Ride Report - Sunday 22 August 2021

 

Pam, Ann, Graham, Bob, Simon, Tony, Terry and I met for elevenses at Nauticalia, Shepperton.  Choices were somewhat limited by a lack of bacon, but we managed to compromise!  Terry and Bob wisely went their own ways while the rest of us pursued a somewhat quirky itinerary to lunch, taking in the remains of a disused ford at Shepperton, Europe's largest women's prison at Ashford, and the impressive causeway between the two Staines reservoirs, beloved of twitchers, but today bereft of them!  There weren't many birds to spot anyway, but plenty of activity visible at Heathrow.  The gate to exit the causeway on the west side is not bike-friendly, but we managed by team effort, continuing then to Stanwell Moor and close to Horton to reach The Perseverance at Wraysbury.   

This is a terrific pub with really friendly staff and a lovely garden.   The one drawback is that Sunday lunch choices are a bit limited.  Unfortunately, it was only me, who wasn't eating, who noticed the availability of child's roast meals at £6.95.   Never mind, home-made minestrone soup and  somewhat larger bowls of chips kept people happy!

Unfortunately, it came on to rain as we were about to leave, but it soon stopped and gradually grew sunnier and warmer as we headed via Staines Bridge and Thorpe for a long-overdue tea stop at Great Cockcrow railway (photo courtesy of Simon).   Fortunately, the railway and tea shop still just the same as on our last visit two years ago - except that they now take card payments!    Thanks all for your company.

Ride Report - Sunday 15 August 2021

Although many of our number were away on holiday, we still managed to muster six members (Tony, Graham, Keith, Bob, Brian B and me) at our meeting point for the day at Squires Garden Centre, Stoke d'Abernon.   This must have been our first visit there as a group in 18 months!    It was raining while we were having our elevenses but had miraculously brightened up by setting off time.   Tony had devised a route to Woking, but had to return home before lunch.   Bob didn't join us for the ride and  Keith eventually went off his own way, leaving Graham, Brian and I to continue to Woking.

Our lunch stop was at the The Herbert Wells.   Again, it is so long since we visited this old favourite haunt that we were flummoxed to find no trace remaining of the railings to which we used to lock our bikes!  Brian set off straight away for home, while Graham and I installed ourselves outside the pub.   Being a Wetherspoons app user, I didn't even have to walk to the bar!    Lunch over, it was a straight ride home, Graham leaving me at Walton Bridge.   Thanks all for your company.

Sunday the 15th

 Due to the Melton Mowbray trip, a few of the regulars will be away this weekend and numbers obviously depleted, especially as lunch was planned for moss End. 

Therefore I have changed 11's to Squires at Stoke D'Abernon, the lunch venue will be decided on the day.

Tony..

Old Slade lane bridge

 I recently email highways England re the bridge and have just had this reply.

Dear Mr Hopkins

Thank you for your email on 6 August 2021 regarding Old Slade Lane bridge.

I can confirm Old Slade Lane bridge in Langley is now open to pedestrians.

Thank you once again for your email. If you have any further queries or require any information, please contact us on the details below or visit the Highways England website.

 

Kind regards

Anu Vashisht, Administrator (Smart Motorways Programme)
Highways England |

M4 J3 to 12 Smart Motorways <M4J3to12SmartMotorways@highwaysengland.co.uk>

 

Old Slade Lane Bridge

Due to recent rain I postponed a survey of Amberley and other points south and instead choose to head northwest. The good news the bridge has reopened and has been resurfaced (mostly). The barrier nearest to the industrial estate is still padlocked. Many feet have trampled a path on the the left hand (west) side of the barrier so no obstacle at all!

Word of warning: don't try the bridleway that starts opposite the A4 cafe and continues beside the Colne unless you're a fan of ferocious nettles, brambles and a fallen tree which hasn't moved for at least 460 days. 

 

Southern Refreshments

Tea 'n cake are now available at...

 Brockham Church hall every Sunday afternoon to October 24th.

 Capel Church 15th, 29th, 30th  August, 12th September, 3rd October, 7th and 28th November, 12th December..

Ockley Church (new) !st Sunday of each month - but no end date quoted.

August 8 2021 - Torsion at Brookwood or the Tale of the Twisted Derailleur

 

A wet start and not the best of mornings, but the Cheam and Morden are made of sterner stuff than another local cycling club (not worth their salts, if you see what I mean) who apparently cancelled their ride because of the weather.   These flighty thoroughbreds!   Admittedly, we did have a few apologies but Mark, Pam and Graham still joined me for elevenses at Fairoaks.   It was dry when we arrived so the outside seating was preferred, but the rain soon set in again and we retreated inside to save my sausage, egg and chips from getting too soggy!

The worst of the rain was over by the time we were ready to set off, although the weather was hardly cheery!   I was rather looking forward to trying my ingenious (I think) route to Windlesham, which after the backwaters of Woking and Hook Heath, would have taken us to Brookwood, then to Bisley and West End using a few roads and paths new to me.   However, the fickle finger of fate had other plans for me and, for reasons unknown, my rear mech suddenly plunged into my rear wheel during a gear change, and was wrecked.  Fortunately, the wheel was intact.

