Harold Fifield

Pat Matthews received a message saying Harold Fifield (former Midweek Wayfarer and expert photographer who moved to Scotland a few years ago) has Parkinson's Disease and recently moved into a Residential Care Home. She is unsure which, but Harold's wife can be contacted on:        01899 220026

Terry

Bar Bags for Sale

 Peter Whiting is a long standing CTC member who has just rediscovered the Midweek Wayfarers.  He has a couple of Carradice bar bags  for sale, which he wonders if  any member might be interested in buying. He has sent me a small photo of each bag.

Carradice Overlander - used £20

Caracice Super C - new £35

He says:

(1)The first picture is a Carradice 'Overlander' bar bag which has been used and is in good condition. The white frame in front of the bag is the bracket which loops onto the handlebar and is secured by the strap at the front of the bag around the cycle frame head. £20

(2) The second is a Carradice Super C bar bag and has not been fitted; it is unused and has the fittings and instructions inside the bag. £35

If you are interested, please contact Peter direct:

• landline: 02083933328 or

• mobile: 07932 572819 or

• email: the.pod105@ntlworld.com

• Address: 105 Elmwood Drive, Ewell, EPSOM, Surrey KT17 2NL

Jeff 

B Ride - 18th December 2013 - Hammersmith Bridge

Fourteen of us left Leatherhead heading to Raynes Park, up Cottenham Park road, crossing Wimbledon Common and skirting Richmond Park to Barnes. We then followed the cycle signs to Hammersmith Bridge to reach the Blue Anchor pub.

Along the way we had some discombobulation - firstly, a newcomer Jeffrey, punctured in Epsom. Neil and David kindly agreed to assist him whilst the rest of the group pressed on. After three new inner `tubes Jeffrey decided to head for the nearest cycle shop which unfortunately is closed on Wednesdays. We never saw Jeffrey again.

Meanwhile, my back-marker, Francoise, punctured in Motspur Park. The chain became tangled. Thank goodness the mechanically-minded Stephanie and James managed to unravel the chain. In the meantime Dave and Neil caught up with us and we swiftly headed to the pub where a nice table had been led out on the first floor for 20 people with views of Hammersmith Bridge and the Thames.

The Blue Anchor pub was licensed in 1722 (which for the historians amongst you is approximately half a century before the French Revolution) and is one of the oldest Public Houses in London. Thankfully the food was not from that period; in fact it was better than average pub food and we were all served promptly and at the same time.

After lunch we crossed the bridge and turned left onto the tow path heading towards Putney. We turned right to return to Richmond Park via Barnes. At this stage Bernard left us to catch a train. We went round Richmond Park against a strong head wind and turned left exiting through Kingston Gate. We then made our way up to Combe Lane and through New Malden, to Claremont Avenue, where 5 of us had a Christmas Tea in our home - a total mileage of 42 miles.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Cycling New Year,
Frank

Bike shops in Epsom

Geoff, Sorry to learn of your tussle with the puncture fairy and the Wednesday closing of Pound Lane Cycle Service. Of no use to you now, but for future reference, alternative cycling emporia in Epsom are:

Fudges in Upper High Street
Halfords in Kiln Lane
Even Wilkinsons in the High Street, opposite the clock tower, sells bike bits including inner tubes.

A port in any storm is always welcome.

Jeff

from Geoff...

a note of thanks from Geoff:

Hello, just a quick note regarding the puncture repair I had to make, could not get any tubes to hold, the bike shop I was directed to does not open on a Wednesday, caught the train home, fitted a new tube in Evans in Wimbledon and all is well, if you are in contact directly or through the blog please thank all those that stopped to assist, a Happy Christmas and New Year to one and all.

Geoff Gregory

Easy Riders, 18th December

From Leatherhead centre, we went back via Ashtead Park, back of Epsom to Ewell Court (where the fire was last week) - Ewell Court House, a listed building.  It started in the roof - so it is believed, was an electrical fault.  Luckily, the firemen managed to get enough water from the near-by pond to put the fire out. 

After going through Nonsuch Park, we made our way to Prezzo in Cheam where Norman, Jane, Sandy, Clive, Sonia, Liz and myself enjoyed our C group Christmas lunch.  It was nice to see Liz, who has progressed to using one crutch.

