Sunday 3rd February

We had eight brave riders turn up at Effingham Vineries for elevenses, but only four for the rest of the ride. It soon became apparent on climbing up to Ranmore that the minor roads were extremely dangerous. I think Torvill and Dean would have been more at home up there.

Once up on Ranmore we decided to head on to the Royal Oak at Brockham Green for lunch. (Whitedown, I later found out was closed anyway).

The road down to Westhumble was also sheet ice, especially on the bend at the top, so that involved another walk.

All in all a very challenging ride.

Regards

Pete

Terry's PS: 2 points for Petes (2 off), Ged and Terry. 1 point for Pam, Ed, Dave and Bob. 

Joint Ride with South Bucks CTC

Thiis year it is South Bucks turn to host the Joint ride. Th date will be the 5th of May and the general area will be around Denham.

I will post further details in due coures.

Tony..

Capel Teas 2019

From the website:

March    31
April      19, 21, 22
May       05, 06, 19, 26, 27
Jun         09, 23
Jul          07, 21, 28
Aug        11, 25, 26
Sep         08, 22,
Oct         06, 20,
Nov        03, 17, 24
Dec        01

Sunday January 27 2019

The long range forecasts were dire (zero temperatures, gale force northerlies) so every chance that the ride might end at 11s!

But overcast and raining when I awoke turned to blue by eight so after dressing off I went to Ripley. A direct route to lunch would have been under 10 miles so I 'stretched'. Six set off from Pinnocks heading north into the wind to West Byfleet then southwest along the Basingstoke through Woking to St Johns. Here we abandoned the canal and headed downhill to the semi-abandoned Robin Hood Road which led to Knaphill and the Mizen Railway. By now the skies were overcast and as we passed through Chobham we were bombarded by hail. Most choose to soldier on but Pam and Tony 'caped up'. We reunited in the warmth of the Red Lion (crowded and under new management) just ahead of Ray arriving from the opposite direction.

For no obvious reason, soups arrived long after roasts; nevertheless we were away by two. Twenty (sic) wind-assisted minutes later some stopped at Squires Holloway Hill for the first 'tea' of 2019.

Home after easy 46 miles; the wind showing its power only in exposed spots like Walton Bridge..

Two points: Graham, Dave, Pam, Terry, Tony, Vic
One point: Ray

Cheam & Morden Annual Lunch

Sunday Feb 10^th 2019

Post Christmas lunch is The Angel, Angel Road, Thames Ditton KT7 0AU, 2 course meal, menu choices nearer the time, bookings to Pam Jones or Ann Bath. 

Elevenses at 52 Whitehorse Drive, Epsom KT18 7LY

Cold ride to Chobham

Vic, Terry and Pam tuck into hearty nosh to ward off the cold and hail at times!

C&M annual lunch - 10 February

C and M New Year's Lunch - 10 February

See link below for details

https://cheamandmorden.blogspot.com/2019/01/cheam-morden-new-year-lunch-february-10.html

For those last minute dot commers who have not yet signed up for lunch at the Angel, Pam will be available to collect your menu choices and cash at the MWW elevenses on Wednesday, 30 January. She will also be at the C and M elevenses on Sunday 27 Jan and Sunday 3 Feb. Please do not leave it too late.

Jeff

Sunday 20 January 2019

Five of us (Bob, Graham, Lillian, Ed, Vic and me) tackled the long drag up to elevenses at Polesden Lacey on a sunny but very cold morning.   Keith arrived just as we were setting off.   As some of us were suffering with the cold I cancelled the planned, hillier itinerary, and we took a shorter, flatter route, but still with some pleasant roads, giving at least the illusion of rurality, towards lunch at Epsom.  At Fetcham Mill Ponds we paused briefly to admire the bird life, including a cormorant, then we spotted Colin Quemby as we were leaving Ashtead, so it was a more than usually eventful ride!  At lunch Ann Bath and Mike Morley joined us and we chatted on until it was time to head our separate ways home.  Thanks to all for your company and for braving the cold!

Quiz results! - Group Riding Skills

A while back, we offered the chance to join an exciting quiz on Group Riding Skills.

The results have been carefully analysed and tabulated by our independent scrutineer, Mr Google, and they make interesting reading.  Click here to see them.

A taster of the results

Here are the Group Ride Guidelines...

Puncture repair withe the master looking on.

Lunch at Wetherspoons Uxbridge

The motley crew.

