CTC Tri-ennial Vets 100 Mile Ride

Every three years since 1928, the Cyclists’ Touring Club has organised a challenge ride for members over 50. As many of the Wayfarers would just about squeak over the age limit, on 15th June we will be organising a CTC Tri-Vets ride, starting and finishing at the Cricket Pavilion in Brockham. We will offer a 100 mile ride, which will qualify for the CTC Tri-Vets Badge, and we will offer a 100 km ride, for those who want a good day out but don’t fancy the full distance. We will also be offering a 50 km ride suitable for any member who chooses it. The shorter distance rides do not qualify for the badge.  Of course, if you’re lucky enough to look under 50, as the signs say in pubs, you can still ride 100 miles but you can’t have a badge. Something for the youngsters to look forward to.

All rides will be largely on the Surrey Cycleway, which is a network of pretty lanes with little traffic. It is not flat - Surrey isn’t - but it’s certainly not a hilly route, as none of Surrey’s famous hills is included. 

To earn your badge, which you will have to order from CTC at a cost of £4, you will need to complete your 100 miles in twelve hours. For many Wayfarers eight hours riding and an hour for stops will be plenty; some may choose a slower pace, some may choose a shorter distance. Every finisher, at every distance, will get a Finisher’s Certificate. 

Based on the Cricket Pavilion at Brockham, the first riders will leave at 0800. For each distance, there will be led rides of small groups, with the normal leader/back marker/corner marker arrangements. Times for these led rides are as follows:

0800:  100 miles, 12.5 mph

0830:  100 miles, 13.0 mph

0900:  100 miles, 13.5 mph

0930:  100 kms, 12.0 mph

1000:  100 kms, 12.5 mph

1030:  100 kms,  13.0 mph

1100:  50 kms,  10.0 mph

To join the event you do not have to participate in a led ride - you can ride by yourself, or with a couple of friends, if you prefer. There will be route cards and GPS files for those who want them. Every rider will have an Audax-style ‘Brevet Card’, that is stamped as proof of passage. This will serve as evidence for CTC Badge Claims, but it is not meant to be a rigorous thing. It’s a ride with friends and clubmates - claims are made on trust. 

As an illustration of how it works, here is the 100 mile route. It’s a figure of eight, almost all on the Cycleway, that starts at Brockham, returns to the Pavilion for lunch and then finishes there for tea and cakes. The 100 km and 50 km routes will be similar, taking shorter loops away from Brockham.

The Pavilion will be open from 0730, serving teas, coffees and biscuits to riders before they set off. Sandwich lunches will be available there from 1100 to 1500, with teas starting after that until the last rider is accounted for.

The rules are that twelve hours are allowed for the 100 mile ride. The first riders will leave at 0800, and the finish control will close at about 2030, depending on who’s still out on the course. It may be that for some, the finish control is one of the pubs on Brockham Green ...

The Wayfarers will charge £5 for the CTC Tri-vets ride, which is well below CTC’s recommended charge. For this you get teas and coffees, a sandwich lunch, cake at tea- time, a certificate, the organisation of the event and the use of the hall.

The event will be advertised on the CTC Web Site. As other CTC groups are doing, we plan to cap the number of riders at 80, as we can’t really cope with much more than that. Being close to London, the event may be very popular, so if you are interested you would be well advised to get your name on the list early. Speak to Simon, or drop him an email, to secure your place. 

Mark

B Group - 10th February

Map and photo for Peter T's ride to Bookham

Thanks to Ray Wren for the photo and Peter for the gps data.

A Ride – Wednesday 10 Feb

Cold and damp for the start of today’s ride, so I was pleasantly surprised to see 18 Wayfarers, including a couple of escapees from the ranks of the B’s, willing to ride across west London to Harrow Hill. To reduce the impact of too many boring suburban streets I had planned to take in as many green spaces as I could, as well as a few interesting former villages which had retained some of their character, such as Isleworth and Brentford.

This required some intricate navigation, thanks to Garmin to reduce the mental strain of having to remember it all. Thanks also to the very willing corner markers who helped to keep the ride moving and reduce the need for regrouping.

