A Group Ride from Teddington to Eton and Hampton Court, 18th December 2024.

 On a blustery and balmy December day - it was warm enough for Simon to wear his cycling sandals without socks!, 23 A riders turned up at Teddington for an early start to Eton. (Apart from 3 other rides this year with 24 riders, this high turnout was a bit unexpected for a ride with the least daylight). Maybe it was the lack of a chill factor that brought people out - (the chill factor was experienced later in the Waterman's Arms where the heating thermostat probably matched the 15 degree outside temperature!).

Janice's group at St. Mary's church, Bedfont.

Janice led an on-road group. However, as she says, it was an off on-road ride and an on off-road ride as well!

Peter S, Richard, Patrick, Neil W, Dave W, Dave B, Daniel and I set off from Teddington as the final group.

We were the only on road group but as I hadn’t been able to recce the route I forewarned everyone and asked them to keep an eye on their navigation devices and let me know of any missed or wrong turns.

Quite soon there was a roadside discussion as to the correct turning but we all managed to stay on course. At a later turning I decided to forgo the on road route to avoid a busy roundabout to take the familiar gritty muddy path under the M25. Some followed me, some stuck to the course. That set the scene for the hybrid on/off road hybrid route that we then followed (or at times stumbled upon).

We caught up with Dave V’s group on the footbridge over the M4. 3 of my group elected to go off road with Dave but we caught them up when we turned left into Ditton Park. Something had gone wrong either by making that turn or shortly thereafter and my Garmin never fully recovered as we were now off course and the screen was frozen.

It took a while but by then I realised that when inviting the group to keep an eye on their navigation devices I had assumed that we would all be following the same on road route given in Ged’s email. Alas, some were following the off road route hence the confusion all round.

Somehow and with a muckier bike than hoped but mercifully no punctures we arrived at The Waterman. The sandwiches were inexpensive and good but the pub was cold.

We were glad to get outdoors again on the short December day so that we could warm up.

The on and off roaders.

The journey back to Hampton Court was plain sailing as far as navigation was concerned although the hoped for tail wind was still a fairly strong head wind for much of it. For those who stopped we were rewarded with enormous slices of cake and decent coffee.

Thanks to Ged for the route and apologies to my group for the uncertain and confusing lead! It was nevertheless enjoyable to be out in the fresh air on such a mild December day. Particular thanks to Peter for back marking and coping with having to decide at times which splinter of the group to follow!

My group were suited for on and off road, coping well with a large puddle in Ditton Park. Mike pictured us at crossing the bridge to the rather muddy track across Eton College Playing Fields.

Arriving in good time for lunch, there was plenty of opportunity to cool down as the other groups arrived, but it was rather too cool for most. Andy C mended a puncture whilst we lunched. It was good to get moving again!

 

The well-composed middle group.

Dave Vine had recced the route with me, and his group of eight picture below had a trouble-free ride - expertly back-marked by Simon. 

A large handful of starters arrived for tea at Dish, where Patrick happily tucked into the largest slab of coffee cake I've ever seen!

Thanks to Dave Vine and Janice for sub-leading a sometimes tricky route. And many thanks to all for making it a very enjoyable winter day's ride. Thanks to Mike for a seasonal visit and diligently back-marking my group all day.

Happy Christmas to all Wayfarers.

Report on A Group ride to Christmas Lunch on 11 December.

As the weather was fine and everyone was keen we had three groups of six leave Claygate at five minute intervals.

We headed into Esher, across the High Street and at Esher Green entered the Esher Place Estate. At the bottom of the hill is Wayneflete Tower, Part of the Palace of Esher established in 1462 by Bishop William Waynflete of Winchester, (More information here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayneflete_Tower )

Then we headed through West End and back to the Portsmouth Road before turning down Fairmile Lane for Stoke D'Abernon and on to Fetcham.

After a mile on Lower Road we reached Bookham and turned North to head for lunch. Bookham Common only had a few muddy patches and we enjoyed the traffic-free route over to Downside. In Cobham we re-joined the Portsmouth Road and it was then just a five and a half mile straight road to The Angel.

All three groups arrived within minutes of each other and in the order they left Claygate.

