Sunday at Brooklands

A selection from Brooklands on Sunday

A&B Groups Sept 24th

This week's ride was scheduled to be a combined A & B one. However, despite the light rain weather forecast, there were in the region of 30 enjoying the tea and cakes at Redhill instead of the normally sparse group we get heading south. Too many to safely take on the road as one group, so, after a quick conference, it was agreed that Pete B should set off first with a predominately A group of 16 whilst Norman kindly volunteered to follow up with a predominately B group a discrete distance behind. Taking the cycle path out past the hospital and then lanes to Wasp Green and Outwood windmill, Toni gave us a demonstration of his bike handling skills by going in and out of a tramlinelike crack in the middle of the road without falling off. Across to touch the A22 and a climb up the foothills of Tilburstow before dropping down to Crowhurst and taking Gibbs Brook Lane and Hall Hill to reach Oxted. Unfortunately new man John (of the Belle Vue) touched wheels and came down. However, as this was right outside the Wetherspoons, he was soon able to lubricate his wounds. Lunch was served quickly (apart from the bar staff having to send out a search party to find the leader's ciabata) and we had just started eating when Norman and the B's arrived having followed a similar if not identical route. The afternoon started with the climb up Tandridge Hill Lane (or walk as some of us preferred) and then along to Botley Hill and the glorious drop down Beddlestead and Featherbed Lanes (provided you forget about the leg breaking 1 in 6 Hesiers Hill in between of course). The rain was returning as we climbed Gravel Hill before stopping for a welcome cup of tea at the cafe in the park just over the top. Fortunately the rain had stopped by the restart and so in was into the traffic of Croydon and Mitcham Common with riders peeling off at their preferred points.
62 miles for the leader and a stirling 78 for Frank C.

A Group September 24

The A Group, damp but not dispirited, after tea at the Pond Tea Rooms near Addington Hills. Leader Pete for some reason sporting the colours of Romania and Rob still waiting for the sun to come out. After some of the foot-hills that our leader teased us with, I think we should call him Sherpa Pete. No doubt more graphic details to follow.

Easy Riders Sept 24th

Albert is waiting a date for his eye operation so will not be out for a few weeks. So here is an account of today's ride.

Phil, our leader, started off from Teddington Day Centre, followed by 14 riders. Mike & Mary, Eddie; 1st time out ( Saturday rider), Dave, Roger, Bill H. Fuzz, Les J., Mark, Charles, Dennis, Harold and myself (Lynda). We did a few left and right turns, on cycle paths, waterways, over bridges, canals, heading for Brent. After a few miles we lost the back 3 en (a very complex) route. It turns out Harold had got a puncture. Nevertheless, onwards we went, a very interesting, picturesque route passed Syon Park to Hanwell Lock. Phil told us there were 9 locks that way. By the time we got to lunch, 11 of us enjoyed a very satisfying, cheap lunch at Brent Valley golf club. Mine, totalled £3.80! - and that was a fresh bacon and egg sandwich and half a guinness. We came back towards Otterley and stopped for afternoon tea at Tesco's. I clocked 45mls. (More details of the route from Phil).

Lynda.

Pams Progress & Eds Goodwood Delight

First 2 pics show Pam on way to recovery at WS Stains on Tue 16sept.(sorry 4 delay due computer failure)

Above 2 pics are u know who and Ed at Goodwood Revival. Lots of old bikes and VCC types their too. Ed was in his element not with the Jag but and F50 Ferrarrie. He looked so smart in his blue suit and brown suade shoes

Woking on Monday Sept 22nd

Here are some pictures I took in Woking yesterday------------Albert

A Selection from Charles

C Group having fun from Charles Barraball

Note from Albert

Sorry Pete and all eager readers of the blog; I can just about manage this keyboard so for the next two or three weeks I will have to hang up my bicycle clips as i have a couple of appointments to take the cataracts out of my eyes. According to friends in the same boat, it works OK so watch this space and please keep your fingers crossed!===============Albert

