A Very Happy New Year and Safe Cycling in 2017

 

A Group 28th December

Just five of us in the A group today. Mark, Geoff G, Dave V and myself following the route all the way and Mike Morley part time including lunch. We headed across the well surfaced track from Bockett's Farm to Norbury sawmill where we rejoined the tarmac path (often unseen under the leaves) down to Crabtree Lane and Westhumble. Then up Box Hill for an ethereally misty view across Surrey before the swoop down Pebble Hill to Betchworth.

Soon we caught up with Mike and the five of us headed south to Norwood Hill before turning left for a long gentle descent to lunch at the Three Horseshoes in Irons Bottom. After lunch it was through Redhill to Rocky Lane, up to Chipstead and then down How Lane to climb through Woodmansterne to Banstead. Still four of us for tea.

Wayfarers subscriptions - and Annual Lunch

Is it too early to wish you a happy New Year?  

Just a quick reminder that Wayfarers subscriptions are due in January.   We still have the reduced rate of £1 for membership, which helps towards the costs of the Sou'wester newsletter.  And you are cordially invited to the SW London CTC Annual Lunch and Prizegiving, which this year will be held in Prezzo, Cheam (just like last year) on Wednesday 1 March.   A deposit of just £2 will secure you a place.

I look forward to seeing you in 2017 and collecting £1, plus £2 lunch deposit if you plan to attend.   If you can bring exact change that will be very helpful.   Happy cycling in 2017!

Mileages - 2016 - Countdown to 31 December, 11.59.59pm

How far did you go in 2016? 

You still have a short time in which to tuck in a few extra miles before the witching hour of midnight on New Year's Eve. Time then to zero the Cateye or Garmin for 2017. Please then let me have your mileage for our annual mileage chart, whether it be breathtaking or simply sensible, like mine. Over time it makes an interesting and enlightening record. For the lady and gentleman who come out on top, there will even be a gong. So do not be shy and hide your mileage under a bushel. Write it down and let me have it!
Jeff

Easy Riders - 28th December

We were 6 starting from North Cheam, and made our way to Longmead Centre for coffee.

Three others turned up and Ron & Doreen.

After a leisurely elevenses I led through Ewell village and the back way to Epsom; West Street and back of Sainsburys.  We continued round the back of Epsom Hospital, passed The Olive Tree and into Ashtead Park. Over the high street towards Lower Ashtead, and to The Woodman for lunch. We sat at a large table for seven. Brian did a longer ride before his lunch.

We came back over Ashtead Common towards The Cricketers, and made our separate ways home. The sun came out and made for a pleasant day.

Lynda

B Group - 28th December

They were all still inside!

After a frosty ride down to Bocketts Farm for most of us the fog dissipated and the bleak Turneresque sky drew aside to unveil the sun in all its Winter splendour. Helene eventually prised herself and nine others out of the Tearooms to set off at 11:15 down Hawks Hill towards Leatherhead before looping back to Great Bookham and Effingham. After a brief stretch on the A246 we headed up Green Dene, one of our favourites, even in mid-Winter.

We descended Staple Lane, enjoying the panoramic views of the landscape as we went. From East Clandon we proceeded through Ockham towards Cobham where we turned sharp left up Leigh Hill Road, through Fairmile into Sandy Lane. Fairoak Lane brought us to Malden Rushett for a straight run into Epsom.

After riding 26 miles, which is way more than B Group usually manage before lunch, it was nearly 2 p.m. when we rolled up at the Wetherspoons pub in Epsom to find it doing a roaring trade. Unsurprisingly it took a little longer than usual to deliver our food but it was good stuff and with no afternoon ride scheduled we could take our time over lunch and conversation. Most of us must have made it home before dark.

It was an excellent day out and a good thing that Helene completely ignored my advice about the ride she had planned having too many miles in it.

~ Tim

A Group 28th December

Brian led a select sub-set of the A Group on a fine ride to see the old year out in style. 29.9 miles from elevenses at Bocketts Farm to tea at Pistachio's, Banstead, with a convivial lunch at the Three Horseshoes, Iron's Bottom.  Some road, some off-road and some hills.  Just right.

A Happy New Year to all Wayfarers,

Mark

B Group ride from Bocketts Farm

Helene has advised that we will be riding from Bocketts Farm to Epsom for lunch at Wetherspoons. At around 24.5 miles this is a long one so please be ready to depart at 11:00.

As the morning ride will be longer than usual and as it will probably be dark by 4 p.m. there will be no afternoon ride.

~ Tim

Invitation to enter the Photographic Competitions

Further to the great success of the photo competitions since we went digital we invite you to take part again this year. Please submit your photos before the end of January.