Thanks to Dave Vine and Clive Janes for leading groups for me.

Christmas greetings from Tony Ashford

I've just received this from Tony who, for the benefit of those of us who haven't met him, lives in Germany and comes to Dieppe every year with his family and stays at La Plage. 

Hi Tim,

              Just to wish you and the Sou'westers a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year with many happy hours on the bike. Of course my still being in Germany our main meeting point is the Tour des Trois Vallées in Dieppe. We will be there next June arriving just the day before the event because of my son's school holiday timetable.

              On our return this year we took another biking holiday in the Lorraine near Lac de Madine and I can thoroughly recommend it. There are gentle hills and much history too (and much from World War I). And very peaceful too. We are returning there in 2025.

I wish everyone all the best for 2025

Tony Ashford

Invitation to the B Ride on Wednesday 18th December

We shall set out from Teddington on a ride through Richmond Park to end up in Epsom for lunch, about 18 miles. There will be no planned afternoon ride so please make sure you know your way home from Epsom.

Our route:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49200511

If you would like to join one of the groups please email me by close of play Monday. If you would prefer an early or later depart please let me know, also if you already know that you will be riding home with someone you are very welcome to let me know so that I can put those p.m. riders into the same morning group.

John A

B Ride Report – 11th December

Just 16 hardy riders gathered at Squires Garden Centre for Elevenses (Claygate DC being closed). Great to see Tim C joining us for coffee and hope to see him more next year.

In the end, 14 riders headed out in small groups of 4 or 5 riders at 15 min intervals in low cloud and cold drizzle. At Effingham, 2 riders departed their various ways, before the first climb of the day, up High Barn Road. As we approached the end, on the right hand side, we were rewarded with a magnificent 200 metre long hedge-coppicing.

Descending gingerly on a wet White Down lane, we headed west along Guildford road through the quaint villages of Abinger Hammer and Gomshall. An undulating loop south along Burrows Lane, Hook Lane and Sandy Lane took us back up to the picturesque village of Shere.

 

After a rest and hydration stop, we rode towards the main challenge of the day, up Combe Lane in our lowest gear and the steep turn at the top. Gathering safely at the top, all thoughts turned to lunch in the warm and cosy Barley Mow pub in West Horsley, a short distance away. It was at this point that Mick, leading the middle group, announced ‘No More Hills everyone’ having forgotten the short but steep kick back up Shere Rd!

Lunch at the pub was pleasant as usual, particularly their Thai dishes guaranteed to heat you through. Unfortunately their log burning stove failed to warm us up before it was time again to brave the cold and head out the short distance through Ockham and tea at Café Barbera at Stoke D’Abernon.

En route, we took an old dilapidated concrete road through Ryde Farm Estate where the first group were lucky enough to see 4 kites circling over the wooded area and massive groups of crows roosting amongst the trees for dusk.

Many thanks to my subbies Mick A and Tim G for leading and encouraging their groups round the route safely and to all our back-markers. Well done everyone who came along for the ride.

A Group Ride, 18th December 2024 from Teddington to Eton and Hampton Court.

 You are invited onto the A Group ride on 18th December to Eton and Hampton Court. Lunch is at the Watermans Arms, Eton, and tea at Hampton Court: 37 miles in total, split evenly before and after lunch. The route has a few off-road gravel sections through local parks. But the approach from Datchet to Eton is through Ditton Park, Upton Court Park and Eton College grounds - which were rather mucky on Tuesday’s recce, (though perfectly rideable), so for non off-roadees an alternative .gpx route will be available. (Also Slough Council have promised to cut-back a fallen tree blocking a pathway!).

The Watermans Arms are happy to accept lunch orders on the day, but you may wish to peruse the menu to aid ordering. (Dish cafe, at Hampton Court, have also promised to have a well-stocked cake selection!).

Please respond to me by the normal time of 6pm on Monday 16th December: gedlawrenson150@gmail.com.

Routes, groups, running order, etc. will be mailed-out on Tues. morning. (Expect an early start from elevenses for a ride closest to the shortest day). 

I hope to see you on the last ride of 2024!

