Invitation to a B Group ride - 3rd April

Fewer hills but still scenic! From Cobham, we'll go through Ripley then head north along the Wey Navigation Canal. (This was dry with a good surface a few days ago). Lunch will be at The Ashley Park in Walton. No need to pre- order, but check out the menu especially the daytime Mains and Lunch Bites, so that you're ready to order on arrival. After lunch we'll cross Walton Bridge and follow the Thames before circling round to Bushy Park for tea at The Pheasantry.

Route is:
2024/4/3 Cobham - Walton-On-Thames - Bushy Park (Robert T)

Menu link is: Ember Inns Menus 

Party area is reserved for ‘Robert’ to left of bar at back. Outside tables also available. Parking for our bikes is behind the pub, past the outdoor eating area, with access via the left side of the pub. 

Steph and Fixie Dave are co-leading.

To participate, please send me an email by Monday night. If you have a preference for earlier or later start, let me know.

Robert

Invitation to A Group Ride 3rd April

Next Wednesday's ride is from Cobham.

26 miles to lunch at the Crown Inn, Capel via Shere and Farley Green.

19 miles to tea at Ashtead Park Garden Centre via Newdigate and Box Hill.

All on road and a little up and down, but not too hilly at 2,900 feet.

The pub want us to pre-order so here is their menu.

If you would like to come along please let me know (clive.janes@gmail.com) by Monday evening and include your choice from the pub's menu.

Here is the route:

• Garmin
• RideWithGPS

Thanks

Clive

Report for B Group - 27th March

Effingham: Queen Stage - Cranleigh: Three Horseshoes - Dorking - Leatherhead

Christina writes:

Our 1st departure 10.50 am group included Carolyn, Tim Gibbons, Fixie Dave, Tony Hooker,  Chris Hyde and myself, Christina.

At the outset, Fixie Dave wanted the ride to be all on the road. Judging by the heavy rain the night before, and with the blessing of route designer Tim C, we were pleased to stick to the "alternative" route, especially when the heavens poured forth from 11.30am onwards up until our arrival at the "Three Horseshoes" Pub at 12.40pm, 10 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Team Christina (Tim G partially eclipsed)

At the high point in Raikes Lane

I had forewarned our group about the undulating nature of the ride before and after the lunch. Everyone just got on with the ride. Hopefully the ride prepared them for more challenging rides in the near future, be it the Easter Tour in Eastbourne, Skiing, the Hilly 50 or the cycling holiday in Majorca.

Thanks to Tim C for the excellent route, my group for your cheerful dispositions and Tim G for back marking.

~ Christina

Christina studying the terrain during the recce

______________________________________________

Stephen writes:

The second group - Stephen, Terry, Robert, Francis, Ian and Keith - set forth from the Queen Stage in good weather, and hoping that the forecast of heavy rain ahead was wrong.  Green Dene successfully conquered, all was going well.  But as we approached Albury, the forecast proved all too accurate, and the rain came down.  A democratic vote was taken to stick to roads rather than the tracks up and over Blackheath.   By the time we reached the turn at Chilworth rain and cold were taking their toll and two of the group - having already ridden many miles even before the start - decided enough was enough and headed for home.  The remaining intrepid group of 4 carried on and made it successfully to the welcome shelter, warmth and food of the Three Horseshoes at Cranleigh.

At The Three Horseshoes

Encouragingly, the rain then abated and the afternoon ride to Dorking even included some sunshine - very welcome, especially as the post-lunch hills took their toll.  Having sweated up to Sutton Abinger we enjoyed the long sweep downhill to the Guildford Road, eschewing the additional climb at Raikes Lane.  Then the familiar - particularly to Terry - route into Dorking, ending at the quirky Old Clunker café.

At The Old Clunker

Thanks to Tim for a good route;  to all the members of the group for their fellowship and good humour; and to the weather gods for saving us from more rain in the afternoon.

~ Stephen

______________________________________________

Tim writes:

With a forecast for cool rainy weather I had some anxiety that a few might decide to stay at home. But we arrived at The Queen Stage after a bit of a battle with a full-frontal southerly wind to find that several of us were there already. And everyone else turned up too. The staff had been warned that a lycra-clad horde would be invading their establishment and they catered for our A and B teams very well. And the croissants were warm.