Brooklands

VETERAN CYCLE RACEDAY
Sunday 28th September
A fantastic morning of veteran and other pedal power
at the Museum and on the MBWorld circuits. Including
races for PENNY-FARTHINGS, SOLID-TYRE BICYCLES,
SINCLAIR C-5s;
PLUS: see your local Postie race his mates on their
famous red-and-white machines
Displays and Action from 9am to 12 Noon
PLUS: stay on and see the Benjafields Racing Club
who will be arriving at lunchtime with a
mouth-watering collection of VINTAGE BENTLEYS

Pam's Do

The pub in Egham where my celebration is on the 27th Sept. Once known as 'The Railway' but now renamed 'al ma ma ta'. I believe this means secret garden. Full address being 40 Station Road, Egham, TW20 9LF. Information that could be helpful is that the trains from Egham go to Waterloo via Clapham Junction. From Pam

Easy Riders Sept 17th

Picture from Albert

Eight of us started out from Weybridge in mild weather but rather overcast until the sun showed itself in the afternoon. Ron was leading with Bill H., Mike and Mary on tandem, Mark, Roger, Dennis, Harold and me. Lunch was to be at The Bells,Staines. At The Quadrant we turned right to cross the old bridge and on to Poets Corner. At the railway crossing gates in Addlestone we turned right and at the roundabout near St. George`s College we went via the cyclepath up Woburn Hill then down into Chertsey Meads with a right turn over Chertsey bridge, Laleham Thamesside, then the towpath all the way to Staines. It is a good pub with quick service in a quiet backwater. Afterwards we followed the same route as far as Chertsey Bridge where we turned left to Shepperton for tea. No hills or mud (great). Thanks Ron also Lynda for stepping in last week when I was away----------------Albert

Woking on Monday Sept 22nd

Woking celebrates Cycling Town status

Residents and businesses in Woking will be encouraged to start thinking about using pedal power instead of petrol from next Monday (22 September) when a new initiative called `Cycle Woking' is formally launched at The Lightbox.
A special programme of events has been organised by Woking Borough Council and Surrey County Council following their joint success in securing £1.82 million from Cycling England to be spent on improving cycling facilities in the area.
The competition for this funding was fierce, with 74 towns and cities bidding for the £47 million available under the Cycling City, Cycling Towns programme. Woking was one of only ten towns, plus one city, to have successfully achieved the funding and the title of Cycling Town for the next three years.
To celebrate this achievement and to tell people more about the councils' plans for the future, The Lightbox will be hosting a free bicycle-themed exhibition on Monday (when the gallery is usually closed).
The formal completion of the first phase of improvement works to the Basingstoke Canal towpath will take place in the presence of a group of local cyclists who are keen to take advantage of the improved facility.
From 2.30pm onwards, members of the public will have the chance to look around the exhibition, complete with bicycles from across the ages and accompanying riders in period costume.
Displays showing what improvements the councils hope to make to the cycle network in the future will be also be available for people to view.

B Group Sept 17th

Lunch at The Fox and Hounds

I was the sub for Gill, she is terribly conscientious and rides her routes before the event. I just use the map which means some hesitations from time to time. Owing to one of these hesitations John M and I nearly collided head on! We were a large group - 18 - viz Cliff, Francoise, Frank, Harold, John B, John G, John M, Judy, Les, Liz, Nev, Norman, Phil, Robin, Roger, Stephanie, Terry and yours truly. It meant it was hard for us to stay together through a set of lights etc. After a 30 minute wait for Liz to do her eye make-up we set off through Chertsey, immaculately kept Wentworth Golf Course (British Ladies Championship today), past the Roman Temple and into Virginia Water by the Blacknest Gate. Then 2 or 3 lovely miles through Windsor Great Park past the Guards Polo fields to a nice pub by the Bishopsgate entrance called The Fox and Hounds. The food was really quite good and it even had crisply laundered linen napkins. Les had the swordfish as the nearest approximation to gammon! After lunch to Egham including a grotty bit along the A30. Over Staines Bridge and another lovely stretch, this time by the river. At Laleham on to the Shepperton Road to The Bakery at Shepperton. Frank and Francoise competed to see who could choose the more calorific cake (Frank won). We then went various ways. I caught the train at Walton and met up with an Easy Rider whose name I've forgotten. We enjoyed our shared journey to Waterloo from where I met Luisa after work and we cycled home together. So my stats were 64.14 miles,11.19 mph average speed, 29.36 mph max. I would guess it was 45-50 miles from North Cheam Regards Bernard

