Sunday 18th March 2007

The morning rendezvous was Squires at Godstone where a pot of tea is still £1.
Whilst glancing through "FridayAd", Mike arrived with Andrew, Ed, Pete, Daphne, Steve & Ann with Graham arriving via a different route and much later, John & Terry.
Within 200yds of the entrance to Squires, Pete punctured. This proved to be bad timing when 30mins later we encountered a nasty hailstorm whilst ascending Tiburstow Hill.
Despite this, the day was fine although with a significant windchill.
En route to Cowden, Graham turned back at Lingfield concerned that the N-Westerly may hamper his progress back to Kingston.
The climb up past Dormansland BR was rewarded with the wonderful Smithers Lane, surely one of our most prettiest roads.
I have fond memories of Cowden stretching back to the mid-eighties when we lunched at "The Crown" situated opposite the church. This pub was converted into cottages in the nineties which left the perfectly acceptable "Fountain".
On this occasion there was nothing more substantial than crisps but the jovial landlord and comfortable surroundings made up for the lack of food and it meant I could eat my sandwiches inside the pub.
Mike's chosen route home was blocked at the BR bridge in Edenbridge where heavy cranes appeared to be hard at work.
Remarkably all 7 of us stopped for tea in Tandridge LC then it was straight up Tandridge Hill Lane to join route 21 past Woldingham School.
On nearing home LEDs were activated probably for the last time until October. (BST next weekend - Hoorah!).

11 March 2007

It's been a funny old day - very warm but blustery, two points hard earned from 70 miles, not one behind the designated leader. An early start did not deter Richard, Ed, Jake, Mike, Ray D and Steve. They set off past Royal Marsden, Kenley Airfield, Warlingham School and Jackass Lane Tandridge before hitting the flatter roads which lead to Occasionally Yours. There they were joined by Bob and belatedly by Graham after an injudicious offroad on Banstead Heath. Everyone had plans so the party split. Ray was in search of miles before his opening 25 of the season; Jake and Steve headed off to a TdF extravaganza in Sutton, The leader's preference was Penshurst so he went off with Mike (on a visit to Uckfield). Led by Bob the rest went through Edenbridge to a busy Hever (unvisited surprisingly in the last five years). Lunch was taken in the graveyard though Ed popped in for J2O. Numbers were further reduced when Bob went in search of a train. Tea was taken in Squires Godstone; eventually and reluctantly we left. Then it was past Fanny's and Banstead before the long downhills to home.

March 4 2007

All of Irene's rides start at "Chez Lui" so in dribs and drabs and from diverse directions 12 assembled for breakfast and a viewing of Pete M's Hilly 50 2007 DVD. The sausage eaters were: Irene, Andy, Bob, Daphne, Ed, Graham, Ian, Keith, Lisa, Pete C, Pete M and Stephanie. Most had avoided the impending rains but a mile short of Staines, Ian's rear tyre had exploded requiring a LBS visit for Ian and Ed. On the restart Bob and Stephanie headed for home; there was no escaping the rain and the route of two weeks ago was taken through Egham to Englefield Green. In the middle of the Great Park we were overtaken by a very recent Oscar winner(!?) in a Range Rover which headed off down the Long Mile. Could it be? Who knows but the registration was OXR 1. We exited by Cranbourne Gate but it was clear that we would not reach the lunch stop. After brief inspections of Crispin's and Royal Oak (meals only), once again the Duke Of Edinburgh was blessed with our company. The rains would not relent so there were no takers for tea. Back was direct and familiar: Ascot racecourse, Cheapside, Virginia Water and on to Thorpe. Just short of Chertsey Graham's front tyre exploded but his saviour (Pete C) appeared with a spare tyre. Still raining when I got home - a thoroughly miserable outing!

