Invitation to Ride with the A group 21st December

 We will set off from Teddington Elleray Hall. Please check out Ged's comments on Day centres below.

Because it is the winter solstice, the start of winter and the shortest day, I have plotted a route using our magnificent cycle path network. We set off and cross Teddington railway using a cycle bridge and then ride 18 miles in a clockwise circle to The Whispering Moon - a Weatherspoons which will be serving Christmas fare - in Wallington. From there we complete the circle 12 miles to The Horton Cafe which is set in the vast ex Epsom Mental Hospital Chapel in Horton Park, which has recently been refurbished and will be open until 6pm. Inside the Chapel is an exhibition setting out the development of the Hospital including its worldwide significance and some case studies including a soldier who fell on a grenade to save his buddies and survived. I have tried to plan an interesting way, with two venues we have not tried yet, but trying to get us to the tea stop well before lighting up time which will be 3.50 pm. Make certain you have lights.

This is not a fast route, but hopefully a safe one. At the moment it is largely not rideable because of ice and snow. My co leaders Dave Ward and Neil Warland rode the route with plenty of ice around and fortunately did not meet with a mishap. However the weather for the day is 9 degrees at lunchtime with a little rain in the afternoon and so I will do yet another recce before then and make certain the route is good. Nevertheless it is a route with a small amount of earth track and so if you have a wide tyre bike this will help.

If you are interested in this ride please email me at steve_duffin@yahoo.co.uk by 6pm on Monday 19th and I will include you and send you route files, details and start times on Tuesday 20th.