How far did you go in the year of covid lockdown 2020?
The time is fast approaching when you will be invited to submit your mileage totals for the past year. This may not be top of your immediate priority list, but like all good Girl Guides and Boy Scouts: Be Prepared.
This is what I said last year.
https://midweekwayfarers.blogspot.com/2019/12/how-far-did-you-go-in-2019.html
However,
having filled this gap between Xmas and the New Year for too long, the
time has come for someone more in touch with the membership to take on
this cherished and dearly coveted privilege. The Committee has decreed, I
understand, that the mantle should now rest on the shoulders of our
dear Secretary: Tim Court, who can never resist a challenge. He must
learn how to say:No! Perhaps he will delegate!
No doubt, he will soon be inviting you to submit your historically Covid reduced mileages from Jan to Dec 2020. Even with the restrictions of Tier 4, you may be tempted to go that extra mile before midnight on December 31.
Stay alert!
Jeff
Friday is a long time ago. Since then London and Surrey have been promoted to Tier 4 of the Premier Lockdown League, with all the privileges that lock-down includes. As we can no longer surf the tiers and only cycle with A.N.Other, all rides are now once again suspended. Simon has had to cancel his Sunday ride. Many no doubt will desperately be trying to work out what this means for their Xmas arrangements. Who knows when the next ride will be. Hopefully before December 2021. We can be sure that there will be many changes of direction before then.
Stay alert.
Jeff
Due to the move into Tier 4, we are not allowed to ride in groups of more than two. Therefore, with regret, I have no choice to cancel the planned ride. It is a shame that we can't get together but it's more important that we all stay safe. Even more important than the very upsetting news about not getting together over Christmas.
Eventually, it will be over. But not until the number of cases comes down to hugely lower numbers, or the outcomes are much improved. The vaccine will help. Limiting our contacts, especially indoors, will help. Warmer weather will help - and it can't come soon enough!
My apologies for the short notice and I look forward to seeing you as soon as we are able.
Sending love and best wishes for whatever Christmas you can salvage, and for a much better 2021.
Simon
Go, Go, Stop Stop, Go
With effect from 00.01 GMT on Saturday 19 December 2020
Ged Lawrenson has kindly provided the following advice on the MWW website, which I have tweaked slightly for Cheam and Morden.
" Following the government's announcement of Tier 3 for Surrey, the same Tier 3 Coronavirus restrictions now apply equally to all our riders. This means that we can all now ride in a group of six or fewer, no matter where we live - so long as we follow all the relevant up-to-date guidelines on the website".
I'm sure that Dave Ward will keep us informed about forthcoming rides, eg Polesden Lacey this Sunday, 20 Dec. Keep your eyes peeled on the C&M Whats App group for the latest twists and turns.
If you have any questions, I understand that Mr B Johnson and Mr M Hancock are available to clarify any ambiguities.
Hope I've got this right!
Jeff
As all will no doubt have realised, the permafrost of government designation as a Tier 3 Covid19 hotspot has descended on the Great Wen. This will take effect from one second after midnight this Wednesday, 16 December 2020. One of the effects of this is to discourage mingling of members who live in one Tier with those from another Tier, as well as travelling from one Tier into another. To all purposes, this seems to make club rides an indictable offence, subject to I know not what penalties.
Have a look at the succinct guidance posted by Ged Lawrenson, Wayfarers' Ride Sec, on the MWW blog page.
We will do our best to adapt to these frosty conditions and await guidance from CUK on how to continue group riding within the confines of the law in 2021.
Bah! Humbug!
And oh yes, Have a Merry Xmas!
Jeff
It was a pretty foul morning and, unsurprisingly, I savoured my Squires six item breakfast at Stoke d'Abernon in stately splendour (and so it should be with the current restrictions, I hear you say)! Somewhat to my surprise, Graham arrived just as I was leaving and we had a brief chat outside. He turned for home, and I headed for Guildford, half thinking the rain might relent (it didn't)!
You get a few Sundays like that most years, but I think this year we have been spared until now! Anyway, we'll hope for better things next week!
The weather for Sunday forecasts has a 25% chance of rain and temperatures from 7C up around 10C so the possibility of a ride is promising. 11's however is a problem with not being able to all meet within Squires. I have spoken to Squires and they have 2 outside tables and takeaway coffee, inside seating is available if you are solo or socially distanced.
Lunch is planned for the Old Moat garden centre, Epsom, which has outside seating. Due to the early onset of twilight no afternoon tea stop is planned.
Tony..
This is from Jeff (slightly edited)
"Dear Friends,
I am sure that we are all familiar with the need for succession planning. I’m not so sure that CTCSWL has in the past had such foresight. Which may be why I suddenly found myself with a number of unsought privileges, when our much loved and indefatigable Capo di Capo fell asleep in the night, not to awake.
He had already frightened the life out of me one day at, not now sure if it was Addlestone or Weybridge, to say that he wanted a quiet word with me. As a newbie, I wondered who I might have upset, though in those heady days, I was not overly perturbed. A number of us are now familiar with that innocent tap on the shoulder. At that time, it was an unexpected invitation to take on the mantle of Rides Sec, even though I had no idea where all the elevenses venues were to be found. Not my area. I vividly recall my first lead.
When he sadly left us, I inherited a vacuum for responsibility for monitoring members’ annual mileages.
As I am now to all intents a non-cyclist and unknown to a majority of riders, it seems most inappropriate that I should have any such responsibility at all. Paul has valiantly and most brilliantly enhanced and expanded the role of Editor of the Sou’Wester. With my duties now minimal, the committee should consider who (or if) it wishes to choose to monitor our members’ annual mileage exploits.
