think we should save the al fresco dining for the Summer! 

Please join me for this Sunday's ride from 'spoons The Nonsuch Inn at North Cheam to 'spoons in Redhill - a distance of about 15 miles with two uphill stretches, to Banstead/Woodmansterne and then to Chaldon as we make our way over the North Downs. There is one short stretch of off road planned, to take our minds of the gentle but long uphill gradient. After the second up we will be rewarded with some lovely views just right for a photo op. From there it's downhill to lunch, about 15 miles altogether. 

Those who wish to take a train to and/or from lunch will find themselves very close to Redhill station, and those who are happy to cycle after lunch will be led through the flattish country lanes via Brockham and Pixham back to Leatherhead for tea, another 14 miles, with just the Coach Road as the usual bit of off-road. 

The GPX file can be emailed on request, any questions please ask! 

Thanks, Diane 

Sou'Wester Shorts - Did you receive the latest edition?

Issue 73 of Sou'Wester Shorts, edited by Dave Vine, has just been distributed by email.   If you missed out on receiving it, then this info is for you.

Shorts contains a digest of news of our rides, with photos and other information about the club.  It's published every few weeks and sent via a google distribution service called googlegroups.

If you are a new member, you may not be subscribed to the newsletter.   If so please click here to email me and I can add you to the distribution list.

If you have been a member for a few years and you still don't receive it, it's possible that you are already subscribed but your email system is registering Shorts as spam.  We're aware of a few people who often don't receive it.  If it's not in your spam folder, please do let me know, and we will try to get a copy to you one way or another.

Happy reading!

Sunday 21/01/24 Bushy Park - Byfleet - Walton Bridge

Dave had emailed during the week; Ripley was mentioned. By Sunday that was put in doubt by the impending arrival of Storm Isha.

I arrived not expecting to lead! In a crowded Pheasantry 13 were up for a ride. Out of the car park we turn left thus avoiding most of the Diana fountain. After the Palace, a left at the level crossing was rewarded by five minutes delay (4-way temporary lights at Thames Ditton station)! The A309 was busy. The bridleway(!) between Esher sewage works and Hersham is newly tarmac'ed and a second newish strip took us down into Brooklands and beside the museums into Byfleet.

By now it was past 1230. Ripley was still 4 to 5 miles away and probably Muddy Lane so time now for lunch. The Plough had beer but no food. A few doors down was the Capital Cafe (plenty of space, options, very well priced) - just what we gourmands needed.

From one o'clock the cafe began to fill so we were moved slowly to move. The roads were quieter and the inward journey was 2+ mph faster thanks to Isha. With time is hand I added a brief detour to Coxes Mill. Tea was Walton Bridge - as far as I know nobody stopped! 

A measly 18 miles and a day of misadventures which won't be detailed here.

 

Sunday 21st January - Ride map

 

Bushy Park to Capital Café in Byfleet to Walton on Thames

Update for Sunday 21 Jan 2024

Change to published programme - on Sunday 21st we'll be meeting at The Pheasantry, Bushy Park as planned but will head for lunch in the Ripley area (instead of Greenford as billed).

C&M Ride, Stoke D to Epsom for lunch. 14/1/24

Cafe Barbeara is a really nice 11's, I arrived just before 10.30 to a good throng of C&M cyclists., Dave, Simon, Madi, Diane, Terry, Andy, Bernard and Sabina. Carolin, John, Ed and Graham were also present but only went to 11's. Madi and Ed made their own way to lunch. We set off and headed towards Oxshot and on the way Martina joined us, she is one of the Ealing Friday riders. A round-the-(very nice private)-house route brought us to Sandy Lane and then onto the A244 heading North to the roundabout of the Esher bypass (A3). The plan was to get onto Esher Common, but my route was barred by a fallen tree. But another entrance in the bushes meant we managed, but the first section was not really cyclable.

