A Tale of Six Bridges

Walton Bridge

On Wednesday we cycled under the two Walton Bridges. Have you ever cursed the traffic and the potholes on Walton Bridge? Prompted by the itch of curiosity about the clearance work being undertaken at the approaches to the bridge, I decided to try and find out why it is so bad. Answer: it is a temporary bridge, opened in 1999 and planned to be replaced by 2008. This is the fifth Walton Bridge.

The lifespan of the first Walton Bridge was 1750 to 1783. At the time it was considered a wonder and was even painted by Canaletto. It does look splendid. The second Walton Bridge (1788 – 1859) was painted by Turner. This bridge collapsed in 1859. The third bridge lasted from 1864 – 1985. It was damaged during the Second World War and replaced by a fourth bridge in 1953. This one lasted 46 years and was closed to traffic in 1999, because its untreated iron supports were corroding badly. It is now used only by cyclists (as we know) and pedestrians. The sixth is planned to open in June 2013. I wonder how long that will last.

Attribution of photo of Fourth Walton Bridge: Oliver White

4th and 5th as seen by Google

As for cyclists, we are told that: “There will be a 3.5m (11ft 6 in) wide shared footway/cycleway on the upstream side of the viaduct. On the downstream side pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists will have exclusive use of the existing viaduct, which will be retained and linked to the footway on the new bridge. A pedestrian/cyclist ramp and a horse ramp will link from the existing viaduct, and pass under the new bridge, before joining the riverside path.”

See link to Scheme Layout.

Let's see what happens.

Jeff

Railway Ramblings

Last week I wrote about my great discovery of trains from Redhill to Tonbridge. A few days of good weather have given me the chance to explore the whole line, and here's what I've found.

The entire line goes from Reading, where it joins the East-West main line, to Ashford International, where it joins the Eurostar line from London to the Continent. It is served by three train companies; First Great Western from Reading to Redhill; Southern from Redhill to Tonbridge and South Eastern from Tonbridge to Ashford. The trains connect, sort-of, so it is possible to string together a journey along the entire line if you should want to, but the connections aren't guaranteed so if your train is late, hard luck. You'd be most likely to encounter this problem at Tonbridge (I have), but the impact is pretty small as the trains are fairly frequent, and the station cafe has OK cakes.

The Southern and South Eastern trains are the same type - they have a space for bikes every four carriages. Southern marks the bike carriage with a bike sign and red stripes on the doors; South Eastern has disabled stickers on the carriages with the bike space. The bike space is designed for two bikes; I think you could get three or four in without causing any fuss.

The First Great Western trains are of at least two types; one is the Gatwick-Heathrow Railair link, which has bike spaces but which was very busy when I rode it, with lots of tired-looking travellers with lots of luggage. The bike space was full of bags, so I just leaned my bike on them. The other sort is a standard commuter train with no bike space at all - I asked the smiling lady guard where I should put my bike and she said it didn't matter as they weren't busy. Your experience may be different, but mine is that smiling guards are not a universal feature of train travel, so there are obvious risks.

Trains run about every half hour, and the cost of return from Redhill to either end of the line is about £15, depending on when and how you booked it. Internet is cheapest - pick up your tickets at the machines at the station - buying your ticket on the day is very much dearer. A Senior Railcard gets you about £3 off the fares I paid.

So, what about the riding? Well, I've ridden around central Kent - engagingly hilly, with good memories from Audax rides; I've been to Canterbury and have seen the Cathedral, and I've ridden in the Chilterns and had my lunch on Christmas Common. Not bad for December. A day trip to Oxford is an easy hit from Reading, as are the Lambourne Downs. Of course, the intermediate stations give another range of possibilities.

Worth bearing in mind when you're looking for some new territory that's not too hard to reach.

Mark

Hopping to Kent

I made one of my Great Discoveries today - or, rather, I noticed for the first time something everyone else probably knew. My Discovery is that trains go from Redhill to Tonbridge - indeed, if you're prepared to change at Tonbridge you can go as far as Ramsgate or Dover. The train takes about half an hour and there are two per hour - more at busy times.

So it's pretty easy to start your day's ride at the very edge of the country we normally cover, giving scope for new and interesting rides. Before people start thinking of enhanced vistas, it's not an A Group panacea, as the trains formally take two bikes. You could probably fit in a couple more with care and a willing guard, but that's about it with the off-peak trains. But it's a good option for a few chums looking to explore.

