Sunday 29th December 2024

 Today we went north into the "Big Smoke".........freezing fog, mist & murk more like, so when eight appeared at North Cheam for a early departure, I was pleasantly suprised.

Most had four layers or more but Daniel was caught out by the low temperature & shivered most of the way round but Geoff was able to help out in the glove department to save on frost bitten fingers.

Nine became ten after the "welcome" ? hill of Cottenham Park Road (sorry Lilian, I know you would beg to differ).

Drivers (mostly) kept to the 20 mph speed limit along Parkside & we descended to a traffic free Putney High Street.

Fulham Road took us to West Brompton & then up to the cavernous Tesco at West Kensington.

Ordering was quick & easy using big screens that I'm more used to seeing in McDonalds (not that I ever go in McDonalds).

By the time we were ready to leave, numbers had swelled further to fifteen (Steph arrived shortly after this pic was taken).

Lunch was due east but we were to ride north & complete "a lap" of the Regents Park outer perimeter road which Komoot calls a "highlight", probably due to its wide pothole free surface, lack of traffic, road furniture & stuff to slow you down.

Bring on the fast men (& women).

Passing London Zoo, I pondered what the Zebras thought about the cold, sadly they looked too miserable to be bothered.

A Garmin malfunction caused a minor delay but we were soon in Hyde Park dodging the many pedestrians heading for the "Winter Wonderland".

Ice Mountain:

This indoor spinning rollercoaster gives you a thrilling experience of the Arctic as you ride through mountain caverns, meet the resident penguins and see dazzling northern lights.

"Not my cup of tea" says Sabine.

On reaching Trafalgar Square it appeared we hadn't lost anybody so just after 1pm, lunch was served at Kozzy café in the back streets of Holborn.

This was the bit I most feared because as the place was "walk in" only, the ride could of gone seriously pear shaped at this point.

But somehow everyone got seated, fed and I sensed a general feeling of satisfaction amongst the diners.

Photo credit Simon

A few of us stopped for a NT tea at the Potting Shed café (Morden).

Photo credit Madeleine

Thanks to Clive for back marking on his 3rd C&M ride - today with his son George, various corner markers & to use a favourite phrase by Dave W - thanks for putting up with it all.

Finally, I wish all C&M riders past & present & casual blog readers a HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE NEW YEAR !

IMPORTANT - Changes to this Sunday, 29th December

 Hi all,

The ride starts from North Cheam (Lavender Corner Post Office) at 9.20am (a little later than published).

Elevenses is at the Tesco, West Kensington (Junction of Cromwell Road/Warwick Road).

There are plenty of bike racks & it may be possible to see your bike from the café.

Upon entering, immediately look for the stairs on the right where the café is located on the first floor with the toilets on the next floor up.

The recently opened café has a ordering system not unlike McDonalds where you choose from a screen prompt.

NOTE, the store doesn't open until 11am although the café opens at 10.30am.

Lunch is at Kozzy café Fast Break in Red Lion Street, Holborn where the owner Cindy will be pleased to serve us.

Tea is at the National Trust café, Morden Hall Park.

PLEASE NOTE, in areas where cycles & pedestrians share space ie, Hyde Park, please take care.

Routes:

NC - Tesco   https://www.komoot.com/tour/1991121772

Tesco - Kozzy café    https://www.komoot.com/tour/1992693916

Kozzy café - NT café    https://www.komoot.com/tour/1992701453

I look forward to your company.

Sunday December 22 2025 - Old Moat To Spoons

At the start riders were in double figures but half were there to test a new tandem plus Ed meaning only eight signed on the official ride.  Oh the shame of it - a day's total of 17.5 miles, a ride's total under 10 including 2 miles for a view of a wooden seat (search this blog for better views). As can be seen from this map the rest was edge of suburbia. 

Bright and breezy to 11s; "fresh" for the last two miles home. 

Christmas cards for all

Pete Mitchell's seat (approx TQ1862)

.

New Year's Day Elevenses Meet 2024

🎄

Everyone from all SWLDA sections is welcome at the Cheam & Morden Section's traditional New Year's Day meet at Colicci Cafe, Roehampton Gate, Richmond Park on Weds 1 January.    Arrive at any time from early on until midday and you'll be in good company!    

Wednesday 'B' group riders who are interested in a possible ride starting from the Epsom/Ewell area to Richmond Park and back should contact Madeleine Shearer for further information.

Apart from that, no formal group rides to or from Richmond Park are currently planned but it's never too late to volunteer to lead an inbound, outbound, or round trip ride!   A lunch stop is not compulsory!

Seasons greetings in the meantime, and don't forget that the C & M don't stop for Christmas - we do have a ride planned for Sunday 29 December too!

Oops!

 Call it old age. I posted this on the Midweekers blog by mistake,  Now removed! 

 Sunday's ride is as advertised from Old Moat to Spoons Surbiton. It's likely to be breezy but brief (under 15 miles).  No ride pm indeed I may not stop for lunch.  

A lot calmer than Tu/W in Kings Lynn so I'll try to arrive early (for me) at OM. 

Ride Report - Sunday 15 December 2024

Well, I've said it before and I'll no doubt say it again (it saves my little grey cells from the undue wear and tear original thought might risk), but a North Cheam elevenses meet always brings Cheam and Morden members out of the woodwork from all directions!    This occasion was no exception but had also the feel of a reunion as it was very pleasing to have both Richard and Ed join us, along with a few other faces we haven't seen recently, but which were most welcome!