Sunday 25th February 2007

Today, I was duty Runs Leader after Mike had to pull out due to ill health.
I'd already decided Reigate was to be reached by the most direct route which involved the A217 but that was OK because the speed limit is 40mph and the traffic was fairly light anyway.
Morrison's coffee 79p was good value likewise the cakes (39p - scone).
Jake, John & Terry soon made an appearance that swelled our number to 8 only to drop back to 6 for the ride to Newchapel. (Jake, Ann, Steve, Keith, Ed & myself)
As we were leaving, Ray arrived to be directed the two "old codgers"still in the cafe.
The Blacksmith's Head is a fine pub, if a little quiet but Steve let it be known his intention to lead a run back to Newchapel in the summer.
We were away by 1.30pm and with a brief stop to cape up, I was home with a mug of tea, toasted hot cross bun and my feet up watching the Beeb's coverage of the Manchester World Cup. Well done Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and the rest.
Mileage 50.2 (from Ewell).

Sunday 4th March 2007 - Due to an oversight, the ride to Irene's will start from North Cheam. (Not Kingston Bridge)

DA Hilly 50k 2007

Sunday 18th February 2007

Compared to the Hilly 50, a rather smaller number, 5 to be precise (Graham, Ann, Ed, Keith and Steve) assembled on Kingston Bridge. There we were entertained by Keith's twice attempted puncture repair before setting off through Bushey Park emerging at its NW corner in Hampton Hill. The railway bridge at the end of Prior Road was closed requiring a retreat to the level crossing by Hampton station. We dropped down to Lower Sunbury Road and from there to the Orangery. There to greet us were Andy, Bob and Irene and after a while Richard put in an appearance. Past film studios and Laleham, we sped joining the tow path to Staines. Delayed at both level crossings in Egham, Tite Hill was tackled before entering Windsor Great Park at Bishopsgate. With time in hand, a left turn after the village meant the behorsed ER2 and an exit at Cheapside. One more climb ended with a left turn into Lovel Lane and another to Woodside and the busy Duke of Edinburgh where Pete and Liza joined us. After lunch we explored a not too muddy Hodge Lane before sampling Ascot racecourse and passing through Cheapside. Here we turned right and reentered the park at Blacknest. We skirted south of Smith's Lawn before mingling with the crowds near Savill Gardens. Englefield Green and Virginia Water pointed us beside M3, M25 and Great Cockcrow railway to tea at Tesco's Addlestone and a parting of the ways. Around 50 miles on a dry mild and cloudy day.

CTC SW London DA Hilly 50 km

At the start- Rykers thereon for Boxhill

Believe it or not! from Pete Clarke

Easter Tour 2007

This year we'll be joined by Brian S and Mike M on Saturday/Sunday. So I've outline plans for rides. Both are 50-60 miles so start around 0930 hours.

The Saturday ride would be to Shaftesbury via the Ebble valley; back via Tisbury and Dinton.
Energetic types could go via Sixpenny Handley and Zig-Zag and met us for lunch.

The Sunday ride would be to Imber - a village empty since 1943 and only open a few days each year. Probably up the Avon valley, through the army camps onto Salisbury Plain and back down the Wylye valley.

I'll be searching the web for teastops but I'm not optimistic! Just checking the new Blog service works.

Easter - what's everyone doing?

As there doesn't seem to be a plan for anyone leaving Thursday morning: Pete & I have made arrangements to leave from my place, meeting Terry & Joanne at Puttenham for lunch and staying at the Travelodge at Four Marks Thursday night. (Currently offering a room for £15, if booked online and paid for at time of booking - no refund for cancellation).
Anyone else is welcome to join us.

Coming home, Pete & I are again booked in at Four Marks (same deal).

Lisa

Travel Lodge Website: http://www.travelodge.co.uk/

Address:
Travelodge Alton Four Marks Hotel
A31, 156 Winchester Road, Four Marks, Alton
Alton GU34 5HZ

Location with Multimap

Sunday 21st January 2007

Thanks to Lisa for her valued help in the technical department. Switching took less than 2 minutes.