Remember that there is now a category for the Best Group Photo to cater for the many photographers who have taken good photos of a mixed group of cyclists.

Please use this method for sending the photos to us:

• Visit this website: https://dbinbox.com/swlda_competition
• Enter the access code: "WingedWheel"
• Using your File Manager locate the photo(s) on your computer and drag them onto the big turquoise rectangle.
• You may find it easier to click on the "+Choose Files" button and select, then 'open', each photo using your file manager.
• Repeat this for each of the photos you intend to submit.

N.B. When using this website to transfer photos it is not necessary to sign up to dbinbox or Dropbox even if you are invited to do so.

Send an email to me, Tim, confirming the name and CTC membership number of the photographer, and for each photo list:

• the filename (e.g. P1040276.jpg)
• the competition category for which the photo is being entered
• a short, descriptive caption

The rules and categories are simple:

Note that the full revised 'Competition Rules' document is available under the 'Information Hub' heading on our website.

Competition Period: Photos taken during the 2016 calendar year.

Your photos must all illustrate a connection to cycling by depicting a bicycle for example, or other cycling association.

You may submit a photo or photos for every category.

    6.1. Person or people (male)
    6.2. Person or people (female)
    6.3. Action
    6.4. Scenery/landscape
    6.5. Building/buildings
    6.6. Humorous or funny
    6.7. Best group photo

Note that the award for a winning photograph in each category will be given to the photographer who took the picture, not to the model(s).

If the method for submitting photos described above does not work for you, or if you don't use a digital camera, please let me know so that we can address the problem.

~ Tim

A ride 28 Dec

Not too far but should work off a few calories. Some hard surfaced but not tarmac "road" near the start. Lunch at Irons Botton then back to Banstead where we may have tea if there is a quorum.  15-19 miles to lunch depending on how the time is going.

Christmas wishes

To all Wayfarers a very Happy Christmas and New Year, safe riding to all, hoping to see some of you on the first ride after Christmas.

Geoff Gregory

Merry Christmas from Brian Bent

Original artwork:

The Anchor, as seen by Brian, in a Ripley High Street which has been reclaimed by Cyclists (click on the picture to enlarge)

as seen by Google

It could happen to anyone

Apparently one of the Easy Riders dropped off the back of the peloton recently and thinking that the group was intending to take Afternoon Tea at the Ewell Court Library he followed the map in his A-Z to find his way down there ...

(click to enlarge)

A Group ride to Xmas lunch at the Angel

It was nice to see Colin and Ken back with the As after their recent health issues:both coped admirably with the gentle ride from Walton, via Horsham, West End, Stoke D'Abernon and Oxshott to the Angel.  Despite a (minor) mishap when Dave tried to fit his front wheel into a drain cover on the A 307 at Stony Hill - luckily no serious harm despite giving over the bars, we all arrived in good time for pre-lunch pint.

The Angel proved to be an excellent festive venue for our Xmas lunch, with good food serve promptly to order. Thank you Pam, once again, for your sterling organisation.

Christmas greetings to all Wayfarers, and best wishes for a cycling 2017.

A Group Xmas Lunch the Angel

Well the proof of the pudding is in the eating and an excellent lunch in good company well orgainised by Pam as the pictures show.

And more photo's

B Group - 21st December

Eighteen B Group stalwarts got up early and braved the light drizzle to come to Walton for Elevenses. Three of these had other appointments so rode just a part of the morning route before peeling off. We set out and turned onto the river path by The Swan. Anticipating a rather mucky section of the towpath we turned up onto the paved road at the Walton Rowing Club and carried on to the car park by The Weir where we rejoined the route along the river. Despite the earlier drizzle the path was in pretty good shape and nobody suffered from too much mud between wheels and mudguards.

We crossed Hampton Court Bridge to join the riverside path to Kingston, said goodbye to Pam and crossed the bridge to meander through Canbury Gardens and up into Richmond Park. Some had taken an alternative route to get to the Ham Gate where one or two others decided to turn left by the pond inside the gate and ride along the trail towards Petersham. The offical ride took the rest of us across the park to the Pen ponds Café, left past the Ballet School to Sawyers Hill and out at the Richmond Gate. In Richmond we turned off Friars Style Road into Mt Ararat Road then left at the bottom towards the bridge. Over the bridge we turned onto the Warren Footpath and followed the river all the way to the Barmy Arms in Twickenham. Some people reflected that the route was more barmy than the pub but the efficient and helpful staff delivered our wholesome assortment of victuals with great cheerfulness and, with no proper afternoon ride planned, we lingered until after half past two before heading off into the sunset. I'll call it that because we emerged into a feeble but warmish glow from the actual sun. By sundown the thing itself was nowhere to be seen.

