Ian Appleton - from today's Order of Service

Remembering Ian, Cyclist, Mountaineer and Family Man

 ~ Tim C

A Group Harefield report.

 A small group of ten assembled in Walton for a ride to Harefield. There were six in my group all keen to establish a reasonable pace to lunch and tea before the early darkening evening. It became something of a film studio escapade Shepperton, Pinewood and, due to my slight deviation to Richmond Bridge, Twickenham studio (nowhere near as visible as its two big brothers). Some fast roads and a couple of sharp climbs brought us to Harefield in good time. Lunch at The Kings Arms was well received, good fare and cheaper than most of the venues we visit.

After lunch a good run down towards Ruislip along Breakspear Road would make up for some of the stop start towards Northolt. Avoiding Southall high street we cycled under the main west coast rail line, over the Grand Union canal and onto Osterley Park, Isleworth and Richmond.

Many thanks to all who came along for the ride, to Dave Ellis for sub leading and to Steve D for back-marking my group.

Hans

 

Our group, the second to leave the Wilde Brunch cafe at Walton bridge,

with Clive J , Sue C and Janice , headed towards Staines passing 

Shepperton studios, the first of two film studios today. Cycling on to Iver Heath on

fast flat roads we passed Pinewood studios and on towards Fulmer, where we gave

the watersplash a miss. We headed uphill to Gerrards Cross and on to

Chalfont St Peter. A couple of climbs up brought us Harefield for lunch at the

15th century pub the Kings Arms, which served great quality food at

prices we would have paid 5 years ago.

 

After lunch it was all down hill, in more ways than one. My garmin

decided to go on strike but with the help of Janice we navigated our way

through Northolt, Southall to Osterley park and then Richmond bridge,

where the group split up to head for home before it got dark.

 

Thanks to Janice for the navigation aid and to Clive for backmarking.

Dave

 

 

Invitation to a B Group ride on 6th November

The ride next Wednesday on 6th November is a lovely, varied, and autumnal route - the morning ride is not too hilly despite going into the Surrey Hills via East Horsley. Then through Ripley to the pretty Anchor pub at Pyrford Lock.

The afternoon ride has a section on the river Wey and some off road (about 2 miles), heading for Garsons farm for tea. Lighting up time is 16:25 - so we'll aim to get us finished before then, but bring your lights just in case. The morning route starts in Cobham and is about 18 miles. The afternoon ride is 10 miles. The Anchor pub have asked for pre-orders so you can have a look at the menu here.

https://www.anchorpyrford.co.uk/food-menu/
 
Tim G and Maddie will be my sub leaders on the day.

These are the routes:

Cobham to The Anchor at Pyrford Lock

Pyrford Lock to Garsons Farm

Please can you let me know by 6pm on Sunday if you would like to come, as well as your menu choice. 

Contact me on juliembuckman@btinternet.com or mobile 07803 005516

~ Julie

Report for B Group ride from Hersham - 30th October

The clocks had changed, so we made an early start from Hersham, on a route planned by Stephen with invaluable input from Paul and Steph.  We left in 3 groups, the Hounds (Paul, Brenda, Diane, John, Tim G, Keith, Gill, and picking up Terry & Pam along the way); the Hawks (Steph, Ian, Karl, Dawn, Jane, Gill, Dave & Christina); and the Hares (Stephen, Tony, Mick, Sue, Colin, Alan & Grant). Fortunately, the weather was dry and relatively warm.

 

The Hounds (Paul)

There was a risk that a ride designed and recced before the clocks went back would prove a little too ambitious to get us all home in a dark evening.  But a combination of an early start, a reasonably efficient lunch service and good cycling weather all served to make it work, despite an unplanned detour when the police closed a section of the route because of a road traffic accident.

A 10am start from Hersham demanded early rising; as leader of the first group set on a proper elevenses I was on the road by a quarter to eight.  The weather was cool but dry, as much as we could ask during this autumn of wet presents from the overheated Atlantic Ocean, and Keith and I had both been pessimistic about our timings, but the roads were eerily clear of traffic for half term and I successfully ran an extraordinary gauntlet of timely green traffic lights all through Sutton, Cheam, Chessington and Ewell. So we were both there early, shortly followed by Tim G.  Diane (bike mended) and Brenda (left helmet and gloves in the van) followed, Ann sent her apologies, Gill (because she lives close) and John (because he is invariably and assiduously punctual) timed it to perfection and off we went on schedule.

