Sunday 18th March 2012

Yesterday's final 7km of the Milano - SanRemo one day classic can be found here:

http://www.steephill.tv/players/gazzetta/?title=Last+7+Km:+Nibali+attack+on+the+Poggio&dashboard=milan-san-remo&id=0ebb7c9c-705b-11e1-b34c-3f4ae790eea1&yr=2012

The race,first of the season's classics is 180 miles and takes in the coast road for much of the race with diversions inland to tackle a hill or two.

Mark Cavendish was dropped 100km from the finish and described it as "the worst day of my career".

Sunday 18 March 2012

Steve's official party from North Cheam numbered but four. However 18 reached an Ockham Bites bathed in warm sunshine (nb places exposed to the fresh northerly breeze were noticeably cooler).

Sixteen (no Alan, no Bob) took a brief detour onto Wisley aerodrome(the word's not dead just yet!) then continued to Ripley. We were now on the Olympic road race course in reverse until a left at the Seven Stars. After heavily trafficed Send and Old Woking, relief came in the form of Westfield, Sutton Green and Jacob's Well. Escaping from the A320 as soon as possible, we re-approached it after a brief study of some of Guildford's social housing. Unexpectedly on Mothers' Day there was room at the Row Barge but it was only 1215; roast of the day  (child or adult portion) being the choice. Forecast rain amounted to no more than a few drops during lunch so passed unnoticed by the ten non-members of  the Sandwich Brigade.

Unusually alongside Stoke Park and through Burpham's estates got us to the A3 cycle path. After a right  at Burnt Common and Hungry Hill, the surprise was the ascent of a rather greasy Green Lane West. After the Drift climb and the long drag to the Douglas Haig, there was the Vineries for our final stop. Home just after five and 50 modest miles.  

Sunday 11th March 2012

Spring has sprung

Headley Tea Room where the beverage will set you back the princely sum of 75p

Open until 4pm Sundays

Sunday, 11 March 2012

Cobham - Betchworth - Headley

Parish Church of St Michael Betchworth

Barn Dance and Annual Prize Presentation

Don't forget to get your ticket for a great night out with lots of good food and entertainment all for £15. This is the highlight of the year for the South West London DA CTC member group and tickets can be obtained from the organisers Simon & Jen Mitchell, any committee member, Mike Morley on 01737 816160 or from your rides secretary. Please support this social event and prize presentation.

Hilly 50 Finish

Having done there admirable work of administration Ed and Graham oversee the finish along with Mark.

The delightful "G" looking very refreshed after ascending Friday Street.

Later Marik repairing puncture near Hoe Lane

Finally "G" and me at the finish (Photo by Merick). It was a great day and despite my gears playing up I managed White Down without bottom gear! What it must be like to be young again.

Start of the Hilly 50

Graham, Jake & Terry and Irene organising the signing on. Numbers were down this year due to a clash with the FNRttC but never the less a good turnout and excellent conditions compared to mosy years. Quickest time approx 1hr. 51mins by and Epsom CC rider!



Well done Ed for organising and marshalling. Ray seen here smiling as usual. He was on schedule to beat MM by over 10mins untill he went onto auto-pilot and strait over Ranmore at top of White Down as if he was going home via Fetcham!

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Reigate - Edenbridge - Annie's

After snow and ice, steady rain was quite welcome, though not to all. A flippered trio including Stephanie and Daniel made it to Mere Pond at Walton-on-the-Hill. We sheltered awhile in the bus-shelter, decided that prospective newcomer Graham had been discouraged by the weather, and headed South via Pebble Coombe to Betchworth, Wonham, Trumpets Hill, Flanchford and Park Lane (not that one) for an early mug of tea at Morrisons of Reigate. Here we were joined by gently steaming Andy and Terry.

Now I had to break the news that on my earlier recce, the manageress of the Royal Oak at Crockham Hill had made it abundantly clear that we would not be welcome for lunch on Sunday; the pub was too small, fully booked, standing room only, cyclists 'personae non gratae' and most definitely not welcome. Lunch would therefore be pot luck at the uninspected Four Elms Inn.