After the ride up Green Dene and down towards Shere we were expecting some serious rain. So, in conversations with Christina and Stephen, our two subleaders, it was agreed that each would take a decision about whether or not to take their teams up unto Blackheath. For some pig-headed reason I wanted to do this part of the ride, as planned. So in Albury we turned left into Blackheath Lane which, despite the seriously grotty weather, proved to be a delight to ride, having been freshly tarmacked. And with its being no more than three metres wide and not actually going anywhere, it was entirely devoid of traffic.

The team didn't appreciate the route ...

 

... as much as I'd imagined they would!

 

"Are we there yet?"

However the fun came to an end and we had to haul our bikes up about 100 metres in a steep and very mucky gully, eventually arriving up on the heath and looking for our track. We found it and had a rough but easy-to-navigate path, eventually arriving at the much photographed 'This Way'/'That Way'/'Somewhere Else' sign post. At this point we turned south for a lovely ride, despite the heavy rain, through to Shamley Green. We kept off the main roads wherever possible but in view of our continuing failure to appreciate the weather we decided to skip the scenic detour through Smithwood Common, and arrived at The Three Horseshoes only 5 minutes after our preordained time.

We’d pre-ordered lunch so didn’t have to wait at all for it to be delivered, thanks especially to the chef, Stuart. We were very reluctant to leave this warm and friendly pub. It was cold outside so we put all our layers back on and headed off towards Ewhurst, rejoicing in the effort the sun was now making to shine its happy rays upon us.

All geared up for departure after lunch

We negotiated some serious undulations until Holmbury St Mary then cruised down to Sutton Abinger. We’d discussed the pros and cons of riding along Raikes Lane in order to avoid a mile of the busy A25 and once we arrived at the top of the ramp beyond The Volunteer and recovered our breath we felt pleased with our choice of this more direct route.

Tim, Paul, Anne and Steph

Tim, Paul, Anne and Mick

In the late afternoon, although The Old Clunker was the appointed Tea stop, Dorking seemed like a long way from home so we carried on to Leatherhead where, on Paul’s recommendation, we stopped for tea at Lucio’s Coffee and Deli to enjoy friendly service and tasty refreshments. But, riding up the Mole Gap, Paul had the misfortune to find a bee buzzing about inside his glasses and in the panic to get rid of it he took a nasty fall. We hope that he is not feeling too bruised or suffering any other injury after this.

Thanks to Steph, Paul, Mick and Anne for their good company and for enduring the rigours of the morning route and its foul weather with true British gritty fortitude. Thank you to Christina and Stephen for leading your teams on this challenging day and Mick for helping to lead our team when the rain played havoc with my phone.

~ Tim

Blackheath route detail on OS Explorer

A group ride from Effingham Queen Stage to Godalming, 27th March 2024.

As indicated in the ride invitation, our route included a few odd hills - in fact these totalled 686m of ascent, with my Garmin course indicating six Cat <4 climbs*. Not all were familiar. This wasn't enough ascent for one group, as you will see from Janice's report below!). Numbers leaving the Queen Stage were down - maybe the forecast of Spring 'showers' deterred some, but we still managed three groups.

Peter Suchy, Dave Ferrett and Sue Chasty were waiting patiently for the Queen Stage to open when I arrived just before 10am, and they were eventually joined by Dave Vine to make-up the first group to depart at 10.30am.

Leading my group of five found us overlapping with Peter's group in Thorncombe Street -  the drizzle at Chilworth having turned to heavy rain by then. Luckily, alertness in the peloton prevented me following Peter who had missed the right fork along Thorncombe St. towards Hascombe. (An easy mistake to make as demonstrated by those taking the more natural left fork/straight-on along Thorncombe St towards Palmers Cross, and beyond!).

Next up was Mare Lane. This was missed on last week's recce: the gradient towards the top must have been 20%, and with very narrow tracks walking-up was the preferred option.  

The Mare Lane walk-up.