Sunday the 13th Jan

A good turnout a Squires Fulwell and most were there early. Dave was having his full breakfast as usual and was not joining the ride. Ed, Lillian, Graham, Ray. Ann Bath came just to 11's just to promote the C&M annual dinner. Ged, Pete Betts, Paul and Brian Bent.

It was an urban ride but I did keep away from as many main roads as possible. We followed the Crane River trail and then over Hounslow heath. Just after this I punctured. Onto Hayes and Hillingdon nearly to the A40, then back roads into Uxbridge. The usual Wetherspoons fare and a relaxed lunch.

A slightly short route back but still across Hounslow heath and the river Crane. Just before Fulwell the group fragmented and made their own ways home.

A delightful ride through some of West Londons premier Flytiping hotpots. But tempered by good company.

Tony.. 

C&M Lunch 10 February

For details, please scroll down. It is there somewhere.

Jeff

Jan 5th - Addlestone - Windsor

Ed and Vic braving the rough stuff

A modest ride today, to check all the bits are still working after New Year excesses.  Luckily, they were.   Eight at Addlestone, and three in Vietnam (no points for them), on a day that was forecast to have deep cloud all day, but satisfyingly the sun came out as we were getting ready to set off to Windsor.   Bob left us there to head straight home.  Familiar roads led us to Ottershaw, Foxhills Road and then through Lyne to get to Trumps Green and on to Virginia Water - well, not on it but around it, at a very leisurely pace to avoid the multitude of families, dogs, and children with Christmas bikes or scooters.   Then - a bit of a surprise to me - the road by the Guards Polo Club was closed as it is being re-routed (to create more space for polo, I guess).  We decided to brave the horse track, which was made up of compacted sand - ok in parts but at times it was easier to cycle on the grass.    All survived to make it to lunch.

After lunch there wasn't much appetite for tea, so we all started off together but Lilian and Ed caught the train from Windsor, Vic left us heading for Wraysbury, and David and Graham left us as we approached Ashford.   Tony and I stopped at a very welcoming café, the Golden Grill, a distant relative of the Golden Café where we started the morning, and a possible future elevenses stop.

Thankyou all for your company.

Cheam & Morden New Year Lunch - February 10

Lunch Details

In the midst of a bleak mid-winter, C and M seeks to cheer everybody up with a New Year lunch.

This year, once again, it will be at that historic cycling venue: The Angel, Angel Road, Thames Ditton, KT70AU. Invitations are invited from members of C and M as well as from members of MWW and Beginners.

Menu choices for the 2 course lunch @ £11.50 are:

Roast Lamb

Roast Turkey

Angel fish Pie

Cottage Pie

Nut Roast (Vegetarian)

***********

Caramel Apple Pie

Raspberry Cheesecake

Ice Cream Sundae

***********

If you are game to join in, menu choices and a cheque or cash should be provided to:

Ann Bath: Telephone: 07751 308105 or on a C and M ride. Ann hopes to be out on 13th and 20th Jan and Feb 3rd.

That is not either/or. Both are required. Do NOT leave it too late.

As you will have seen from the Rides Programme, elevenses on the ride on 10 February will be provided by Ann at: 52, Whitehouse Drive, Epsom, KT18 7LY. Even if you are not on the ride, you may care to drop by on the way to lunch. TUE's will be required.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Jeff

(Pam's Little Helper)

 

New Years Day 2019

A good turnout for the first day of 2019. People arrived in dribs and drabs over a 2 hour period. Around 25 plus all told.

Great chat and banter. Nice to see Jeff T, Ray Wren and Daniel. Ed led a few from the Spring Tavern and Helen T arrived with some of the easy riders.

Eventually it was time to leave and a small group headed to the Bell at Molesey for lunch. I accompanied them as far as Teddington and headed home after delivering a newsletter to Alan Anderson. A very Happy New Year to you all.

Tony..

New Years Day Social

10.30 at the cafe in Richmond park for a Southwest London CTC social new years day coffee and chat.

Click picture

Annual Mileages 2018 - The sands of 2018 are fast running out

Annual Mileages Jan 1st - Dec 31st 2018

Member Mileages 2018

Old hands will know that, at this time of year, we request members to submit their mileage record for the past 12 months: that is, from Jan 1st to 31 Dec 2018. We keep a running total on the MWW blog under the tab 'mileage'. Perhaps you have never noticed it. 

 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MII1T_mRI2kgw34FQDojN-LiQwr48vRImUGYaQH0Fzs/edit#gid=0

It is of individual (and sometimes sobering) interest to see one's annual and cumulative mileage and it is of value to the Group to be able to report how many miles our members have ridden.