Lynda.  

B Ride 18 December 2013

This nice chap ...

 ... took us to a nice pub (the Blue Anchor) with a good view (from the first floor) of the river at Hammersmith. There was a serious boat race:

 A panoramic view:

A pleasant lunch:

... and we didn't have to pay in old money!

A Group, 18 December

Leatherhead to Hook for Xmas Lunch

It's only five miles to lunch

 Christmas lunch at the Cap in Hand

In no particular order...

Leatherhead to Hook is just over 5 miles as the crow flies, which is not very much to work up an appetite or thirst, more a sedative to lull the brain and bones into a soporific state of fluffy inertia. We therefore shot the crow, turned our back on Hook and headed south, with a swoop down to Mickelham before a fairly steady upward angle of inclination, starting at Box Hill School. With a glimpse of the Broadwood Folly above Juniper Hall, former home of the Broadwood family, we started the climb of Little Switzerland, which is so much more attractive than the zig-zags, with an intimate and  changing spectacle of woodland, farms, fields and hillside, yet without the constant, irritable buzz of the impatient combustion engine.

 At the top we enjoyed the newly resurfaced section of the Cycleway Link that is Tumber Street and Slough Lane to emerge at Headley, with another long swoop behind Headley Court down Headley Lane to the City of London Freeman's School in Ashtead Park and the evocatively named Pleasure Pit Road. Past the RAC Club, we skirted Epsom town to Stamford Green. Surrounded now by suburbia, Manor Green Road took us to Hook Road. A final improvisation led us to the light-controlled pedestrian crossing that enabled us to cross the A243 without having to report anybody MIA and the final few hundred yards to the Cap in Hand, to arrive at 12.29 pm. for our well earned lunch.

Good food, good beer, even if a bit strong for me, and good company provided a fitting conclusion to the last Midweek Wayfarers' ride of 2013. Our warmest thanks go to the irrepressible Pam for organising our lunch and, as always, keeping us smiling with her infectious laugh.

Here's to a happy, healthy, accident-free and exciting year of new cycling adventures in 2014.

Jeff

B Group - 18th December

Maps for Frank's route showing the morning ride in red and the afternoon ride in turquoise:

Xmas Lunches

Xmas is well underway for me so far with a lunch at Smallfield yesterday - the 40+ organised by Derek Hanson the retiring secretary of SY/SX  40+ and today another well organised lunch by Pam. The food was very good at both Lunches.
The Photo shows Mark and Maggie at Smallfield, sorry i did not get one of our assembly today.

Wayfarers Contact list

I've just emailed the contact list to all paid-up members.  If you didn't receive it, please email me and I can send you a copy. For those without email, apologies but as I'm not riding at the moment I can't offer to bring paper copies to elevenses - perhaps you could ask someone else to print one for you?

Wayfarers locations

Please note that the Pubs Register now includes a layer which shows Wayfarers' home locations on the map. The data, which has been taken from Simon's new list, is anonymous which means that names and other personal details are not associated with the markers. The locations are determined by postcodes.

So, as with the A and B Group pubs information, the "Home postcodes" layer can be selected or deselected for viewing by clicking in the appropriate tick box.

Annual Photo Comp and Annual Mileages

The Jan/Feb issue of the Sou'Wester contained a reminder about the annual photographic competition and also the submission of annual mileages.
Everybody is invited to submit the total mileage they have cycled in the 12 months from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2013. That is not just on CTC rides but everything, including shopping and wobbling back from the pub. There is no obligation, but it is interesting for the Club to be able to say how many miles our members ride each year. The link on the website also enables you to see how your annual mileage may vary from year to year. Mileages, however modest, can be sent to me at or after midnight on New Year's Eve. The rider with the greatest increase over the previous year will even get a gong.
The simple rules are: 
2. The highest annual mileage (Jan 1st - Dec 3lst)
 2.1. by a male rider.
 2.2. by a female rider.
A chart showing mileages reliably recorded by a meter or map measurer on a weekly basis will be required as proof for an award winning entry. Estimates may be given and accepted if it can be shown to the Section or DA Secretary and the Awards Sub-Committee that the basis for an estimate is reliable.
 I think that a Garmin or Cateye would count as a 'meter'.

