March 2010 - Best Of The Rest

Sunday March 21

I joined the bunch at Hookwood. From the centre of Horley we went south. I think Jake's planned route was via Shipley Bridge (B2037) but our actual route went the Wayfarers' way, Crawley outskirts then up Turner's Hill Road which well merits its five (and more) entries at FillThatHole.org.uk. Turning at the church, we sped down past Worth Abbey, over Balcombe Tunnel and through Staplefield to Slaugham mixing with a sportif along the way. The pub had food but only if ordered in advance so all went hungry or nibbled surreptitiously on produce from elsewhere. Over Ashfold Crossways and down to the hammer ponds was taken at a decent pace but we regrouped before Colgate and were still together for a round of cakes at Tanhouse Farm.

Saturday March 27

This FNRttC ride was a charity event with 120 starting from HPC at midnight, and very professional as Simon had made a risk assessment and signing-on sheets plus sag wagons for riders and bikes. Having the paper qualifications was my excuse; not that I had anything to do - no leading, no mechanicals; the smoothest/driest ride yet. A Penny Farthing (which shipped a pedal in Lonesome Lane), a "tall" bicycle (twiddled all the way up the Beacon) and lots of clunky MTBs are sights not normally seen on these rides. Cakes galore were on hand at the halfway point (the so called Horley Scout Hut around four miles from Horley!) We made Brighton in just over eight hours - quite an achievement as half had not tackled this distance before and I was home by ten thirty. The photographer has caught my better side - the back - so I've labelled my helmetted(!) self.

Sunday March 28

Once again I joined at elevenses, this time in Shere where the Palm Sunday procession was in full swing. A fine day produced a fine crop of cyclists including Lawrence in a CTC Central London group. Just five followed Ed out the door. His route had a simplicity - A25, A248, A3100 thus we arrived at the Jack Phillips in Godalming around 1220 so it was full Sunday lunches all round. Leaving around two, the way back was equally simple - A3100, the High Street cobbles, A25, A246. Keith and I took off towards the prison so here ends my tale.

Capel Teas 2010

They're already started - the rest of the schedule:

Apr 5(Mon), 18
May 2, 3(Mon), 16, 30, 31(Mon)
Jun 6, 13
Jul 4, 18
Aug 1, 15, 22, 29, 30 (Mon)
Sep 12, 26
Oct 3, 17, 31
Nov 7, 21

Thanks Bob

Hedgerley Ride 04/04/10

Please note:

this starts from Kingston Bridge at 0830.

Sunday's Train Assisted

Sunday 14th March 2010 - Train Assisted Ride Cancelled

If Andy has emailed you, please ignore this message.

Andy is unable to lead the ride on March 14th so the train-assisted ride is off. I'll be at Surbiton Station just in case someone turns up. If you want to join me afterwards, I'll be linking up with Irene and Pam at Fairoaks around 11:00. Lunch is vague and as it's Mothering Day, I'm definitely taking sandwiches.

Graham

.

Sunday, 7 March 2010

Oxted - Dormansland - Fannys
(Apologies to a truncated Graham)

Sunday morning and it seemed that El Nino had relented: the sky a clear, icy blue. However, several layers of thermal protection were needed before heading North to pick up Ed, John G and Graham H at the N. Cheam staging post. Then it was into the sharp-toothed Easterly wind that was to accompany us nearly all the way to Oxted. The route took us along what is probably the most benign incline to Botley Hill: Sutton, Carshalton, S. Croydon, Farleigh and Warlingham to the top of Titsey Hill. A short, wind-assisted freewheel along The Ridge brought us to the top of Chalkpit Lane for a brake-testing, white knuckle descent to Oxted Station and the superstore café at Morrisons.

