Sunday December 30 2007

As Irene doesn't do east of 11s, I was detailed to lead a famous five (Ann, Ed, Jake, Keith, Steve) through Surbiton, Thames Ditton, Hersham and Walton. At the Shepperton X-roads, we learnt by mobile phone that Nutty Lane was closed. This was confirmed by the sight of the fleeing Irene and Andy. So it was a return to last week's rendezous, The Orangery at Squires, Upper Halliford where Bob, Pete and Terry were in residence. Showing that there are new routes to explore, we went over the Shepperton ford and into the Sheepwalk where "Rex" Harrison was spotted coming the other way. Joining NCN 4 at Chertsey Mead, in time we emerge at the foot of St Anne's Hill. Lyne was next followed by the Lyne Road detour to Trumps Green. We headed alongside and over the M3 to Staple Hill before descending to the Red Lion at Burrowhill. According to an already present Pete Matthews, this did "roasts" only so we retreated to the more expansive and uncrowded Four Horseshoes. The afternoon was short and sweet. Gracious Pond, Stonehill and Foxhills roads lead to Ottershaw and onto Addlestone where some tarry in Tesco whilst others hurried on home. Around 40 miles.

December 23 2007

Recall if you can the opening scene in Lean’s Great Expectations with perhaps Ed reprising Finlay’s part. Well that sums up the day weatherwise. After being fortified by Ann’s Christmas fare on Kingston Bridge we headed off at 09:55(!) for Bushy Park entering at the Wick gate and leaving by the Hill gate; the deer were much in evidence despite the mist. After detouring to take in the Roy Close monument, the Lower Hampton Road was next and thence to the Orangery café in Upper Halliford. By now 14 was the number but some (Bob, Daphne, Petes C & M) were on Xmas duty and homeward bound. Our route lay across Walton Bridge when Ann (and so Steve) were in for a lengthy puncture repair. After Weybridge (NCN 4) and Addlestone via Poets’ Corner, a slow-moving M25 was crossed on Liberty Lane. Descending to Woodham and West Byfleet, in time the Seven Stars with prominent signs banning bikes from the garden (you have been warned!) was bypassed. The nearby Saddlers Arms witnessed our arrival around 13:15, much later than I’d intended. Despite crowds, there was a single table for all of us. With no takers for tea, a boarded-up Hautboy (a belated crumb of comfort for Lady Harberton?) was on the route to Cobham. We were still together on Fairoak Lane where most opted for a ride in the woods along New Road. Around 30 miles.

Sunday 16th December 2007

Today's rendezvous was Tescos at Hookwood where I was greeted with a puncture. After replacing the tube I headed upstairs to join the shortish queue in the cafe. No Bob and no papers either so I waited patiently for Steve, Grant, Ed, Pete, Daphne and Keith to appear followed shortly by Graham on his recent respray job (a blue Wester Ross).
Not a day to hang around (a very cold NE) but hang around we did after Pete suffered a puncture after 0 miles.
When we got going it was gone 12 but Steve still keen on Lingfield pushed on in bright sunshine.
The Hare and Hounds was crowded with diners, leaving late arrivals standing, or worse, outside in the smokers area.
I never caught sight of any food, everybody appeared to be finished so it wasn't long before tables became vacant. A short sit down in a comfy chair before we were moved on in preference of more diners.
Tea was taken by Steve, Ed and myself at a spacious (& empty) W'spoons at Redhill.
Wray Lane, A217, Tadworth, the Downs and home.
Daytime temperature with windchill..............-6 degrees (metcheck).

Connect 2 Vote

We believe that Sustrans' Connect2 campagn to obtain £50 million pound for critical cycle routes across the country is going well but we do need the votes.
If you want more info or to vote on line visit: www.itv.com/peoplesmillions
Fingers crossed!
Regards Mike Pontin.

Post Xmas Lunch

Cheam & Morden Post Christmas Lunch
12.30 on Sunday 27th January 2008
At Horton Park Golf & Country Club, Hook Rd, Epsom

Cost £10 for two courses.

Sustrans Vote

You can vote £50 million for cycling today! Here are the basic details: The Big Lottery Fund has selected four projects that are eligible for £50M of lottery money. One project will get the lot and this will be decided by public vote.