There was only one solution.   I saw it done about 1988, and I have always remembered it lest I should ever have the need!   The trick is to remove the derailleur, then break and shorten the chain with the aim of it running on one cog only of the cassette.   With help from the others we pulled it off.   My Wolftooth missing link pliers weren't of any use in breaking the chain, but the chain tool on my Topeak multi-tool did the job in breaking, shortening and refixing the chain (just as well I had realised much earlier that the Topeak tool needs a separate hex key to operate it - there is one of the right size built into the tool, but it can't be removed to work the built-in chain tool - design fault or what).

It all seemed to take ages, but actually it didn't take all that long.   I would describe it as a get you to the nearest station fix, rather than get you home.  To make it work properly, you really need old-style dropouts with a bit of adjustment in them, otherwise it's difficult to get enough tension in the chain and it jumps about, gradually working its way onto the smallest cog then off!

Anyway, the others kindly rode with me towards the nearest train and I got home without too much trouble, although I won't be looking to repeat this experience if I can avoid it!

Graham, Pam and Mark took to the towpath after leaving me and eventually found some lunch, although not as planned.  Thanks to them for their company and their help, and we'll try my route again another time!

August 1 2021

 So finally C&M's year19-21 has been laid to rest. At Old Moat there were a surprising number of mourners (Anne, Bob, Dave W, Ed, Elliott, Gemma, GFH, Irene, Jeff, Maureen, Pam, Terry, Tony). 

For Bob and Maureen this was far enough. The rest crossed over into trees and the first stop was the Pete Mitchell bench(in use). The trackbed of the long vanished Horton Estate Light Railway led us finally to tarmac in Rollesby Road. Beside the Bonesgate Stream we reached the Kingston Road A240 where traffic was stationary just as it had been more than an hour before! Seeking an escape a procession of at least 20 mourners (cars) trailed us on the short rise to Old Malden. Here they turned left as we went right and down into Worcester Park and first left after the station. After the edge of Morden Cemetery came more suburban roads on the way to Raynes Park. C31 (and its continuation) delivered us to Elm Road and home.

Here Irene and I stopped to pick up supplies (largely unneeded); the others were sent on ahead to Richmond Park. Just inside the park they discovered the toilet card machine out of commission and two fallen logs which were to serve as the forum for the AGM. 13 miles

Change to Planned Ride - Sunday 8 August 2021

Our ride on Sunday 8 August 2021 will now start from the Hanger Cafe, Fairoaks Airfield, Chobham, lunch stop to be confirmed, but Windlesham is a distinct possibility.

The planned ride to the London area will now take place in October with slightly changed arrangements.

AGM August 1 2021

At lunch last Sunday we agreed that the 2019-2021 AGM should be a picnic in Richmond Park weather permitting.

Leaving the Old Moat garden centre Epsom(KT19 8PQ) no later than 1130, the ride will be largely off-road but there'll be no muddy sections! ETA at Richmond Park around 1300.

Pembroke Lodge and Roehampton Gate have both cafe and toilet but are very busy at weekends. Other places have one or the other, or none at Ham Gate. Kingston Gate has a toilet (charge 20p card only) and a small "garden shed" selling snacks and drinks.

Our rallying point will be the solitary tree in the middle of the grassy area marked on the map by an "X". Elsewhere might involve a significant climb (for example 100 feet to King's Clump, site of the 1948 Olympic Village). Also shown are my house and ASDA Kingston (charge 0p).

Hopefully you'll bring all you need. I expect to stop off at my house to pick up food, drink, pens, papers, seats(tarps and rubble sacks), tick remover, etc. I may walk to the picnic (<1/2 mile) if the load is great! Better Irene did this as she's no longer a registered C&M volunteer.

After the meeting some may wish to visit the Wych Elm and/or Norbiton Hotel gardens. Don't expect them to be quiet. Or the Willoughby, Park Tavern, Black Horse, Albert, Canbury Arms, etc. all within a half mile radius of home.
 

July 26 2021 Silchester 2

The forecast wasn't promising but three (Simon, Tony, me) at Surbiton station became four (Pam) at Woking and six (Anne, Dave) at Winchfield. And as we entered Hartley Wintney from the northeast, we espied Ray emerging from a side street.

Tony felt unwell and headed home. The now six left the A30's roar for the quiet of narrow lanes and a plague of cyclists. A right turn after Hazeley's closed Leg Off Mutton saw us beside the one time Police College in Bramshill. The Devil's Highway (London's roman road to the west) was met at a ford (SU743634); fortunately it wasn't on our route. It must be around 60 feet wide and there's no bridge. So some tarried when a man, a dog and a 4x4 attempted knee-deep uneven crossings. Meanwhile just up the road I had my own problem (a pirouetting horse spooked by a fallen and long decayed tree!).

To avoid byway (= muddy) sections of the Devil's Highway we used NCN23 until it turned south for Basingstoke. A sharp shower near one of the entrances to Strathfield Saye saw us caped but it eased before we reached the amphitheatre at Silchester (more correctly Calleva Atrebatum). It was now after one and from the outside the Calleva Arms looked packed. But the garden was empty and the service prompt.