Terry was waiting by the roadside at one end of Weybridge, and Pam at the other, and we had us a convoy.  The leaves and the occasional dog on the towpaths of the River Wey and the Basingstoke Canal behaved themselves and the peaceful paths through Horsell Common woods were so passable that Tim C would have been disappointed.  Many of us had never been through those woods before and we arrived at the Hare and Hounds at West End with the pleasant feeling you get from discovering a new route to the same place.

It got better; for there was free beer.  Preceding our arrival the weights and measures inspector had been and the landlord had had to draw three quarters of a pint of each of his ales; they were lined up on the bar and the weights and measures man invited us to have them.  Well done, Stephen; we think that all ride leaders should arrange for a weights and measures man to visit just prior to our arrival.  

The Hersham Hounds at the Hare and Hounds

On the recce I had found the afternoon ride a bit of a slog home but Stephen had redesigned the route and the weather was better and this was pleasant, though I must remember not to cycle too fast for the electric bikers.  The only glitch was a policeman stopping us as we tried to ride along Chobham Lane outside the Defence Science and Technology Lab.  He would not countenance us squeezing through, but helpfully suggested a detour which turned out to be fairly straightforward and involve only a couple of extra ups and downs.

Thanks Stephen for a fine route, and to everybody in my group for your company. 

The Hawks (Steph)

We left promptly at 10.10 and were soon passing through Weybridge.  The Beeline was indicating left onto the Wey navigation - I'd never done that before so I ignored it and took the next left.  It became obvious that I should have gone where Beeline indicated however I wheeled on and over the railway bridge to the Coxes Mill Pond (secretly thankful that Ian had left his electric bike at home).  We took a few photos and enjoyed listening to a local lady tell us about  the swans and the cygnets and their escape from the foxes by building their nest on the island we were just about to cross.  

It was then that we spotted the Hares (who had taken the correct route on the towpath ) stealthily making their way towards New Haw Lock.  We quickly mounted up and crossed the lock to rejoin the route, catching them up by the time we crossed our second bridge to join the Basingstoke Canal.  Karl took the photo and we let the Hares get ahead .  The canal path was beautiful and a very popular choice at this time of year.

Lunch was enjoyed without any other route problems and we were lucky to be lined up and ready to go before the Hares had got their bikes unlocked.  We had regained our second place !

At the double roundabout at Longcross /Staple lane the Chobham Lane route was blocked off by a police car and we took the next left which was a swift downhill down Longcross into Chertsey.  We rejoined the route at Free Prae Rd.  We had had a bit of motorist angst on the rather busy Longcross but in retrospect I think this was probably due to the road closure earlier on.

To reward my team for valiantly putting up with the busy road we took Dockett Eddy Lane and had a bit of river calm before arriving refreshed and revitalised for tea at the Marina.    I think this last detour allowed the Hares to jump into second place.

A great day out, a fabulous route and excellent company.

The Hawks flying over the Wey Navigation

The Hares (Stephen)

We were the last to leave and made our way through Weybridge and - after a sharp left turn up and over the footbridge - onto the Wey towpath. The canal was lovely in the calm, early autumn weather.  After passing under the M25, we crossed to the Basingstoke Canal - where we were surprised to find that we had somehow overtaken the Hawks.  After a further stretch of canal, we made our way via a mix of off-road (a scenic track round Horsell Common) and reasonably quiet roads to the Hare and Hounds at Donkey Town.

Lunch was fine - though the free beer had gone - and we set forth for the shorter ride, via Windlesham, Trumps Green and Chertsey, to the Boathouse near Walton Bridge in time for tea (and excellent cake), arriving while it was still light. At one point we were stopped by the police due to an accident, but after diverting across the M3 on Longcross Road we were able to return via Kitsmead Lane to the original route.

But when we arrived at the Boathouse we were surprised to find that we had yet again overtaken the Hawks, without actually spotting them along the way.  Moral:  although, according to Aesop, the tortoise beat the hare, hares sometimes outrun hawks!

A varied ride, with good (dry!) weather, excellent company and in good time to complete in daylight.

The Hares after Lunch

Wayfarers A Ride 6th November from Cobham

 

The ride will leave Cobham and head for The Plough in Leigh. 24 miles to lunch and circa 12 miles back to tea - total of 36 miles with approx 2000 ft ascent. All on road with exception of short stretch at Downside Common Road.