With their teapots already half empty, Bob, Pete B and Pete F were waiting. There was still time for a hearty English breakfast before setting off, as Dormansland was fairly close and downhill, with no intervening outcrops. A pretty leisurely jaunt took us through Broadham Green, Staffhurst Wood, Crowhurst and Lingfield to The Old House at Home in Dormansland. After a leisurely lunch, sound food and service, we were off again on the way back to Redhill via Newchapel, Horne (which does have a bit of a hillette), Outwood, S. Nutfield and Philanthropic Road. Tea was planned for Fanny's but the Red Arrows did a sudden starburst and I had lost them. However, half-way along Rocky Lane I discovered the two Petes escorting me on my wing tips all the way to the fabulous Fanny, where we were very soon joined by Graham. Ed and John had plumped for Wetherspoons.

Pete B was greeted like a long lost lover by Fanny, as he had offered to provide her with some railway memorabilia - but he still had to pay for his coffee. We took our tea in the shelter of the Pagoda, tastefully walled with mattress springs, before heading back to base, still in bright but dazzling sunshine low in the sky. Pete B and I accompanied each other to Chipstead and the A217 before a final farewell wave.

We had enjoyed a day of sunshine, blue skies and not a drop of rain, sleet or snow all day, though in places there had been ice and slush on the road, the temperature barely rising above zero. For me the distance home to home some 54 miles.

Jeff

http://www.savethectc.org.uk/

Hilly 50 on You Tube

Bookham Common

Our Staines correspondent tells me that Bookham Common is "impassible" due to tree felling/clearing operations. She managed to get through but you have been warned!

Hilly 50K or March Madness

This was a day which started dull and above zero but ended bright and below zero due to an east wind. A week without rain left the course dry with its potholes and mud clearly visible so perfect for this event.

Most of the 134 riders got away on time whilst others suffered train delays or punctures and started up to 20 minutes late. GD came home in his usual 1:50 followed by a couple more in 2 hours with the rest spread over two more hours. Five punctures and a visit to Peaslake (not on route) topped the tales of woe but most enjoyed it (so they told me).

FNRttC March 26th to Brighton

For details see

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=54410

A charity ride (in part) for the Martlets' Hospice so you have to speak nicely to Simon.

Sunday February 28th 2010

A driving rain accounted for the roar as I crossed the Mole/Ember close to the Esher sewerage works. I recognised no one whilst at Tesco Brooklands so promptly returned. Home was reached in the dry(naturally!?)

and a line from our leader

"I dutifully rode to the meet at North Cheam this morning but no one else had turned up by 9.05.

As I was already fairly wet by now, having ridden from Walton, I abandoned the rest of the ride."

Hilly 50 March 6th

Ed and I need your help next Saturday (March 6) from 0900 till as late as you can stay. 70+ (1 CM, 1 MW) riders have signed up so far and if the weather's fine, hopefully there'll be a lot more on the day. Anyone used to handling money (possibly dirty) should apply. As neither of us has a car, drivers are especially welcome as we'd like to use the display thingie and/or Ed's pasting table. If you can pretend you know what's going on or just want to soak up the atmosphere, do come along. I recced the route very slowly last Wednesday, a wet feet jobbie especially where the Tilling Bourne had overflowed into Raikes Lane near A25. Surrey's highway engineers still havent located Longmore, Sheephouse and Hoe Lanes so the spirit of the ride is intact though hidden under several unavoidable pools of water. I've had printed routesheets/maps (B/W) and will produce laminated/coloured versions of same for display on the day. But if you want to make your own contribution (use up those old printer cartridges or whatever), please do so. Let me know if you can help (preferably this weekend as I'm for Stirling and back before Wednesday's dinner). Graham Hill 0208 549 0366

Sunday 21st February 2010

Due to a busted valve and change of inner tube, I did not reach the start till 9:20.
I was suprised to find, Steve, Anne, Richard & Tim still waiting.
We set off fairly briskly for a drizzle soaked ride to West Horsley, via Cobham.
Jake turned up at elevenses, where we kept a weather eye open to decide which route to Guildford. (Direct 5 miles, or over the Hill about 11 miles).
We decided for the Hill, up Shere Road, via Albury & Shalford. The Keystone was deserted when we arrived, but as they only provide full roast dinners on Sundays we decide to head for Wetherspoons. The heavens opened while we had our lunch, but the weather was good for the ride home. Group decision was to skip tea at Wisley and head straight home via Hungry Hill route.