We approached Godalming by the less familiar southernly direction via Hydestile, Enton and Tuesley, reaching The Jack Philips not long before 1.00pm. Dave and Jennie departed for Easter Tour duties, with Dave Ward soon after. That made a comfortable combined easy-paced group of seven to tea at Gails, Cobham.

Departing the 'Spoons' - warm and dry!

Janice had a lot of explaining to do in her report.

As she says, the forecast had shown heavy rain around 12 - 1 and strong winds but by the time Patrick, Steve D, Andy, Neil C and I met in the Queens Stage for our 10.50 departure the forecast was showing the rain was coming at 11.
We felt the first spots on our descent of Combe Lane so after that it was jackets on where they stayed all day.

The ride was going well until Thorncombe Street which seemed to go on forever. By now the rain was torrential, the potholes and gravel frequent, the Garmin touch screen was getting confused by rain drops and kept ‘greying out’ and my hands were freezing in my completely sodden Sealskinz waterproof gloves. But up and up we went on the never ending Thorncombe Street. Andy realised that Steve and Neil were no longer behind but Patrick and I thought there was only about a minute’s gap. Andy elected to wait for them just before the descent but Patrick and I foolishly continued on a lengthy downhill stretch. At the bottom we stopped and waited, the rain still torrential. After a few minutes we realised there must be more to it than then just falling behind. So back up the hill this time to where Andy was waiting. After waiting some more and being cold and soaked through I sent a what’s app message and phoned Steve. No reply so what a dilemma.

In the end, Andy said that we’d passed a turn to Godalming which could have been taken by them and Neil had earlier said that if he dropped back we should go ahead as he had the route on his Garmin. So wetter and colder than ever we decided to press on.

After cycling for what seemed like forever we found ourselves in Bramley, going up Snowdenham Lane at which point all 3 of us said ‘haven’t we already been up here’? And yes we had, I’d somehow managed to lead us around circles.

By then my brain was too tired and cold to function but Andy switched into gear and produced a map (what a great invention, I must get one)! So with a right, left, right we were at last on our way to Godalming. We passed a sign saying 2 miles to go but I’m sure it was much more than that, although maybe that’s just how it felt.

At last we arrived in Godalming, Steve and Neil and both other groups were happily tucking into lunch. A jacket potato and hot chocolate restored my spirits.


The ride back to Cobham was mercifully uneventful.

Thanks to Ged for the route and my group for their unfailing politeness in being led a merry dance (or ride) around the many hills of Surrey without complaint.

Janice's group - back together again! 

(This photo courtesy of Andy - and his self-timer!).

Thanks to Janice and Peter for sub-leading, Dave Ward and Dave Vine for back marking - and for the rest of you remaining cheerful despite the near winterly conditions at times. 

*Cavert Road, Green Dene, Sampleoak Lane, Mare Lane, Tuesley Lane, Littleton Lane.

Invitation to a B Group ride - 27th March

Christina, Stephen and I cordially invite you to a ride through the hills to The Three Horseshoes in Cranleigh. We will meet for Elevenses at The Queen Stage in Effingham. Please be there in good time to enjoy your refreshments.

This is our route, with just over 16 miles to lunch:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45903812

If you have the technology please load this into your phone or Garmin in order to assist your leader should any confusion about the route arise. This is a good practice on any ride.

For anyone who might have heard a horror story from Christina or myself, about a 5 mile slog through mud on the Down's Link Path, this section has been completely eliminated from the ride. There will however be other scenic woodland paths.

The highest mountain to be scaled will be our old favourite, Green Dene, although there will be other hills through the rest of the day. Some very minor roads too with a get-off-and-walk section to get us up onto Blackheath.

At The Three Horseshoes we will wheel our bikes down a narrow alley at the side of the pub, pass some wheelie bins, and park around the back.

13 miles after lunch will bring us to The Old Clunker Café in Dorking.

Our host Pete has asked if we could pre-order our food. Please study these menus and let me know by email what you'd like to order when you confirm your intention to join us. I need to know by Monday evening.

 

Looking forward to seeing you,

Tim C

A group ride from Effingham, Queen Stage, to Godalming, 27th March 2024.