It will be for C&M to decide who and how (in the absence of an AGM) to choose to represent its interests on the CTCSWL Committee. My greatest ambition now is not to lead a sprint up Pebble Hill, but to get to the front of the queue for a Covid19 vaccination."
Jeff joined C&M/Wayfarers in 2007/8. In the early years he was a keen competitor for C&M's best attendance aka a free meal. Fittingly he became the C&M scorer in 2011 (following on from PM) and the DA Rep in 2015 (after MM). We won't forget his battles with HQ over charitable status.
Our 2020 autumn AGM will be no earlier than April 2021 due to Covid19 and HQ accountancy changes. If anyone wants to act pro tem, let me know.
After a four week break we were all keen to get back on the road again! Six of us were tempted out to elevenses at Walton Bridge but unfortunately spent a bit too long sitting catching up, and despite many layers of clothing, getting very cold! Most weren't inclined to stay out for a longer ride, but Tony and Pam bravely continued to Shepperton. We hope for something a bit milder next week!
Our rides (in groups of no more than six) will restart from Sunday 6 December.
No elevenses was planned for next Sunday, but let's celebrate the occasion, in a socially-distanced way, by adding one in!
So, see you at The Wilde Brunch, Walton Bridge from 10.00 am on Sunday. Lunch stop to be confirmed (could still be West Horsley, depending on interest).
Dave
It dawned cold and damp but no mist. Simon met me for an early start from my house at 9.30 and we headed North to Heathrow with some exploritary off road tracks. Through Harlington, and memories of being knocked off my bike by a police car.
. Simon
knocked for me at around 10.30 and we headed into the wind for Cobham,
via Esher. Heading to the Patisserie at Stoke D'Abernon and Cobham
station.
This sign is in the window, so we shared one of their rather large sausage rolls and with a coffee each, the bill came to £1.80, and lovely coffee it was. On then to Leatherhead and a loo stop, then Simon took us on roads new to me and a very pleasant route to Ashstead then across the common (so many people on the common) and down to Ewell and a visit to Ed.
Then off to face the
mayhem of Hampton court roundabout and the many cars, bikes and general
public. Onto the high street at Hampton hill where we parted company. A
really nice time on the bike today, thank you Simon.
On a different tack, I phoned Alan Anderson this evening. He is well and still unable to cycle as caring for his wife takes all his time, he now has no Parkrun which he used to do pushing his wife round in a wheelchair. But takes her round just the same minus the company of the other participants. He is just the same and tried to talk me into a joint venture on one of his madcap inventions for unlimited free energy.
Tony..
It was a wind is rising, leaves falling off the trees sort of day with rain forecast around noon. So I set off in the late rush hour on NCN4 for central London. During my last visit in May traffic had been nonexistent and it's still well below normal levels.
I'd no planned route as the map reveals! Well perhaps a trip down memory lane: Albert Memorial (the 1987 Great Storm), Admiralty Arch (FNRttCs and early L2B rides) and Victoria (15 years of commuting).
Keeping an eye on the weather at the end of Embankment cycle path I turned north then west along Fleet Street. I had one more mission: to discover if this plaque existed hence the detour through Lincoln Inn Fields and Covent Garden. By the time I reached Richmond Park I was being overtaken by e-bikes such was the strength of the wind. Home by noon and the rain was at least two hours late.
Mark Gladwyn found this gem advertised on eBay. A typewritten newsletter from October 1951. Since the photos are published, I am taking the opportunity of reproducing them here. The original is still available at a very reasonable price of £5, only a little higher than the original price of 1½d. Comments welcome!
A mild day with some sun. I decided to meander and explore some new possible routes and was successful. Some lovely off road gravel paths through Hanworth park. Once at Feltham I thought I'd take Bedfont lane and pass the school where Feltham road club used to meet many years ago. But the level crossing has gone and the only way across is a footbridge, which is not yet finished.
There is another option by going over the bridge but I had made my mind up by then for a different option and headed up Harlington road west and the route through Heathrow and passed the vast, but nearly empty, Covid testing station.
I had decided to stop at the Costa Coffee at Stockley park as they have loos. Sadly the loos were closed but they did have a Christmas tree 😄 Sadly none of the presents had my name on it. Coffee and a sandwich sitting outside and off to explore some of the new paths that have now appeared.
Coming out onto the West Drayton road and past the old tractor that is now beginning to disappear in the overgrown fuana.
On past Hillingdon hospital and on to Iver and through the Orchards residential park where I met a group of 6 cyclists who had a variation on the rule of 2? I upped the pace and quickly passed this wayward group. Now down past the edge of Slough and into Ditton park and onto Datchet
Wraysbury, where it started to get colder and a brief stop to add a
layer,Staines, Ashford and down to Feltham and onto Hampton and home. An
enjoyable ride and some new paths, as it was getting chilly now me and
my shadow raced the last few miles, I wish.
.
Tony..
Left home heading for Runnymede and within a mille the puncture fairy struck my front wheel. Managed to sort it reasonably quickly and headed off again, within 500metres the level crossing barrier went down! More delay.Off again and I took the shortest route to 11's.
The Midweek Wayfarers have decided that from next Thursday 5th November all Wayfarer group rides are suspended until December. This decision will be updated on the Blog in the light of any further announcements made by the Government and any additional guidance issued from Cycling UK.
Subject to your agreement, It is proposed that, in the interests of consistency, other Sections and Cheam and Morden adopt the same policy.
Jeff Tollerman
