Photos from Ride on 28 June 2020 (Claygate & Henfold)

Good to see so many at elevenses (including Lisa and Mike), and thanks to Graham for a good ride. Pity it once again rained just as I was getting near to home, which seems to be the new norm for club rides!

Plans for Sunday 28 June 2020

Our experimental meeting place this week will be Claygate Recreation Ground.  The entrance from Dalmore Avenue, off Hare Lane, is a short distance from the local shops (The Parade), where there are no less than four coffee shops/cafes  and a bakers in a very short distance!  Hopefully, at least one will be open on Sunday morning.

The other entrance to the rec, from Church Road, has public toilets (open).

I suggest we gather somewhere near the Dalmore Avenue (cricket pavilion) entrance to avoid spilling too much coffee!   An obvious start to our onward route will be to exit via the Church Rd gate then head off via New Road and Princes Coverts towards Leatherhead.   Any ideas for an eventual lunch stop/offers to lead more than welcome, otherwise I expect we'll think of something!

July 21 2020 Sitting In The Park

Midsummer Day didn't start well with rain from 6 to 8 but later on there was plenty of sunshine as compensation. There were nine at Weybridge (G, Dave, Ed, Lilian, Pam, Ray, Simon, Terry and Tony). Simon and Terry had other plans and Dave volunteered to be a distant back marker solving any grouping problems.

There was nothing elaborate about the route: Addlestone, Liberty Lane bridge and its new and much heightened anti-vandal fence, Brox Road. the A320 cyclepath to Woking and the canal to Pirbright. We paused at the McLaren sign so (1) Lilian could snap it (2) Tony could replace a lost shoe cleat and (3) I could search in vain for a (nonexistent according to OpenStreetMap) path into the Park. However two unsigned paths show promise.

To my horror Pirbright was a sea of humanity - a sight which was to be repeated elsewhere eg Woking Park and Gigs Hill Green. But the green is vast and was mostly dry and The Cricketers was doing good business but not from us. Dave left us when we headed south to Fox Corner, Mayford and the Leisure Centre where toilets were much appreciated. Finally Sheerwater, West Byfleet and past Vic's brought us back to our outward path where we went our separate ways. Just under 50 miles door to door.

Link to GPX file of Woking toilets in case you need to visit.

Tomorrow's Ride

Currently it looks like we'll escape the rain tomorrow but just in case the course will feature a lot of Woking!

AFAIK there's no facility at Pirbright but below are a dozen alternatives taken from the council's website.

Queen Elizabeth Gardens High Street Horsell
Wheatsheaf Recreation Ground Chobham Road Horsell
High Street Knaphill near to junction with Anchor Hill
Waterers Park Anchor Hill Knaphill
St Johns Lye St Johns near to car park
Sheerwater Recreation Ground Blackmore Crescent
Woking Park Kingfield Road at rear of Pool in the Park
High Road Byfleet (near to junction with Hopfield Avenue
Lavender Park Road, West Byfleet (near to junction with Parvis Road)
Victoria Way Car Park Woking town centre
Heathside Car Park Heathside Crescent
Lock Way Woking

Sunday 21 June 2020 - Plan

Sunday's ride will depart from Churchfields Recreation Ground, Weybridge (behind the day centre).  There are public toilets (open) on site, and plenty of coffee shops open for take-aways in the High Street nearby.

Graham will has very kindly offered to lead us to Pirbright, where The Cricketers has recently been refurbished as a pub and cafe (which we hope to find open).    It's still advisable to bring your own refreshments, however.

14 June 2020 - Cobham & Guildford

Nine of us gathered at Leg O'Mutton Field, Cobham for elevenses.   Not the best of venues for seating, but there is plenty of space, toilets across the road, and a couple of coffee shops open a short walk away.   As we enjoyed our refreshments a steady, human tide of cyclists passed in both directions along the road behind us.

Maureen, Pam and Lynda and Christina returned home, leaving Simon, Graham, Terry, Lilian and me to continue to Guildford.   Mindful of the large numbers out and about on two wheels, we took a quiet, flattish route with a couple of long stretches of off-road, way off the beat of the segment chasers!   Terry punctured at the start of one of these tracks and we left him planning to fix the flat then ride straight home.  Lunch was at Stoke Park, Guildford.   Toilets were open and good, but the 'refreshment kiosk' tantalisingly promised by Google did not materialise!   Never mind, we had come prepared!