You are invited onto the A group ride from Effingham, Queen Stage, to Wetherspoons, Jack Phillips, at Godalming, and finishing in Cobham. 22.5 miles to lunch, 16.5 miles to tea. All on road - and hilly only in a few odd places.

Please respond by the usual deadline of 6pm on Monday 25th March to:

gedlawrenson150@gmail.com.

Groups and timings published on Tues. morning.

Thanks

Magical History Tour; SWLCTC London Ride, 20 March

Ride day dawned in Wallington with a cool drizzle, but in the event the weather not only improved but served us splendidly, even if it meant those of us who had left home early were a little over-dressed.  

The congregation for elevenses at Pembroke Lodge was impressive and heart warming; As, Bs, Norwesters, Easy Riders, forty five in all.  We had mixed the groups as much as we could so we all got a chance to meet people we don't normally ride with, and under the guidance of six fully certificated leaders we left at ten minute intervals on this year's Magical History Tour ("Step right this way").

Elevenses

Last year it was Brunel and the Pilgrim Fathers, Judge Jeffreys, and Edward III.  This year it was mathematicians, Cavaliers, brutalist Hungarians, famous athletes, greedy developers, the Great Stink, the Dambusters, the Suffragettes, and West London football clubs of either code.  

Rumour spread around school that Hammersmith Bridge was opened especially for our ride.

Tim's class reached Holland Park

Clive's class is photobombed by Paul's outside the house that was firebombed.

So all the good girls and boys who paid attention know that Bertrand Russell discovered Euclid at the age of eleven and equated it in later life to falling in love.  They know that the Earl of Holland lost his head to the Roundheads and thereby reluctantly passed on his 500 acre estate that stretched from Holland Park to the Fulham Road.  They know that in retaliation for Emo Goldfinger building an ugly house near his own, Ian Fleming used the architect's name for one of his most memorable villains.  They thereby learnt never to upset a poet, a songwriter or an author.  They learnt that there was once a cinder track and a velodrome at Paddington Rec and they learnt that there is injustice in the world, for although Bradley Wiggins and Roger Bannister are celebrated there with plaques, there is no such recognition for Ged Lawrenson, who played football on that very site.

Tim's class search Paddington Rec in vain for a plaque with Ged's name on it.

Teachers and pupils alike experienced a feeling of satisfaction eating in a pub which had been rebuilt brick for brick by those who destroyed it for illicit profit and, especially considering their nonchalance when informed that forty cyclists would be descending upon them, the staff served up decent food at decent prices and, for all but a handful, pretty promptly.

The early arrivals at The Carlton enjoy a break from lessons; John's class, generally photo-shy, can be seen on the right earnestly discussing what they have learnt

Ged's class

Sue's class at lunch

The head girl, with friend 

Clive's class, the last to leave lunch (not quite the first to arrive)

We visited the blue plaque marking the dwelling place of a man credited with saving tens of thousands of lives (Joseph Bazalgette) and, round the corner, a man of great courage who in the service of his country destroyed the lives of tens of thousands (Guy Gibson) and in between we missed Crocker's Folly, now a Lebanese restaurant but built as a grand hotel by Frank Crocker in the erroneous belief that he had a cast-iron tip-off about where the site of the terminus of the Great Central Railway was to be built.  Those of us in the last two groups had Helen to point out our omission and tell that tale.

Tim shows off his London residence to his class 

Paul's class at the grave of a Tory MP

We toured South Kensington, where we don't often ride, and visited the grave of a woman who started off as a radical, who became a terrorist and who wound up as a Conservative Member of Parliament (Emmeline Pankhurst).  We crossed the Stamford Bridge and which of us knew beforehand that that famous champion of feminism and sobriety, Oliver Reed, played rugby for Rosslyn Park?

The Remnants of John's class at the end of the school day

By the time most of us had rolled up at l'assaggino in time for tea or coffee and elegant pastries we were brim full of information and ready for any exam.

Thanks to everyone who helped, especially the leaders John A, Sue F, Ged, Tim G and Clive, and the back markers and direction-prompters.  And thanks to everyone who turned up and enjoyed the ride.  Feedback at parents' evening was very encouraging.  School may be running a similar event next year.