The MetOffice had been more or less right about noon rain; the four o'clock sounded a lot more threatening. So plans were changed. Dave headed for Mortimer(3 miles) whilst the rest decided Hook station (12 miles) was best. This plan was almost unseated when Ray punctured on the two mile descent through Little London and later on in Old Basing a missed unsigned turn added a mile to the journey. But we weren't in a great hurry.

Ray's car was in Hartley Wintney so in Hook he departed hoping that a dualled section of the A30 could be avoided. The skies were ever darkening but still no rain fell as we reached the station where the 1623 was on time. Before Fleet the skies opened and in Surbiton roads were awash and headlights on. Just two miles to go; Ann, Pam and Simon weren't so lucky. Revised miles:31 + 1! The rain finally stopped around eight.

FNRTTC (August?) / Silchester (25/07) / AGM (01/08)

FNRTTC (August)

It was never intended that this ride would be on a Friday night from London to the coast! Starting from Leatherhead two surveys have thrown up a problem south of Amberley.

On survey 1 (North Stoke to South Stoke) the path was guarded by three tight kissing gates; on survey 2 (Houghton to South Stoke) the path was rootsy and slippery chalk. Apart from a puncture I got through but both paths are walkers only.

This might work!

Buy return ticket from home to Ford (West Sussex). Freedom Pass holders (me)  home = East Croydon so a return would be £14.60 (single is £14.50!).

Ride to Amberley (roughly 40 miles). 11s : Broadbridge Heath (Tesco or Garden Centre) 20 miles; Amberley has a pub and tea rooms adjacent to the station and a further two pubs in the village.

If interest catch train(xx.56) south to Arundel, ride to Climping beach and back to Ford station (A259 has cyclepath); only 8 miles

Catch train(xx.58  from Amberley, xx.48 and xx.06 from Ford) north to home.

Sunday July 25 2021 (Train Assisted to Winchfield)

The start is once again Winchfield Station and a ride of 36 miles will bring us back to the start. It's anticlockwise with  some of last year's route tackled in reverse. Be warned some roads could be described as "single track without passing places"! Optionally we could finish in Basingstoke (30 miles), Hook (31), or Fleet (40 but half hourly trains from 14.02).

Not bumpy - elevation is 150 to 350 feet and no Devil's Highway (roman road) means no mud. Not too many shops, pubs, or whatever so best to pack emergency rations.

Some (DW?) will ride to the start (25+ miles). For others the only option is hourly semi-fast (CJ 0915, Wim 0922, Sur 0930, Wok 0942, ..., Winchfield 1009). Buy a return to Hook as it's the same price. Any(first 9?) carriage will do seems to be the rule for cycles!

11s

Hartley Witney: the north side of High Street (A30) is Costa Coffee (0700-1700) and Tesco (0600-2300); opposite are Courtyard Cafe (1000-1600) and Wagon and Horses (1000-2200).

Lunch

A definite stop is Silchester Roman Amphitheatre just before Calleva Arms (same pub as last year). Little London and Pamber End pubs are unlikely alternatives.

Tea

Conkers Old Basing (1000-1600 but only 10 miles from lunch) or Odiham pub (Waterwitch?). Last year's farm shop closes at 1430. Arm twisting may see us back on the Basingstoke as Odiham is uphill. 

Route has been added to Google Drive which I haven't used in quite awhile - hope you can view it!

GPX (text file for those with GPS software)
PDF (for those content with a pretty picture) 

Sunday August 1 2021 (AGM)

Before Boris changes his mind again I intend to stage an AGM at my house. Bring your own but I'll pop into ASDA to see what savouries and sweets they have. We may have to wrestle large pieces of furniture to ensure everyone gets a seat! A Norfolk based member may be present but without her raffle winning e-bike.

11s will be the Old Moat Garden Centre Epsom (opposite Horton Park) followed by a 10 to 15 mile ride to north Kingston. No planned lunch or tea stops but several local options.

Draft Secretary's report deleted 03/08/21

 

 

 

Sunday the 18th

11's at Cobham, the Bakery or Brontes.

Lunch will be at the Assembly rooms, Epsom. And tea at Nauticaliar,  Shepperton lock. About 16 undulating miles to lunch and 15 miles to tea.

Designed to meet the needs of most current  C&M regulars.

A ride 'down' to Rusper - 11 July

Rusper is the highest village in West Sussex, so even though it's south of Leatherhead, it's hardly a ride 'down' to Rusper.   Still, it could have been worse.  My original plan was to go to Reigate Hill, lovely views but very definitely 'up'.   And it was a mud-bath on the North Downs Way, so it wouldn't have been that popular.

Nine ... (including the photographer)

+ 1  (was it something we said?)

There was a good number at elevenses at Leatherhead.  Bob, Graham, Terry, Ray, Brian Bent, Keith, Lillian, David, and myself were very pleased to be joined by new rider Elliot.   Bob was doing his own ride, so nine of us set off in two groups via Pixham and Brockham.  David, Graham and Ray said they would have a relaxed ride and meet us there, so we were a bit surprised to find them in front of us as we approached Rusper!   It turned out they had gone a slightly different route, missing Betchworth and Partridge Lane.