We took the standard route back to Ripley, hoping to find Pinnocks open.   Alas it was not, although the car park toilets were, and we had passed an open refreshment stall at Luff's farm shop near The
Jovial Sailor, where we had been tempted to stop, and which is noted for future reference!    At the A3 junction the others headed for Ockham Bites (photo courtesy of Simon), while I headed for Wisley and home, noting as I passed the Wisley RHS gardens that they have now re-opened for pre-booked visits.   It looked a bit busy, so a check on whether the cafe and toilets are also back in service will have to wait!

Next week's ride will be from Churchfields Rec, Weybridge.

Sunday 14 June 2020

Sunday's ride will convene at Leg of Mutton Rec, Cobham (west side of Downside Bridge Rd, across the road from the car park and RBL).  Toilets are available across the road, by the RBL, and take-away drinks are a short walk away in the High St.

The provisional lunch stop is Shalford Park, Guildford.   There are toilets there, but no handy cafe, so far as I know, so bring your own lunch.   If you have a better idea, I'm always open to suggestions!    (There is apparently a refreshment kiosk in Stoke Park, Guildford, and the park has toilets also.  I'm happy to change to this as a lunch stop if you prefer, but I haven't tried it myself).

Dave

Elevenses at Walton Bridge

Keeping our distances

June 7 2020 Starting All Over Again

To "But what if there's less than two metres?", we can now add "but what if 6+ turn up?".  Answers cannot be expected soon! It was the best of times, it was the worst of time. The best was a group ride, the first since March 15. The worst, the obvious:  no shelter, no toilets, no fitness, and no short term solutions. Fortunately it was summer, cooler than recently so no seas of sun worshipers.

I wasn't surprised when nine arrived which I assigned to two imaginary groups using my version of a Chinese wall. Five (Graham, Dave, Ed, Pam and Tony) opted to continue whereas four (Maureen, Ray, Simon, Terry) headed home.

The short circular ride was : Nutty Lane, Ashford, Stanwell Moor(large group in breach of the rules), Wraysbury (seats so much better than damp grass!), Staines and Shepperton (take away in rain).

C & M are back...

Hooray, C & M Sunday rides will begin again from Sunday 7 June!   The meeting place on that day will be Walton Bridge (Cowey Sale).   Please keep in groups of no more than six at the meeting place and remain two metres apart within groups, with groups well separated.   It is advisable to bring your own refreshments. 

Wraysbury Green has been tentatively suggested as the lunch stop for an onward ride on Sunday for any who wish to continue.   We will ride in groups of no more than six with separate leaders, keeping ten metres apart within groups where possible.   Groups will set off separately, either taking different routes or else leaving a ten minute gap.   Again bring your own refreshments, if required.

We will be developing our own, detailed guidance for rides under the new regime, but, for now, the Midweek Wayfarers' blog has much more detail about the protocols to follow.   As we in the C & M have much smaller numbers and less complex rides, I do not think we will be posting routes in advance, or formally booking places in groups.

Rides programme from 14 June onwards available in due course.

I look forward to seeing you again soon!

A Grand day Out

There is a lovely route to Chalfont St Giles that has a few lumps on the way but being a lovely sunny Sunday and wanting some miles in my legs I opted for it. I took the most direct route to Uxbridge which meant cycling through, the now ghost town of, Heathrow airport. Amazing to see so many planes grounded, they also have an enormous Covid-19 testing station setup at Hatton Cross.

Stockley park was also so empty. Once through Uxbridge and onto Denham, Colne Valley park was packed with cars parked everywhere. On into Denham and time for a few photos, one of Sir John Mills house, and an elaborately painted house next to Denham church, which, bye the way, does lovely tea and cakes on a Sunday in the summer.

On along the A412 to Tilehouse lane and a little climb to Denham aerodrome. And onto Maple Cross and the nice climb upto the Chiltern open air museum. And onto the B4442. There is a monument to Captain Cook just off the B4442 and I had a brief foray looking for it but to no avail. A strange place for a sea captain but I know it's there, another time.

A nice descent down to Chalfont St Giles, which is a nice place for a stop, but I had determined not to stop at all today, except for a call of nature and photos. Once through Chalfont St Giles I took a left into Bowstridge lane which took me virtually into Chalfont St Peter and passing through Layters Green and onto Gerrards Cross.

Gerrards Cross was very quiet. A nice coffee stop, Jungs, has closed down, the one in Beaconsfield is still open. There is some nice little folly's, see picture. Once through Gerrards Cross heading , South, there is a nice decent and across a, nearlt dry, Ford and onto Pinewood, past the studios and onto Shredding Green, Iver and down to Colnbrook. Poyle and Stanmore, Bedfont

Decided to shortcut home and so cycled through Feltam and onto Hampton. Reasonably pleased with my fitness after my accident in December and moving house so off the bike for nearly 3 months. A very pleasant day out, just missing the company of C&M.