Just 6 at NC for a straight forward route to Biggin Hill via South Croydon and Farleigh, with an ill judged "short cut" to join NCN route 23. Copious amounts of mud and the odd horse made this suitable for the MTBers only.
Being Kent, hills are numerous and in every direction including the humungus climb to the Spitfire cafe, a first for me after the demolition of "Scrambles".
Coffee - 60p, a proper greasy spoon.
With 3 remaining (Graham, Ed and myself) we made for Kemsing and lunch. Bob soon joined us and without a visit to the pub we set off again towards Shoreham, Halstead where Ed punctured.
After removing a stubborn thorn, tea was to be had at Downe.


Blog of the week: http://kimbofo.typepad.com/londoncyclingdiary/

Blog Upgrade

Sorry folks.

As those of you who have posted recently will know, Blogger has been pushing "New Blogger".
All the blogs have now been moved over to New Blogger, but this means (I think) that for you to post, you will all have to create "Google" accounts from your original Blogger accounts. It's a bit of a hassle, so my apologies, but in the long term it will be beneficial. I also think that the Google accounts will allow other possibilities with the club sites, so it is all for the best really.

I believe that next time you log in to post, with your old account details, you will be prompted to create a new account based on an email address. It seems to be fairly straightforward, but if anyone has any problems please get in touch and I will try to talk you through it.

Please make a note of your new username and password, as I will no longer be able to look usernames up for those who forget (I think).

Finally, anyone who hasn't yet signed up for the Blog and would like to, please email me for an invitation.

Lisa

Daniel Cadden Case Update

Cyclist who refused to stay in the gutter wins re-trial

A cyclist who was found guilty last year of inconsiderate cycling, whilst cycling in accordance with the National Standard for cycle training, has today won a re-trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

CTC member Daniel Cadden was cycling fast downhill on a single-lane carriageway when he was stopped by police who believed that the position he had taken in his lane was forcing cars to cross the solid white line in the centre of the road illegally in order to overtake. But rather than stop the cars that had broken the law, the officers decided to charge Daniel Cadden with inconsiderate cycling.

The judge and two magistrates accepted the arguments put forward by Cadden’s barrister, Francis Fitzgibbon, that there were contradictions in the police’s evidence, that there was no legal obligation for cyclists to use cycle tracks and that causing only a short delay to drivers did not constitute “inconsiderate cycling”.

The judge who sat at his first trial believed Daniel should have not been on the road at all and instead should have crossed three lanes of busy traffic to use a cycle path, which runs alongside the road where he was stopped.

Speaking outside court, Daniel Cadden said: “I am overjoyed that the ludicrous decision to prosecute me has been overturned. The recognition in this case must go to the real heroes, all those people who have supported it either financially by giving to the Cyclists Defence Fund, by joining CTC or by sending messages of support to myself and my family. Without the support of these people this fight would not have been possible. The overwhelming sum donated to the Cyclists Defence Fund has been testament to the solidarity shown by the cycling community on this issue. This success serves to reaffirm cyclists’ right to decide when to use cycle facilities and when they are inappropriate or dangerous. The first judgement was unreasonable in denying this.”

CTC’s Campaigns and Policy Manager Roger Geffen added: “This ruling is a tremendous victory, both for Daniel Cadden personally and for all the cyclists whose donations to the Cyclists’ Defence Fund have helped support this case. We hope the Government will now heed the voices of 11,000 cyclists who lobbied their MPs when a draft revision of the Highway Code threatened to enshrine into law the misguided views of the original police officers and trial judge in this case. We are picking up signs that the Government has been listening, so we hope there will be more good news on this when the new Code comes out later in the spring.”

Daniel Cadden was supported in his defence by the Cyclists’ Defence Fund (CDF), the independent charity which was founded by CTC to provide cyclists with support in legal cases. Over £25,000 was donated to the CDF by cyclists keen to show their support for Daniel.

To donate money to the Cyclists’ Defence Fund, go to www.cyclistsdefencefund.org.uk

The Route That Jake Built

Down the Saturday wire the message came "It's closed"; "No worries Andy - an email will fix it" I replied. And so elevenses was reset for the Dorking Sports Centre. I'd like to describe the opening stages. But I was late (or so I thought); and worse appeared to follow when the level crossing gates was closed for ages. But along Ottways Lane Ashstead, I was hauled in by the bunch and we went the usual route to Dorking. By my reckoning we were Jake, Daphne, Ed, Florence, yours truly, Keith, Michael, Pete, Richard, Simon, and Steve. Here we were joined by Terry, Irene and Pam so the email had worked. After an extended stop, Pam and Simon headed for home.