The annual photographic competition is for photos taken within the year from 1st October 2012 to 30th September 2013. The rules for the photo competition are set out below. Please note that the photos must be real and not virtual, despite it now being so easy to send them by email, Twitter, Facebook etc. They will be displayed at the annual lunch and prize presentation at Prezzo on 5 March 2014. 
6. Photographic Competition:
A print or slide showing bicycle or other indication of cycling association.

• 6.1. Person (male) or people
• 6.2. Person (female) or people
• 6.3. Action
• 6.4. Scenery/landscape
• 6.5. Building/buildings
• 6.6. Humorous or funny
  The award for a winning photograph will be given to the photographer who took the picture, not to the model. Prints, in black and white or colour, may he up to 7" x 5" maximum or in any APS format. The photographer's name, the category, and a short caption should be provided.

Judging: A Sub-Committee of three will be appointed annually from the members of the DA Committee.
For all parts of the Competition the Sub-Committee's decision will be final
 The judging panel has not yet been appointed, but you are welcome to send entries to me to pass on to the  panel.
Jeff

B Group 11th December

Claygate to King's Tun

 Fogbound in the departure lounge at Claygate

 Xmas lunch at the Kings Tun. All things come.....

B Ride Wednesday 11 December 2013

A belated report owing to an internet connection problem. The Virgin man has now been and set me up with a new router.

On our way from North Cheam Lynda took us to ? House where there had been a serious fire a few days ago. We admired the damage and then carried on. The paths in the park were icy in places and poor old Liz took a tumble. She got back on her bike but during lunch it started to really hurt. So she hobbled off to A & E in considerable pain. After 5 hours she was X-rayed, nothing broken and equipped with crutches. She reckons she'll be out of action for some time.

It was the day of the Christmas lunch so there were a host of B riders. So many I didn't attempt a roll call as I usually do. We set off from Claygate retracing our steps due north along Red Lane. A short hiatus when we got to a no-entry sign to cross the M25, which I proposed to ignore but wiser heads prevailed. So we crossed via a sub-way. The fog was quite thick at this stage, there was one place to cross quite a fast road where one hesitated because it was not obvious whether one could see far enough.

Along some side streets and the on a main-ish road to Hampton Court Bridge and on to the tow-path along the north side of the river. We passed the ice-rink in Hampton Court garden. Even in the fog it was nice to cycle along the river, the path is pretty good and, of course, no traffic and few walkers. Over Kingston Bridge and on the the Weatherspoon pub, the Kings Tun (not very funny and incorrect punctuation!)

I had deliberately chosen a direct route so that there was plenty of time for lunch. There was! We got there at about 12.15 and finished about 3.30. The service was so slow several people gave up before their desert.

Easy Riders - 11th December

Lynda's route with the Easy Riders from Claygate to Stamford Greren for lunch then to Cheam for Tea

The bit from Ewell to Cheam has been made up so please let me know if this wasn't the route actually taken so that I can fix it.

- Tim

B group Christmas lunch 11/12/13

B Group - 11th December (Christmas Lunch)

Bernard led us out of the fog and into Kingston for Christmas Lunch:

Someone left a map on the pavement outside the DC in Claygate. There is an envelope containing a card tucked into it. Please claim it from me. I can bring it to elevenses on the 18th.

A Group 11th December

A foggy day in London Town …

Bright sunshine as I left the house, but I was soon in the fog as I went down the hill.  Foggy in Ewell, foggy in Claygate.  Never mind, it would soon clear.

We were in no rush to leave our elevenses, but, in the end, seventeen of us set off North towards Hampton Court Bridge.  There was a slight issue in this, as the pub had agreed to squeeze in twelve of us, and didn't seem overjoyed when I rang to give them the good news.  Oh well.

Some sunshine in Bushey Park, and quite bright at Kingston Bridge, but foggy again by Ham Common  and it didn't really clear as we went over the top of Richmond Park and down again to Roehampton Gate.  Up again to the Telegraph, and it was noticeably brighter, so we trooped in for our lunch in good spirits.

