Report for the Easy Riders - 17th January

Not an easy ride today, despite staying local. We had a very chilly start, still at -1°C for our group meeting at North Cheam. There were seven of us, Frank B and Frank C, John and Anne C, Jane, Gillian and me. We set off shortly after 9.30 for Molesey Boat Club, via Ewell and Hook. Alas, the tunnel under the A3 was still closed due to flooding (despite 10 days without rain!) so we had to double back to Hook roundabout and down the slip road past the old Cap in Hand, to turn right at the rose nursery and proceed past Squires at Long Ditton. On the way, John C's bike developed a puncture, so he and Anne stopped to mend it while the rest of us continued to coffee.

Molesey Boat Clubhouse was busy and cosy when we arrived, and we were glad of our hot drinks and pastries, and the usual social chat of course.Tony Hooker, Bernard P, John Bellamy were already there, and Sandy and John B soon arrived, so we were a round dozen for coffee.

The Green Man at Putney Heath was decided for our lunch destination. John Bellamy headed home, John and Anne turned up frozen as we were leaving, but were planning to follow us after warming up, and the rest of us set off en route via Bushy Park, Teddington and Ham Common to cross Richmond Park.

Just after the Diana monument in Bushy, we met Carolyn Beer on her way to Hampton Court, and in the stop to exchange greetings John Bayliss' bike went from under him. Was it black ice? Possibly...but it became apparent that the gears and brakes had been knocked out, so he and Sandy sadly peeled off to make for home.

On we pressed at a leisurely pace, such a pretty route, through Ham Gate and up the steep bit past the Ponds to the traffic free lane through Richmond park. At this point Gillian was struggling a bit, so we took the easier route via Robin Hood Gate to Roehampton. Here we concluded that she should really make for home, and she and I stopped off for a hot drink at the cafe then back to Robin Hood and along the A3 to Raynes Park.

The others carried on for lunch at Putney Heath, and completed the day's ride.

I was surprised to find I had still completed 27 miles when I got home! But special mention to Frank B, who completed 35 and Jane G at 37 miles back to her door (both live in Epsom). Really very respectable achievements especially on such a very cold day.  Well done all who came out.

~ Helen