Please therefore take the trouble to remind yourself to take note of your annual mileage for 2018 before the witching hour of 59.59.23 on 31 December and then to send it to me by whatever communication method you feel most comfortable with. Apologies to W. Churchill for ending that sentence with a preposition, up with which he would not put. Pigeon post most welcome. 

email: jeff.tollerman@lineone.net

Otherwise, a grubby piece of paper will suffice, if identifiable.

For the male and female member (those are at present the only categories that we recognise), who clocks up the greatest annual mileage, your achievement will be recognised at our annual lunch. There will also be recognition for the member who has cycled more miles in 2018 than any other member.

Please note that entries will only be eligible for a prize from members who are regular riders with at least one section of the club. 

 Do not forget to write down the mileage on your Cateye, Garmin, Cyclometer or whatever BEFORE you reset it to zero for 2019.

I look forward to receiving your mileage, however modest. It is unlikely to be less than mine.

Happy New Year to all.

Jeff

Sunday 30 December 2018

A damp and gloomy morning didn't deter no less than twelve of us from gathering at  Squires Garden Centre, Stoke d'Abernon.   This included Daniel, warmly welcomed back after quite a long absence, and Ray Wren.   Everyone except Maureen continued to lunch at Leatherhead, Bob and Ray beating the main group.   Well, I did improvise a rather circuitous tour of the back roads of Cobham, Oxshott and Leatherhead to ensure the group a good appetite for lunch.   Many opted for a manager's special turkey meal to keep up their protein intake!   

There was no consensus after lunch and we all set off in different directions, fading into the gloom!
Despite the miserable weather and the short distance, it was an enjoyable ride in good company, so thanks to all.

Sunday the 23/12/2018

The day before Christmas eve and it dawned wet! I left home about 9.15 and the rain had stopped. About half way to Squires at Long Ditton I had to stop and take off my rain top as the weather was very mild. On arriving at Squires Dave was already tucking into a full English and Bob had also arrived. Slowly the throng arrived,Simon, Paul, Carolyn, Pam and then Ed, the days leader.

No rush today and we lingered at 11's only leaving around 11.30. A lovely route to Wetherspoons at Leatherhead with no rain. Very local knowledge from Ed saw us arrive in good time Dave had left us at 11,s and Carolyn left us at Leatherhead before lunch.

Again we lingered over an enjoyable lunch. On departure Ed and Simon headed towards Ewell while Pam, Paul and I headed for Cobham where Paul turned for home and I followed Pam along Seven Hills road towards Walton, we parted company at the mini roundabout near Whitelys village and I head for Molesey and Hampton stopping briefly at my Sons before heading home in the dark.

Although a dank and dismal day a good ride with cheery folk.

Tony..

Winter Solstice

Attendance

In celebration of the the winter solstice and and the approach of Christmas, I have taken the liberty to insert a new page in our attendance record to include attendances from October 2018. I'm sure that Lisa will forgive me.

I have referred to ride reports to identify attendances. Unfortunately, October 21 is an embarrassing vacuum, which C&M abhors. Any help in filling this vacuum will be most appreciated. Please also check the other dates to confirm that they are accurate. I would not want any dispute to be referred to the European Court of Justice - pre- or post-brexit. That might take a long time.

In the meantime, may I wish you all a Very Happy Christmas. 

Jeff

Advance Notice - Change to Lunch Venue for 30/12/18

As The Edmund Tylney, Leatherhead appears on the rides list as the lunch venue for the rides on both Sunday 23 and 30 December, I may, on the day, suggest an alternative, local destination for my ride on 30 December.   This will be in light of the weather and the wishes of the group at elevenses (which remains unchanged at Squires, Stoke d'Abernon).    But I can't promise a cracking lunch like this one!

Sunday 16.12.18

Runnymede - Maidenhead - Home!!

An easy start for me!  Irene is visiting her sister this week so it was great to have her company on C + M ride.

Bob, Tony, Paul and Dave were in the National Trust Cafe when Irene and I arrived,  then Graham and Vic joined us. Bob and Dave went to 'where ever' and Vic had left the group by the time we reached Windsor. I thought it a good idea to see the Xmas decorations in Windsor Town; what a let down, there weren't any!

We crossed the river, stopping outside Watermans pub for a chat with Ged  who was on a reccie. Our route took us along the river to Dorney;  turning on to the path along side M4 motorway to Bray. Before reaching Maidenhead I took a right on to cycle route 52 taking us to the roundabout at Maidenhead bridge. On to the Thames Hotel just up on the left on the Cookham road.

