Attendance - Scores on the doors thus far

 

Sunday 29th September - Ride Report

Café Barbera in Stoke D'Abernon is always a popular elevenses venue and today was no different, with twenty cyclists arriving for the ride or just for coffee and perhaps a little something. There was quite some confusion over the availability of the one toilet which led us to leave later than planned, but eventually we were on our way with fifteen riders - good to have David W back with us post holidays and to see Helen and Paul, Geoff and Carolyn.

Out-of-date out-of-service notice! 

The route took us over Bookham Common (where Audrey and David B and Tony left us), through Effingham and up to Ranmore Common via Hogden Lane. We were soon pausing on the downhill through Denbies Vineyard for a photo with dramatic skies and a sweeping vista below us. I count ten in the photo plus myself and Andy. 

Note to self: You have to travel by land train if you want bubbles with your view

The next challenge was Little Switzerland and Slough Lane, which all took in their stride but by the time we arrived at the top it was getting late. Graham, Keith and Brian peeled off at different points leaving nine to sail down into Epsom for lunch at The Assembly Rooms, where Tony was waiting with Ed and Colin Q - lovely to see them both. 

We ate outside as it was so busy, and so got to see some of the cars arriving for the Horse Power event (marking the end of the racing season in Epsom) in the market place today. 

Holy cyclists Batman! 

Maddie, Julie (on her first C&M ride), Linda and Andy being so close to their respective homes could not be tempted on to afternoon tea, and as such avoided the off-road and muddy sections through Prince's Coverts and beyond, but the rest of us - Sabina and Bernard, Martina, Simon and Tony (who sensibly went around) landed up in Claygate for tea at Laz Cafe. 

Simon looking remarkably clean despite
what he'd just cycled through

Thanks everyone for your company, good humour and sense of adventure! To Simon for back-marking all day and to everyone who helped to make it a lovely day of cycling. 

About 19miles to lunch and 7 miles to tea.  

Photo credits to Simon and Linda.

Info - Sunday 29th Sept

Once again the Café Barbera, Stoke D'Abernon to The Assembly Rooms, Epsom ride has come around and it is my pleasure to invite you to join me.

Before lunch, we will complete a 19 mile route with 2 climbs - Hogden Lane to Ranmore and Little Switzerland to Headley. All on-road apart from the stony stretches across Cobham Park and Bookham Common, and the descent from Ranmore through Denbies Wine Estate. 

Those wishing to take in only one climb may deviate at Westhumble, and those not looking for any climbs may deviate at Bookham Common. We'll also keep one eye on the ever-changing weather forecasts in case we all need to deviate! All are welcome in Epsom via whatever manner you choose to get there.

After lunch I'm planning a further 7 miles with some stony off-road to tea in Claygate - again, weather-permitting. Other options exist. 

Hope to see you on Sunday.

Sunday the 22nd September

Penny Farthing Racing

11's at the Pheasantry, Bushy park, Lunch at the Bothwell Inn, Hayes.

 

 Then onto Hayes track to watch the Penny Farthing racing. It's a great event to watch. There will also be a cycle jumble at the track.

Afternoon tea TBD

Tony

Sunday 15th September 2024

Tanhouse the farm, bustling with bikers.

All without motors unlike at Rykas.

We totalled seven in all, outside we sat.

You know what we're like, havin' a chat.

Goodbye Terry, Brian & Steph.

Caroline too, just three of us left.

So bikes at the ready, southwards we rode.

Up Tower Road where some of us slowed.

Keith turned up just after we left.

Something about him having overslept.

Southwater Lake, we chose our table.

Lucky we did, some were unable.

Sunny & warm, very agreeable.

West Surrey CC were there, that's unforeseeable.

Capel & cakes tempted us away.

It's their speciality, being a Sunday.

View from Grouse Road, St Leonards Forest (credit to Eric)

Thanks to Diane, Eric (dining at his parents in Christs Hospital) & Keith for your company.

Info - Sunday 15th September 2024

Hi all,

Sunday's ride will leave Tanhurst Farm slightly later than usual at 11.15am.

On route to lunch, one significant hill (Tower Road), thereafter undulating to Southwater.

Hope it's as sunny as it was in 2012 !

Returning includes a mile of Downs Link, requires a dash across the busy A264 (care required) then undulating to our last visit of 2024 - Capel for tea.

I hope you're able to join me.

Ripley Cycle Jumble returns to Ripley.......

 

Security Warning!

Please note that our friend Jeff Tollerman's email account has been hacked and as a result numerous people in his contact list have received bogus messages which look like they have been sent by him.

The messages are not from him at all. Please don't reply to them.

Thanks 

Tim 

West End September 8 2024

The Addlestone start didn't start well - a (tiny) thorn in my rear tyre. It was a 30 minute struggle despite many hands and tools (mainly Dave's). Wisely he headed home; the remaining seven (GFH, Andy, Diane, Martina, Pam, Simon, Tony) stayed south of the Basingstoke Canal used by the previous week's ride from the same 11s.

