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
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