Keith


Picture - arial view of West Horsley (Squires,top left).

Ripley Cycle Jumble

Sunday February 14th 2010

As Richard hasn't posted anything this is a brief note to say you didnt miss much. This winter lingers on so it was another cold dank miserable day.

There was much evidence of the Evans' rides as I pedalled towards Horsley and a sprinkling of snow on the top of the Downs. At Shere they were already there; they being Bob, David, Richard, Ed, Jake, and Ray (the last three opting to go no further).

Going up the hill we passed the William Bray(who? ex Prince of Wales) and then it was down and up to Farley Green where Richard decided that Winterfold merited a visit. Naturally when we reached the Bricklayers in Shamley Green Bob was here to greet us. And there it ended as all had our own agendas.

Savethectc.org.uk

In addition to the information on the SW London DA website, the new savethectc website is now up and running. Click on the link in the previous sentence, then click on each of the tabs.

The web address is:

http://www.savethectc.org.uk

Sunday, 7 February

On National Cycle Network Route N21, in the shadow of the radar control tower at Gatwick Airport

Leader Mike, Andy and Simon proudly sporting the new C&M colours.

(Report from Mike to follow)

Sunday January 31 Inverarish

Uploaded under duress

FNRttC February 26th to Brighton

For details see

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=53819

Apologies for the delay in posting but I've been away in the Highlands more precisely Raasay.

Savethectc

Future of the CTC

DANGER

Dear All

How aware are you of the proposal of the CTC head office to change the constitution of the CTC from a Membership organisation and convert it into a full blown charitable trust?

Have the reports and proposals been circulated to Member Groups to consider and discuss? The network is there across the whole country, but has not yet been used.

Have you seen and read the Report on the proposal by John Meudell, CTC Councillor, on the SW London website? Look up the 'savethectc' link on the Hilly 50 webpage. Click on 'Hilly 50 Blog', then click on the 'savethectc' link in grey on the right.

Have you looked at the debate on the CTC Forum? It is red hot! There is also a link to the full Forum debate on the savethectc page

Do you understand what this means for you as a member?

How aware are you of the vituperative debate that has been raging about what this would mean for members?

Do you care?

If you do, it is time for you to:

• find out what is happening
• decide for yourself what you believe is the purpose of the CTC - who it is for.
  
• make sure you get a proxy vote and have it cast in accord with your belief in what you think the future of the CTC should be
• know that the result will be decided by your proxy vote, or failure to use it
• the proposal will require, I believe, 75% of the votes of those present , including proxy votes
  
• a failure to vote is as good as a vote in favour of the change, which cannot be reversed.
  

This fundamental change to the role, independence and future of the CTC as a member organisation will be voted on at the AGM, to be held on 15 May 2010. You know how many people attend AGMs. Did you attend the SWLondon AGM? A very small number of activists can decide the future of 62,000 members. We can anticipate a blitz of propaganda from the head office and some council members to promote their proposal. The Feb/March issue of Cycling carries for and against arguments from opposite sides of the debate (see pp 36-37).

Please consider for yourself the weight of the arguments for and against this momentous proposal , make up your own mind, and make sure that you vote. The future of the CTC as a membership organisation that represents YOUR interests depends on your vote.

Don't be a sheep - be a lion!

You have 100 days!

Here endeth the first lesson.

Jeff

Thanks from KCC

Very many thanks for the huge amount of signatories for our petition to keep, at least for now, the contra-flow cycle lane on the bridge in King Charles Road. It helped us reach 207 signatories and it trumped the counter petition of the opposition. The Surbition Liaison Committee decided after lenghthy debate and comments to retain for 6 more months the cycle lane and then review it again after that.

Once again many thanks from the KCC and from myself as well. We have a Bread Pudding Challenge Ride on Sunday 14th February if you or any of your group are interested?
Kind Regards
John