If I have it correctly, I was joined for the rest of the ride to lunch by no less than Niall (many happy returns to him), Simon L, Brenda, Christina, Geoff, Neil C, Diane, Gina, Andy C, Keith, Maddie and Steph (I think I'm one name short there - apologies if I've overlooked anyone)!

(NB - Route shown above includes section from Walton-on-Thames to North Cheam which was not part of the official route)

I must admit I was taken a little by surprise by the size of the group joining the onward ride to Ockham Bites, and parts of the route weren't ideal for such a large number.  Nevertheless, with the help of Simon, Neil, Geoff and Andy, any difficulties were overcome!   

It was a day of three inaugurations for the C & M, the first being a traverse of the newly-resurfaced (well, partly, anyway) bridleway, New Road.   This proved itself to be just about tolerable for riding in what has been quite a wet autumn and early winter, but it is a pity some attention was not given to the rather gloopy turn-out onto Fairoak Lane!

(Photo courtesy of Andy)

The main event of the day, the C & M's first official traverse of the new Wisley Bridge, had to wait until after lunch, where Terry joined us.   Ockham Bites was busy but everyone that needed refreshments managed to get what they wanted and it was fortunately a mild and bright day, ideal for sitting outside!

Some headed their own ways home from lunch, but a hardcore group led by me headed the short distance to the bridge and took it by storm!   It made for a much shorter and easier ride back to Walton, even more so because we inaugurated use of a mysterious path (well, I've always wondered where it went, anyway) leading along the base of the old banking at Brooklands for where turned out to be quite a short length, but cunningly avoiding the busy shopping centre area.   With the brisk wind behind us we soon reached our destination.

Many thanks to all for you company, and for putting up with it all (!), and particular thanks to the helpers named above.    See you all again soon!

Revised Plans for Sunday 15 December 2025

Sunday's ride will start as billed from The Nonsuch Inn, North Cheam.   However, our lunch stop will now be at Ockham Bites (not The Pomelers' Rest as billed).   I was planning a rather quirky outbound route of almost 20 miles to include at least one crossing of the new Wisley Lane bridge, but now I learn that New Road, Claygate has been re-invigorated, and appears to be rideable again in winter conditions,  there are new possibilities and I may make some slight changes!

In any event, it will still be a longish ride to lunch and a much shorter route back to tea at Walton Bridge so all can get home in the light.

All welcome!

Sunday 8th December 2024 - Storm Darragh

Trying desperately to put a spin on it.

It wasn't THAT bad.

I mean yes it was cold, but it's winter fgs.

It was raining....but only light & intermittently, so it felt like it wasn't raining at all (joking).

A crowd (3) met at Oaks Park extended café indoor seating area.

Amid the constant yapping of dogs, we considered our options.

Go home or go on.

"Once you're out, you're out" was being echoed......so onwards we went.

Keith's intention was unclear (he left us shortly after) but Diane & myself continued east through Purley, Mitchley Hill & with the wind behind us made good time to find the road closed going toward Westerham.

But we were going no further.

The sawing of the tree into bits was well under way, but we headed inside for lunch.

When we emerged, the grabby, lifty truck had removed the logs & the road had reopened.

On the return there was a further incident on Featherbed Lane & a police presense (rta - petrol on the road). 

Tea was taken as planned (Coombe Wood).

Thanks to Keith but especially Diane for keeping me company.

Roll on summer.

Revised ride for Sunday 8th December

 

My efforts to resurrect the rides from years past (with an earlier start & ride to a

further out 11's) have been abandoned....at least until the Spring.

Storm Darragh may affect my plans for Sunday but in any event, 11's will be at Oaks Park, Carshalton.

Lunch will (hopefully) be either Warlingham or Woldingham (Knights GC) to be decided on the day.

If the the weather isn't as bad as the're saying then it's possible (in agreement with folk) we'll make Westerham (my original plan).

It would be nice to get to Coombe Wood for tea but we'll see.

Hope you can join me. 

Ride Report - Sunday 1 December 2024

 

It was one of those day when you wish the weather forecasters would give up using super computers and just go back to seaweed.   Or may be artificial intellingence would do a better job, to pick up that theme up again....  Anyway, a bit of patchy light rain was expected, quickly clearing through.   Of course, it didn't do what was expected and, after a largely dry start we got increasingly heavy and persistent rain!

Tony, Steph, Colin G, Graham, Steph, Robert and Maddie are made of sterner stuff than to be put off by a liitle bit of rain and duly assembled at Cafe Barbera for elevenses.   I'm not made of sterner stuff, but I had to be there to lead the ride, so no effort of will or strength of character was required on my part!

Anyway, all of us except Tony (who sagely decided to head for home) set off on my shortish route to Epsom.   However, while the route might of been short on distance, it seemed to take forever as my gloves progressed through damp to wet and I cursed myself for not bringing a spare pair!  And a helmet cover or jacket with a hood.  Never trust weather forecasts!

That was just a state of mind and in reality it didn't take us too long to reach the shelter afforded by The Assembly Rooms.   Ann had arrived before us and reserved just the right number of seats.  It wasn't too busy and there was no queue at the bar.  Wetherspoons festive fare was duly consumed in abundance!

It was still raining steadily when I set off for home, but, as it goes with that sort of day, it dried up and the sun suddenly started to shine brilliantly just as I turned the last corner before my road!   You couldn't make it up although AI might be able to!

Thanks all for your company on such a horrible day!