I rode towards Maidstone, picked up the Pilgrims' Way which I left at Lenham for lunch at the Dog and Bear. Nice pub with a fine CTC Winged Wheel, despite which it's not in the 1899 Guide. Johnny-come-lately, evidently. Loop round via Headcorn and home by 1630 - still just light.

Mark

Maps for Summer rides

For anyone who is curious I have now added some historic maps for B Group and Easy Rider routes which were ridden in July, August and September.

For Easy Riders they are:

• 6th July           Cobham - Basingstoke Canal - Walton (Phil M)
• 27th July         Leatherhead - Brockham - Leatherhead (John C)
• 10th August    Walton - Teddington Lock - Hampton Court (Lynda)
• 31st August     Molesey - Osterley Park - GU Canal - Richmond (Phil M)

For B Group:

• 3rd August       Cobham - Woking - Shepperton Lock (Pam)
• 24th August     Shepperton - Isleworth - Richmond Park (Gill)
• 7th September  Cobham - Chobham - Walton (John G)

Also, for 5th October, Cobham - White Down - Leith Hill (Peter T), I have inserted a second map, produced on the GPS Visualizer web site, which uses colour coding to illustrate the altitude along the route. Very pretty for any route with a few decent hills!


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Click on any of the links (the date) to see what's been added.

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Caught on camera

For the record, one taken a week ago, after a couple of miles in the Basingstoke Canal
(The water tasted a bit off)

Brockham Bonfire Remains 6 Nov 11

After Jeffs mww photo of the large bonfire on Wednesday I did a warm up ride before the SWLDA AGM and you can see the church was almost in peril and my tyres were starting to melt. Daniel who was at the AGM was at the bonfire and the fireworks were most spectacular!

note this is a test transmission I am having problems bloging via Picasa this is direct from the blog. Thanks Jeff for your help.

£19 short change

At the risk of many wayfarers making false claims (as if they would) on one of their forgetful fellow cyclist's someone kindly bought a raffle ticket with a £20 note. Thelma from the Royal British Legion phoned me last night to say when she returned with £19 change the gentleman had gone! I jokingly said he probably thought keep the change anyway. I said I would try and identify the person in the meantime and suggested that she keep the change until Dec 7th when hopefully the lucky person will have remembered! I plan to be in Nottingham that day for a seasonal reunion ride with my old racing club Long Eaton Paragon now Long Eaton Velo amalgamated with Long Eaton CC, so will be unable to make any false claim! An eleven digit phone number given for the ticket does not seem to work! Hopefully this note will help to identify! Please mention to any of your fellow Wayfarers that may not have a computer.

Wednesday, 26 October

Freewheel Competition

The Gentlemen

The Winning Ladies

Also Rans

Free wheel competition

Despite the dismal forecast (which , sadly, proved accurate) about thirty cyclists arrived at the refurbished Dorking Christian Centre for 11s, after which most joined either the As or Bs to ride to Root Hill, scene of this year's fwc.

Pete B pushed me off (downhill !) first, but I hadn't got far before Mark shot by. Soon Geoff Pyke passed me and looked like a possible contender. By the time I found Mark and put a stake in the ground, most others had finished far short, so I retraced my tyremarks on the very wet road to find Robin wobbling to a halt just short of the Tanners Brook bridge, but having just beaten Geoff.

Liz just beat Pam, we then rode on to our reserved tables at The Royal Oak, Brockham for a VERY welcome lunch.

Ed had made the customary unique winners'awards, thanks Ed, the runners-up each won a tube.

After lunch the outlook didn't seem very promising so a short ride back to Leatherhead was favourite, either Annie's or JDW.

Post-event notes :

Mark and Robin both had Gatorskin tyres but Mark admitted to Cherry Blossom Treatment - a lesson for some of us ?

Liz didn't admit to CBT - did she or didn't she ?

Terry

Free Wheel Competition

Modest mileage at modest pace today; 13.09 miles at a rolling average of 7.2 mph.

But that's not the point - it was all about the Free Wheel Competition, so that's what the graph and map show. The chart has rounded it up to 1.2 miles - more accurately, the distance was 1.16 miles.

Good fun in the rain - thanks to Terry for organising the event, and to Ed for making the shields.