Despite the slightly gloomy telephone call everything was fine -  a big table for us, and plenty of room in the dining area.  It looked as if their concern was around a couple of large parties that were following us, but we were gone long before them, so nothing to worry about really.  Good food, good value and a good choice of beers, so a happy crew was back on the road before two o'clock.

Some of the Wimbledon dwellers peeled off at this point, the rest of us swooped down Putney Hill in the sunshine, slipping back into the fog on the towpath.  There were some pretty spectacular sights as we rode along - fog on the river, but buildings in the sunshine above it, and some very Turner-esque lighting at times.

Leaving the river we climbed back into Richmond Park by Sheen Gate, very foggy indeed here, but as we climbed Sawyer's Hill we got above it again.  Excellent views once more, and the deer close at hand giving a genuinely rural feel.  Hazy sunshine as we went down Richmond Hill, becoming fog again as we got to the river.  But we were in for tea by three, and while most would not be home before dark we didn't do too badly for a short day out.

23.2 miles elevenses to tea; rolling average 10.5 mph.  Not far, and not fast, but about right for the conditions.

Mark

Good News

Roger Mitchell is now back at home after his brief stay in Kingston Hospital.

Wednesday's A Group Ride

Wednesday's ride will be a continuation of the A Group's popular series of Short 'n Easy winter rides.  Lunch at the Telegraph, Putney Hill [click for website]and tea at Richmond Bridge.  Early lunch, early finish and everyone home in the light.

As you will see from the map, there are a couple of miles of towpath.  Shouldn't be a problem for anyone as the surface is firm and dry -  the Moulton was fine on slicks.

Mark

A Group pictures 4th Dec.

Enjoying Scarlett Arms food before leaving for Denbies

A Group, 4th December

Cobham - Walliswood - Denbies      

Scarlett Arms

If this looks a bit blurred blame the Badger.

Welcome to Geoff  (please note spelling).

A Group 4th Dec

We made a fairly swift start from Cobham after Mark kindly confirmed to the Scarlett Arms on his Smart Phone that there were now about 18 of us instead of 12 that i had booked the previous day.

The ride went fairly smoothly throuhout aided by Mark again he kindly volunteered as backmarker. This was really necessary as we had another two recruits who did well to stay on the hills most of the time. The route can be seen on the profile by Mark.

It was a rather swift finish ending up at the Skarlett Arms Walliswood to arrive there at 12.30 as planned.

We were very well received and the food was good. We left by 2pm and were at Denbies for Tea in good time although i was unable to stop as my priority on this occasion required me home as soon as possible.

I trust and hope all others arrived home most of the way in light and safely.

Ray

PS. Sorry but I am unable to include photos since the format has changed such that it does not appear to allow as previously. I must be getting too old?

Advice regarding proposed works in Newark Lane

Pam has forwarded this message from the Veteran-CC:

Hi all,

Most of you will have seen the large notices which have gone up in Newark Lane, Ripley, drawing attention to the fact that there will be a 6 months road closure with effect from 6th January. This is for 'Bridge Improvement Works' to Newark Mill-stream Bridge (by the traffic lights), Newark Mill Bridge and the nearby Newark (relatively)New Bridge.

The closure isn't quite as disastrous to cyclists as it sounds as the road will only be closed for 'vehicular' traffic. For pedestrians, equestrians and cyclists, access will be provided at all times via temporary footbridges, but cyclists and equestrians will have to dismount to use the access routes. If you ask whether tricycles will be able to get through, all I can say is that is a very good question, but if you have any questions you are invited to call 0300 200 1003 (8am to 6pm weekdays) or consult www.surreycc.gov.uk 

B Ride - 4th December 2014

Inside the Bull's Head (West Clandon) - "This is one very warm and cozy pub, brightly decorated for the festive season" in Tim's own words.