2024 London Ride 20 March. Order of play

 2024 London Ride

Departing from the coffee shop outside Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park

Team Wandle departs 10.40

leader John Austin

Peter Betts

Simon Lambourn

Neil Warland

Steph Wyatt

Lillian Chelli

Team Fleet departs 10.50

leader Sue Foster

Ray Youlden

Gill Finlay

Patrick Watmough

Geoff Gregory

Dave Vine

Team Ravensbourne departs 11.00

leader Ged Lawrenson

Steve Duffin

Mike Reynell

Chris Hyde

Paula Buckton

Bernard & Sabina

Team Lea departs 11.10

leader Tim Gibbons

Tony Hopkins

Dave Ferrett

Liz Bernard

Brian Greenwood

Christina Berkley

Bernard Power

Gill Holder

Team Tyburn departs 11,20

leader Clive Janes

Tony Hooker

Richard Bailey

Keith Rook

Daniel Arthur

Helen Tovey

Tim Court

Team Falconbrook departs 11.30

leader Paul James

David Ward

Jane Fox

Dave Bartholomew

Ian Williamson

Stephen Hickey

John Connaughton

Any problems?  Organise a one-for one swap telling the respective team leaders

How could AI affect us?

There's been a lot of talk about AI recently and I decided to investigate.   I recently was speaking to a younger family member who says she uses AI "all the time" at work.  Things have clearly changed.  Might it assist us in the Sou'Westers?

So I decided to find out.   I'd heard of ChatGPT but never used it.   I discovered there's also a Google AI called Google Gemini.   So I had a go with that.   Both are free to use.

In about an hour, I set the Google AI about ten questions - very easy to use.  The answers were fascinating, and the text-based answers were quite plausible.   Others, not so much, at least with this particular AI.  A couple of the questions were based on our own Sou'Westers blogs, and it seems that Google is shy of using personal information from the blogs, which is a good thing.

The answers are roughly a page each, so I won't post them here, but if you click on the question, it should take you to the answer.

Write a poem about cycle touring

Write a blog about when Mark Cavendish rode with the Midweek Wayfarers in the Surrey hills.

Write a blog about the pros and cons of electric bikes

Design a bike ride in the Surrey Hills

Design a cycling tour of the Surrey Hills

Draw a bicycle

(This one was interesting.  Google Gemini can't do drawings, but it did produce some html code which in a browser draws a bicycle - or does it?).

Write a story about the people in the Midweek Wayfarers

Make a painting of three women on a bicycle tour

Write a summary of SouWesters-on-tour.blogspot.com

Write a poem about <url for the blog post about the Sou’Westers annual lunch>

Write a short article about cycling safely in groups

Write an advert for the Cheam & Morden cycling group

Is there any other AI experience out there among the Sou'Westers?   Do you have other ideas of things we could ask it?

B Ride Report : Addlestone to Stoke D'Abernon 13th March

 A much needed mild and dry day meant a bumper 27 riders signed up to ride. As Addlestone DC was closed, our 3 groups gathered respectively in the Tesco café, Costa coffee and the Golden café.

First group of 9 riders set off (Francis, Dave F, Steff, Linda, Carolyn, Martin, Stephen, Ian W and John A) with Stephen back-marking. A meandering route south to Row Town, a busy Old Woking Road before we entered a more relaxing Send and Ripley, arriving at The Barley Mow, in West Horlsey in good time. Somehow much to the amusement of the group, I managed 90% of the time to arrive at temporary traffic lights when they had just turned red! But that did allow us to regroup before setting off together.

The Thai lunches were delicious and plentiful. Service was good. A most welcome surprise came as Brian Greenwood, one of the A riders, due to a morning commitment, joined us for lunch and the short ride to tea at Stoke D’Abernon.

Post lunch, a short 10 miles through Effingham, a dry Great Bookham Common and Downside to Café Barbera for tea. En-route, Ian W showed us where the Old Water Mill at Downside farm used to be and some interesting stories about it.

A lot of the other group riders joined us at tea to round off a splendid day’s ride.

