Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tom's Farewell
The Tom Fish Ride Wed March 30th
This small chapel was soon filled with about 40 cyclists many coming from as far as Scotland for the occasion and with about 15 family members we had to overflow into the upper gallery. The service was led very well by the vicar who in his commemorative address told us about the cycling exploits of Tom from the tender age of 5 years old. The bible passage was from Revelations Chapter 21 vv1-7 where John describes the wonderful vision of Heaven which Tom is now enjoying. After the service Tom’s daughter kindly invited all of us to The Winning Post on the A316 where we enjoyed a really welcome buffet lunch.
Feeling well nourished and since all the food had gone the original band that set out from Kingston made our way to Hampton Court via Teddington where the six of us that were left had more liquid refreshment, some of us even indulging in rocky roads and lemon cake, before breaking up and finding our different ways home. All in all it was an excellent day out despite the rain and we certainly gave Tom a good send off as well as providing plenty of support to his family which they greatly appreciated.
From David Salmon
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Bike available
Blue metallic finish, now has straight handlebars.
Natasha Claridge 01306 884536
(It was the first thing she bought after leaving school)
B group aka the not so hilly 41.6k
When leaving we noticed a free range hen outside but it didn't feature on the menu, at least not today. We continued south, shortly turning left and left again, heading for Rusper. Then we had the wind behind us, the rain eased and the hosts of golden daffodils looked much more cheerful. It seemed permanently downhill to Newdigate where we turned into Church Road en route to Parkgate. Keeping to the quiet sideroads we passed the still-closed pub at Blackbrook before turning into Inholms Lane, over the A24 into Dorking and a welcome cuppa at The Court Cafe.
Terry
PS Hasketts, the former tea shop in South Street, Dorking, has closed.
Easy riders at Ashtead
We decided to have coffee and wait to see if anyone else turned up. We were quite impressed by the facilities at the centre, waited until just after 11.00 and then made our separate ways home.
My local BBC weather forecast promised light rain soon after 11.00 so I considered myself lucky not to meet it until reaching Bookham. I arrived home slightly damp but feeling that the trip had been worthwhile.
Mike
A Group - The Hilly Over 50
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
B Group March 23rd
After stopping for the mandatory group photograph, taken by Stephanie on her mobile phone, we set off on our afternoon ride via Addlestone and Weybridge to tea in the sunny courtyard of the Riverhouse Arts Centre at Walton. After tea some of us visited the current exhibition.
John Gould
Friday, March 25, 2011
The Hilly Over 50 - Trip Notes
Toms Funeral March 30th
From Lynda
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Easy Riders March 23rd
I led 15 of us from the Day Centre to Thames Ditton via Walton Bridge, Cottimore Lane and Walton Park to the Molesey road through the trading estate and over the river Mole to Ember Lane. Thence Ember Lane to Hampton Court and on to the Old Swan at Thames Ditton. My thanks to David for being the back marker. Nev and Mick left at the pub before lunch to go home. Bill departed after lunch.
The Old Swan has been improved with outside seating going to the river's edge. Lovely day for sitting outside and the food was good. After lunch we proceeded via skirting Claygate to Ewell
Court for tea. Sonia joined up with us at Squires. Once again an excellent venue with outside seating. From there we went our different ways after a good day.
John Conacher
B Group March 23rd
After stopping for the mandatory group photograph, taken by Stephanie on her mobile phone, we set off on our afternoon ride via Addlestone and Weybridge to tea in the sunny courtyard of the Riverhouse Arts Centre at Walton. After tea some of us visited the current exhibition.
John Gould
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
A Group 23rd March
Monday, March 21, 2011
David Salmon
David Salmon
Friday, March 18, 2011
Easy riders March 16th
Dennis, (still on the mend), Bill H. and Pat M. came for coffee. Fuzz hopes to be back next week.
I led Beryl, Sandy, Roger, John C., Ron, Mark and Bill M towards Surbiton and through Hinchley Wood towards Claygate. We took Arbrook Common route to Blackhills. We then continued on the old A3 road to the traffic lights, turned left at Fairmile Road, then right at the next junction and made our way to The Tilt, near Cobham. We met Sonia for lunch at The Running Mare. We returned via Claygate and Hook and enjoyed afternoon tea at The Kings Centre in Chessington (concessions on Weds.). We then made our separate ways home.
Lynda.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
B Group March 16th
After this we went past the lock and old village, over Walton Bridge to the River Mole crossings at Lower Green. Here Gill had a slow puncture and dropped off to return home while Les had brake cable trouble. Others peeled off as well as we were on home turf for them and the remaining 10 went through Weston Green and Giggs Hill to Squires Garden Centre Cafe at Long Ditton.
Although almost entirely on the flat and quite short at around 22 miles overall there was a lot of interesting suburban architecture and fragments of former green belt.
