Plans for Sunday 2nd June - a Gentle Tour of the Hills

This Sunday's ride will be visiting the hills around Leith Hill along some lovely roads that are mostly fairly gentle, with a few short steep bits.   Nothing worse than a B group ride.

Lunch will be a picnic at Peaslake.   You can either bring your own, order a sandwich from the village stores a couple of days before, or take your chances on the day.   They will have a selection of sandwiches and pastries available, but to be sure, please email your order to me by first thing Thursday.  The village stores has a good variety of sandwich fillings, but there's no menu, I'm afraid.

From 11s at Effingham, we will be visiting Shere, Winterdown & Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill and finally Leith Hill, with the option of continuing to Box Hill if you want a bonus hill.   I hope you can join us.

RIPLEY – WORLD FAMOUS AS THE ‘MECCA FOR ALL GOOD CYCLISTS’

 This upcoming exhibition needs to enthuse all the cyclists out there who may be surprised to know that Ripley was once the most famous place on the planet for cycling .

The exhibition is called RIPLEY – WORLD FAMOUS AS THE ‘MECCA FOR ALL GOOD CYCLISTS’. It traces the origin of the so called Ripley Road which was, in fact part of the Portsmouth Road between Ditton and Ripley. The cycling craze from 1870 -1900 which brought thousands of cyclists into Ripley and in particular to the Anchor Pub and the hospitality of the Dibble family. It features the memorials in Ripley church and the ‘spin offs’ of the craze such as the Anchor Visitor books, a Ripley board game featuring the Anchor. We are delighted that The Anchor are supporting the exhibition with a free draw for lunch for 2 in their restaurant. as the new village hall is being opened)

So please encourage your members to come along from the 8^th of June any Saturday morning  from 10-12 (the 22^nd might be worth avoiding as the new village hall is being opened)  – we can also open at other times by arrangement

Clare McCann -museum curator

Capel Church Teas 2024 (Sun & BH Mon)

 

Sunday 26th May 2024

A leisurely ride of new discoveries in leafy Surrey.

Is it safe to return to Squires, West Horsley?

Dave removed the café from his list of refreshment stops a number of years ago when they introduced a new system which slowed the ordering (& paying) process down considerably.

I thought it was time to revisit.

I arrived to find no queue, but a sign indicating to "wait" to be directed to a table.

Almost immediately, a waitress (electronic ordering device in hand) approached me " Hi, just a cappuccino please, nothing to eat, I'll be sitting with the cyclists" I said.

I joined Lilian, Simon & Terry later to be joined by Caroline.

Ten minutes later my drink arrived.

From memory, Terry's cake & hot chocolate arrived separately but other than that, we all received what we'd ordered.

Of course we still had to pay, slowing the process still further.

I think it works if you know what you want & order straight away rather than wait for a waitress to come to your table.

Also, there were plenty of staff on duty today.

I like the location because it was nice to climb Shere Road with "fresh" legs.....maybe nice is the wrong word but you know what I mean.

Caroline returned home to prepare the arrival of a new kitchen in the coming days whilst we crossed the Tillingbourne in Shere to pick up the lane going south called Hound House Road which slowly ascends passing Bentley Copse where I used to go on camping trips with the scouts.

A fork in the road and so to Barhatch Lane, with two arrows on my OS 187 indicating a steepness of greater than 1 in 5.

But of course we were descending and we were soon in Cranleigh where I had to ask directions to the Downs Link.

Copious amounts of mud for the next nearly 3 miles brought us to the restored Baynards station of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (1865 - 1965).

Lunch was at a busy Milk Churn just outside Rudgwick where it has appeared in the Guardian's (one of the) "best cafés in the countryside".

The route home included a stop at Holbrook Farm on Weare Street that had curious engraved names into a prominent rock formation beside the pond.

Church teas were imminent but not before checking out another new discovery, a wooden sculpture of a hook & chain beside the pond in Capel.

Our leisurely ride of new discoveries concluded with a brief visit to "hidden" St Mary Magdalene church at South Holmwood, built 1838.

Thanks to Simon for back marking & providing most of the photos & Lilian & Terry for your enjoyable company.

Change to Sunday 26th May 2024

11's - Squires, West Horsley

15 miles to lunch with a couple of hills...

Lunch - The Milk Churn, Rudgwick

10 miles to tea...

Tea - Church teas, Capel

Sunday the 19th May

 There was no early takers to lead this ride but Maddies stepped in to lead her first C&M ride. She knew the route was it was the same route I lead the B's to a few Wednesdays ago. It was a good turnout of Maddie ,Bob P ,Pam, Dawn ,Graham ,Bernard Sabina, Tony, Niall ,Andy, Martina, and Diana who just came to 11;s.

At the AGM Graham stepped down as club sec after many years in post, he was presented with an award, at 11's, as a thank you for his many years of service to the club.

We split into 2 groups to make life easier. Along the river Crane to Twickenham, and past the stately home of Simon, then varuious roads to Syon park, a loo stop and photo session. 