My thanks to Mick and Dave C for sub-leading their groups so well and all the back-markers.

Francis D

Mick A follows on with……

Pam, Liz, Gill F, Julie, Paul, Ken and Tim G. set off with Mick after a Costa coffee, reassuring all there were no hills. We then immediately turned onto Ongar Hill!

When we reached West Byfleet, there were lots of pot holes that should be identified as hills for anyone unfortunate to go down them. We soldiered on in the knowledge that the pub landlord wanted us to arrive in three groups 20 mins apart.

Francis’ group arrived at 12:20, our group 22 mins later. Mick (like King Canute) tried to refuse entry to Dave’s group who arrive within 15 mins to no avail. The pub was pleasant, the food good and the service quick for all but Ken who made the mistake of ordering something simple.

After lunch, the three Nor’Westers from our group headed north and home. The remaining five of us set off towards Effingham where Ken was tempted home. After a little discussion, we agreed to risk Great Bookham Common despite the flooding risk. The puddles were manageable, an opportunity to wash tyres. The river Mole was very high and fast flowing but the wooden bridge crossing was holding. Safely across we joined the other groups at Café Barbera in Stoke D’Abernon. My thanks to Tim G for his excellent back-marking.

FixieDave finishes with…..

A 11.05am departure for our group; FixieDave sub-lead, Tim C Anne W, Terry L, Tony Hr, Lilian, Sabina, Bernard, Chris H, Grant (a maybe).

Grant however was unable to join us and Alan kindly stepped in to bring our number back up to ten. 
A good turnout for our ride today, Welcome back Chris!

The weather did look a bit glum, but that wasn't the case with our cycling group. We gathered at the Golden cafe in Addlestone, hoping some of the gold would rub off on us!  Our group flowed along the road quite smoothly. The job creation scheme (aka) road works, seemed to be plentiful, however they didn't cause us too much inconvenience.

We arrived at our lunch destination at just about 1pm, having maintained our 15 minute gap, as requested by the landlord, that being the Barley Mow in West Horsley. The food was reasonable and was served in good time.

Then onwards to tea/coffee in Stoke D'Abernon. It was decided by our group that any Gold we had gained from the cafe, wouldn't blend in with mud on Great Bookham Common ! So our alternative route took us thru Fetcham and into Cafe Barbera, 8 out of our 10 group made it to tea

Many thanks to all for taking part. Also to Francis for organizing and thanks to the ever dependable Tim C for back-marking.

Dave C

The 2024 London Ride on 20 March; invitation to all Wayfarers.

The joint A and B Group London Ride will take place on Wednesday 20 March.

We will depart from the coffee stall in front of Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park, a little later than is usually the case (because of the lunch arrangements).  Times to be finalised after the final recce on Monday but first group probably leaving at 11.15 or so.

The route will take us through Mortlake and Hammersmith (we have negotiated a rare opportunity to cycle across Hammersmith Bridge, which will be closing again soon), through Shepherds Bush and Holland park to Paddington Rec and Maida Vale where we will lunch at the Carlton, a pub bulldozed by greedy developers in 2016 only for Westminster Council to make them rebuild it brick for brick.

The afternoon is a little longer than the morning, through Paddington and past Kensington Palace, through South Ken and past Stamford Bridge, through Putney back to Richmond Park.

Tea is likely to be at L'assaggino just outside Kingston Gate which is at the south west corner of the park.

Here is the latest draft route.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45725385

Those wanting to come and see an eclectic range of London back streets, the kind of tour that can only satisfactorily be done by bicycle, please let me know by Monday night 18 March at paulandrewjames1949@yahoo.co.uk.

  

Report on the A group ride to Twyford.

 Seventeen eager riders set off from Addlestone in three groups led by Peter Suchy, Dave Ward and yours truly. A headwind meant that the pace to Twyford dampened the ambition for a fast ride but all groups still managed a good pace to lunch at the Royal Oak. A good lunch at the pub where we were joined by Geoffrey Shields, a welcome guest after a couple of years absence.