We have had a great lot of good rides so far this Winter, thanks to many sunny days and an absence of the really severe weather we might have expected in November and December. Thanks to everyone for coming out for a ride today and to David Cox for riding as back marker.

Have a Happy Christmas and keep safe on the roads

~ Tim

As seen on the recce:

A Group Ride 21st December - Walton to Christmas lunch at the Angel

We'll have time for a leisurely coffee at Elevenses, before a later than normal depart and a modest 14 miles to the Angel, Thames Ditton. No hills, (sorry Simon!), only a short section off-road on New Road, (across Princes Coverts, Oxshott), so you shouldn't need your Father Christmas boots this year.

B Group - Menu choices for Wednesday please

On Wednesday B Group will be having an easy 16 mile ride from Walton-on-Thames to Twickenham for lunch at the Barmy Arms. After lunch, with the prospect of the sun going down at around 15:54 there will be no official afternoon ride but I will be riding back through Kingston, probably via Teddington Lock. Note that between Walton and the Weir PH the path may be a bit mucky so we might deviate from the towpath onto paved paths and roads if it seems sensible on the day. The Forecast is for 'cloudy'.

The Barmy Arms would like to know what we are likely to order from this menu so please take a look at it and notify me about your choices:

Barmy Arms Menu 

The most affordable options are listed under 'Small Plates' which includes Soup of the Day, 'Sandwiches', and 'Baked Potatoes'. If you can't male up your minds it will help if you could just say Sandwiches or Baked Spuds or whatever and confirm the details about ingredients when you place your order on the day.

Many thanks

Tim

Message from Tim Gibbons

John Austin told me yesterday morning that Tim G had been involved in a serious accident. Tim has sent me the following to share with everyone:

" Thanks for your message, very much appreciated.

Yes, it's been quite a saga over the last few days.

I was returning home through Leatherhead on Sunday afternoon, cycling back from Denbies.

I came to the roundabout by the 'Plough' and intended to cycle straight across towards Lower Ashtead. As soon as I was on the roundabout a car hit me on my right hand side and continued to turn left. The impact threw me into the air and I landed in the middle of the road with the bike on top of me.

It took me a while to come to my senses and fortunately two guys outside the pub came to my assistance, helped me to my feet and carried me over to a nearby bench.

I was shocked and dazed but at the time unaware of the injuries sustained. The driver did stop but as soon as he saw I was conscious drove away and was not seen again.

I decided at the time to try and get to Ashtead Station and then home from there. This proved to be a big mistake. As I walked along I was aware that my right arm felt very wet and as soon as I removed my glove blood poured out of the sleeve.

This prompted me to ring a friend for help and they came over in their car and took me to Epsom A&E. The doctors confirmed that I had a laserated arm and also an open fracture on the elbow that needed surgery.

Unfortunately they were unable to treat me at Epsom and I was eventually transferred to St Hellier's at 3am on Monday morning (10hrs later).

I eventually had the operation, in the afternoon, under a general anaesthetic  where they removed fragments of broken bone, washed out the wound, stitched and bandaged me up.

I was kept in overnight and eventually discharged on Tuesday evening having been bombarded with painkillers and antibiotics.

I am now thankfully back at home feeling very stiff and sore. I feel as if I've done time in a concrete mixer ! Mobility is a particular challenge at present.

Although mechanically I am intact they have advised me to to avoid any form of strain or impact that may inhibit the healing process.

I am due to see the consultant again next week when they will assess my progress. 

I am determined to get back to normal as soon as I can. Cycling and other activities have proved a lifeline for me since I retired and I have no intention to turn my back on them.

Thanks again for your kind enquiry. Please feel free to share any details with other members of our group.

I wish you and all the other wayfarer cyclists a happy Christmas and prosperous new year and I hope to be back on two wheels as soon as possible in 2017.

Very Best Wishes,

Tim G

A Group ride to Kew

The group, plus me as a shadow on Kew Bridge

A large group set off from Claygate on our journey to Kew via Richmond Park, Putney Bridge and Hammersmith. A swift run through the park and delicate negotiation of the Thames Path between Putney and Hammersmith on a lovely day for a ‘social’ ride meant that we made good time to Kew. Lunch (and beer) at the Express Tavern was excellent. Our return to Hampton Court was via Sheen Gate and up hill to exit at Ham Gate, back down to the Thames , over Kingston Bridge and the towpath  to tea. Thanks to all who took turns to mark the corners, Steve and Simon for back marking and Brian for not sacking me after missing his text and leaving him stranded on the Portsmouth Road.