The Man soon 2 be from WogaWoga

To the author of that dastardly trype and water closits, I say what good humour you have. I have to admit I hardly noticed the reference to FWC, never having heard of one. I've heard of FWC and MWC even Unisex, its amazing what you learn in the Blog.
Have a great "F" in ride and may the best man or woman win!

Open Letter to Mr Disgusted of Wogawoga

Dear Mr Dundee (or should that be Carrot Cake?)

I was most distressed to read of your perturbation at finding yourself unavailable for the Midweek Wayfarer's sporting Freewheel Competition on 29 October 2008. I quite appreciate your sense of grief at missing such a highlight of the cycling calendar. For the March '08 event I too was 'hors de combat' and experienced just those same pangs of grief that you are suffering - inconsolable as at that first lost love. Indeed, I read on these very pages of your undaunted enthusiasm and repeated efforts, alas in vain, to be crowned with laurel and designated the undisputed king of the effortless downhill. How you were so cruelly denied, at first by an agricultural engine of nemesis - and then by a fateful lack of length and distance, outstripped by the unconquerable Terry.

Your only recourse now, I feel, is a Letter to the Editor of the Sou'Wester.

Your sight, however, how can I put this gently, may be suffering the early,rheumy symptoms of those youthful (and maybe later), excesses. For if you pull out your eyeglass, there on the centrefold of the Sept/Oct 2008 edition of the Sou'Wester, is the proclamation on 29 October of a modestly bracketed (FWC) at Dorking, with an invitation to the Easy Riders to participate and show that the hare does not always win. This information was also transferred to the Current Runs List flaunted on the Home Page of the Group.

As for the reason for a bonus freewheel competition in 2008, I have heard it darkly murmured that the regulatory oversight of the FSA was not everything that it should have been - these bonus rides have been getting really out of hand! However, I am reliably informed that a ruthless new Rides Secretary has been brought in from the Private Sector who will tolerate no such laxity. Rules are there to be obeyed. No more bonus rides, no gravy train, no second chances! The days of austerity have come and they are here to stay!

I am sure that you will welcome a firm hand on the tiller.

I hope that these words have enlightened and reassured you. Think of us from down under on 29 October 2008 and wish us well.

Happy Birthday

Jeff

Woking on Monday Sept 22nd

Here are some pictures I took in Woking yesterday------------Albert

A Selection from Charles

C Group having fun from Charles Barraball

Note from Albert

Sorry Pete and all eager readers of the blog; I can just about manage this keyboard so for the next two or three weeks I will have to hang up my bicycle clips as i have a couple of appointments to take the cataracts out of my eyes. According to friends in the same boat, it works OK so watch this space and please keep your fingers crossed!===============Albert

Brooklands

VETERAN CYCLE RACEDAY
Sunday 28th September
A fantastic morning of veteran and other pedal power
at the Museum and on the MBWorld circuits. Including
races for PENNY-FARTHINGS, SOLID-TYRE BICYCLES,
SINCLAIR C-5s;
PLUS: see your local Postie race his mates on their
famous red-and-white machines
Displays and Action from 9am to 12 Noon
PLUS: stay on and see the Benjafields Racing Club
who will be arriving at lunchtime with a
mouth-watering collection of VINTAGE BENTLEYS

Pam's Do

The pub in Egham where my celebration is on the 27th Sept. Once known as 'The Railway' but now renamed 'al ma ma ta'. I believe this means secret garden. Full address being 40 Station Road, Egham, TW20 9LF. Information that could be helpful is that the trains from Egham go to Waterloo via Clapham Junction. From Pam

Woking on Monday Sept 22nd

Woking celebrates Cycling Town status

Residents and businesses in Woking will be encouraged to start thinking about using pedal power instead of petrol from next Monday (22 September) when a new initiative called `Cycle Woking' is formally launched at The Lightbox.
A special programme of events has been organised by Woking Borough Council and Surrey County Council following their joint success in securing £1.82 million from Cycling England to be spent on improving cycling facilities in the area.
The competition for this funding was fierce, with 74 towns and cities bidding for the £47 million available under the Cycling City, Cycling Towns programme. Woking was one of only ten towns, plus one city, to have successfully achieved the funding and the title of Cycling Town for the next three years.
To celebrate this achievement and to tell people more about the councils' plans for the future, The Lightbox will be hosting a free bicycle-themed exhibition on Monday (when the gallery is usually closed).
The formal completion of the first phase of improvement works to the Basingstoke Canal towpath will take place in the presence of a group of local cyclists who are keen to take advantage of the improved facility.
From 2.30pm onwards, members of the public will have the chance to look around the exhibition, complete with bicycles from across the ages and accompanying riders in period costume.
Displays showing what improvements the councils hope to make to the cycle network in the future will be also be available for people to view.