The return to Walton was a swifter affair aided by a tail breeze. A very good pace to St Leonard’s Road where the pace took a down turn whilst we navigated a mucky gravel road down to the Windsor Park gate. My group made it to the cafe in time to get cake and coffee just before the staff clean up.

My thanks to all who joined the ride and to Dave and Peter for leading their groups & to the back markers for performing their roles so well (especially Ged for his road side assistance). 

Group 2: Dave Ward

The second group (Andy, Paula, Dave E, Dave V, Ged and Steve D and me) set off punctually.    The presence of three Dave's in one group is not a good omen but, surprisingly, we made steady progress through the gloom, and despite my best efforts, the rest of the group clung to me like limpets and I couldn't throw them off!   I blame the strong headwind!    Not too long into the ride the first group hove into view ahead of us.   I think everyone in both the first and second groups was pretty evenly paced (skillful judgement by Hans there), and I couldn't see any point in passing Peter S and friends and have them drafting behind us!   That's my excuse, anyway!   Dave E must have thought they were a better bet to make it to lunch because he made his excuses and sped off to join them.   Was this the beginning of a mutiny?    I paused the ride for a drinks stop just to put temptation out of sight!    We saw no more of Peter's group until approaching the lunch stop when they arrived just in front of us, from the opposite direction, my strategy of cutting off a corner to get to the pub first having almost, but not quite, paid off!

We had made very good time to the Royal Oak, despite the wind, and had a good lunch stop.   It was just like the old (pre-Covid) times, with everyone arriving at about the same time (Hans's group wheeled up a few minutes after us) to form the traditional, long queue at the bar.    Service was friendly and highly efficient and the food good.   And we were all seated at one long table with the bikes in view.   What more could you want!

Geoffrey Shields, making a very welcome return to the A's after a long absence, joined our group for the ride back.   We were perhaps too ruthless in trying to exploit the tailwind and got a bit carried away, because, unbeknownst  to us, Geoffrey punctured between Paley Street and Fifield and it was a while before we noticed he and Ged had dropped off the back.   Anyway, communication was eventually made and all was reasonably well, Geoffrey having been unable to fix the problem but secured a lift in a van instead!    Apologies and lessons will be learned!

Imagine my surprise when, for just about the first time ever, I managed to lead a group back to the Riverhouse Barn before closing time!   Our lunches must have been dosed with steroids, I reckon!    Thanks all for your company and thanks to Hans for masterminding it all.

Group 3: Peter Suchy

Finally a completed ride as a sub leader on my third attempt! Hopefully the jinx is now broken. My group had a few personnel changes, pre departure and enroute, but once settled down, the 5 of us enjoyed an excellent ride into an area I have rarely been to with the Wayfarers. Many thanks to Hans for his excellent route together with choice of pub, and thanks to Geoff for his back marking. I will be back to give the sub leading another go soon, you have been warned!

B Group Ride Invitation for 13th March

The route is around 28 miles and relatively flat and relaxing. 

It will be 18 miles from Elevenses in Addlestone then southwards to lunch at the Barley Mow pub, West Horsley and another 10 miles to tea at Café Barbera, Stoke D’Arbernon. Only 1.7 miles is off-road, crossing Great Bookham Common in the afternoon to tea.

Note: The Addlestone Day Centre is closed on Wednesdays so feel free to find a suitable coffee place near Costa Coffee by the mini-roundabout, where our 3 groups will be departing from.

The Barley Mow pub does excellent Thai and British lunch options and does not require pre-ordering.

I will be joined by my esteemed sub-leaders Dave C and Mick A.

This is the route for information:

Ride Route

If you would like to join the ride, please email me on fdsilva82@gmail.com or text me on my WhatsApp 07769-926644 before 6pm Monday evening please. Thanks.

Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Francis

Report for 'A' Group - 6th March

Jennie Jackson wrote.

The ride from Cobham on the 6th March to celebrate the International Women's Day was very successful. All groups were led by women! We held our Annual Lunch on the same day and it was good that we were able to combine both events.

The 'A's had two groups of riders out from Cobham, an enjoyable route on familiar roads including the climb up the zigzags to the top of Box Hill on a lovely spring day. From there on to Headley and then Epsom and finally finishing in Tolworth, arriving on time to enjoy our lunch.