Many thanks Tim, for another most interesting ride, with lovely views on roads we had not taken before and for a well researched commentary on the blog. It made it worth coming back from the warmth of Spain to follow you on the cold Surrey lanes. We do appreciate the preparation you put into your rides.
F & F

Easy Riders - 4th December

Ten left the British Legion Hall at Cobham to lunch at the Prince of Wales in West End, Esher.   A miracle I didn’t loose any one!!  Via Cobham, Seven Hills Road, Hersham Road to the roundabout on the A244.  Lunch was very good, we then proceeded up Hawkshill Way to Esher roundabout, Hare Lane, Red Lane, Woodstock Lane to Clayton Road where I said my goodbyes and the rest proceeded to the day centre at Chessington. Weather was very good after the weathermen promised a wet morning which didn’t materialise, even a little sunshine in the afternoon.

A big thank you to Liz for being a good T.E.C. and thank you to the rest of the team.

Irene

GPS data collected by Ron

B Group - 4th December

After thanking Maureen and Wendy-Jane for their hard work serving morning tea to us all during this year, and the presentation of awards to John Bassett and Ed Sharpe we set off at 11:15 down Plough Lane and Ockham Lane on our well worn route to Ripley. We crossed the High Street and followed Newark Lane before turning left into Papercourt Lane. In Send we turned right and rode up to Old Woking then along the High Street before veering off into Vicarage Road and Westfield Road. In Moor Lane we immediately turned right into New Lane then, rather than being seen to be duplicating Pete Barnard's recent route (in reverse), we took a left into Robin Hood Lane at the end of which we turned right into Sutton Green Road and left again towards Wareham's Farm then right into the small lane known as Foxes Path. We passed through a gate and so that we could savour the beautiful countryside we rode slowly along the lane up to the Catholic church of St Edward the Confessor. King Ed, son of Ethelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, starred in the lively history leading up to the Norman invasion. Françoise enjoyed, that is to say 'blushed', to be reminded of this cataclysm in our history. Although we may only believe it as a result of the forceful barrage of political spin from the Normans of the time, it appears that Edward probably chose William as his successor, long before his own death early in 1066.

This photo is on the website: http://www.saintedwardtheconfessor.org.uk/

At the church it might have been tempting to turn East towards Sutton Place, the Grade 1 listed Tudor manor house, former residence of J Paul Getty, which is now owned by a Russian billionaire, Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia's richest men, but significantly, a Putin era oligarch rather than a Yeltsin era one. He is also a major shareholder in Arsenal FC which may endear him to a minority. However I hadn't called ahead to ask him if we might visit, and with other arrangements for lunch, we did a quick pirouette around the car park in front of the church and turned West down towards Blanchards Hill.

At Jacob's Well we turned down Clay Lane to cross the A3 and then turned right into Burpham Lane followed by New Inn Lane. Near Merrow Common, in Park Lane, we dismounted and trundled across the road to get into Old Merrow Street which brought us out onto the A25.The large ornate gates into Clandon Park seem to be permanently shut so we rode another half mile along to the Henchley Gate and rode along the small lane, on the Earl of Onslow's land I believe, until we reached a small gate for pedestrians which enabled us to continue along to Clandon Park House. Once out on The Street in West Clandon we turned left for the last 100 metres or so to the Bulls Head.

This is one very warm and cozy pub, brightly decorated for the festive season, where we ate some very decent and freshly prepared pub grub. They had set aside a nice area for our 20 or so riders and served us as quickly as they could. After 16.7 miles we were all quite peckish and greatly enjoyed our lunch. Vic had taken a quite different route from the rest of us and when we arrived he was in the final stages of polishing off his lunch. Such cunning has probably evolved from years of riding with the A Group!

We managed to tear ourselves away just before the pub's closing time of 2:30. After galloping the two and a quarter miles along the A246 we turned North into The Street in West Horsley. For a change we took the quiet road called Long Reach up to Ockham and retraced our route back to Cobham where nine of us stopped for refresment at Café Aromas in Hollyhedge Road after just 9.1 miles since lunch.

It was a pleasure to welcome two new riders into our group, Bill Thurston and Andy Bowskill. I hope they haven't been deterred by what was a fairly big mileage for this time of year.

Many thanks to David for being back marker, to Terry, Pam and Peter for being ready, with some maps I had prepared earlier, to lead any strays back onto the correct path. Thanks too to Neil and everyone who marked corners; there were a good few opportunities for people to miss the turns today.

