Porridge bread

Stuck in doors during this cold spell, you may possibly like to have a try at this recipe, as per the title you need to use it as a bread though you could adapt the recipe to your taste by adding sugar or as I did add caraway seeds instead of those suggested.
1 tub of natural yogurt 500 ml
2tubs of porridge oats (use the pot)
2 table spoons of baking powder
A hand full of seeds, poppies seeds are good or anything of your choice
2 tablespoons of oil you can use coconut oil if preferred

Heat the oven to 200C
Put everything into a mixing bowl apart from the oil and blend together use the oil to grease the loaf tin
Pour all of the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 45 minutes
Allow to cool on a wire rack before cutting

As said treat as bread and try different toppings
This comes care of British Cycling, the original video can be found on YouTube
Happy baking
Geoff

Weds 28 Feb 2018 - Walton Day Centre

As I live less than 500 metres from Walton Day Centre I hardly had any excuse for not turning up (on foot) at elevenses despite the lying snow.   I scarcely expected to see any other Wayfarers so was very pleasantly surprised when 'Young Bernard' (Power) arrived shortly after me having valiantly cycled all the way from Whitton and suffering nothing worse than slightly damp shoes.  Eventually a message came through from Simon that all the day's planned rides were cancelled, leaving Bernard and I with no alternative but to repair the short distance to The Regent for a 2-for-1 lunch deal.  Two points each are well-deserved I think!

Dave (W)

Armchair version

In 1812 passengers in the cheap seats on the London to Bath coach actually froze to death.  So today's intended excursion through the historical novelties of the route is best appreciated from indoors.
The old route to Bath came out of London from the Bell Savage Inn on Fleet Street via Hyde Park, Kensington, Chiswick and Isleworth.  The first stage for changing horses was Hounslow where there was stabling for over 2000 horses (300 coaches a day travelled the route in the 18th century).  Fast coaches would "fly" from London to Bath in 3 days  and the route would be interesting to cycle as its about 110 miles and the possibilities for cyclists to use the pretty Kennet and Avon at the Bath end would make up for the density of traffic at the London end.   However I digress.  Today's ride heads  out of Walton, down to the river, under and over Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Littleton, Charlton, Ashford.  At Charlton we pause to give The Harrow a quick glance.  A gatehouse for Windsor ...A hunting lodge....probably just a fairly low status farmhouse or cottage but an important A frame building in English oak,  beams handcarved, mortise joints can still be seen apparently, spaces between the frame filled with wattle and daub (willow and mud).  The discovery of a cache of silver coins hidden beneath a door frame dates the building pre 1130.  Calls itself the oldest pub in Middlesex with good reason.  Back in 1852 it became a pub.  No piped water or drainage, the water pump can still be seen outside the front door.     Across Stanwell Moor, left at Vermeulens, right at the Anchor pub...under the underpass and loop through Horton.  There is a gypsy graveyard here somewhere that Irene showed me once upon a time.   Also the birthplace of Milton. A paradise lost indeed, as you cycle this section you get a feel that it must have been a busy farming area long ago.
A pause at the Ostrich Inn at Colnbrook, beams, crooked stairs, cobbled courtyard for all those coaches (must go back and have a meal) .  Foundation stone laid in 1106 it stands opposite the 17 milestone from London.  Originally named The Hospice but over the centuries corrupted to Ostrich.
Over 60 people murdered here over the centuries.  Jarman, an enterprising landlord in the 17th century constructed a trapdoor in the floor of his best bedroom and carefully placed a hinged bedstead over it.  The wealthiest guest were tucked up and when sound asleep he would tip them through the trapdoor into a vat of boiling liquid being tended by his wife in the room beneath.  They were found out when the horse of a wealthy clothier Thomas Cole was found wandering the streets .  A search ensued and the body of Thomas discovered in the Colnbrook.  From here a short trot to lunch, aided by the network of footpaths that surround Harmondsworth, we enter by a path that follows the Duke of Northumberlands river (feeds the fountains in Bushy Park/Hampton Court?), past the monument to Barnes Wallis (the bouncing bomb) to the Five Bells.   The barn is an outstanding example of medieval carpentry and all details are on their website.  Suffice to say it is well worth a visit and I was disappointed when I reccied (having not looked at the website) that it was closed but opens after Easter and is English Heritage.
Boots on now and out to enjoy the snow.   Steph x

Easy riders cancelled this morning

Such a beautiful morning but sorry folks it's really icy and I have been advised to cancel.

28th Feb B RIDE CANCELLED ...armchair version to follow...

Today’s A ride

With snow on the roads, possibility of more to come and temperatures not getting above freezing I’m taking the decision to cancel today’s ride. I’ve sent a message to most regular A riders that I have an address for, so hopefully they will have already drawn the duvet over their heads.

Easy riders tomorrow 28 February

A nice flat easy ride is planned for tomorrow.   After our coffee at Walton, we'll head for Staines along the north side of the river -the towpath is well surfaced most of the way along, the last mile or so is a bit bumpy and there's a muddy field at the end but this should be better in the cold conditions.  Lunch is at the Kings Head in Ashford, just over an hour's ride from Walton. It was bright and busy when visited last Saturday, ale was great and food smells good!  Then head back to the river via Sunbury, for tea near Hampton Court. Let's hope for lots of sunshine and light snowy showers as today!

A Ride with the ‘Beast from the East.’

Tomorrow’s ride from Walton is planned for an outward route to Tongham then Shakleford for lunch at the Cyder House. Return via Newlands to tea at Ripley. Well, that’s the plan. Let’s see what tomorrow brings as my ‘weather man’ has told me that schools are closed around Farnham, not a great omen.