I would like to thank all the ladies, especially those that led and sub-led to make it such a memorable day.

Jennie

A Group ride to Twyford: 13th March

 Time to stretch the legs on a ride to Twyford (planned but cancelled a few months ago). 49 miles from Addlestone to the finish in the theatre cafe in Walton. The ride to lunch is 21 miles so, unusually it's a longer ride to the finish through Windsor Park, Tite Hill (down), Chertsey and on to afternoon tea. A largely flat ride so an opportunity to spin the legs.

Lunch is at the Royal Oak in Ruscombe https://www.theroyaloakruscombe.co.uk/menu no need to pre book but worth looking to see what’s on offer.

We will meet in Addlestone on the roundabout outside Costa Coffee as the day centre is closed. Many thanks to Dave Ward and Peter Suchy who have ‘volunteered’ to sub lead. Let’s hope for decent weather.

Please email me before 6 pm on Monday at hansformella@gmail.com to let me know you’re interested.

Awards presented for achievements in 2023

 The Winners

(click to enlarge)

Here are the winning photos and links to the albums for all the photos in each category:

6.1 Person or people (male) (Drake Cup)

photo by Ged

6.2 Person or people (female) (Colour Cup)

photo by Janice c 

6.3 Action (Albert Welvaert Memorial Trophy)

photo by Janice

6.4 Scenery/Landscape (President's Trophy)

photo by Arwyn

6.5 Building/buildings (The Tom and Mrs Fish Cup)

photo by Sue Bellamy

6.6 Humorous or funny (Snapshot Trophy)

photo by Helen

6.7 Best Group photo (Pete Mitchell Memorial trophy)

Photo by Mark

6.8 Hors catégorie         

Photos arrive in this HC category for numerous reasons, not delivered before the deadline, not showing an obvious link to cycling, not taken by the person submitting the photo, exceeding the quota of two photos per category, or not meeting other criteria for the competition. But they are good photos all the same so we are pleased to be able to exhibit them along with those in the main categories.

A big thank you to Ken Day, Paul James and Maggie James who judged the photos this year, (along with myself). 

Due to a failure with the engraving equipment the local jeweller was unable to complete the engraving of all thirteen trophies in time for presentation. When this is complete we will distribute the remaining trophies to the winners. 

The 'Over the Top' cup was awarded to Ann Bath and Steve Gordon. In their absence Simon, as the author of a very witty report on the 2023 edition of their Easter Tour, received the trophy on their behalf.

Simon with Ann and Steve's trophy

Here Simon summarises their achievement:

"Steve and Ann have been organising the C&M Easter Tour since the first edition in 2009, including finding and visiting suitable hotels in advance, managing all the bookings for up to 50 people, finding leaders for on-road and off-road rides, and usually finding some excellent pubs along the way somewhere.  In the last few years this has been extra difficult because of two years of cancellations due to Covid, and for 2024 we had to move locations at short notice as the hotel had double booked.  They have provided many years of enjoyable, sometimes challenging, yet always sociable  weekends away for a large group of Sou'Westers and Kingston Phoenix riders."

To read Simon's account of the 2023 Tour based in Bournemouth visit our 'Cheam and Morden' blog:

https://cheamandmorden.blogspot.com/2023/04/easter-tour-2023-expose-and-photo.html

Thank you to the committee for reading through all the reports to arrive at the winning entry for this prize.

Thank you to everyone who took part in all the competitions and congratulations to all prize-winners.

Frank was amused to receive a cup for turning up so often

What, no prize for being a runner-up?

Ged with a prize for his best photo

Helen with her cup for a best photo

Mark with the Pete Mitchell trophy

Janice with her three prizes

Ed and Pat, former winners of many club trophies

Thanks to Janice for most of the photos taken in the restaurant. We hope that the photos and winning scores will inspire your cycling adventures and witty articles for the Sou'Wester this year. Remember too that we have a special blog, 'SW London Tours' where you can post your reports and photos for any tour you undertake. And note the targets to aim for if you are at all serious about the keenly fought mileage competitions, and indeed, the attendance competitions.

~ Tim