- Tim

 

The pink trail is the morning route and the turquoise one is the afternoon ride

A Group 4th December

Ray took us over the hills to Walliswood today.  31.36 miles from elevenses at Cobham to tea at Denbies; lunch at the Scarlett Arms.  Moving average 13mph; maximum speed 38.5mph and 1,405 calories.

A good winter's run, and not too cold.

Mark

B Group - tomorrow's ride (4th December)

The ride tomorrow morning will be 17 miles so I would like to depart as soon after 11:00 as is reasonable. There will be no proper hills at all but we are aiming to get to the pub by 1 o'clock. This is to minimize the amount of riding we have to do in the dark after Tea. The afternoon ride will be just 9 miles back to Cobham but all the same it would be nice to make good time.

We are going to a nice pub but please don't ask for the Soup of the Day because it is not on the menu.

We'll be on a couple of relatively busy roads, including a stretch on the A246 so please ride carefully and be sensible if we are obliged to stop near intersections or roundabouts. Keep an eye out for the person or group behind you and, anywhere it might seem necessary, please mark the corners so that people who have been dropped at traffic lights etc will know where we are going. I would like to avoid losing anyone because this has been a feature of my rides (and certain others) on more than one occasion.

Saddles

My search for the perfect perch has left me with a number of good saddles, little used, that I now know that I do not need.  In the spirit of Christmas, I propose to give them away - or at least throw them away!

I'll bring some to Cobham tomorrow and place them on the table.  If you fancy one, please take it.  I'll ask the ladies to put what's left in the bin, so don't be shy.

If you should feel that a small donation to the British Legion is a fair exchange for Italy's finest, then that's fine.  If not, that's fine too.

Merry Christmas!

Mark

CTC CHEAM AND MORDEN POST-CHRISTMAS LUNCH 26 Jan 2014

Some of you will have received an email. But you didn't, I've summarized its content removing Steve and Ann's contact details so email me if you need them!

Same arrangement as last year

The Angel Pub, Angel Rd, Thames Ditton KT7 0AU

Cost £10 for two courses:
MAIN          : Beef, Chicken or Veg Risotto
DESSERT : Fruit Crumble or Treacle Sponge
Start            : 12.30 in pub. Food served from 1pm in function room.

This year preferred payment method is by bank transfer. After doing the transfer, email your choices to us and we will confirm within a few days that we have received it.

Alternatively post choices with payment before 17th January.

NOTE: THERE WILL BE A RIDE STARTING FROM NORTH CHEAM WHICH WILL COME TO OUR HOUSE FOR ELEVENSES (from 11 till 12.15) BEFORE THE LUNCH. ALL ARE WELCOME WHETHER ON THE RIDE OR NOT.

Roger Mitchell

Terry reports:
  

"John Scott tells me that Roger Mitchell has been admitted to Kingston Hospital for further treatment of his bowel cancer". After elevenses at Elleray Hall on Wednesday, Fuzz took a card signed by Wayfarers to Roger at Kingston Hospital. We send our best wishes to Roger and his wife, Janet.

Wayfarers Contact List

I'll shortly be producing an updated contact list of all paid-up Wayfarers members, to be distributed to all Wayfarers by email in December.  If your details (address, phone numbers, email) have changed this year, or if you don't want your info to be included, please could you email me?

Pubs Register

Back in June Simon sent me a pile of data documenting the pubs which had been visited by the A group since the beginning of July in 2012. After months of inactivity on the project I have now added the geolocation data to Simon's list and brought it all right up to date to include Paul's extremely popular ride yesterday. So there are now about 70 entries for A Group.

Over the months Google have fixed many of the original bugs in the system and it is now good enough to go live. It may even work on your tablet if you have one. Please check this link to see the result. If anyone wishes to correct or add more data about any of the pubs please send it to me.

For the A Group I have added the Elevenses location to give anyone using the map a quick idea of the range for a ride to a pub. The map will also be an aid to anyone wanting the challenge of leading to a pub which hasn't been visited lately.

- Tim

per birotam ad tabernam

A Group - 27th November 2013

The Fox at Hanwell

Everybody made it!