Good to be in the warm with drinks and food ordered.  Somehow it wasn't quite as ordered but tasted good and no one complained!

Our route home was 'as norm'....along A4 (not the Jubilee river today), Dorney, Eton, Datchet to Horton, Wraysbury and Staines.

Tony had things to do at home so left us at Horton. I needed to call on pals in Staines; Irene went direct to Egham for her car.   Paul also decided to carry on - no tea at Notcutts today!!

Thank you for joining me.... Good company and an enjoyable day out.  Pam 😊👍

Pams cold ride to Maidenhead

A lovely surprise that Irene joined us.

Sunday the 16th Lunch venue change

This coming Sunday, the 16th, the lunch venue will now be the Thames Hotel Maidenhead.

Tony..

Sunday December 9th

Fortunately the drizzle en route to The Vineries was not a bad omen - it was simply ensuring we would have a fine, sunny day. Leaving Ed, Graham and Bob there, I led Dave, Vic and Petes Beyer and Foster to Ranmore via Beech Avenue and Hogden Lane. We then cautiously descended roughish Ranmore Common Road before tunnelling under the A24 and taking the cycle track to Pixham Lane. Joining the A25 briefly we turned into quiet Punchbowl Lane then Tilehurst Lane. Here the eastish wind was much stronger than on Wayfarers' fwc day - I couldn't manage my previous best by some distance. For a change we then went up Root Hill and turned left into Brockhamhurst Road, followed by Gadbrook Road and Snower Hill. Wellers and Wheelers Lanes led to Brockham after I made a brief stop to save the cost of a 2nd class stamp.

Lunch at the Royal Oak was delicious and appeared quite quickly. The Petes had soup and would recommend it - but only one bowl. We chose to return via the muddyish Coach Road, along which Pete B found a bunch of keys - further on he found a keyless, very grateful family of four. We decided against a further stop - I arrived home just in time for 'Threes'.

Terry 

Lunch on Sunday December 9th.....

.....will be at The Royal Oak, Brockham

Terry

London ride photos

Abbey Mills pumping station

Trinity Buoy (disused) lighthouse and Fatboy's Diner

December 2 2018 A Day To Forget

It's nearly four years since our last expedition to the East, a land largely built by Joseph Bazalgette - Chelsea and Victoria Embankments, the Northern Sewage Outfall and his "Cathedral of Sewage", Abbey Mills pumping station. This is also a gruesome tale of Primo, Secondus, Tertius and Quartus aka the Four P's.

Sunday was warm for December but almost rainless (heavy before and after but scarce during the ride). There were four at the start (G, Dave, Ed, Lillian). Primo (Ed) showed up after only two miles close to ex HMP Ham House (an ongoing addition to Berkeley’s empire).  We split with Dave volunteering to take the bad news to anyone (Pam and Tony) waiting at Barnes station where four became six.

The next unscheduled stop was the briefest of visits to The Rocket behind Putney Church. Then came Hurlingham and Chelsea Harbour where early West London derby fans were disgorging from Imperial Wharf station. There was nothing to record of our ride between Battersea and Waterloo Bridges save the absence of Terry but in truth I confused the undersides of Waterloo and Charing Cross Bridges! So now we were seven.

Fifteen minutes later we arrived at the Liberty Bounds, packed but service was still prompt. As we left Secondus (Pam slow) turned up.  Between St Katharine's Dock and the London Stadium was watery and as predicted nobody rode the cobbles at either Bow Lock or Three Mills Studios. Old Ford was a first chance to shorten the ride. We turned east onto the Greenway but to no avail as we met Tertius (Tony) as we descended to Marshgate Lane. This was one stop too many for Dave who headed home. We paused beside Abbey Mills pumping station before continuing on to Plaistow and Canning Town where Quartus (Tony again) put in a belated appearance.

It should be no surprise that lunch was taken after two at Fat Boy's Diner nestling between London’s only lighthouse until 1988 and Container City. Refreshed we headed through the Isle of Dogs where locals were showing off their latest balaclava/scooter collections. In Island Gardens is the Greenwich Foot Tunnel entrance; we walked. What happened next is unclear. Only Lillian and I reached Waterloo station by the intended route (Quietway 1, well worth checking out). Perchance we found Ed on the main concourse looking for a train. Just not my day? And sometime this week there will be a cleaning session.

35 miles.