New Road (just south of Claygate)

After Elevenses today at Squires in Stoke d'Abernon I cycled home via the Oxshott Common woods then turned off Fairoak Lane into New Road which leads north towards Claygate. On the corresponding Wednesday last December I led a B Group ride from Claygate to Banstead and included the woodland paths through Arbrook Common and Birch Wood and reported:

"New Road seems to have been totally neglected for years despite being a popular link for walkers, cyclists and horse riders making their ways between Claygate and The Prince’s Coverts. The path was very squiffy in places and where large mucky puddles spanned the ‘road’ many of us dismounted and wheeled our bikes through to Fairoak Lane."

Steph noted: "... some particularly splendid mud edged lagoons." and took this photo:

So imagine my surprise today to find that a major resurfacing project has taken place on the quarter mile of muck and puddles and that New Road in it's entirety is now a splendid ride all the way through to Claygate, even for a rider with a wonky leg.

 ~ Tim C

Invitation to B Group Ride 11th December

As the Claygate Day Centre is closed, Elevenses will be at Squires Garden Centre, 85 Stoke Road, Stoke D’Abernon, KT11 3PU.

The ride route is 28 miles in total with 1,922 feet of climb.

It's 18.7 miles from Elevenses to the Barley Mow pub in West Horsley, via Gomshall and Shere. A couple of hills to climb in the morning, High Barn Lane and Coombe Lane and the rest of the route is relatively flat. The afternoon ride is short and straightforward at only 9.4 miles, for those wishing to have tea at Café Barbera, Stoke D’Abernon.

The Barley Mow pub does not require pre-ordering but does insist groups arrive at least 15 mins apart which I and my illustrious co-leaders (Tim G and Mick A) will endeavour to comply with. If you would like to join the ride, please Email me directly before 6pm Monday evening.

Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Francis

Report for B Group ride to Christmas Lunch - 4th December

The excitement started early with road closures near Claremont Landscape Gardens and road closure Downsbridge Road maybe preventing access to Church Street . However neither posed a threat to the ride .

A domestic water works issue caused a couple of no shows . Never mind new recruits Anne W and Pat D accompanied by Dave V , Grant and Ken made the smallest group the largest group. 

On show for the Wayfarers Christmas lunch ride to the Angel at Thames Ditton were bikes lit up with battery lights from poundland , tinsel on handlebars and a tastefully frame packaged with Christmas wrapping by Alan C . 

The Christmas fairy’s cloak unfortunately got stuck in the back wheel initially causing a group reshuffle rethink but Madeleine safely arrived to head out with the Gold group . Normal service restored . 

For the record the riders in the Christmassy named groups were 

Gold led by Madeleine Dave C , Julie B, Karl, Linda M, Martin G, Paula B, Robert  

Frankincense - led by Mick A Alan C,Francis D, Gill H, Maggie J, Paul J  

Myrrh - led by Arwyn Ian W, John A, Sue F, Terry L, Tim G then joined by Grant , Ken , Dave V, Anne W and Pat D

Diane was picked up on the way to join Gold group.

It was a meander through Cobham and Fairmile’s back roads until we hit the rolling Portsmouth Road . The flooded West End football pitch was ready for the subs. 

Taking Riverside Drive , the busy climb to Esher was avoided and the groups passed Wayneflete Tower. 

It was evidently a gatehouse to Esher Palace. 

Here is a Time Team documentary about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch

Cycling out of Esher towards Kingston we turned right into New Road . The rare Edward VIII pillar box was at the junction with Littleworth Road . 

Despite gas road closures , comfort stops and the good spells of puncture fairies all groups timely arrived at The Ángel .

Thanks to Arwyn , Mick A and Madeleine for leading the groups . 

Thanks to our backmarkers Robert, Francis and Tim G

Gold

Frankinsense

Myrrh

Contributions for Sou'Wester required, please

I am running short of material for the next Sou'Wester, which I will put together mid January.

So of anyone is doing a winter ride, or has recently done a ride, or has mechanical or digital route planning advice, please get in touch and put pen to paper (ie fingers to keyboard).

You would be surprised how what seems like an ordinary ride to you is an interesting adventure to someone who has not done it, and sharing is worthwhile.

Paulandrewjames1949@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks

Paul