News from Pam

To-day I received an envelope addressed to Lady Pamela Jones!!!
Mystified - I opened it to find a get well card signed by many of my club friends. It gave me a huge lump in my throat and I really don't know how to thank you all. I am truly touched by your kindness - THANK YOU,THANK YOU - I shall be back on my bike a.s.a.p!!
My next appointment at the fracture clinic is 8th October for another X-ray, and in the meantime ?? Maybe more days like to-day when Bob, Will and Mike came to Egham and we all had a very merry lunch time in Staines Weatherspoons!
Happy cycling all, Pam :) :)

From Graham Hill

No nights off and nearly full last and next weekends means G and G have been busy. The weather has been unsettled; normally the local river, the Bowmont, is 150 yards away but by last Saturday evening it was but 25 yards from, but no risk to the hostel. And G's night was disturbed as the chopper lifted five walkers off from the top of the valley. Today things were almost back to normal so it was time for a ride through puddles past lakes that weren't there last week. The bridge at Clifton a mile down the road was still being repaired as we past on the way to Morebattle. After crossing the Teviot on a suspension bridge, we turned left to Nisbet and up the hill past the Waterloo Monument to Maxton. A back road signposted Benrig Cemetery was our St Bothwells bypass. First left after the Tweed crossing led us steeply uphill to Sir Walter Scott's favourite view of the Tweed meandering beneath the Eildon Hills. From there it was flat to Smailholm and then a gentle descent into Kelso where the hostel's takings were banked, and refreshments savoured in The Square. A ride along the riverbank beside the swollen Tweed led to the new Kelso bridge and thence backroads to the hostel on a route well signposted by the local council - about 44 miles
The Warden (Graham)
Kirk Yetholm SYHA Hostel,

Mystery Ride Sept 10th

22 Riders assembled at North Cheam for Bob Starey’s mystery ride. A common talking point was what was the £2 we were asked to bring for? No 11s was stated a very interesting route had most people mistified . The river Wandle was identified , Tooting Bec Common, Clapham Common, The Oval Cricket Ground, and finally stopping at The London Fire Brigade Museum for a visit and the £2 now became obvious. A very interesting guided tour took nearly two hours leaving quite a few tummys gentle rumbling at the lack of 11s! On to a latish lunch at Tower Bridge Wetherspoons “Pommelers Arms”. After the Mystery intensified as we lost the leader within minutes of leaving but with the help of Harry & Frank we managed to pass The London Eye, Lambeth Bridge, Battersea Power Station, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Park, Wandsworth Prison, Wandsworth Common, A Memorial to The Clapham Rail Disaster, Wmbledon Stadium, and on to tea at Abbey Mills Merton
From Pete M
One Slow Puncture to Judy was attended to by her travelling mechanic when neccessary

Lidl cycle stuff

Lidl have cycling offers Thurs 21 Aug.

Change of Leader

The ever-helpful Terry has said he will lead the Bs on Wednesday 27 August instead of me. I've said I'll do his next one in exchange.
From Bernard

Cotswell CTC Tour

At Fosseway Farm -Moreton in Marsh. The end of a delightful tour

From the Birthday Rides

Wayfarers at The Birthday Rides

Prelude to a week in Brittany

Thanks to Simon and Jen for a wonderful week in Brittany. Their Cottage is fantasstic, sleeps many all in one bed! We also learned that in France they have a wonderful way of making bread in an outdoor oven. Ian and Maureen had organised the trip and some how or other I invited myself along. THanks to all for putting up with me!!

The Cheer leaders much appreciated the antics of British cyclists and we were amazed how many Brits we met living in Brittany, including a Morocan who Pam & Marureen seemed to fancy. More on that later.

Second Hand bike wanted

If any one has an old bike to pass on contact Les or barbara Johnston

B Group duplicate

From Addlestone I led Christine, Francoise, Gill, Judy, Liz (try as I might, I couldn't lose her),Adam, Bernard, Charles, Frank, Johns G,M and S, Les, Norman and Robin to Coxes Lock where fortunately a narrow boat was in the lock so we could cross the Wey Navigation by the footbridge to the towpath which we followed to the junction with the Basingstoke Canal. We used the canal towpath to West Byfleet then took to the roads to Pyrford Lock, crossed the A3 (now moving) at Wisley, straight across the airfield to Lollesworth Lane, East Horsley to the newish track to Effingham (noting you have to pull the gate marked 'Push'). Up Beech Avenue, down White Down and we soon arrived at the Abinger Hatch for a latish lunch. The ducks were missing - but we didn't see last night's menu ! A shortened afternoon route via Coldharbour, Logmore Lane (with good views to the east) led to Westcott and the joys of the A25. We turned into Milton Court Lane and saw a heron flap off leisurely on our approach, then rejoined the A25 briefly to the outskirts of Dorking. Along the cycle track then up the zig zag, turning off at the second hairpin to have a quick look at Broadwood's Folly, then tea and cakes at the cafe at Box Hill. A very pleasant day in ideal cycling weather. I did 52.5 miles - I expect others did much more. Terry

Wednesday 16 July - A memorable lunch

The "A" group had a very interesting day led by Vic, who was remarkably quick, we went to Bray fro lunch and their we did munch on this gloriouse lunch and fell asleep for the rest of the day. Well you have to have a dream! Maybe if Bernard had been with us he could have treated us all but in the end it was Vic's idea of a ball.

Clearly you will have to zoom in to realy look at the menu (apparently Vic regularly eats there so he didn't bother to to) Just a few highlights:

Tasting menu £125.

A'La Carte £ 95.

Supplements £6 to £10each.

Wine selection £90 per glass.

All +12.5% service (how very cicil)

More photos on separate blog and a write up to follow by Vic via Pete!

Golf at Lancing

On the greens at Lancing