Tony..

From the CUK website

England

There is no limit on duration or frequency of exercise; however official advice remains that you should stay at home 'as much as possible'.
You can travel any distance in order to exercise.
On Thursday 28 May, Boris Johnson, announced that from Monday 1 June in England up to six people will be allowed to meet outside, provided those from different households continue strictly to observe social distancing rules by staying two metres apart.
Government guidance published on Friday, 29 May has not yet reflected this change, maintaining that for the purposes of exercise you are still allowed to meet with only one person who is not a member of your household, provided social distancing is maintained.
Cycling UK will continue to monitor developments and currently advises that in England exercise is only taken alone, with members of your household or with one person who is not a member of your household, provided social distancing is maintained.


CUK website

Tony..

Can I Change My Mind

A warm and sunny day, three days since my last so off I went again. This (Thursday) ride was a barrel-scrapper and is not recommended for those of sound mind. In places this driest of Mays has created an uneven brick-like surface  Elsewhere the lack of moisture content meant slippin' and slidin' on road tyres. Walking guaranteed.

I took my standard route to Weybridge station and descended to Brooklands. Half a dozen good-natured yellow-coated fellows are building a track/path along the banks of the Wey so sewage work(?) and not New Haw footpath improvements as I previously hinted.

Byfleet had crowds aplenty in Tesco's and  in the Community skate park. After the Blue Anchor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Pierre_Vaquier) and Mill Lane the Downton Abbey manor house was shrouded  by renovations. On the M25 bridge to the A3 bridge bridleway I met four vans! (including postie). Ockham Bites was packed. After turns at the Muddy Duck and Hautboy (as was), I continued to Long Reach and Bachelor's Lane. It was fine as far as the house but beyond nettles, brambles and "No Entry Convid-19 Exclusion Zone" signs kept me to the straight and extremely narrow. I'd never ridden the full length of next bridleway (to the east of Hungry Hill) and was surprised by (1) a pram pusher and (2) a family cycle group. The last section (after the "cement" road) is best avoided probably impassable in winter. Further south would have been Staple Lane so I headed east at the railway bridge for West Horsley; the only track of the day with no company.

The butcher's to Orestan path allowed me to check that Squires and the Vineries were open  (and crowded). By now the ride had lost much of its charm so I finished a normal Bookham, Tilt, Oxshott and Claygate flourish.

The Ring Cycle

I don't know about you, but I'm getting a bit cheesed off with the limitations of lockdown riding now. (With apologies to those who aren't able to ride at all.)   I seem to travelled most of the roads less travelled that are near where I live, wearing a groove in the the same three or four roads away from home.

I wanted to do a longer ride, so I thought I would try a circle, five miles radius from home.   Because it's at right-angles to the direction I normally travel to/from home, it would be less-familiar roads.   And it wouldn't be far: 31.42 miles to be nearly exact.   Plus another 10 to get to/from the start.  41.42 miles.   Or so I thought.

When I planned the route, there were a few obstacles to get round.   Rivers.   Airports, stuff like that.  So it wasn't an exact circle.   Ride with GPS told me it was 44 miles.  Not too bad.   Anyway I set off mid Monday afternoon, hoping to avoid the crowds, which was largely successful.

Out along the river Crane cycle route to tackle the worst bit first: around Heathrow.  The A30 was quiet and not too bad for cycling: it had a cycle path but other people were on it and it was narrow.  Then the inner distribution road, past lines of parked planes - again quiet.    North through Harlington and Hayes and then turning east.  Across the canal, places I'd never been: Manor Court (north of Southall), Dormers Wells (south of Greenford), Castle Bar GWR railway station  (north of Hanwell) is about as far north as I got.

Now I was on a descent through Montpelier (north of Ealing), Acton, Stamford Brook, and then along the A4 to Hammersmith bridge, as the towpath is closed to cyclists.  The bridge has separate lanes for pedestrians each way, everyone very well-spaced out.  I was aiming to go round the river side of Barnes Wetlands Centre and discovered Harrods Village as I was cutting through to the towpath.  You can see the Furniture Depository building from the river but I hadn't realised that it's quite an extensive estate, with 2 bedroom flats for only £1m.   I didn't have my cheque book with me, so I continued on my ride. 

2 bedroom flat ???

 
It was a warm day so I was rationing my water bottle, a glug every 5 miles or so.  Along the towpath nearly to Putney before diving south.  A maze of flats in the no-man's land between Roehampton, Putney and Wimbledon before emerging victorious beside Wimbledon Common.   My circular route kept me off the common itself though.  Descent towards New Malden involved a rather zigzag approximation to the circle, including some nasty uphills (Wool Road!!!), and a bit along the A3.   I was at least half-way round but I was getting suspicious.  I'd already done 32 miles or so, and the distance remaining was 17 miles.