 

 

 

Syon Park Loo Stop

 

Then onto the Grand Union canal to Hanwell, then the river Brent to the Viaduct, throught edge of the Bunny park and another photo of the lovely thatched cottaage, then through Brent Valley golf course, a useful coffee stop for me in nthe past.

We were soon cycling through Perivale Park and past the memorial bench of Nicky Hopkins (no relation), a very famous session musician.  Then up the short climb of Horsendon Hill and onto lunch at the Greenwood hotel, a Wetherspoons, the weather was great, so we sat in the Sun to enjoy the delights of a microwaved  lunch. All good things come to and end, so off we set. Maddies group left first. 

 

Lunch in the Sun

We headed South to Northolt station, then across and down Northala fields and across the Ruislip road and then unmaiintained cycle paths to Willow Tree open space. Then across the foot bridge onto th Paddington arm of the Grand Union canal heading South. 

 

This section of the canal towpath is in very good order, we followed this to Bulls Bridge and then the spiral cycvle path to the Parkway, then the  cycle path to Cranford. We crossed the Bath road and round the back drive to tea at Restaurante Saloios rear seating area, a Portuguese restuarant. A place I often use for a coffee, the owner is very friendly, a few years ago he helped me mend a punture!

 

 

Tea Stop

Lovely sitting in the Sun, great coffee, and some even sampled the lovely cakes. At this point Maddie phoned me, she had ended up behind my group so then joined us for tea. Again, it was hard to tear ourselves away from the social sunny retreat. 

 

But alas we set off, agsain in 2 groups, my group left first and headed across Hounslow Heath andf then Powder Mill lane onto Fulwell, then through Hampton Hill where i turned right for home, leaved the rest to wend thier way home. A lovely days outing with a great group. Thank you to Maddie and to those who back marked.

Tony..

New Years Day 2012

 

Spring Tavern, Ewell

Where are they now?

 

Sunday the 12th May

 What a glorious day for a long ride. I was the first to get to the NT cafe, I left home too early and arrived at 9.45, but Simon arrived soon after, then Andy and Niall. Graham joined us ,but left to do his own ride when we departed. We moved inside as there was no shade what so ever outside. It was funny not to have to have Dave with us, wishing him a speedy recovery,  as he says, "things fall apart when I'm not there" Sim

 

Bray Churh Yard

Very little wind made it a speedy ride, through Windsor, and a chance meeting with some other cyclist friends. On through Bray and a photo stop in Bray church yard, courtesy of Andy. At Waltham St Lawrence we took Sill Bridge lane and into Plough lane and onto Hurst, passing an old favourite, the Green Man. 

As usual, a photo at the CTC sign the Castle Inn and a decision by the group to change this as our lunch stop. A good choice, child's fish & chips on the menu and it sorted 3 of us for lunch, we sat in the garden, we will muse this venue again.

 

A childs Fish & Chips, we are kids at heart

We were soon on our still heading south and passing Dinton Pastures, then heading East using quiet country lanes. Back to Waltham St Lawrence and Paley Street back to Windsor, passing Fifield, where sadly the 2 giant heads of the old Queen and Prince Philip are no more, sold I believe, it looks like the house has been sold, we headed into Windsor farm shop for tea, but alas, the close at 3pm, so back to the NT cafe, most had ice creams. At this point I left the group and headed home solo to my daughters birthday party, they waited for me before bringing out the cake, so only a minor telling off. A great day on the bike, than you Simon, Andy and Niall for your company

 

The Castle Inn, Hurst

 

 

Tony..

Sunday 5th May 2024

 

I don't fully understand Wetherspoons pricing structure and today's £1.04 for limitless hot drinks (The Whispering Moon, Wallington) appears outstanding value in this day & age...& the "white coffee" is perfectly drinkable.

The location was previously a cinema & opened as a 'Spoons in 1992. Plenty of old pictures adorn the walls including one of child actress Shirley Temple !

Nice to see outgoing C&M General Secretary, Graham making the journey from Kingston to see us off & 10 went due south up to Oaks Park, passing some chatty MTB'ers on the way.

The café here has recently been extended & it was busy with locals soaking up the sun on this Bank Holiday weekend.

After the fast descent it was up How Lane & a short cut to avoid Coulsdon town centre & up (again) to Farthing Downs to where Pinkie left us, followed shortly by Keith.

Past Chaldon church, and a very fast descent of Whitehill Lane to Bletchingley. 

Being 1pm, stomachs were rumbling & I decided to patronise Lamingtons in the High Street where we've been coming since 2010.

The guy at front of house was so welcoming and it was like travelling back in time in this quaint little tea room.

Colour co-ordinated top & nail varnish.....I approve!

When we emerged from this time capsule, the skies had clouded over & there was intermittent rain as we travelled south to join the track through the Henshaw's farm estate.

Past Redhill Aerodrome, Earlswood Lakes to Brockham church where teas have resumed and are now every Sunday 2.30pm - 5pm until late October when they'll be supplying the bonfire builders with refreshment no doubt.

Thanks to Chris for backmarking & others for corner marking & your company, & to Chris & Steph for the photos.