Mid-munch

The Star initially had some doubts whether they would be able to fit us in when I phoned in advance, but in fact there were only a handful of tables occupied, and they were happy to serve small portions or sandwiches in addition to the regular Sunday menu, so we were all well fed.  Brian and David left us at lunch time (after Brian had thoroughly inspected the cart pulled by two huge horses - possibly for a future work of art).  Then it was almost all downhill to tea, with a gentle tail wind to help us along.   We elected for tea in Leatherhead before going our separate ways home.  Graham, Ray and I went back over Ashtead Common and with Graham's help we visited Pete Mitchell's bench in Horton Country Park.  A very enjoyable day out in good company.

25/07/21 and 01/08/21 Provisional Dates

Before Boris changes his mind... These two dates are empty. I propose:

25/07 Winchfield - Hartley Wintney - Silchester-Hatch or Odiham - Winchfield

The distance is 35 to 40 miles and the route anticlockwise to confuse anyone who rode last year. And no Devil's Highway = no mud! The high point is still close to the Greywell tunnel but I'm omitting the canal so we can visit Odiham. 

The outward train is hourly and semi-fast: CJ, Wimbledon, Surbiton(0930), Woking. If coming by train, buy a return  to Hook(we'll leave the train one stop early). Fleet is an alternate finish as its Sunday pm service is half-hourly but around 4 or 5 more miles.

No doubt Dave will cycle from home say 25+ miles  

01/08 AGM

Our last AGM was Oct 19. Since then the CUK accounting year has been moved from Oct-Sep to Apr-Mar in line with HMRC. So this year's AGM should have been in Apr or May 2021 but Rule Of Six ruled that out until now. 

I'll stage it if I don't get a better offer but you may find yourselves eating, drinking, and sitting on the floor! 

For 11s somewhere like The Old Moat followed by a roundabout route to North Kingston. 

Ride report - Sunday 4 July 2021

 

Very heavy rain until about 9.00 am would have deterred many from setting off on their bikes, but Graham, Pam, Ray, Lilian, Ed, Tony and I met at Walton Bridge despite the rather unsettled weather and with the threat of more showers looming.   The idea was to reattempt last year's ride to The White Horse at Longford, in the process, pretty much completing a ride almost right around Heathrow.

As the weather was much better when we did the same ride last year, it was never going to be quite as enjoyable this time, but we were still favoured with pleasant, warm sunshine at the pub, and the service and food remained as good as before.   We did notice was that there were far more planes taking off from Heathrow than last year (some passing very low above us).

On the way home we couldn't even manage a view of the outside of the medieval long barn at Harmondsworth (last year we had a guided tour of the inside).   The wind had also strengthened and made hard work of the ride as we turned south round the airport.    I left the main group at Snakey Lane where they were heading for tea.   Thanks all for your company and to Tony for guiding us around the nooks and crannies of Harmondsworth.

A Possible Ride To The Coast (or FNRTTC Revisited) (or Not?)

Please declare an interest by contacting either me or Dave (preferably email).

Longtime SWL members will remember the FNRTTC rides organized by Simon Legg; some may still have the official uniform.

Provided there's interest and subject to successful recce(s), C&M may stage a 2021 replica. Like its inspiration it would be one way trip returning by train. It's based on a well used FNRTTC route but it would not start under the Wellington Arch (Hyde Park Corner) at midnight Friday! So we'll call it SDRTTC (Sunday Day Ride To The Coast). The following are merely suggestions.

Weather will be the defining factor. Leatherhead to Felpham or Climping would be around 50 miles. You can join or leave where ever you like (hopefully by prior arrangement).  A likely route might be: Dorking, Rusper, Horsham, Coolham, West Chiltington, Amberley, Arundel.

Horsham (20 miles), Amberley (38 miles) and Arundel have refreshments and an hourly rail service back to the Smoke if it gets all too much. This may apply to the leader! Bognor and Littlehampton have rail links, but inland towns like Barnham may have a better service. Regular fares are £20+; advanced tickets are cheap (around a fiver)  but so far I've not found any!

Waiting for the roadies in Arundel

 

Finally this is not a route for panniers, MTBs, trikes, tandems, ordinaries nor probably skateboards, e-bikes/e-scooters. Discarding mudguards is optional. 

UPDATE

Yesterday's recce started from Horsham. The four stiles between North and South Stoke are now (tight) kissing gates. Four rather than two hands are now almost essential!  And the route is much overgrown and muddy (last week's rain?). A ride would likely stop at Amberley just as it did 15 to 20 years ago on the C&M "nearly 100" rides.  

On my next recce I'll try Broadbridge Heath (garden centre), Barnes Green,  etc

Sunday June 27 2021

Ageing legs decreed this should be a short train assisted ride; only Bob agreed. I trained as far as Woking and arrived to find Bob, Dave, Mark, Simon, Terry in Guildford Wetherspoons. Ed and Lillian turned up just as we were leaving.

We turned off NCN22 at the waterworks and headed into Shalford. For the last few weeks southwest Surrey has seen a plethora of road closed and diversion signs, traffic jams and busier than usual side roads. The principal culprit (A281) had re-opened (weekends only?) so it was back to normal between Thorncombe Street and the Wintershall turn - a single car. And spotting two relatives of the Oxshott A3 horse's head was that much easier.