It was a pity it was so chilly and grey after two sunny days, but I hope it was an interesting variation to the usual rides out to the country.
Harry Cole (leader) and Ken Williams (back marker).
A Group March 16th
From Pete Barnard
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A Group 16th March
Friday, March 11, 2011
A Group, 9 March
A good number turned out for today’s ride from Bockett’s Farm, on a cool breezy day with just a hint of Spring in the air. Our route today was to head for the sun ie due South, with a lunch destination of Rusper.
Firstly, we headed along the A246, hard on the heels of B group, before turning up Dorking Road, past Polesden Lacey, before dropping down Bagden Hill to meet up with the A24 cycle track at Westhumble. Past Denbies, we picked up the A25 before turning off towards Brockham, and headed South.
South of Brockham, our day was enlivened somewhat when a police car overtook us and came to an abrupt halt. The officer emerging told us that in his view we were not riding in a suitable way for the conditions, and that we should have been in single file. I was told later that cars at the rear of our peloton were having trouble passing by. It was pointed out to the officer that the Highway Code does allow for cycling two abreast, in appropriate conditions. He then said that there had been a lot of trouble with cyclists lately and also that the police would be keeping a close watch on the roads, due to the forthcoming Olympics road race around Box Hill. Quite how our group was connected with the Olympics was not made clear. Be that as it may, the police saw fit to speak to us, so although I am sure none of us need reminding of our responsibilities towards other road users, it is well for everybody to be aware that the police may in future be paying attention to groups of cyclists, in the Dorking area at least, and to act and ride appropriately for the prevailing road conditions.
After this brief hiatus, we continued on our merry way South to Parkgate, where we picked up Partridge Lane , which eventually took us to Rusper, where a warm welcome and decent food awaited at the Plough, an atmospheric sixteenth century building complete with open fireplace, whose only drawback for anybody over about five foot eight came from its low flying oak beams.
After lunch, most of us headed back via Charlwood and Irons Bottom to Reigate, for tea at the Sandcross Garden Centre, after which the masochists among us chose to return home via the ascent of Wray Lane.
Rob
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Easy Riders March 9th
Lynda
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
A Group 9th March
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Want to Comment on a Blog Report?
Then if you want to comment on a report, just click on the 'comment' link and you can say what you want - within reason! Note, however, that this does not allow you to post reports - that needs a specific invitation from the blog owner.
Why be one of the silent majority? Sign up and speak out! On the other hand, some say that silence is golden. Over to you. Comments welcome.
Jeff
A Group 30th March - The Hilly Over 50
Monday, March 07, 2011
Ian's Bike Stolen!
Ian says that he has reported the incident to the police, who refuse to treat it as a theft but rather as a loss, as the bike was not secured at the time. Perhaps that keeps the Croydon police crime statistics that little bit lower.
Please keep your eyes open and report it at once if you see it!
Jeff
Friday, March 04, 2011
Easy Riders
Lynda and C group
P.S. What we did notice and tried was that the newly installed black gates at Blackhills Estate open, even when just one bike gets near.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Prezzo MWW 2 March 2011
Well done "A" Group for managing not to wait for the two tail enders Julian and me! Sorry Ray we also missed you falling off and hope your are OK. Having got tangled up with lots of traffic and two horses we reached Fetcham to find everyone had gone. So we headed for Bockets farm then down to the A24 along to Box Hill School up Little Switzerland then from Headley we went to Epsom via the RAC Club and then through the myriad of cycleways to bypass the town past Nescot by cycleway to Cheam Rd and along past Nonsuch to arrive with 5mins to spare. Well done Julian for having the patience and confidence to follow me but I think you will agree much better than the "Mad Mile"
B Group Mar 2nd
Regards Bernard
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
A Group, 2 March
With Cheam barely 9 miles distant as the crow flies and the starting pistol sounding at 11.15am, today's route had to be somewhat circuitous to fill 105 minutes of cycling endeavour. Perhaps for what it lacked in distance it could compensate in altitude. We followed the B Group as far as the Tilt, where they left Stoke Rd. The sun seemed to take some time to warm our reptilian blood, but haemoglobin gradually began to flow a bit more freely as we aimed for Leatherhead. Ray had a spill, when clothing and chainwheel had a tiff and brought him to an involuntary halt; but he remounted to continue, despite some probable toothmarks to his leg.
We circled Leatherhead and began a steady climb up Reigate Road past Tyrell's Wood, to enjoy part of the KPRC hill climb, before taking the cycle link up Tumber Street and Slough Lane. Right beside Headley Forge that is no more took us to Langley Vale, the Grandstand, Nork, the mad mile, Burdon Lane and destination Prezzo. With 10 minutes in hand before 1pm, the cycle park in Prezzo garden was already pretty full. With the A group peloton safely docked, I headed off. What happened next I leave to others to relate.
Jeff