The Sustrans entry called "Connect2" will provide critical cycle route links nationwide.
More info on www.sustransconnect2.org.uk
Right now you can see info about the projects and vote Connect2 on line at: www.thepeoples50million.org.uk

You need to register first and then you will receive a validation email with a link that will enable you to vote. Only one vote can be made per email address. Online voting ends at noon on Monday 10th. Alternatively you can vote by phone. There will be several ITV1 programmes presenting the projects. The one presenting Connect2 will be on Tuesday 4th December at 11pm. Telephone numbers for voting will be broadcast. One vote per phone. Phone voting commences at 9am Friday 7th December. So spread the word! A big vote from cyclists will win the £50M and will also send an important message about the demand for better cycle facilities.

Michael Pontin
Sustrans Liaison Ranger

Sunday 18th November 2007

During my Tour de Dorking finding somewhere suitable for the impending visit of Ed and his merry men and women, I came across the Courtyard Cafe (High St).
Apparently it's been open on Sundays (10-4) since May this year. Talking to the owner, he also plans to open his other cafe, Cromwells in Cranleigh from late March (Sundays) 2008.
Just seven of us at 11's and only five go on to lunch (leaving Andrew & Bob).
I punctured at Rusper and left the others (Ed, Keith, Ian & Jake) to do a loop.
The front tyre was discarded in preference to a tyre I'd been carrying for the best part of a year.
Lunch was at The Royal Oak a short distance away.
After eating my sandwiches in a temporary marquee, probably a left over from a bonfire/barbeque event a few weeks earlier, I joined the rest relaxing on leather sofas in front of a closed fire.
Talking to a local couple, we established the pub used to be two railway cottages and a number of photographs appear to support this fact.
Verdict - A really good pub which requires further visits in 2008 and beyond.
After a mug of coffee (£1) we reluctantly thought about heading home and as we emerged, the forecast rain arrived.
Thoughts turned to hot baths and mugs of tea so it's Goodbye Capel 2007 ..........see you in 2008!
As I write this it's still raining!!!!!!!!!
Mileage 45.5 (from Ewell).

Sunday 11th November 2007

The e-mail said something like "I'll probably arrive a bit late at 11's, going around the houses to avoid the main roads".
11:23am the drowned rats turned up with new leader Ian at the helm.
Something about a beefy shower in the Croydon area. So much for the "mainly dry" day as promised (BBC News 24) although www.metcheck.com was pretty much bang on.
Midday departure for everyone (Ian, me, Keith, Ed, Steve, Ann, new girl-Emma) leaving Bob & Pete/Daphne.
Before that, my pronunciation of "cafetiere" caused the Waitrose lad to serve up a coffee & tea (cafe-tea), Oh dear!
We left Bromley due SE to Petts Wood via the agreeable Jubilee Country Park, then east past the vast and smelly Allied Bakery factory performing the "Chorleywood process".
Green fields were in abundance as we went through Crockenhill, the delightful Farningham (shame about the M20 noise) to lunch at Horton Kirby.
"The Bull" appears in both 2007 & 2008 CAMRA guides and although quite small inside, the beer garden affords fine views across the Darenth Valley.
After leaving the pub, Ian chose to retrace back to Farningham then Eynsford and the rough road past Lullingstone Villa/Castle/Park and Visitor's Centre to a stonker of a climb up to Well Hill.
We sped past Chelsfield BR, the (always) heavy A21 at Green St Green, High Elms GC to a cracking tea at Downe.
A popular establishment, with a good tea/cake menu and reasonable prices. Hard to come by on a darkening night in early November, anyhow they were £18 richer by the time we had left.
Blinking lights were necessary for the remainder of the ride,which took the familiar Jackass Lane to Coney Hall, then West Wickham, Croydon, etc.
A potentially hilly ride which wasn't too bad mainly due to avoiding Halstead, Knockholt, Shellys Lane & Cudham.
Thanks Ian, you passed with flying colours.

Blog of the week:
Read about Seattle cyclist, Peter Mackay, being shot at whilst riding his bike.........astonishing!
http://petermckay.blogspot.com/
Click on "Not a typical commute home" under archive.