A Group Sept 17th

After last weeks mystery ride this weeks mystery seemed to be who would lead as Graham is in Scotland & Pam nominated to stand in is indisposed! So I volunteered on the sure belief that this week i wouldn't be lost by the leader. Around fourteen left Weybridge including three new names to me, so welcome to Paul, Colin & Andy. A pleasant tail wind assisted us through Chertsey, Thorpe, Egham resisting the urge to call in Pam's across the path at Runneymeade to Old Windsor, Datchet to lunch at "The Pineapple" Dorney. huge sandwiches found several struggling to clear their plates. The cycle path along the Jubilee River back to Eton under the constant flow of landing planes for Heathrow picking up Bob emerging from Wetherspoons in Staines on to "Watsons" at Shepperton in time to witness the departure of B Group having just finished tea and cakes. Home via various alleys and back roads From Pete Mitchell

News from Pam

To-day I received an envelope addressed to Lady Pamela Jones!!!
Mystified - I opened it to find a get well card signed by many of my club friends. It gave me a huge lump in my throat and I really don't know how to thank you all. I am truly touched by your kindness - THANK YOU,THANK YOU - I shall be back on my bike a.s.a.p!!
My next appointment at the fracture clinic is 8th October for another X-ray, and in the meantime ?? Maybe more days like to-day when Bob, Will and Mike came to Egham and we all had a very merry lunch time in Staines Weatherspoons!
Happy cycling all, Pam :) :)

Easy Riders 10 September 08

A Wealth of Experience Ready to set off from the Fairfield Centre, Leatherhead

Facing the Camera with a Smile with Leader Lynda!

From Graham Hill

No nights off and nearly full last and next weekends means G and G have been busy. The weather has been unsettled; normally the local river, the Bowmont, is 150 yards away but by last Saturday evening it was but 25 yards from, but no risk to the hostel. And G's night was disturbed as the chopper lifted five walkers off from the top of the valley. Today things were almost back to normal so it was time for a ride through puddles past lakes that weren't there last week. The bridge at Clifton a mile down the road was still being repaired as we past on the way to Morebattle. After crossing the Teviot on a suspension bridge, we turned left to Nisbet and up the hill past the Waterloo Monument to Maxton. A back road signposted Benrig Cemetery was our St Bothwells bypass. First left after the Tweed crossing led us steeply uphill to Sir Walter Scott's favourite view of the Tweed meandering beneath the Eildon Hills. From there it was flat to Smailholm and then a gentle descent into Kelso where the hostel's takings were banked, and refreshments savoured in The Square. A ride along the riverbank beside the swollen Tweed led to the new Kelso bridge and thence backroads to the hostel on a route well signposted by the local council - about 44 miles
The Warden (Graham)
Kirk Yetholm SYHA Hostel,

Easy Riders Sept 10th

Due to Albert being away in Belgium for a holiday; here is the write-up on 'Ding ding day'.

Well, it was fun participating in 'Ding day', even if nobody else knew about it!

There were quite a few at 11's in Leatherhead; but on the ride were Lynda, Liz, Sonia, Roger, Fuzz, Bill H, Mike W, Mark, Harold and back marker, Charles. Jeff and Allan came part way but left before our lunch stop.