I had in mind Run Common Road which has been closed since March 2020. Don't badgers know they shouldn't build setts under roads? But the clock had ticked past 1230 so I took an undemocratic decision - an offroad shortcut. We turned south onto the A281 at Birtley Green and fifty yards later east through Rooks Hill Farm. It was mostly downhill (gravel, bumpy grassland, bridge (with step) and mud (but not enough for a sunbathing pig). Of the Wey and Arun canal the only trace is an information board!

One mile later we were in Shamley Green facing a road closed sign (so Run Common might not have been a good option). The Red Lion was fully booked inside but no booking needed outdoor. Child's portions available regardless of age suited us fine!

Dave left us here to dig his potatoes (or whatever he does). The start of cricket on the green prompted us to depart via Norley Common back to the B2128. Another road closed sign was ignored but eased the undulations to Blackheath where we descended past Barnett Hill. Terry was bound for Albury and points east leaving three to cross over to East Shalford rejoining the outward route at the waterworks.

 Around 20 from Guildford. Dull but no significant rain before nightfall.

More On Sunday's Ride

Tomorrow's ride is short for a variety of reasons. 

MetOffice says light rain in the morning, heavy from early afternoon whereas for Kingston  heavy starts late afternoon. So we might be lucky!

Some (like me) will entrain. From Surbiton there's a cluster of trains (0930 Woking only, 0932 and 0936 Guildford). If fine, I'll catch the last of these to Woking else Guildford, the next stop.
If you miss all of these, the next train is 1005.

The A281 (Guildford-Horsham) is closed at Bramley. Alternatives such as the Shamley Green road (B2128) are busier than normal, and some are single track. Further south the turnoff into Run Common Road has been closed for the last 18 months as it crosses a collapsed badger sett and is near a colony of great crested newts, a protected species. Footpaths do parallel the road but they may be out of bounds even to cyclists! There's a direct route to lunch (small amount of mud)  just short of the turnoff. I'll let the weather decide which route we take.

NB currently Downslink is for mudlovers only where not part of NCN22.

I haven't planned a tea stop but West Byfleet would suit me fine. 

Plans for Sunday 27 June 2021

In  a change from the published programme, our ride on Sunday 27 June will now start from Guildford (optional train assist to/from Guildford).    Elevenses will be at The Rodboro' Buildings (Wetherspoons) near the station .  There is plenty of outdoor seating round the back, and it would be best if we gathered there, weather permitting!  

From Guildford Graham will lead us by an unusual route to Shamley Green for lunch (choice of two pubs or bring your own sandwiches), then back to the station (a round trip of about 20 miles).

Ride Report - Sunday 20th June

 

Last week we expected a hot day, this week a damp day!   Fortunately for our group, it stayed dry although cool with the promise of rain, particularly after lunch.  I arrived at Wetherspoons in Staines just before eleven, where I joined Ray Wren outside and inside was Dave, Graham and Simon.  We were on our way well before eleven-thirty but we hadn't gone far when Graham had to return to the pub for his helmet.   We waited for a while before carrying on but pleased to say that Graham caught us up in Thorpe.

Our route to The Sun public house at Windlesham was on roads known to each of us, via Lyne and Chobham; returning via Burrowhill and Chertsey to Nauticalia, Shepperton for afternoon tea.   The staff at The Sun were very welcoming, with good service and food - just as it always was before Lockdown !!

Thank you chaps for a very enjoyable day

More Pictures from Sunday 13 June

 

Thanks everyone - some great photos here!

Reliving 13/06/21

 If you fell asleep thinking "I'd love to do that all over again", try this link

Norbury Park ride 13/06/21

reconstructed from memory

Ride Report - Sunday 13 June 2021

It promised to be the hottest day of the year so far.   The scheduled elevenses venue, Amici, opened late, so early arrivals decamped to the terrace of Wetherspoons, just up the road, to wrestle with the app in the shade!   Bob, Maureen and Richard went their own ways, leaving Simon, Pam, Lilian, Graham, Mark, Brian B, Terry, Ann, Dave S and me to set off on the official ride to lunch.   

It wasn't a promising start - the lovingly researched route to Norbury Park wouldn't transfer from my phone to my Garmin, so horror of horrors, I was obliged to resort to old-school technology (ie maps and asking other people the way)!    In the event it didn't turn out too badly.   We headed through the back roads of Fetcham to Little Bookham, then off road to emerge on tarmac near Polesden Lacey, before picking up tracks again towards Crabtree Cottages and Norbury Park.  We did make a few stops to check the route (thanks to all for your help with this), but managed to complete the route without taking a wrong turn (well, we ended up in the right place, anyway).   A lot of the tracks were new to me.   I think it is fair to say they were variable in quality.   There were a lot of long, easily rideable sections, but these were punctuated by other stretches which were either deeply-rutted, or full of big flints, or tree roots, or all of these!    True, there was very little mud, and I didn't actually have to get off my road bike and walk at any point, but this isn't a route I'd ever think of repeating between October and April!   We gained a lot of altitude without really noticing and at intervals had excellent, if hazy views in different directions, including the Wembley Arch!

Progress was slow, but at length we finally reached the Wild About Coffee stall at Norbury Park, our planned lunch stop.  Service of hot and cold drinks and a limited range of cakes was friendly and efficient, and there were plenty of seats in the shade and an easy-going atmosphere.

