I find Shepperton a challenging place from which to start a
cycle ride. The obvious destinations are to the west, but Berkshire offers
little scenic country, few hills and is hedged about with motorways and cycle-unfriendly
towns such as Bracknell
and Maidenhead.
However the Greeno Centre offers a friendly welcome, Easter
buns, and yesterday a sunny start. A group of some 19 left, heading west
through Laleham, Staines, Tite Hill (at 10% the only challenging climb of the
day) and Windsor Great Park,
blessed with a tailwind, and destined for Waltham St Lawrence,
a picture postcard village. While Berkshire
lacks scenery, it seems to compensate with good pubs, and The Bell, a tiny 14th
century place is a gem.
I was concerned that the pub might struggle with 19 hungry
cyclists, but my worries were unfounded. They had reserved a separate dining
room for us, and even JDW could not have bettered the speedy and friendly
service. The food was good (I recommended the Bambi Burger from a recce visit
but there were no takers) and the beer was all from local independent
breweries.
For the return the weather took a turn for the worse, with
drizzle and a brisk headwind. We took a direct route, crossing the Thames
“offroad” at Bray, then via Dorney, Eton, Wraysbury and Staines to tea at
Squires Upper Halliford, arriving just a s the B’s were departing, thankfully
without finishing all the cake.
22 miles at a good 14.3 mph to lunch, though speed dropped
to a wind-challenged 12.5mph for the 24 miles to tea. Only 500ft of climbing
though this seemed to be welcomed by some. Thankfully a clear ride, no
punctures, no mechanicals, and nobody lost.
Many thanks for your company to all who rode with me, and
especially to Tony Hopkins for being such a dedicated back marker.
Dave
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