Elleray Hall is now unavailable to us with the new Covid wave, so we depart from The Pheasantry in Bushy Park, which for the few who are not familiar, has plenty of space outdoors for morning coffee and calories and nice loos.
The route is 30.9 miles long and finishes in Kingston Market. The only testing hill is Nightingale Lane, Richmond at the 4 mile point; it is not very long, so get off and push if you need to; you won't be alone! The afternoon climbs out of Wimbledon Park and up to the Ballet School in Richmond Park look steep on the attached profile but they are regularly ridden by Beginners.
I have not booked lunch because until yesterday I had no idea what the Covid regulations might be and because there is a Covid boldness/cautiousness range within the club. My original plan for a pub lunch at the Windmill on Clapham Common (19 miles plus a short detour) has therefore been ditched, though if a group wants to go there, fine. The ride plan is to lunch at the Pear Tree cafe on the lake in Battersea Park, at just over 17 miles. It serves hot snacky type food (bacon butties and the like) and has many outdoor tables as well as indoor ones; it will suit those who choose to bring their own sandwiches, and because of the early dusk I figured we did not want to be hanging around unduly at lunch time.
It took me three hours five minutes of riding at B pace, so allowing 30 to 45 mins for lunch we should be finished to get home in daylight, especially as the weather is supposed to be clearing up in the afternoon.
We pass public loos at Fulham Palace (12.5 miles) at lunchtime, and twice in Richmond Park on the home leg (25 miles).
Groups and departure times
The Champagne and Smoked Salmon 10.15
leader John Austin
Brenda Breen
Ken Day
Clive Janes
Annette Hurley
Madeleine Shearer
Stephen Hickey
Geoff Gregory
The Claret and Stuffed Turkey 10.30
leader Christina Berkley
Pam Jones
Liz Bernard
Ed
Tony Hopkins
Colin Garrod
Paula Buckton
Jackie
The Port and Christmas Pudding 10.45
leader Paul James
Sue Bellamy
Tony Hooker
Tim Gibbons
Simon Lambourn
Bob Pannell
Tim Court
Maggie James
The ride (on Ride with GPS)
Risks (other than flooding and pestilence)
Crossing Wandsworth Bridge Road (14.1 miles); impatient traffic; I dismounted and used the zebra
Joining the Embankment after Lots Road; use the lights to cross the main road at the right turn
Crossing the Albert Bridge approach; get into the middle lane; the left lane turns left on a filter
Turning right on to Chelsea Bridge; the roadworks make it easy because they filter the traffic down to one lane.
Turning right into Battersea Park; can be tricky, best follow the cycle lane onto the pavement and use the pedestrian/cyclist lights
Enjoy
No comments:
Post a Comment