A Group Ride Report: 27 November 2013

A Group Ride Report: 27 November 2013

Teddington to Fox@Hanwell & Richmond Park

Wow! Come 11 o'clock I did not know whether to be flattered or terrified. Having warned the not overlarge pub to expect maybe a dozen for lunch, I found myself with a veritable Peleton of 27. Is that an A-group record? It is certainly more than I have ridden with. An en route phone call to the pub seemed to cause a tad of consternation.... what would we find?

As promised, a flat and even paced ride it was. Split into 2 groups: Frank back marking for me on the front group and Jeff leading the second group. The arrangement worked very well, I stopped after every significant turn and Frank signalled forward as the following group were close enough to see the turn. A good model for future reference.

Out from Teddington through Bushy Park to Hampton, past the water treatment plant, left and along past Sunbury Walled garden (strange for a ride to be heading out past the regular 3's stop....) then right and up through Feltham and on to Osterly Park (another 3's stop!), through and on to the Grand Union Canal. The just a short length of towpath to the Fox - a veritable hidden gem if ever there was one. A country pub in town - almost a literal stones throw from the Uxbridge Road, but with the feel of a country village. Cracking beer and cracking food. I had had no need to be fearful, all the stops were well and truly pulled and a large area reserved for us, and (given the short notice for 27 folk arriving on a wet Wednesday) prompt and efficient service.

The promised lunchtime fun quiz was well received and hopefully scattered a few gems of local knowledge.

After lunch, a short ride down the towpath to Brentford, thence Syon Park, Isleworth and Richmond. Up the Hill to the Park and down to the cycling cafe at Roehampton gate for Tea.

Good to see some B regulars with us today and welcome to the new riders - with profuse apologies, your names have been confined to that mess of irrecoverable information that passes for my memory - but I hope you enjoyed the ride and that we will see you again.

I like the idea of sometimes designing rides that allow a cross over of the A & B groups and will plan for something similar on future rides.

Happy Riding

Paul Kelly

Easyriders - Wednesday 27th November

Damp and misty but not cold and some super autumn colours in the parks around Teddington.  I must first of all wish Roger a speedy recovery,  Fuzz cycled direct to Kingston Hospital to cheer him up after elevenses today, with a signed card from so many of his Wayfarer friends.  We cycled from Elleray Hall past the stables and directly into Bushy Park by the NPL.  A small circuit past the water gardens and out of the Laurel Gate.  Thence northwards, crossing the railway at the end of Somerset Road and by the usual route to Teddington Lock, up to the Ham Gate, across the park and out of the Roehampton Gate.  We cycled past the Kings Head which has undergone extensive refurbishment in the last couple of years and is now a "gastro-pub" with gastronomical prices, then The Angel which looked a little forlorn and neglected and on to the Telegraph with it's historical links to the Admiralty and Portsmouth via Chatley Heath and other high points en route.  Norman enjoyed a very tasty home made pizza - which is their speciality and the butternut squash, orange and pumpkin soup was very good at £4.95.  But be warned they do not do sandwiches or jacket potatoes.  We then crossed Putney Heath and under the underpass to cross Wimbledon Common via the Windmill, past Cannizaro - and down into Cottenham Park, crossed the Beverley Brook and under the A3 , over the golf course into New Malden and criss crossing happily back towards Cheam.  A lovely day and a very nice BIRTHDAY for NORMAN.  Many happy returns.    Steph.  Oh and a welcome to Helen, who joined us from the Saturday afternoon beginners, Norman, Les, Brian and Ron made up the rest of the "team".

Easy Riders - 27th November

B Group - 27th November

Liz S. started out with about 25 of us, first heading North up Waldegrave Road and Cross Deep to Twickenham where we turned down Wharf Lane to enjoy the quiet route along the embankment past Orleans House and Marble Hill Park. After the Warren Footpath we crossed the road which leads up to Richmond Bridge and followed the river around through Isleworth and into Syon Park.

The main road through Brentford brought us out at Kew Bridge which we crossed before looping around and taking the river path for the rest of the ride to The Ship in Mortlake. The service was friendly and brisk despite the time it took to take all our orders and serve drinks to so many of us. Nice pub food, freshly prepared and a hearty vegetable soup-of-the-day set us up nicely for the ever so arduous 5.7 mile ride to Tea at the YMCA Hawker Centre. To get there we made our way up Sheen Lane and into Richmond Park. We took the Ham Gate exit and carried on into Lock Road to Teddington Lock where we turned left onto the river path for the last short stretch to the YMCA.