Mark

Wayfarers free wheel competition

Wayfarers fwc

The Wayfarers fwc (free wheel competition) is held annually about this time and this year will be held. Wed 26 October (as publicised in The Sou’Wester).

A few thoughts before the event.

In ideal conditions of no wind (but tail wind would obviously help), the smaller personal frontal area the better, less wind resistance means you travel quicker and consequently further.

So – any forward-facing hemispherical protuberances eg caused by consumption of vast quantities of alcoholic beverages could create a disturbance to the airflow around you, thus affecting your distance travelled so either get rid of them or, probably easier, try and smoothly blend them in.

Owners of a large proboscis should keep ‘eyes front’ – unless there is a side wind, in which case try to turn the head 90o (to reduce area exposed to the wind).

Any helmetless follicly challenged person could take advantage of the situation by a light application of Cherry Blossom (or similar) light tan polish.

Conversely, anyone with excessive facial follicles should seriously consider appearing clean shaven for the event (and hopefully remaining so) – if an award winner proof of identity will be required.

Polish (or, at least, clean), front forks and head tube.

Ensure the lever of qr wheels is horizontal.

On the day – head down, tyre pressures up, one eye looking for pot-holes, one eye looking for tractors, one eye analysing the road ahead and selecting the optimum route, think thin (unless it’s a tailwind), cranks horizontal – and – good luck.

See you at the bottom of the hill.

Terry

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P.S. re FWC

By the way, please remember, don't forget: No pedalling!

MWW AGM

No photos from me today I'm sure Jeff or someone will post. What I really want to say is well done to Jeff for your excellent stint as Rides sec for the last 3 years. You have really done an excellent job and I think the encouragement of new rides leaders is very much down to you also having found a number of new leaders during your tenure. I hope that others who have access to this blog will post a comment to Jeff also and may I also reiterate don't be shy if you would like to have a go at leading a ride you will be encouraged by all you lead!
Brian Greenwood is to be congratulated for taking over the reins from Jeff and no doubt all will agree he is an admirable replacement!
The proposal by Ray to award posthumously the Arthur Jessop Shield to Pete Mitchell was unanimously accepted by all and I feel very appropriate.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

The Midweek Wayfarers' Annual General Meeting held in the Village Hall Hersham

Mark Gladwyn receives the Mark Roy Shield from Lynda Barrow for the greatest mileage increase over the previous year Pete Barnard in the Chair with Terry Lowe as Secretary

Beryl and Ray Dare entertain the A Group to tea

Apologies for a very dirty lens!

Corsica - A Mountain in the Sea

Maggie and I have taken family holidays on Corsica for many years, and have done some off-road cycling there, but we have never done much on the road - in high season it's hot and busy. However, BikeAdventures' trip from Calvi to Bastia at the end of September looked appealing, so we signed up at the beginning of the year.


We went out a few days early, and trained hard on seafood and wine, meeting the group (and our tandem) when they came in on the ferry. There were twenty-two riders, and John and Tony supporting us. John drove the van and Tony rode as sweeper each day.


The days were varied and interesting - spectacular coastal scenery, rocky cols and winding descents. Although the highest point of the island, Monte Cintu, at about 9000 feet, isn't huge in Alpine terms, much of the climbing starts at sea level, so you get quite a lot of altitude gain. We did about 25,500 feet of climbing in the week, in 300 miles, so the scale is fairly Alpine even if the climate is less challenging.


BikeAdventures' route was pretty good, but there were a couple of major issues with lengthy and disruptive road-works on two of the cols, which were grimy and tedious. We met John Beer and Ken Day on the Porto Road - they were following the ACP Raid Corse route - and I think that may be a better bet. Logistics and support were, as ever, very good.


The terrain suited the tandem and we were able to maintain a steady pace; with such a large group we had no regular riding companions but we did meet people at lunch most days and enjoyed a convivial dinner each evening. A jolly end to summer.