South Lane, New Malden has a neat little cut-through taking you to near Woodies pub - except I couldn't find it.  In the end it was hidden in a tunnel, actually through the middle of the parade of shops.   Round  Woodies' playing fields, a rather rough path along the Hogsmill, and then a lovely ride right round Surbiton: Alexandra Drive and Ditton Road and through a nature reserve to emerge at Thames Ditton.   Westbound now, past Esher station and along the path across the Wey to Walton, where I went the wrong way for quite a while before realising and turning back.

The sun was getting low in the sky now, and it seemed I had a long way still to go.  Bit of a diversion for Walton Bridge, better than swimming across, although some were immersing themselves, if not swimming - and then northbound to Upper Halliford, a stretch of the A308 Staines Road before turning right towards Ashford, and then north-east back to Bedfont and my starting point.    I treated myself to a last gulp of water and headed home, arriving just before sunset.

It was an 'interesting' ride.   Not very scenic, but a few nice places that I might go back to if I can think of an excuse.   Plenty of parks, still full of people at 4-5-6 o'clock, some in big groups playing football or having picnics, but also lots of people just doing very gentle exercise by lying down in the sun.   Much further than I thought: I realised that my Ride with GPS route didn't include the 12 miles to/from the starting point, so the total was 60 miles.

The Send Giraffes

Tony..

Unique building at East Horsley

Tony..

A Sunday Solo Ride

Not wanting to miss a Sunday ride I headed towards Cobham and then Downside and Effingham Junction and onto East Horsley. A little coffee shop was openat East Horsley with a small queue outside, I didn't stop as I had a drink with me. I ventured just into Chalk lane and stopped for a drink.

After my brief stop I headed back towards Ockham and then Guileshell Lane, Hungry Hill and onto Titheburns Lane and then the A247 to Send  and Send Marsh. The weather was fairly good, not to hot. West Byfleet followed and Adlestone back to Walton bridge and home. A very pleasent solo ride, company would have been nice and a coffee stop, but  hopefully thats not to distant.

Tony..

Higher And Higher

Following recent government guidelines my ride today measured 29 miles(or 58 if the truth be known).

The start was all too familiar - Kingston Gate, Teddington Lock, NPL, Duke's Passage and Hampton to Lower Sunbury. I escaped from the strings of cyclists using Walton Bridge. After Addlestone came the descent through Row Town then West Byfleet. After last Sunday's experience, I stuck to the roads through Sheerwater (large erection), past Woking FC and Sutton Green and into Guildford by my usual route with plenty of new build going up beside the railway.

Who else "lived" here?

Since lock-down started there's been a dearth of hills for me to "enjoy". This I rectified by climbing up through Onslow Village to the A31 which was easily crossed. Then it was swiftly down to Watts Gallery (open) and along a sandy NCN 22 to Puttenham. After a look-see of the hop fields and refreshments it was under A31 north to Christmaspie,  east along the track to White Hart Lane Wood Street and Guildford hence home along the A3 route.

What's Going On

The map says it all except:

(1) The Weybridge to New Haw path was closed at Seven Arches Bridge with big boy's toys clearing the undergrowth. Visit needed from our New Haw expert?

(2) Muddy Lane is as it ever was and  Wisley was partially open, not that we've used it in recent years.

(3) The green at Pirbright was "packed". Surprisingly the Cricketers was open but not as a pub. It's been extended at both ends to include a cafe and a farm shop. Takeaway only  - a long queue (10 to 15) deterred further investigation.

(4) Hottest day of year so far and way too warm for me despite a wind.

The situation in Richmond Park is weird. It's still walkers only. The cafes reopened this week but not the toilets and still no access to Pembroke Lodge or Isabella. Beware you might encounter a motorised off-road patrol perhaps the Ranger himself?

Update - there is no update! but outside Norbiton Station I saw this. Ignoring the orange carrier bag and Salisburys logo, how common are they? 

Getting Mighty Crowded

Traffic seemed to be almost back to Sunday standards and there were plenty of cyclists including early bird, DV, on Park Road Kingston, only the second SWL'er I've seen since shutdown began.

For many folks it seemed the war was over! They were everywhere : in the expected places (Bushy Park and the Wey Navigation) but also on the Sheep Walk, a bridleway between Pyrford and Old Woking (in places less than eighteen inches wide!). Toss in the dozen or so groups picnicking at the Stew Pond(s) on Epsom Common. I hope you get the picture.

Social distancing was often impossible perhaps KEEP LEFT might work?