From the day centre we made our way over the footbridge towards Ashtead, down Skinners Lane across the green to Ashtead station and into Ashtead Common. We took the left fork and made our way round to Stew Ponds car park. Out of the Common we turned left to Malden Rushett. Every time we passed a cyclist we did a very tuneful 'ding ding' and occasionally we got one back.

We made our way past Chessington World of Adventures to Bridge Rd roundabout, where we turned left towards Claygate. Over the A3 bridge we turned right into Long Ditton and Thames Ditton. We had lunch at Ye Olde Swan in Thames Ditton. A good selection of main meals for £5. We sat outside by the river.

After lunch we continued into Hampton Court, over the bridge and down to the towpath to Kingston - more response of 'dings' along the towpath. Liz counted at least 3! After Liz, Fuzz and Harold left, the rest of us made our way to Teddington still along the towpath. We went through Teddington town and round into Bushy Park. Back to Hampton Court, where 5 of us remaining enjoyed afternoon tea and cake at my favourite cafe '5 at the bridge'.

We had a very interesting conversation of Mark's stories on homeopathic medicine. Roger and Bill left after tea and Sonia, Charles and myself made our way towards Chessington and Epsom/Cheam/Worcester Park. Just as we were passing Squires at Long Ditton two fellers passed by on bikes - and as we did our 'ding ding', one of them said, 'Ding day'! At last, someone knew about it!

Maybe it will catch on next year. Did anyone play the game in London?
Lynda.

Mystery Ride Sept 10th

22 Riders assembled at North Cheam for Bob Starey’s mystery ride. A common talking point was what was the £2 we were asked to bring for? No 11s was stated a very interesting route had most people mistified . The river Wandle was identified , Tooting Bec Common, Clapham Common, The Oval Cricket Ground, and finally stopping at The London Fire Brigade Museum for a visit and the £2 now became obvious. A very interesting guided tour took nearly two hours leaving quite a few tummys gentle rumbling at the lack of 11s! On to a latish lunch at Tower Bridge Wetherspoons “Pommelers Arms”. After the Mystery intensified as we lost the leader within minutes of leaving but with the help of Harry & Frank we managed to pass The London Eye, Lambeth Bridge, Battersea Power Station, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Park, Wandsworth Prison, Wandsworth Common, A Memorial to The Clapham Rail Disaster, Wmbledon Stadium, and on to tea at Abbey Mills Merton
From Pete M
One Slow Puncture to Judy was attended to by her travelling mechanic when neccessary

B Group Sept 3rd

B Group Ride 3 September 08
Cliff led a group of seventeen from Cobham on a fresh morning including, Godfrey Terry Harry John G Liz Beattie Bernard Gill Judy Les Colin Reg Robin DavidPhil and another John, heading for Okewood Hill,the Punchbowl, or the Gatton Manor Golf Club or the Scarlet Arms at Walliswood, so much for good intentions!!

All went wellout through Stoke D'Abernon and Leatherhead also up and over the hill in Punchbowl Lane Dorking and into Henfold Lane. At the nasty Henfold Hill a bang indicated that Bernard had snapped his chain. Just as we had decided or agreed to abandon him to his own devices Terry produced a plastic coated package which after a struggle he opened to reveal some spare links which fortunately were the right size. In the circumstances Cliff made a management decision and sent the majority of the party on to the pub in Capel to get ahead with food orders, the rest of us staying "to help". Okewood Hill was abandoned!

On arrival at the pub later the "repair" party was informed by a dejected group that there was no food as the chef had departed.Liz didn't seem too bothered as she was esconced in the garden in the sun with her normal tipple a large glass of Merlot.

Whilst a discussion was held as to where we could go, the landlady arrived and announced that she would cook and in what seemed a remarkably short time we were all enjoying lunch,all except Harry that is as he was last served after ordering what he thought would be the qiickest item on the menu, a sandwich!

Our return took us back up to Denbies where we decided to take tea in leatherhead instead. On our climb up the hill into town another chain went, this time it was Godfreys.He was despatched to the bike shop at the top of the hill where we assume he got it fixed as we didn't see him again. Tea was taken at Fannies by seven or eight of us bfore splitting for home I clocked 50 miles.