We blame the Met Office when they get it wrong. Today they were cursed when they got it right! (3 hours of heavy but intermittent rain). Within two miles we struggled into "waterproofs" which would stay in place until lunch. Green trees offered little shelter so on we pedalled. 

After dry Pyrford Common and Maybury a second downpour trapped us on Arthur's Bridge west of Woking's town centre. It was the last downpour though we had no way of knowing that.

Ever optimistic we dismissed thoughts of Spoons or where ever and continued to Goldsworth Park and a three-quarter circuit of the lake. With time pressing the main road (A322) was pressed into service for the last mile or so to the Hare and Hounds in West End. We were 45 minutes late but the garden was nearly empty and had a heated smokers shelter. 

The return was quickly plotted. Pennypot Lane led us to Chobham. Here the Ottershaw road (A319) is currently one way so we continued on Red Lion and Gracious Pond roads. Approaching Holloway Hill Tony suggested Squires (opposite St Peters) where we dined alfresco until closing time (1630).

I was home after 1815 and 40 miles. 

 

September 8th - Changes Of Venues

Please ignore the incomplete details in the Sep/Oct newsletter (paper and electronic). 

I've devised a 25-miler replacement. I've not completed a full scale recce! but much will be familiar. The route omits the Basingstoke (more or less) but includes Goldsworth Park which I've never visited on a C&M ride. 

11s:        Golden Cafe Addlestone (last visited 01/09/24 by C&M)

Lunch:    Hare And Hounds hareandhounds-westend.co.uk (last visited 21/08/24 by Bs) 

Tea:         as 11s (closes 1500), or usual suspects.

A Near-Death Experience - Sunday 1 Sept

Don't worry, nobody was harmed.    But today's planned jolly ride to Farnborough accidentally developed a rather macabre character, at least in the morning, as you will see.

A happy bunch of riders turned up quite early at Addlestone for 11s, and surprisingly everyone was itching to go a bit before 11am, so after the usual faffing, we got away more or less on time, leaving Geoff to make his own way back.   My route was made up from ideas stolen from David W, Graham and Diane, but everyone seemed to like the ride along the Basingstoke canal in dappled sunlight.   

This is when the trouble began.    We passed Woking Crematorium, identified by DW as the site of the world's first crematorium, and later visited Brookwood Cemetery, the worlds first lawn cemetery, stopping to pay our respects and also use the conveniences in the chapel.   There is a civilian cemetery, conceived by the London Necropolis Corporation as the solution to the lack of burial space in the capital.   It even had its own dedicated* station, the London Necropolis station, right next to Waterloo station, but later damaged and demolished in WW2.  Trains had different carriages for 1st, 2nd, 3rd class and Hearse Carriages for the deceased, also with different classes.  I imagine that you could only get a single ticket for the Hearse Carriages.

London Necropolis Station

After touring the civilian cemetery, we visited the military cemetery with extensive graves for several nationalities from both world wars, before returning to the road to Mytchett and Farnborough.

Military Cemetery

The hungry riders were made to climb a bonus hill in order to view the impressive Mausoleum of the emperor Napoleon III Bonaparte, last emperor of France before his exile to England, his wife Empress Eugenie who built the monument, and their son Napoleon Louis, who was tragically killed fighting in the Boer War, where he was supposed to be assigned to a 'safe' role.  The mausoleum, also known as St Michael's Abbey, still functions as a Benedictine monastery, and not many people will be interested to know that it houses an organ by the famous French organ builder Cavaillé-Coll, who built many famous Franch organs including that of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and whose organs were admired by the famous French composers Cesar Franck and Charles-Marie Widor.   At least one person will be interested to know that he (Cavaillé-Coll) was born in Montpellier.  

But I digress.   The abbey is only open to visitors on Saturdays, so we had to have lunch in Wetherspoons instead.

Part of St Michael's Abbey

Graham had left us after riding along the canal with us, and David left at the sight of Wetherspoons, having claimed his two points.   Thank you David for providing not just a large part of the route, but also much of the morbid and interesting cultural content of the ride.

The morning was mostly ridden in shade, but the afternoon started in full sun as we climbed the hill at Deepcut to admire the distant views of Woking, looking beautiful through the haze.  Someone (Tony?) thought he spotted the Eiffel Tower as well.   Then it was downhill nearly all the way through Windlesham and Longcross, anxiously looking at watches, to try to arrive before the (unknown) closing time at the Great Cockrow Railway.  In our haste to get there, we passed Colin Q coming the other way, having visited Cockrow but given up all hope of seeing us.  I'm sorry we missed you, Colin!  You could say we were dead lucky to get there just in time to bag the last of the cakes, and sit in the shade watching the trains and waving at their young and not so young passengers as we put the world to rights.

 

At Great Cockrow (train in background)

Who ate all the cakes?

It was a very enjoyable day out in summery weather and good company who took my improvisations (i.e. mistakes) in good spirit.   Thank you to the many people whose routes I plundered, to Jennie for back-marking, and to David W, Niall, Andy, and Ruth for the photos.

* or should that be deadicated?