(Or direct link here, Lisa)

Sustrans Route

KPRC (in association with C&M) Sat am rides

Excuse my intrusion into your Blog mateys but Jake has asked me to promote the KPRC Saturday morning rides by pointing also to the C&M, who make up many of the riders, that, all are welcome to participate, time permitting, to these medium paced rides starting at Horton Country Park Epsom at 10am. The mix of rides and destinations will in future change each week and details can be seen on the DA shared link with KPRC from this blog home page. It also gives me a chance to demonstrate my occasional support (and an excuse to show off my new bike-don't tell her in doors yet), by posting a picky. Give it a try like Toni de Italia often does and then he goes on in the afternoon to ride with the CTC Beginner's. What a fantastic man, I think we should rename him Fausto Copi or IL Pirate. The reason he goes out with the beginner's is that after becoming so shattered in the morning he can beat some easy competition up the hills.

Sunday November 4th 2007 Crawley Down

A healthy number assembled at North Cheam in weather too good for November. The haar was up in Headley but not for long. Here we found a road closure, followed by a second at Betchworth crossing – no problems. Past the Wonham Manor deer we rode before settling down to 11’s at Reigate Garden Centre. By now we were a dozen: Graham, Andy, Bob, Ed, Jake, John, Keith, Roger, Simon, Steve, Terry and newbie Kate. After Lonesome Lane, it was east to Outwood and south to the Hedgehog and beyond, before joining heavy traffic on the B2028. Thankfully a mile later we turned off into Crawley Down and found the Royal Oak hard by NCN21. The menu attracted buyers including moules for Simon; the meal enlivened by reports of Ann pinballing her way from Crawley via Turners Hill! At last we were away down the Worth Way before offroading beside the M23 north of Copthorne. After a tour de Horley, we crossed the A217 and headed towards Irons Bottom. Around here we lost Andy and then Simon off in search. On further cross-examination, it became clear that Andy had assumed the Fox Revived lay on our path - wrong. On the run-in we picked up Simon and then Andy at Brockham church. Trade in teas was brisk thanks to a goodly crowd drawn to the still smouldering bonfire. Our final road closure was a silent A24 – fatality just north of Ryka’s. Around 60 miles.

Info from the AGM

A big thanks to Ed for hosting the meeting again.

Simon's proposal of Colchester as the destination for the Easter Tour was accepted by the meeting, so that will be 3 night's B&B in somewhere in Colchester.

The question of somewhere to stay on the way there, and on the way back was mentioned.
If someone would like to come up with a suitable destination, depending on which way you want to go to get there (Lee Valley, or Epping Forest hostels being two possibilities) I am sure that something can be arranged - or do you all want to make your own plans/arrangements to get there and back?

Lisa

Sunday 21st October 2007

Wow!!! fourteen riders at NC, it must be a special event.
Well actually just the normal hill climb weekend in Kent but I was taken aback with the turnout.
"Are we going to leave?" muttered one of the KP crowd "but it's only 8 minutes past", I said.
The route: Croham Valley, Featherbed Lane, Fickleshole, Beddlestead Lane then Pilgrims Way, Brasted & Ide Hill to Yorks Hill and a massive queue for 11's which Ed, Ian and myself felt the need to join.
As Pete has mentioned, the results can be found elsewhere.
Unsuprisingly, we all split up and the Fox and Hounds at Toys Hill was my destination joined by Andrew, Pete, Daphne, Keith, Mick & Ian.
Retracing back to White Lane, Titsey and Gary's defence of his joint win last year. (He lost)
I really liked the knowledgeable and drama inducing p.a man and the brioche as provided by the Bec ladies.
C & M members gaining a point not already mentioned (for what it's worth):
Steve, Ann, Jake, Pete & Lisa.
The weather all day was quite beautiful with barely a cloud in sight.

Bec hill climb

The Bec Hill climb winner full result and pictures on this link
http://www.londoncyclesport.com/

Catford & Bec Hill Climbs

Catford & Bec Hill Climbs

Glorious weather and a fantastic day out by all. I trekked out on my own to York's Hill and there I met Andy and his merry band of men. Catford had 101 riders and Bec 95. The hills were alive with the sound of grunting and gasping and that was just the spectators. Lunch was partaken at Toys Hill. I was very grateful to Ian for sharing his Rolls (cotton wool jobs) and cheese with me as the pub only did cooked lunches. See photo.