Easy Riders Sept 3rd

Another month and still some sunny weather when we met at Cobham. Roger was leading and our lunch was to be at The New Inn at Send. We took a well travelled route up Plough Lane, Martyr`s Green, the Ockham Road with some hilly bits until we reached the Send Road and the short ride past parked lorries before crossing the old Portsmouth Road and entering the lane which terminates with the pub. I just wish we could find a route with less than three maps to cover it! Our group consisted of Mark, Fuzz, Lynda, Sonia, John C., Charles, Dave, Dennis, Harold (who had a puncture but caught up with us), Mike, Bill H., myself and of course Roger in the lead. I am sure there were fifteen all told but the other names escape me. Lynda passed around a `get well` card to send Beryl who is in hospital with a knee job (bless her). She has always been a regular with our group and we look forward to seeing her well again soon. I forgot to bring my camera and my efforts to get a decent shot with my mobile were pretty feeble, so no attachments this time. Tea was to be at Cobham but I peeled off home when we left Papercourt Lane. I`ll be in Belgium next Wednesday so I`ll see you in a couple of weeks---------------------Albert

News of Mick Anderson

Several people have enquired about Mick Anderson
Mick came out of Hospital yesterday and 'phoned me yesterday evening. He thanks us all for the card and kind wishes, he was very grateful. He has been really very ill but hopefully is now on the mend. He will not be dancing or cycling for a while yet, but is already talking about cycling. I said not even to think about it, let alone do it. He says when he feels better he will only do very short rides anyway I thought I would let you know as soon as I could and if you see any of the others before Saturday he is happy about people knowing, I know he would appreciate phone calls (0208 391 0908)

News from Angie

A Group Sept 3rd

Mid Week Report A Group Frank Cubis 3rd Sept I should know by now, not to take the weather forecast as gospel, what should have been a showery day turned out beautiful. There was no rush from the British Legion at Cobham as I had planned a mere 15 mile ride to Sunningdale for lunch due to the forecast. We headed west up Pains Hill and the not very pleasant Byfleet Road. With the Olympics fresh in the memory of myself, we had an 18 man team pursuit along the A245 comprising of Grant, Tony d, Ed, Pete M, Pete B, Pam, David, Julian, Will, Vic, Bob, John B, Neil, John S, Ray and Don, all the way to Chobam, where a little hic-up found us heading for Castle Green, a quick chat with Vic, a u-turn, and on our way again along the Windsor Road, a short detour up Steep Hill and Valley Road brought us to Chobham Road, down to the A30 at Sunningdale, a left and right into Broomhall Lane and the High Street to lunch at The Nags Head, although there were now 17 in number we were warmly welcomed and can recommend the food, Mike Morley met up with us there after having spent a few hours with toilet problems, (not him personally, but the little room) After a leisurely lunch it was back on the bikes, along London Road & Blacknest Road to the A30 at Virginia Lodge, left and right along the B389, then left into Stroude Lane to Thorpe Lea and Staines to the precinct and the Bakers Oven were they serve the best iced buns in Surrey. From there members rode in different directions home, and I, a mere 56 miles.

Pams Party

I (Pam) would love you all to come to THE RAILWAY pub (next to Build Centre with orange coloured sign), in EGHAM, 40 STATION RD. TW20 9LF Saturday 27th September, 6pm onwards for my house warming! Also to celebrate becoming a Great Grandmother! And yes - it's true, I do have a birthday, but PLEASE no gifts, just your selves! Lot's of grub prepared by my niece and music mostly 60's - 80's. NOW, if one feels inclined, PLEASE - dress up!!!!! Dig deep into your wardrobes!
Car parking is large car park opposite the station just a few shops from the pub which has not got a car park but has parking for Bicycles!!
My phone number 01784 436389 mobile 07900335256 See you there :) :) :)