   

Getting ready to leave the warmth of 11's

 

We soon reached the private road which we cycled for around 200 metres, then onto a nice off-road track taking us to Arbrook Lane and North for a mile or 2 eventually coming around to Claygate. We were soon at the outskirts of Chessington. We took the usual Woodgate Avenue but carried on past Mansfield Road, heading into Merritt Gdns, and a few wrong turns before I eventually found the entrance to the bridleway that led to Barwell Lane. We crossed the A243 into Garrison Lane, coming out on Moor Lane heading towards Ewell, then the route past Horton Country Park and to lunch at the Assembly Rooms in Epsom.

 

Easher Common

Bob and Ed were taking the Sunout side joined by Madi. During lunch Dave headed off home and after lunch numbers dwindled slightly as only Bernard, Sabina, Simon, Diane and Martina headed for tea at Dish, Hampton Court. Hot Chocolate and chatter, a few had cake and tea. Before it was time to head for our homes, as dusk was rapidly approaching. A lovely if somewhat chilly day out, thank you all for your company and to Simon for back marking, also a big thank you to Andy for being the day's photographer.

Tony..

SWLDA Annual Competitions

Details of the SWLDA annual competitions are on the Midweek Wayfarers blog at https://midweekwayfarers.blogspot.com/2024/01/invitation-to-enter-2023-photo.html and https://midweekwayfarers.blogspot.com/2024/01/how-far-did-you-ride-in-2023.html .   The competitions are open to all SWLDA members including those from the Cheam and Morden section.

Ride Report - Sunday 7 Jan 2024 (Staines and Windsor)

Well, today we really put the 'adventure' into 'bike adventure' (or should that be 'misadventure')?    A simple, short  ride from Staines to Windsor and it was a lovely, sunny start - what could possibly go wrong?   After elevenses at Staines the ride started off uneventfully enough, Shortwood Common giving us no problems except the negotiation of two kissing gates.   The first signs of trouble to come were later, as we took the causeway over the Staines reservoirs, never usually muddy but distinctly on the mushy side today and with a fearsome crosswind, and a couple more kissing gates of increasing difficulty to negotiate!

 

(Not the seaside but the Staines reservoirs)

(Us not beside a river but the Datchet to Eton road)!

There were mutterings of dissent but open rebellion did not actually start until the M25 cycle crossing between Stanwellmoor and Poyle, again unprecedentedly muddy.   Here I found myself riding alone while the group had turned back and taken the alternative route round the roundabout!   Order was soon restored and we were almost at Eton before the next spot of bother - Pococks Lane was under water by the leisure centre and cars were turning back and causing chaos!   Fortunately, a high level path on one side allowed us to skirt the danger and dodge the splashes!  The rest of the ride to lunch at Cafe Cinnamon was without incident, and we had a good lunch only slightly marred by an unfortunate accident to Diane's new bike.

We set off for home and all went well until we ran into queuing traffic and discovered the A308 was under water for a stretch near the Runnymede Pleasure Grounds.   I ploughed through the flood and was a little puzzled by the disgruntled reaction of the others.   It only dawned on me much later that not everyone else was attired in my standard winter garb of Goretex MTB boots over waterproof socks and windproof longs!   Nothing succeeds like excess!    All the more unfortunately there were a couple more small floods on the path across 'The Meads' into Egham!    Once in Egham I thought the tide would finally have turned, as it were, but alas no!   My planned route (Vicarage Road) was unexpectedly closed and, thinking on my (still dry) feet I diverted us towards The Causeway.   

Rounding the corner into the M25 subway on the cycle route I discovered yet another flood!  'It's not very deep' I said after I had ridden through, trying to reassure!   The others seemed less convinced and I began to feel like Captain Blye with a mutinous crew on the Cheam & Morden ark (see C & M blog December).  We were running out of options and in the end, with Simon's encouragement, everyone took the plunge, as it were, and we dripped our way into Staines!    

Ferry Lane, Laleham being closed and not advisable even with my clobber, we diverted again to get to Shepperton.   I left it to the others to discover whether or not the road to Nauticalia was open and headed for home!  

Thanks to Diane, Tony, Simon, Pam and Andy for your company throughout and for putting up with it all, and to Graham for joining us at elevenses and wisely turning straight for home!

Photo credits to Andy!