Unfortunately for Gary (Dodd), his old Bec record was just beaten!

Mike Morley

Sunday 7th October 2007

There was an element of doubt that the NT tea rooms at Runnymede would be open, given it's proximity to the latest foot and mouth restrictions. After all, the surrounding countryside is currently out of bounds to all but residents.
I arrived to find leader Pete attending a puncture. Inside gaining a point: Jake, Neil G, Steve, Bob, Frank, Terry, John, Ed, Daphne & Stephanie.
With WGP off limits, Pete had to take an unconventional route through Windsor to join the B road (B3024) going west to lunch at The Beehive (White Waltham).
Arriving early (12:20) we seemed to have the pub to ourselves sitting outside enjoying the watery sunshine.
Pete & Lisa soon appeared swelling numbers to a dizzy 13.
Pete's insistance of changing the tea venue paid off as we enjoyed a pleasant stop at Shepperton Lock where Ann found us.
The subject of the annual dinner arose and it was disclosed by Steve that we were charged extra for drinks (in the hired room) compared to the saloon bar in the main pub.
Time for change I feel.

Cycle Show Pictures

Pictures from the show can be seen on
http://www.londoncyclesport.com/

Burnham Beeches Cafe

A Picture of the recently opened cafe 'The Beeches'

I have been in shock all week: firstly our esteemed councillor does not know who Ken Joy of Medway Wheelers was (shurely some mistake?) , and secondly Wester Ross was admitted for emergency bottom bracket surgery and will be out of action for weeks. Thus it was with some relief that I set out on a sunny but cool day to join Ed, Andrew, Janice, John M, and Richard at North Cheam. The latter's attendance proved fleeting thanks to chain and puncture problems before Tadworth.

Clearly Ed had sprinkled something extra on his cornflakes as at fair pace we sped up Chalk Lane and through Walton On The Hill (sightings of heron and Crystal) to Pebblecombe and thence via The Fox Revived to Tesco Hookwood where we joined Andy, Bob, Ian, Petes B and F and Terry over a drink or two. Andrew, Bob and Janice now exited. The rest sampled Charlwood, the "Zoo" road, and Lambs Green before tackling the final climb to The Dragon, Colgate. During a protacted lunch, Ian was seen buying off the barman after being caught redhanded with firstly cheese and secondly roll in hand. At my suggestion we added Wimlands Lane to the return but still reached Capel well before three o'clock. John and the Petes went for an early bath whilst the rump headed for the cakes (3 if I'm being honest).

Warm when the sun was out; autumnal when it wasn't - about 65 miles.

Sunday 23rd September 2007

Ken's triumphed again on a brilliant day in the capital with 38,000 cyclists competing in a slow bike race around the capital.
Simon took the reins as far as 11's at Butlers Wharf then joining the route at London Bridge,we rode along closed roads with thousands of Londoners enjoying a (very)leisurely cycle on a 9 mile route.
The course and public areas coped well with the large volume of novice riders with only short waits at pedestrian crossing and route convergence points.
The largest bike park London has ever seen was the compulsory area to leave your bike,whilst visiting the "Bike Festival" that consisted of a dozen interested parties.
I noticed considerably more interest in the LCC than the CTC probably on account of the free T-shirt on joining(a good marketing ploy?).
Following meeting up with my sister and 11yr old Hannah,who had travelled up from the coast,we followed the signed route back to Clapham .The remaining C & M members taking tea at the Italian cafe on the Common.

Perhaps more refreshment establishments would help reduce queues at the finish but that aside,I liked the general feel good atmosphere,the cute STOP/GO boards,the free water bottle/bell,the bloke with the masterblaster and the bell ringing/cheering/singing under Blackfriars Bridge.

Jenny Jones(Ken's Green Advisor) has plans for additional road closures next year "to cope with demand" but where were the press photos on Monday?

Bargain of the Week:Boss S1200 Rigid Workstand £42.00 delivered(ribblecycles.co.uk)