Tea will be at Ashtead Park Garden Centre off Pleasure Pit Road or alternatively if you prefer a flatter return have tea in Leatherhead - its optional. Your leader and group can decide on the day. I am joined by two sub leaders Janice and Brian.

Here is the course link 

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/317284530

Please have lights on your bike.

No pre booking required, please look at link "our menu"

https://www.theploughleigh.co.uk/

Please advise if you are joining the ride and lunch before 5pm on Monday 4th November to enable me to provide numbers to the pub. email francespstewart@gmail.com

Wayfarers Christmas lunches and subs request

It's time to book your place for the Wayfarers Xmas lunch - get your Santa hat and Xmas jumper ready and get your bike decoration planned! There will be competitions for both! More info soon.

The B group lunch will be on 4th December and A group on 11th Dec. For now we need to know which group you will joining, what you would like to eat and how many courses you can manage, along with your payment, combined with your SW London CTC subs.

You can look at the Angel Xmas menu here https://www.theangelthamesditton.com/christmas-menu-2023

Prices remain very reasonable:
1 course £18
2 courses £24
3 courses £30

It's also time for renewal of our subscriptions to SW London CTC. 
As discussed at our AGM, the cost will again be £2 for 2025.  You may pay online and bank details will be available on the various WhatsApp groups or emailed by request. You can also pay by cash to your group rep - these are A group - Patrick, B group - Christina, Easy riders - Helen, Beginners - tbc
You are reminded that renewal of subs also acts as your continued consent to the use of your personal data under our Data Protection Policy, which can be viewed on our website in the Information Hub.

Please also email Gill, Membership Sec, gillholder9@gmail.com of any updates to your existing contact and ICE details. If you have not yet done so, please include your current CUK membership number.

So this is what you need to do
1. Email Paula pibpaula@icloud.com your choice of Group lunch, your menu choices and number of courses.

2. Make your payment for the number of courses you have chosen plus £2 for CTC subs by bank transfer. Please add your surname and first name initial as a reference.

The cut-off date for lunch orders is 22^nd Nov.

Many thanks

Paula and Gill H

Report for B Group - 23rd October

Madeleine writes:

My first lead for the B group proved to be a very pleasurable experience.

I'd designed what I hoped would be a pretty and interesting meander aside, across and around the Thames - to Wandsworth and back via Hammersmith. All well and good. But the weather forecast was for mist - so the visuals were set to be rather limited.

What a difference, then, to have sunshine! Bliss. And the whole ride was made more enjoyable again by the light-heartedness and good spirits of all who joined us. The tone, of course, was set by the subleaders, who fully embraced the feel of the day. They both showed creativity and initiative in improvising their own routes along the way.

Bernard, as you will see from his contribution, slipped through some wrinkles in the space-time continuum, but somehow joined at crucial moments (notably lunch) and added good cheer to all he encountered. Ray took his group on a wonderful tour, though a mystery one to me! The groups’ battles for places in the running order meant more interaction and a bit of photobombing - but it was nice to see what the others were up to.

Despite our research, lunch at the Ship and cost us dear on time. I’m glad to say that most of us got back before dark…apologies to those who needed their lights to see their noses.
 
Thanks to the members of my group for their humour and free facts: John & Anne C,
Paul & Maggie J, Alan C, Jane G & Colin G.
Your company and encouragement was much appreciated.

Thanks also to Bernard for being his own redoubtable self. And Ray deserves double points for inspiring some of the most interesting parts of the route - and taking on  leadership for the 3rd group with 15 hours to go!

For those who would actually like to know where we went (or at least where Ray took his group) please see his account, below….”

Madeleine

The Ship

A little cyclamen glade that only my group saw

My group in the Cyclamen grove

Colliding groups at the National Archives

Ray writes:

We started by cycling and walking our bikes along the path at the end of Middle Lane, Teddington, before starting our ride to Bushy Park where we were greeted by a pair of stags guarding the entrance. A quick tour around Bushy Park was then completed using paths in a different order to our normal approach. Well done Maddie!!! On leaving the park, it was a quick ride across Kingston bridge and onto Richmond Park that we entered at Kingston Gate and left at Roehampton Gate. Then onto Barnes Station where I missed a turn and decided that I would not go back, a poor decision on my part, which took us up a slight hill to turn around at the top and cycle back to the bottom again. At the traffic lights a new route was discovered that quickly brought us back on to the correct route. On to Queen Elizabeth Walk to the Thames where we had a bumpy ride before entering a road section that took us past several sailing clubs and rowing clubs before arriving at Putney Bridge. A quick dog leg through the traffic lights, past the Rocket and then along to Wandsworth Park where a van was blocking the entrance. Having squeezed past the van, we found that they were fitting some railings to stop bikes riding down the slope into the park. Along the riverside and then a quick deviation from the course to ride further along the river using Nickols Walk, rather than riding further along Smugglers Way. By using this devious route, we arrived at the pub right behind the second group who couldn’t get past the van at the entrance to Wandsworth Park and so took a route away from the river to the pub. It then become apparent that both groups had overtaken the first group, as they had yet to arrive. They soon turned up but where they had been remains a mystery.

The service in the pub was quick but, unfortunately, the preparation of the food was slow. But the time passed with the waitress bringing us food that we didn’t order or calling it a different name to that shown on the menu. All entertaining.

We set off on the wrong foot by entering a McDonald’s drive-thru due to missing a turning on the left, so a quick U-turn was required that took us over Wandsworth Bridge and along Carnwath Road to the Hurlingham Club, around the roads and into Bishops Meadow and onto Hammersmith Bridge. Here, somehow, we managed to overtake the second group and lead them to the National Archives just before Kew Bridge where several switch backs and turnings kept us on our toes. At Kew Bridge we tried to find a way under the bridge to no avail, so took to the roads to cross the bridge with a lot of other traffic. Then an inspired route to avoid Brentford High Street took us to Syon Park and onto the river path to Twickenham. Here Rob had a puncture that was finally resolved by taking the bike to a local repair shop, having first tried to get the tyre off the rim with the help of a number of other people in the group. Having spoken to the rest of the group, who all seemed to know where they were going, it was decided to forget tea and for everyone to go home using their own routes.

The route was well designed by Maddie and in my group, with company from Ann, Ian, Stephen, Gill and Rob plus our intrepid back marker Tim G, it made an enjoyable and fun day out.

Ray

Bernard writes:

Having been on a ‘course for leaders’ my confidence was high.  Today my team were going to be led like never before.  Preparation was the key and I had prepared a hand drawn map… symbolizing, for me, the coming together of my two great hobbies; art and cycling… a map which spoke as much to my artistic soul as to my route planning skills.  As I showed it around to the club members I thought I heard gasps of admiration and astonishment.  I allowed a certain puffing out of my chest.

My drawing of the route…Not to scale.  I call it “Route Thames No 45 Symphonica” (This has no meaning whatsoever… but I like how it sounds!)

Essentially as ‘No 45 Symphonica’ (for short) shows we would ride along the South Bank of the Thames in an easterly direction to Wandsworth bridge and then back along the North Bank with some confusing zig zagging and multiple bridge crossings to Kingston.  We were the first group and my pride as today’s sub leader made me determined to ensure that our group came in first before the other two groups.

So there we went… swooshing through Kingston and down to the river where we were watched like mice by a giant cat.

A cat mural down by the river’s edge

We were a peloton… perhaps not ‘Le Tour’ but definitely ‘the Tour of the Thames’.  The leading group and machine like… clockwork.

The day was gorgeous… the sun was out… the sky was blue.  We glided past Fulham Football Club’s stadium on the other side of the river and on we rode.  And on… and on… in fact very on… I was in a tranquil and calm mindset where sun, sky and route gelled into an eternal bliss.  And so my mind drifted off into a heavenly dimension… I was in the ‘now’… a blank peaceful canvass where thought did not trouble me.

This painting, IKB 79, by Yves Klein, 1959 is a pretty accurate depiction of my state of mind… pure blue with an eternal mesmerizing quality.  It can be seen in the Tate Modern.

At that point I felt some squizzyness in the ground beneath my bike… a kind of sinking sensation.  For the first time on the ride I focused on what was actually before and around me.  The best and kindest way to describe it is to say that it resembled a combination of bog and scrub land.  It was at that point, tuning into reality, that I realized I was lost… that somewhere along my carefree daydreaming I had unwittingly veered off the carefully prepared route.  Very quickly I started to feel an extremely unpleasant sensation developing in the pit of my stomach… a visceral physical pain… coming to a head when one of our team asked “which way now Bernard?”  But for formidable self control on my part I would have expressed a bellowing panic stricken scream… 

An equally accurate representation of my state of mind; ‘The Scream’ by Edward Munch, 1893, where you can see in the National and Munch museums in Oslow, Norway.