Navigation back home was much easier - we just headed downhill on the very attractive road passing Mickleham Abbey, and then on to Leatherhead where our ways started to diverge.

Many thanks to all for your company and for putting up with another of my quirky routes (!) and to Terry for back-marking.

Sunday 13 June - Minor Change to Elevenses Venue

Elevenses on 13 June will now be at Amici, High St Leatherhead, and not the nearby Edward Tylney as published.

Possible route for a ride to lunch at https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/63076635 but I know not everyone will be able to open this link

Sunday June 6 2021

I'd had a busy week with trips to Silchester and Kings Lynn and I'd forgotten the phone (backup map) so a KISS route it would have to be.

 I was second to arrive behind Dave who'd seen (actually written) the blog so knew the start was West Byfleet station not Bourne Valley. Others hadn't!

As darkening skies turned to rain Ann, Dave, Pam, Ray, Simon, Steve Terry, and the leader departed via the public toilets. Past Pyrford Green, Sends Marsh and Grove the A3 was reached with "Capes off" beside the Jacob's Well memorial.


The A320 was busy but not for long as we took the left turn onto Burdenshott Road and later Goose Rye Road to reach an equally unpleasant A322 at  Fox Corner. In Pirbright five headed for the White Hart whilst on the pond geese (Canada and Egyptian) and ducks (mallard) waited in vain for crumbs from the rest of us.  

Pam and Terry's views were sought for an off-road return to Fox Corner. After recent (Wednesday)  usage they were not keen so we returned the way we'd come. Worplesdon station lead on to Pile Hill, Jacobs Well and eventually Ripley where soaring temperatures forced a protracted stay in Pinnocks. Only 25 miles (and 55 door to door)

 
 

 

Change to Published Programme - Sunday 6 June

The elevenses meeting point on Sunday 6 June will now be at West Byfleet (by the station), instead of Woodham.    Cafes/coffee shops/toilets nearby.   Graham has kindly offered to lead the onward ride to Pirbright.

Sunday the 30th ride

Sunday the 30th of May: 11's will now be at the Golden grill, Ashford and lunch will be at  Burnham Beeches.

Golden Grill   Link.

Sunday 30 May - Note Change from Published Programme

The ride will now begin at the Golden Grill, Ashford, TW15 2PE and lunch will be at Burnham Beeches (leader - Tony Hopkins).

Ride Report - Sunday 23 May 2021

 

Rain threatened as we met (fortunately indoors) at Vineries Garden Centre, Effingham for the first time since September last year!   Bob and I were soon joined by Simon, Steve Duffin, Graham, Ed, Lilian, Terry and Pam, some of whom arrived just in time to dodge a heavy shower!   After the rain eased, Simon, Steve Graham, Pam and were the only ones who decided to brave the weather and continue to lunch at Horsell.    Once we had crossed Wisley Airfield, surprisingly unmuddy despite a wet month, our route bore a surprising resemblance to a recent Wednesday 'A' group ride led by Steve, so acknowledgements to him! 

The uncertain weather favoured a stop at a pub rather than a picnic, and The Crown proved a good choice.   Food is not served and, drinks purchased, the landlord gave us permission to eat our sandwiches in the pub garden where there was a large and dry marquee.

Everyone was keen to reach home quickly so we took a direct route.   Graham and Pam went their own ways leaving Simon, Steve and I the only ones stopping for tea at The Wilde Bunch.

Thanks to Simon for back-marking, Graham for navigating us across Wisley Airfield, and to everyone else for your company.

Windlesham 16 May

The forecast was awful - wall to wall heavy rain - but we were very, very lucky.  Contingency plans including a) do a ride b) ride direct to tea c) ride straight home were drawn up.   I fully expected elevenses at Staines to be quite a lonely affair but after a brief heavy shower, the sun shone and David, Pam, Ann, Graham, Steve Duffin and Ray plus myself formed up into two groups, intending to keep visual contact at a distance.   

Buttercups on the way to Staines

Sunny Staines

 After about a mile we were hit by a heavy shower.  Graham's group of optimists stopped to put on waterproofs, and my group of pessimists, already wearing waterproofs, waited at the next junction.  We never saw them again until lunch.   Our route was Virginia Water, Sunninghill and Longacres garden centre in Bagshot, where we intended to get lunch, but were greeted by DisneyWorld-size queues just to get into the place.   So instead we headed for the Memorial Field cafe in Windlesham, where we had the triple luxury of good food in the sunshine, seated at outdoor tables.   Graham's route involved Thorpe and Lyne, and I think Gracious Pond Road.

Queuing for the garden centre

Sunny Windlesham

Amazingly we had no further rain until teatime, heading back via Stonehills and Chertsey, where we passed Graham's group going in the opposite direction (in search of toilets I think).   We just reached the under cover tables at Nauticalia when the heavens opened again.   Ann had to leave and set off into the deluge, while we stayed chatting for over an hour.   Just as we decided we really had to go, it stopped raining, and I think we would all have had a dry ride home.

It was a pleasure to have everyone's company.   Thank you for the contribution of several people into planning today's ride (at embarrassingly short notice - my mistake) and to Graham for leading the second group.  About 26 miles from 11s to tea for my group.