Mark

Today's B Ride Breakaway

At 9.00 there were very few at North Cheam. And no-one was confident of the way to Fairoaks Airfield. Ian had a map but no glasses, I had glasses but no map. So the four of us, Francoise, Frank, Ian and my good self had an alternative ride - partly because Frank wanted to reconnoitre his next lead. We went to Dorking by a route which Frank knew, mostly on side roads. I was lost most of the time but we passed by Epsom race course then Box Hill village, down to the A24 and coffee in Dorking Halls. We got to 225m which was 185m of ascent from North Cheam. Leisurely coffee and then on to Capel. We had a gourmet lunch at the Crown sitting on comfy sofas. The day gradually improved, sunny intervals from lunch-time, sunny after tea which was at Denbies. Ian's bike was a wreck, he had to change chain-wheels by dint of stopping and doing it by hand! At Denbies we parted, Ian to go to B&Q (for preposterous reasons to complicated to record here), F & F to cycle home and me to catch the train.
Bernard

14 September - Mystery Ride

Mark's Mystery Ride

Southwark Bridge Road

Happy Birthday, Dad

Olympic Park - It'll be alright on the night

Canary Wharf to the Windmill Café on Wimbledon Common

Olympic Rings - the Mystery Ride

A fine September morning for this year's annual Mystery Ride, and more than a couple of dozen Wayfarers gathered at Cheam ready for the off.  (It's unlucky to count a large group, as it can lead to worry later ...).  Spot on time we set off North East up London Road, which we soon left seeking something quieter.  Turning left from Church Path into Church Lane we were pleased to see a beaming Paul Kelly leaning on his garden gate.  Some insider information on the nature of the Mystery had given him an extra half an hour in bed, but he was ready to go now.


On North Eastwards and we were soon at the Wandle Trail, leaving it at Colliers Wood for the CS7 Superhighway.  Once again, this worked well for us, and at eleven o'clock on the dot we were at the Island Cafe in Southwark for our elevenses.  Brian kindly provided the teas and coffees - Happy Birthday, Brian - and was rash enough to show us his custom birthday card.  Mike joined us here, having taken a mysterious route to find us.  The Island Cafe is on a continental little square, but offers bacon sandwiches rather than croissant jambon.


Over Southwark bridge, and into the City, passing the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and going right through the courtyard of the Gherkin.  Out through Aldgate and on to CS2, our second Superhighway of the day.  Once again, this worked well for us - the only drawback of these routes with a large group is that the party is regularly split by traffic lights.  There's not much to be done about this, so we simply re-grouped each time it happened.


Out past Bow, up Pudding Mill Lane, and there was the Olympic Park.  I know it's finished, and it's definitely a great achievement but, well, there still seems to be rather a lot to do ...  Anyway, I'm sure it'll be fine on the night, and it's certainly a popular tourist attraction.  We were part of a large crowd of spectators.


North West now, up the Greenway to the Hertfordshire Union Canal, where there was a natty bike handling test at the entrance - steeply down, acute right on gravel, with the penalty for failure being a dip in the canal.  Everyone passed.  Then the Lee Navigation, through Poplar and, suddenly, there was the Thames.  We left the riverbank at Westferry for Canary Wharf, riding through Cabot Square, heading for the Ledger House, the only Wetherspoons where Bankers blow their bonuses.  As ever, we were fed and watered quickly and reasonably, heading back to the Thames to unravel the next part of the mystery.


More bike handling tests as we wound our way along the riverbank, passing old warehouses now plush apartments, past Tobacco Quay and St Katherine's dock and then another surprise - Tower Bridge.  Over we went - the first busy bit of road for a while.  Right on to Tooley Street, under London Bridge, past Borough Market, Southwark Bridge, the South Bank for the London Eye and Westminster Bridge for the Houses of Parliament - you get the full tourist tour with the Wayfarers.


Then over Lambeth Bridge and CS8 to Wandsworth, which, as we had also ridden on a bit of CS3 on the way to Tower Bridge means that we had ridden all of the current Superhighways in today's ride.  A record, of sorts.  Much more traffic going this way, but we managed fine, picking up the Wandle Trail at Wandsworth, before the only hill of the day up to Wimbledon Common.


Tea and cakes at the Windmill Cafe in the sun - some knew it, some had heard of it and some hadn't.  But just what we needed after 37 miles of London.


My thanks to Jeff and Paul for their efforts as Back Markers, and to Frank for his work marking the pivot points of the route.  My compliments too, to the Wayfarers, for a safe and careful ride through the Capital.


Mark

Golden Beeches Weekend 22-23 Oct 2011

See DA Blog for details.

VCC Jumble

Don't forget the VCC cycle jumble at Ripley Village Hall on Saturday September 17th 10.00am onwards