I searched my mind for some direction but despite my begging it refused to assist.  It was as if my own mind was taking pleasure in my discomfort… it was quite, no… very, happy to remain absolutely silent and unresponsive.  I thought back to the leader’s course but there was nothing on what to do when you’re completely lost with no sense of direction.  Then out of the corner of my eye I saw what looked like horse hoof indentations down a narrow track to my left.  I instantly pointed in that direction… it was our only hope of avoiding the mud lands which lay ahead.  It led us out to the side of some road… which road I have no idea… there was a decision to be made, left or right.  No clues provided as to which way.  At this point relying on rational conscious thought was a non starter.  I would have to rely on the subconscious… to get in touch as Freud would say (I’m not sure if he did actually say such a thing now that I think about it!) with that which lies beneath.  I pointed right… why, I do not know… instinct perhaps but in truth sheer guess work plus a tonne of hope.

And on we rode.  Desperately I was looking out for a sign of sorts that we were on track and there it was as if I had discovered the Pacific Ocean; the Thames was on our left and Wandsworth Bridge directly ahead.  Ugly as it is the bridge shone like a beacon of joy in my mind’s eye.  Just by its side we arrived at our lunch time stop ‘The Ship’ pub.  We were on track but somewhat worryingly the other groups had arrived before us… how had that happened!

I needed to urge my riders… impress upon them the importance of a quick getaway to regain our ‘numero uno’ spot.  But they all seemed very content with how things were proceeding and totally unconcerned as to what position our group was in.  They were clearly enjoying themselves and looking forward to some (I must admit) much earned grub.  

Our riders by Hammersmith Bridge which I had somehow failed to cross!

Tony, Sabina, me, Mick (back marker), Dawn, Steph and Grant.  Brenda was also part of out team and she may have possibly taken this photo.

As we sat and waited so the minutes passed… and passed… and if I rightly recollect, it wasn’t until sixty of those minutes had dozed by that the first morsel was served.  I noticed that our group was irked by this, discomforted to the point that I sensed some real anger which rose to a crescendo with the discovery by one of our group that a lettuce leaf in one of the sandwiches was limp and of a dull dark green colour.  That was beyond the pale.  The team were spiked, seething, spitting volcanic rocks as it were.  And within me it had clicked… the way to get a team to ride, to ride with venom, hard and fast was to ensure the lunch stop was, how to put this, wanting… and the more wanting the better, dire…yes that’s it dire.

A quick look at No 45 Symphonica just to get my bearings  and off we went.  Across Wandsworth Bridge with fire in our bellies.  So much fire in fact that we missed Hammersmith Bridge.  On we cycled…what did it matter to us, South Bank, North Bank… piffle… we were heading west chasing down the other groups.  The Thames was our mistress and we were its knights in shining armour or The Thames was our Caesar and we were his glorious mistresses…or…well you get the picture…depending on your inclinations the Thames was your something and you were its other as it were; but let us not get stuck in the quagmire of political correctness.  Whatever the Thames represents to you we reached Kew Bridge and strangely enough we passed by a Banksy goat.

Banksy goat which I believe appeared in August of this year

From there it was a straight run into Kingston and still seething at the thought of having been served a limp dark green lettuce leaf (which the goat might have appreciated) we sped past the other groups, the first which had stopped for a photo shoot and the other which had ventured into some café in Isleworth.  And then it dawned on me… I  had never actually determined our exact end point beyond the vague notion that it was somewhere around Kingston… but where exactly was a mystery.  Without this we could never ever technically finish our ride but as the afternoon closed in so our riders parted ways… homeward bound.  And so the ride kind of, but never actually, ended.  In a way each of our group is forever riding this ride and so I think I shall rename my hand drawn map, aptly I think, ‘No 45 Symphonica Unfinished’.

The route was devised by Maddie and I can attest first hand that she put a lot of effort into planning this very enjoyable ride.  My group were Grant, Dawn, Brenda, Steph, Tony, Sabina, and Mick who very kindly agreed to back mark.  I can also attest that this was a great group of riders who were exceptionally gracious, magnanimous and kind in putting up with all my errors and shortcomings.  

~ Bernard