Ride Report - Sun 9 May 2021

Simon, Terry, Pam, Tony, Lilian, Graham, Ray, Ann, Ed, newcomer Mark (back for his second ride) and I gathered for elevenses at Cobham in very pleasant sunshine.   For only about the second time this year it actually felt a bit warm, although a stiff breeze never let it get too hot.

All but Ed joined me for the ride to Guildford.   As ever, I was completely unprepared for the need for more than one group, but Simon very kindly offered to lead a second one and Graham assisted him.  I think it would be true to say the two groups took broadly similar routes to lunch, but not completely identical ones!  Although my group set off first, we kept rounding corners to find the second group patiently awaiting our arrival, yet they hadn't overtaken us.   They'd wait for us to pass, then later they'd be waiting for us again.  How did they do that?   Anyway, the route took in four long off-road sections amounting to several miles (Bookham Common, Orestan Lane to East Horsley, East to West Horsley railway  path, and the Ryde Farm estate road) before the more mundane approach to Guildford.

Lilian left us at Guildford, but the rest of us had lunch at Stoke Park.   The kiosk was popular and seemed to have something even for those who hadn't brought sandwiches (and I'm not just talking about the duck food either)!   

After lunch I persuaded Graham to pilot us out of Guildford along the national cycle route from the Spectrum leisure centre to Clay Lane, a path which passes through an interesting nature reserve with lakes and wetlands.   It is a very nice route and well worth a try, but parts of it must get very boggy in any normal winter, and I struggle to understand how it could provide any form of strategic transport link!  Anyway, that was our fifth off-road section of the ride!

After that it was then a straight road to Ripley for tea, where I left the others to enjoy the sunshine.   Many thanks to Graham and Simon for your help, and to everyone else for your company.

Plans for Sunday 9 May

Sunday's ride will be from Cobham to Stoke Park, Guildford, as published.   In view of the heavy rain forecast for Saturday I will change my planned route to omit some unsurfaced sections, but there will still be plenty of surfaced off-road.

Hot drinks and some hot food are available at the Stoke Park cafe but you can still bring sandwiches.  Tea will be at Ripley.

C&M ride 2nd of May

Sunday the 2nd of May. 11's is Cowey sale, depart from there at 11.00 on the dot. Lunch will be at Windsor, lots of options, Wetherspoons, Cinnamon cafe etc. Around 21 miles to lunch, with around 14 miles to tea at Shepperton lock, there is some off road and no real hills.

Off-road to Uxbridge, 25 April

Trouble is brewing at the Heathrow Biodiversity Site.  Human activity has endangered yet another species on the site.  The entire species of Cyclists is now Critically Endangered due to habitat loss.  Specifically, someone has placed six foot high concrete blocks across the southern entrance to the site, leaving a gap only suitable for a slimline person to squeeze through sideways, or perhaps a superhuman carrying their bike above their head.  This awful act of eco-sabotage was discovered by the Roving Raasay Warden on his travels on Wednesday, just in time for Sunday's ride to be diverted, avoiding an unnecessary mile or two of off-road.

Mr Whippy (with friends)

But I digress.  The five eco-warriors, David, Ann, Pam, Graham and myself, gathered at the rather chilly Pleasure Grounds in Runnymede, with weak sunshine overpowered by a cold easterly wind.  Nobody was keen to hang around so we donned our pith helmets and set off promptly to Datchet for the first bit of off-road, through Ditton Park and north through Langley on the cycle track.  We continued to follow NCN route 61 on quiet lanes to Iver before a short stretch on the towpath bought us to Uxbridge and the Rusty Bike Cafe.   We found a nice sheltered spot by the bandstand (is this becoming a tradition?), the sun came properly out, and from that point the day seemed to warm up.

Rusty Bike Cafe (with rusty bike)

Bandstand (with happy eaters)

Return was through the centre of Uxbridge, a trip down memory lane for Pam but a bit of a hash by me in my effort to get away from the main road, but we found a legal way out of the town centre and took the cycleway out of town before going off road again beside the River Pinn.  All very rural and pleasant until we were dumped at a ginormous junction on the A408 coming into Yiewley.  Four lanes turned swiftly into one lane and it was 'normal' town traffic through West Drayton, after which we turned onto Harmondsworth Moor, riding alongside the River Colne and the Wraysbury River, following a route pioneered by Dave Vine a few years ago with the Wayfarers, but with a few alterations, some of them intentional.   

David W left us at this point for a shorter (or possibly longer?) ride home.  Ahead was the Heathrow Biodiversity site and its direct route through to Stanwell Moor, but inhospitable to the genus Cyclist, so we went through Poyle instead.  Graham headed home from Stanwell Moor, and the remaining three of us headed down the bridleway and Moor Lane into Staines, and on to tea at Shepperton.  32 miles from elevenses to tea.   Ann will have ridden nearly 70 miles by the time she returns home.

For a normal rides, this would be the end of the story, but there's more.   As we relaxed in the sunshine at Nauticalia, a bedraggled figure emerged, bloodied and exhausted, from the jungle.   "Doctor Livingstone, I presume?" said Pam.   But the weary rider was none other than Ray Wren, who had arrived at Runnymede maybe ten minutes after we left, and had spent the day searching for us, armed only with a line plot of the route backed by a dodgy map, and a single chocolate bar for sustenance.   He'd been to places as far afield as Fulmer, travelled to Uxbridge but unfortunately not found the cafe.  Returning along the river Pinn and, heroically, he had traversed the Heathrow Biodiversity site, carrying his bike over the massive concrete barriers, before returning to Shepperton.