An inspection of the one-way system was followed by Spook Hill. Then the Henfold route and a left turn after Newdigate church lead us into the Cudworth estate (not too muddy!). A right and another left took us into Orltons Lane and to a quiet Lamb in Lambs Green where most sampled from the menu. The brisk way back was Rusper, Newdigate and Pixham Lane to the A24 where Steve punctured on the Esses. There I departed leaving them to find Bocketts Farm and home.

Easter Tour Hotel

Hotel for the Easter Tour to Salisbury:

http://www.bywayshouse.co.uk/

Sundays 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st December 2006

It is with regret this post has appeared late.
This is due to the rather hectic festive season getting in the way of normal service and my inability to get "work, rest and play" in the correct order.

The AGM on the 10th was attended by around 25 of the usual suspects.
The most notable "area of concern" was the suggestion the C&M rides should be graded for severity (Richard D take note!).

Simon's ride to Edenbridge, a week later, was granted fine weather and lunch in the churchyard was very agreeable with just enough heat in the sun to take your gloves off to eat sandwiches.
The ride fragmented on the way home when Simon revealed his choice of climb over the North Downs - the wretched Titsey Hill.

Christmas Eve was a revelation in the support I received on this short ride to Stoke d'Abernon via Box Hill.
Clearly the fact that Ann brought along mince pies, shortbread, port, sherry etc really put everybody in a good mood with plenty to go around, even to the car assisted Pete Beyers and family at 11's.
Spirits were high so I used this to my advantage with the 2 mile track across Bookham Common to a quietish pub, Old Plough at SdA.
For most, thoughts of the following day's activities meant early departure from lunch to begin the build up to the big day & beyond.

New Years Eve was low key in both attendance and destination (Wetherspoons in Leatherhead). Thanks to Ed, Jake & Richard and already there Pete M, Ray, Terry, Graham, Pam, Irene to be joined by Keith.

Happy New Year

DA Competitions

The first submissions of their 2006 mileage are on the mileage table .

Send your totals to Pete Mitchell for inclusion (by email, text or phone).

And don't forget the Photographic competition - Pictures to your section Sec if s/he will take them or else also to PeteM.

Lisa

New Years Day

New Years Day Ride

I arrived at the Spring Ewell to the welcome sight of 17 riders fit and ready to ride. Lisa, Les Johnston, Brian Starey, Dave Elliot (Clarencourt), Toni Zeolla, Carol Dockett, daughter Anita, Don Clark, Shirley Q. Ed. Sharp, Lynda, Terry, Norman, Grant P, Steve Cox - & Keith Rook who picked us up on route. At the café in Richmond Park we met even more familiar faces also riding in by bike Graham, Pam, Irene, Carolyn Beer, Frank C, Judy Margery & a host of cycling Margerys: Iain, Carolyn, Nicholas, Ben; Pete Matthews, Pete Barnard, Dennis Broughton & Don Stockbridge completed the group with non cycling friends Ron & Doreen, Tom Fish, & Betty Johnson.
We arrived at Ed’s for a super layout of chilli con carni, hot sausages, rolls and a wide selection of cakes, followed by a slide show of the French Alps & The Dolomites taken in 1962 – 1964 by Grant. Matthew Pendry’s show of a 2006 trip to Ecuador followed and then Highlights of 2006 Club trips followed by Paul Day's CTC tour to Nepal & the Himalayas. Simon, Jen & Jake rolled up at tea time to get another demonstration of Ed's new “Ferrari"!

Pete

Celebrations New year's eve 2006

Celebration drinks at Weatherspoons Leatherhead

Cheam & Morden Post Xmas Lunch

To be held at The Hand in Hand Boxhill 12.30am 11th Feb 2007 £10 tickets from Steve at 02083982775 or Pete at 02083942665