B ride Wed 28th Fed

Very disappointing not a flake of snow here this morning (Tues) and sunshine on the chart for tomorrow.  If I wake up to no snow on Wed the ride will run to Harmondsworth and T at Syon or Richmond Park.  The recce is on strava. S.

Frank Cubis

While cycling along Northfields ave I came across this Ghost bike placed there as a tribute to Frank Cubis, it is located at the spot where his accident happened.

 

Tony..

C group 21st February: lunch at Teddington

Lynda lead us a short ride to lunch at the Tide Inn in Teddington,  after our coffee at Kingston Bradbury Centre last Wednesday.  Carol met us all for the first time at coffee and joined the ride.


After lunch we headed across the bridge and along the river, circling through Ham Common and then across Richmond Park to Robin Hood gate.  Four of us continued back via Raynes Park to north Cheam for tea stop.  Thanks for a nice ride and long social lunch and coffee.

A Group Ride Report - 21 February - Redhill

A cold bright day to explore Brian’s route to Warnham.

15 of us left Redhill via the Asylum Arch Road path past the hospital. We crossed the A23 at Salfords using the new cycle friendly path, and the A217 at the not so friendly Hookwood roundabout. The route took us on roads which were not so familiar to me, taking in the views from Russ Hill, and the nearby postmill, curiously situated in a hollow. 

We made good progress with the help of a slight tailwind, arriving at the Sussex Oak shorty before 1pm. Helpfully the pub had reserved tables for us in front of the log fire. Lunch was served promptly for most, but not all, with a bit of confusion over who got what sandwich. Even so we were finished by 2pm.

Brian had warned me about a cyclist unfriendly “No Right Turn” sign onto the busy A281 from Strood Lane, so we took a direct on the quieter A29 for a mile, as far as Okewood Hill. Our route was directly north, into the wind, to Holmbury St Mary, before a slightly unwelcome ascent of White Down. Critten Lane was at last unobstructed, so we made it to Carolina’s in Bookham shortly before 4pm. This was a new venue to me, and well worth a revisit, with cycle parking in the ally to the side.

Distance 22 miles before lunch at a wind assisted 13.9mph, 17 miles to tea at a wind and gradient challenged 12.2mph. 2,300ft climbing. Thankfully no punctures or mechanicals, but Geoff sadly could not join us due to a clicky wheel bearing at Redhill.

Thanks to Ged for patiently back marking, and all corner markers; and thanks Brian for excellent route preparation.

"A" Group 21st Feb 2018

Hi David for excellent leading and Ged for back marking & shepherding me along! I was planning to simply put a comment on the official ride description but it's not there yet. I hope Dave that you were able to Recce White Down & look forward to hearing the all clear? As for me I decided to Recce part of the Hilly 50 route in reverse peeling off just before entering Holmbury and going up past the Belmont school. What a steep hill that is (never done it B4) only down on the Hilly 50. I carried on to Friday Street then up the hill eventually emerging at the Wooton Hatch (also reverse route Hilly 50).
I was pleased that the route was clear apart from the odd pothole and remarkably clean.
NOTE OF CAUTION. On the hilly 50 route as you go over the lake at Friday St. you then go up a steep hill past the Friday St. Free car park on the left. You then shoot down a steep hill and some 300 meters past the car park there is a severe pothole in the middle of the road. A severe warning will be given at the start of the hilly 50 to avoid, which can quite easily be done if riders have their eyes open!
Home was via Box Hill for me and such a hard day but good company and good lunch even though it was tempered by Lime and Soda (Lent) for the princely reasonable sum of 80p unlike my MG owners club run on Sunday at the Plough Leigh £2.05!

B Group, 21st February

A dozen Bs (including newcomer Neil Warland, welcome, Neil) headed south from Redhill, soon joining N21 but leaving it at the Hospital roundabout. After crossing the M23 a quick left and right soon brought us to Outwood and t'mill (still for sale). Having left a message on Shipley Bridge answering machine and having warned of our impending visit three weeks ago during my recce, I considered we had time for  an additional loop from Smallfield to include Copthorne. However on arriving at the Chef and Brewer they seemingly didn't know about us, but never mind we were soon seated and eating.

Bearing in mind the weather we have had I thought that, as in the morning, we should keep to the roads after lunch. We headed for Reigate Garden Centre via Horley, Meath Green (teddies still on duty), Lonesome Lane (which won't be so lonesome when all the new houses in Meath Green are occupied) and the residential roads of Reigate. Half of us stopped here, the remainder pressed on home.

A nice, dry, and occasionally sunny day for a ride, not quite too cool, thanks all for company and Tony for backmarking.

Terry

B Group - 21st February (map and photos)

The new Neil

"Goodnight, Irene"

Irene rode out with the alternative B Group today after Elevenses at Addlestone:

Photo by Pam

It's the end of an era!

B Group - 21st February

From Redhill our on-road route leads to the Chef and Brewer at Shipley Bridge followed by tea (for the last time ?) at Reigate garden Centre.

Terry

A Group - 21 February - Redhill

Unfortunately Brian is not available on Wednesday. I will be following the route Brian was planning, to the Sussex Oak at Warnham. About 21 miles to lunch. Tea probably at Carolina’s in Bookham, unknown to me, but reports are good.

Note that I have not been able to recce the route fully in the time available, but I have checked the unfamiliar bits, so hopefully no going off piste. Nothing unsurfaced, but plenty of potholes.