We recaped and set off Stephless for Redhill via Reigate Cemetery, then past Redstone Cemetery on Philanthropic Road to meet the M23 near Nutfield. Two farm tracks past Henshaw Farm and Cuckseys Farm led us up to Tilburstow, then down again, before heading westward towards Hurst Green. The rain was not heavy but unrelenting and it took some discipline to cycle past the siren charms of the Haycutter Inn. After Hurst Green it was Itchingwood Common and Swaynesland Road to the bottom of Crockham Hill. We briefly considered Trevereux Hill to the Carpenters Arms, but decided to save that for more clement times. So it was across the B2026 to pass near Westerham Brewery to the Four Elms Inn. Lights on, looked inviting, sign said: 'Opening Soon'. Unfortunately, not today! Another pub that doesn't want us!

Andy decided to break open his sandwiches, while the rest of us headed for the Swan at Edenbridge. Here at least we found a warm welcome with food and drink and a roast for Daniel. A mobile signal alerted Andy, who joined us for a lengthy sojourn. Terry took off while the rest tried without much success to dry out in front of the log fire. Eventually we braced up to the rain again and passed Staffhurst, Tilburstow and Bletchingley.

On the way down to Merstham we lost Daniel for a while, fortunately unharmed as he alarmingly unshipped the chain on his fixed wheel Touché. We regrouped and took comfort in the warm bosom of Annie's, where Andy was beginning to lose contact with his feet. Fortified by tea and cake at a tea stop rather later than usual, we headed off into the murky gloom to find our way home. Others will have enjoyed more than my drought-busting 52 miles.

Jeff

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Crystal Palace - Old St - Stratford - Clapham

Leader Andy (the Knowledge) relaxing at LMNH and planning the next tea stop
before visiting the olympic stadium

Art or Artifice - The €

At first I thought that this was a giant concrete mixer. Then Neil told me that it is an 'art installation', the misshapen progeny of an alliance between Anish Kapoor and an engineer called Cecil Balmond/Arup. I hereby name it: The Euro. It looks like a fairground ride that has been hit by a tsunami. Cost:£19m of which £16m has been provided by a steel magnate and £3m by the Olympic Delivery Authority. A fitting reminder perhaps of Olympian profligacy and philistinism. It will be owned and operated by the Olympic Park Legacy Company, who will charge the public to visit the observation platform. To find out more, follow this link which I have called a poke in the eye. Read all about it and add a comment to say what you think.

Jeff

Sunday 26th February 2012

Café St.Germain,Crystal Palace Parade.

That'll be an apricot danish :-)

Look Mum No Hands

A repeat of the ride in Summer 2011,the route is virtually unchanged.

A nice cross section of bicycles today,Daniel on his fixed,Neil on his Moulton and myself on my Gazelle.

Our total at 11's was 16 so wisely,we split into two adjoining cafés at Crystal Palace but service was brisk and easy on the pocket (cappuccino £1.75).

Daniel left us to head home,the remainder enjoyed a sunny ride north using as many cyclepaths as possible.The large group was briefly separated when Jeff stopped to take a picture of one of his son's ex property in Southwark Bridge Road.

We arrived at "Look Mum No Hands"café/bike shop to find a photo shoot in session.

I was about to move on "sans" refreshment as inside there was no room either.But the crew over heard us talking and swiftly replaced the tables & chairs.

Graham & Jeff found themselves as subjects in another impromptu shoot as the photographer took a liking to their matching "FNRTTC" jerseys.

Simon Legg's concept is so well established now that you just need type "friday night r" into google and the rest is filled in for you.

If you wanna take the plunge into the dark with a bunch of insomniacs riding bikes see the website :

http://fnrttc.blogspot.com/

Graham's plan of going north to ride east along the Regents Canal seemed a good idea but the plethora of Londoners enjoying the peace & tranquilty made the riding difficult with scarcely enough room for a couple to walk side by side and us to wobble pass safely.

Victoria Park was the respite leading to a confusing junction of canals that caused us to take a wrong turning.We were trying to get onto The Greenway,the pedestrian/cycle route to the Olympic Park viewing area.

In reality,the only venues that are easily seen are the Olympic Stadium & the Aquatic Centre,the others being too far away or hidden by infastructure.