Heathrow Biodiversity Site (with barriers)

In a slightly related story, Cap'n Tony  'Birdseye' Hopkins took it one step further.  He didn't just stop at off-road but went off-land, travelling to Shepperton by boat for lunch with his family.

Watch out for that iceberg!

Woking (revisited)

 A surprising eleven showed at Cobham though it soon became clear that the attraction for four (Carolyn, Ed, Maureen, Helen) was the latest newsletter. Shall we say the planned route was conceptual so unexpectedly I found myself leading through Downside. At the Isle of Wight we turned to starboard and Keith turned I know not where. The Effingham track was drying, still a challenge to the nerves but popular with cyclists, walkers, the odd delivery van and at the bus stop Fixie Dave.

We inched past an unfinished gas main on Drift Road having ignored the almost accurate Road Closed signs. From Ockham the pubs and cafes were packed. And the Saddlers Arms was open  (but perhaps only to 3 drinkers?) In Send Terry headed home. After Old Woking the final puzzle was finding Woking Park bandstand, toilets and lunch.

It had been all too familiar so I decided on a detour. OS suggested a route just to the west of Morrisons. It was named Stepbridge Path and featured a steep footbridge! To prevent an insurrection  I continued alone on the towpath whereas the rest opted for the tarmac of Horsell Moor. The newish spiral bridge in Woking town centre and a shortish section on the towpath to Monument Bridge came next. There we reversed last week's ride through Sheerwater to West Byfleet and coffee at Bell' Amico. Left standing were: Ann, Dave, Pam, Ray and me. A final and unplanned split occurred when Ann was trapped on the wrong side of  Addlestone's level crossing.

40+ miles door to door in warm Spring sunshine

Photos from Sunday 19 April

 

Sunday 17 April - Change From Published Programme

Sunday's ride will now start from Leg O'Mutton Playing Fields, Cobham, instead of Denbies.    Lunch stop to be arranged, so bringing sandwiches would be a wise precaution!

Sunday Aprl 11 2021 The Reality

 If one could see the sun one stayed warm but more likely one didn't and just six (G, Dave, Pam, Simon, Terry and Tony) made the West Byfleet start. Googling had uncovered ten or more public toilets on or near possible routes through Woking so which way to go?

The much used and recently refilled canal was soon discarded. Empty streets was excuse enough for a minor planetary (Ceres and Pluto)  ride through "have not" Sheerness, the town centre, and  "have" St Johns where Terry left for home. We continued on Neptune down steep Beechwood into Knaphill. Then came the east end of Bisley before we crossed and recrossed the A322 on Ford Road (no ford) before skirting the east end of West End. Ignoring traffic noise on nearby major roads the meandering rural ride led to Windlesham from the west along Pound Lane. Our lunch stop was the Recreation Ground and its recently opened cafe. No surprise was a shortage of seats and loos so we had to settle for a sheltered if not always sunny spot behind the cafe.

The return was quickly decided: down and up Updown Hill,Steep Hill, Burrowhill, and St Peters (major housing development). At the bottom of Holloway Hill Pam headed north to Chertsey and the rest towards Addlestone where Simon and Tony stopped for coffee.

48 miles door to door.

Final thoughts :

None of the few en route pubs looked as if they would be opening on the morrow (12/04).

Why are we restricted to six when the Ramblers limit is thirty; similar numbers for football pitches. And I was passed by two groups of at least a dozen riders?

Sunday April 11 2021 Ride

The weatherman says cold so it's a modest 20+ miles! This could be shortened at any time (after Knaphill). The Basingstoke has been refilled so may take the Ceres/Saturn/Pluto routes through Woking (surprisingly lumpy).

Start : Outside Costa West Byfleet railway station (all facilities except shelter (bus stop) within 150 yeards)

Lunch : Windlesham (newish cafe in Rec) or Chobham (slightly more)

Finish : Addlestone or Chertsey (or whereever)

Sunday 4 April 2021 - Ride Report

 

It has been four months since we were last able to meet, so it was with some relish that Simon, Pam, Tony, Terry, Graham, Ed, Lilian, Maureen, Brian B and I assembled in glorious sunshine at Walton Bridge.  There was a lot of catching up to do and it was difficult to get going after elevenses, but all of us except Tony and Maureen eventually set off towards Ripley, taking advantage of both the new Weybridge to Brooklands cycle path and Muddy Lane, Byfleet, recently designated a bridleway.

Because of numbers, two separate groups were needed and each took a different, final route into Ripley, producing the almost inevitable outcome that the first group arrived last!   For hot drinks we shared our custom between Pinnocks coffee shop and a new venture on the other side of the road,  and ate our sandwiches on Ripley Green.

After lunch riders set off homeward in different directions.   I rode back to Walton with Simon and Pam and we went our separate ways from there.

Today's ride was very much a communal effort, so thanks to all for making it a very enjoyable first ride of what we all hope will be an uninterrupted programme from now on!