This was an unusually short ride but with the weather being so mild it was a thoroughly enjoyable and sociable day out.

This was the second time out with us for a new rider, Geoff Gregory so we are pleased to welcome him into the group. Last week Mick Furnival-Adams came out with us for the first time and today, learning that the A group were not going to be riding up any big hills, he went out with them, as did at least two other regular B Group riders. Perhaps there is a load balancing mechanism starting to kick in, with people who have been appalled at the large numbers turning out to ride with B Group promoting themselves into the A Group. The Elleray Hall was certainly jam-packed this morning.

Thank you Liz for a lovely day out and please consider leading us from time to time in the future.

A Group 27th November

Paul had promised flat, and flat it was, with the bridge over the Grand Union Canal and Richmond Hill being the day's summits.

25.2 miles from elevenses at Teddington to tea at Richmond Park; lunch at the excellent Fox, Hanwell. A steady pace and no-one lost - a sociable and enjoyable ride for a Winter's day.

Mark

A Group Wednesday 27 November

This weeks ride will be one of the flattest on record. Note, Mr Tollerman, starting and finishing at the same elevation does not qualify as "pancake flat". This one is a flat 19 miles to lunch with a very minor tester on the 10 miles to tea.

One of the easier A rides of the year with a guaranteed hone run in the light. (With a very modest element of good condition canal tow path)

Teddington start, Fox @ Hanwell for lunch via a route of major Scientific, Military, Historical, Social, Engineering and Medical significance. There might even be a lunchtime quiz with a free pint on offer to anyone recognising those items... Now there is a tempter....

Paul K

'A' lternative Group Ride

A blood-sub ride of mud, rain, thunder and missing persons ended in a rueful huddle near the fire at the Dolphin, Betchworth.The sun came out for a somewhat soggy eightsome to discard any thought of tea and head as fast as possible for home.
Jeff

C Group - 20th November

This route map has been reconstructed from what is believed to have been Lynda's route.

Weybridge DC to Ye Olde Swan in Thames Ditton for lunch then to Ewell Court for Tea

B Group - 20th November

On leaving Weybridge D.C. at 11.30am what should have been a bakers dozen turned out to be only 12!! having lost one before I started didn’t seem too good.

 

Ray of the “B” group had somehow tucked himself away in the foyer talking to one of the volunteers and didn’t hear the rowdy lot leaving. I had fortunately told him where we were going so he made his own way & caught us up in Chobham.  We lunched at Castle Green,  The Grove  public house and except for one gentleman sipping a pint at the bar the rowdies were the FLAVOUR OF THE DAY.

 

The publican was very good and provided everything we asked for very efficiently except Tim had to settle for an omlette instead of a soup but seemed very happy about it.

We returned to Shepperton where 8 stayed for tea, coffee and cakes  It was very early when we arrived 2.30pm so hopefully everyone got home in the light.

 

I would like to thank Terry & Tim for doing a very good job as T.E.C.   And a very big welcome to a new member today  MICK  FURNIVAL-ADAMS hope to see you again.

 

Many thanks folks for turning out on such a miserable day but which ended nice and sunny,

 

Irene

Pam was to have led today's B Group ride but, on hearing about her wrist injury, Irene volunteered to lead in her place. Consequently Pam is feeling very bad that Irene copped the torrential rain that was originally scheduled for Pam. So Pam has asked me to record her profound thanks to Irene for leading today. In the event, Irene's spirit of endurance was rewarded with a lovely blue sky after lunch.

The other good news is, as Pam writes:
"By now you would have heard that according to the consultant whom I saw yesterday, my wrist is not broken, just badly sprained so now have a brace instead of plaster on it!  Have to give it a couple of weeks to heal before getting back on the bike."

In the maps the turquoise line shows the morning ride to Castle Green, near Chobham (8.9 miles) and the dotted pink line shows the afternoon route back to Shepperton (9.3 miles).