As far as I could tell,the sculpture/helter skelter type thingy was virtually complete since our last visit in July 2011,but with extensive landscaping still to be started.

In the City,at the junction of Upper Thames Street and Southwark Bridge we waited at red to turn left whilst to our right was a Terravision Stansted coach,the same company that caused the death of a cyclist 3 weeks ago.

As you turn onto Southwark Bridge you see a "white bike" memorial - Sebastian Lukomski,died here in 2004:

http://www.ahalenia.com/memorial/slukomski.html

We were separated again shortly before arriving at Clapham Common for tea............hoping you all got home safely.

Sunday, 19 February 2012

A bit more of the same from a slightly different angle + the Westerham posse

Sunday 19th February 2012

Top of Puddledock Lane

Front wheel puncture for Jeff

As news of an impending drought is on the horizon,Bough Beech reservoir in Kent looks worryingly low right now.

Just approaching Woldingham school

The Chiding Stone


The freeze, and the short spell of cold weather this winter, is over. After the mild but
overcast days a cold front had brought out the sun and a fine day for some February pedalling.

Our route to Westerham took us through the site of the old Croydon Airport – where now we
cross the A23 can you imagine Hercule Poirot stepping onto to an Imperial Airways Handley Page airliner to the continent to solve a crime that had eluded the police? Past south Croydon we pedalled up Croham Valley Road, dismounted to walk to Edgecoombe Road, and left behind suburbia as we headed along Featherbed Lane. Pedalling up Beddlestead Lane it sometimes
feels as if the highest point will never be reached but eventually the wireless station appears and cliché can be forgiven here because it is downhill all the way to elevenses.

The February sun was warm as we rode past Chartwell. Ramblers and horse riders encouraged us that we were nearing the top as we pedalled up Puddledock to see the splendid view. Bough Beech reservoir is need of some rain – which we will certainly hear more about in the coming
days – and, compared to usual numbers, today the twitchers too were somewhat a rarity.

Following lunch at the Castle Inn at Chiddingstone we took a short excursion to see the stone after which the village is named and then continued through the pretty Wealden
countryside. The telephone boxes designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott were painted red to stand out and, in the long downward sweep from Markbeech to Edenbridge, a freshly painted one does
just that. We rode on to Oxted for tea and then, across Woldingham in the dusk, made our way home.

It was a fine day’s cycling – sunny and not cold and the opportunity in February to leave London’s urban sprawl and experience some great countryside.

From Mike

12 February, 2012

North Cheam - Walton on the Hill - and Rusper (for some)

The recce for the planned ride showed some roads ice-free and some impassable. By far the worst section was Chipstead Lane on the way home - 1½ miles of ice. On Sunday morning falling snow was crunchy underfoot. A conference call with North Cheam revealed Andy as the lone rider. With the ride on the brink of total cancellation, Daniel appeared and a meet was agreed at the Grey Dove Café, opposite an ice-covered Mere Pond in Walton on the Hill. Lengthy discussion over tea and coffee, bread pudding and bacon sandwiches failed to arouse any enthusiasm for more ice.

A message was received from Terry to say that Rusper Golf Course was closed. We really should have realised that a snow covered golf course would not attract many drivers or cyclists. Terry withdrew to Tanhurst Farm for warmth and human company. About to depart, he was joined by Graham. That was it. Terry and Graham fell back to Henfold and then home. Those stuck in Walton stayed stuck in Walton. Determined to have a ride, the Walton posse made a sprint to - Walton and the warmth of the Chequers. Discussion continued until late afternoon, when a reluctant decision was made to abandon the log fire and head for home before dark.

A gold star is awarded to the daring duo that made it to the snow plains of Rusper; a pyrite star goes to the trio stuck at the top of the North Downs.

We impatiently await the Great Thaw.

Jeff

Photo Comp - deadline 29 February

If you have been thinking of submitting one or more photos for the annual photo competition (qualifying period 1st October 2010 to 30 September 2011), you still have time. The deadline for receipt of entries is 29 February. Entries should be sent to your Section Secretary well before that date. Here is a link to the different photo categories and competition rules.

This link gives details of all DA competition rules.

Good luck and happy shooting.

Jeff

A few more snapshots of the gathering at Horto Park Golf Club today.