SWLDA Photographic Competition

 

 

See reminder in Jan/Feb 2013 Sou'Wester. Entries in various categories to Colin Quemby by Thursday 31st January 2013. Photos to be taken by the entrant for the previous 12 months ending 30 Sept 2012.

Bikes for Snowy Roads

Maggie and I are in Zermatt at the moment, enjoying a family Winter holiday. It's a car-free town, which is nice, and quite a few people use bikes to get about, despite the snow and ice.

The pictures show a couple parked at the ski-lift this morning. The Cannondale is pretty typical of what people use - it's an old mountain bike with mudguards and snow tyres. The white bike has an electric motor in the front hub, which makes going up the numerous hills rather easier. There are quite a lot of these around, too. The black plastic tubes at the rear wheel of each bike are to hold your skis - you just stick them in.

The road outside our chalet is pretty steep - steep enough to ski down - but every morning you see plenty of bikes whizzing down to town or to the lifts. Easier than walking, really.

Happy New Year and an enjoyable 2013 season to all.

Mark

B Riders' Christmas Lunch

A Group Xmas Lunch

 

 

 

As has been said already "Thanks to Pam" for an excellent time! Here are a few photos of the merry makers. A great time was had by all! Thanks to all our Rides Leaders in 2012 please carry on with the good work in 2013 in all the sections!

Easy Riders - 12th December

 

 

  

The map shows Stephanie's route from Kingston to Isleworth but differs from the official return journey after lunch.

Wayfarers at Table

Many thanks to Pam for organising an excellent lunch - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

New Shoes?

240 titanium studs ....

Mark

A Group 5th December

Short days, this time of the year, so a short ride seemed the best thing to ensure that everyone could get home in the light.  The problem is, how do you satisfy the hard men of the 'A' Group with a short ride? Put in a few hills, and ride up 'em fast, was my solution, and this did the trick nicely. The weather gods helped, too, with a good sprinkling of snow before we set off, just to make sure it wasn't too easy.

The snow also complicated things a little as the 'B' Group had, on this account, lost its leader. So we agreed that we would go on generally the same route, and meet at the same pub for lunch.

Off to the West from Cobham; nine of us heading along Plough Lane at a steady pace, taking the usual route though Martyrs Green to Hungry Hill and East Clandon. Some snow on the verges and in the fields as we rode up Staple Lane, and a bit of packed snow on the road surface towards the top. No real difficulty for anyone, and the sun was starting to come out. Just the thing for a December ride.

Re-grouping at the top, we found that Simon had chain problems - a link was coming apart. He kindly said that the rest of us should go ahead while he fixed it.

Down Green Dene, the road surface wet on this side, but no snow to speak of. We were quickly at the bottom of Crocknorth Lane, proceeding at a more measured pace to the top. A brisk roll over Ranmore Common, St Barnabas looking handsome in the winter sun, then down again to West Humble before heading along the Old London Road to Mickelham.

The William IV is a good pub here, and easy enough to find if you know where it is. The landlady had left the garden gate open for us, so that we could park our bikes safely. This gave us a few minutes healthy exercise carrying them up to the garden, as the pub is on a steep slope. All safely gathered in, and on to lunch.

The food is good here, as is the beer, but they were busy so service was rather slow. However, Simon turned up with his bike not fixed but rideable, and several members of the 'B' group arrived a little later. The pub is small, but we all managed to squeeze in. Jeff arrived while we were eating, a fasting day for him so speed of service wasn't an issue.

More fun getting the bikes back down the steps after lunch, then up Little Switzerland in the sunshine and past the former Headley Forge to Epsom. Tea at Wetherspoons by 1530; some deciding to head straight home.

27.38 miles elevenses to tea, rolling average 12.6 mph, 1,904 feet of ascent  and 1,227 calories.

A fine December day.

Mark

Gatorskin or Gruyère?

Woodrot?

Just bought some new tyres and they both had holes like this. 'Phoned the shop to request replacements. Their stock of 700 x 23C was similarly affected. What do you suppose was the explanation?

Jeff

Don't lose your shirt

Fashion Parade at Elleray Hall

 

At Teddington on Wednesday, everyone was there when the new 'Sou'Westers' shirts were on display, with Cliff's market stall doing good business. Here he is with some of his string of fillies, modelling the latest must-have fashion accessory. Apologies that the camera setting failed to do the ladies justice!

24 October - Freewheel Competition at Root Hill

 Freewheelers Caught in Full Flight by Vic

Presentation and celebration at the Royal Oak Brockham

Pam goes further than the other ladies

Admire the styles

Some of the others, with apologies to winning gentleman Grant, who was too quick off the mark.

Ed's trophies

Ed's Trophies for the freewheel competition

Pam's photos from the Tour de Sarthe

Pam's photos from the Humphrey Tours expedition to France, including many cheeky portraits.

Easy Riders - 19th September

Lynda's ride from Ashtead to The Harrow in Chessington for lunch and then to Ewell Court Library for Tea

Tea time at Ewell Court Library

Easy Riders, 22nd August

Roger's ride from Shepperton Greeno to Thorpe for lunch, thence to Hampton Court (?) for Tea

Photos and GPS data by Ron W.

B Group - 25th July

Although Liz's route was only 17.9 miles we were amply compensated for this by lots of big hills, which on this day of the heat wave proved to be quite enough of a challenge for many of us.

from Dorking to the Skimmington Castle

from the Skimmington Castle to Fanny's Farm for Tea

Photos showing the happy team, fresh from their conquest of the Col de Zig-Zag

(I will add a few more when time permits)

Easy Riders - 11th July

David S. led the Easy Riders from Hersham DC to The Kingfisher by Chertsey Bridge for lunch, then on to the Five At The Bridge café for Tea

Click on the images, once or twice, to see them at maximum magnification.

Photos taken at afternoon tea

GPS data collected by Ron