We crossed the A40 at Perivale with its pretty wooden church and scaled Horsendon Hill before crossing Northwick Park. The sting in the tail of this generally flattish ride was the climb up the north face of Harrow Hill, rarely attempted by anyone of sound mind. Mark rated it steeper than the Bec hill climb. Most rode, some walked the last bit of uneven tarmac, but all made to to the top, where we were assured on a clear day you could see as far as Whitchurch in Hants, around 60 miles away, and the tops of office buildings in Basingstoke. More scholarly Wayfarers noted that Lord Byron had expounded poetically on the view from here, though he omitted to mention Basingstoke.

Lunch at the White Horse, rated by CAMRA, where we were made welcome with a table near the open fire. A few commented on the small portions, unsuitable given the exertions of the morning, though nobody complained about the prices.

Refreshed, we descended to Greenford and took the canal path to Southall, cutting across the railway line along Glade Lane to Norwood Green and Osterley Park. Tea was at The Pheasantry in Bushey Park, though by then some of the Twickenham/Richmond based Wayfarers had elected to go directly home.

Many thanks to Mike, a willing volunteer for back marking throughout. As leader the sight of his fluorescent orange jacket behind reassured me that all was well with the peloton. Thanks also to Mark for the stats.

A Group 10th February

An interesting and intricate route for Dave's ride today.  31.7 miles from elevenses at Elleray Hall to tea at the Pheasantry, Bushey Park, with lunch being taken at the very pleasant White Horse, on the top of Harrow Hill.

Roxborough Park, the 'sting in the tail' at 21.1%, may be the steepest hill we have ridden in the last year, just pipping the 20.7% of the Bec Hill Climb on White Lane.  Not bad for a suburban street.

Mark

B Ride – Wednesday 10 Feb

Lunch will be The Anchor at Bookham and tea somewhere in the Ashstead/Leatherhead area. Reasonably flat throughout.

Peter T

A Ride – Wednesday 10 Feb

Wednesday’s A ride from Teddington will be to scenic Harrow-on-the-Hill with lunch at the White Horse (whitehorseharrow.co.uk). The ride will be a bit of a canter across west London taking in as many green spaces as we can find. Almost all on tarmac, mostly flatish, but with a sting in the tail.

Mechanical Doping

Or bikes with hidden motors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJJ76n-ic1I

B Group February 3

With a quite cool, but dry morning, what better than a ride into the Surrey Hills to warm you up and give you an appetite? Twenty two Bs left Cobham, passing Effingham Junction and East Horsley en route to Combe Bottom and the A25. Heading towards Shere we turned right into Rectory Lane soon to be confronted with a ford. I think all chose the alternative bridge. By now numbers had dropped by seven (all pre-arranged) and we proceded south up out of Shere. Beyond the railway bridge we turned left into Hook Lane and continued eastish to Hoe (Holey?) Lane. After turning right onto the B2126 it was a short distance to lunch at The Volunteer, Sutton Abinger.

Here food was good and served quickly, we left just within the hour. Heading along ominously named but reasonably dry Water Lane we soon reached Abinger Common then via Friday Street and a few challenging hills (down and up) to the A25 at Wotton. Briefly riding along this busy main road, we turned left into Balchin's Lane and followed N22 to the outskirts of Dorking. By turning into Station Road and Ashcombe Road we avoided the town centre, then to satisfy the off-road enthusiasts turned into Calvert Road and the short track through Denbie's to join the cycle track just short of Denbie's roundabout. Some of us stopped for tea at Pilgrim Cycles.

Good to see daffodils, crocii and catkins - hope they don't regret it.

Welcome to William Ward and John Morris on their first rides with us - hope to see you again.

Thanks to corner markers and tec Tim - it all helps, and to everyone for your company.

Terry  

B Group - 3rd February (map and photos)

Terry's undulating route to The Volunteer

A Group 3rd February

A good turn-out at Cobham today, and the weather wasn't too bad, either.  A bit colder than of late, and a bit of a breeze, but dry, and sunny later.

Off to the hills - Hungry Hill first, then Staple Lane, down to Shere and round to Peaslake by Jesses Lane, a pretty way of going.  Flatter after this, and we put the pace up nicely, being pleased to cross the County Line into West Sussex - and even more pleased to be at the pub a few minutes later.

We were made welcome at the Kings Head, Rudgwick, a pub known to several Wayfarers for its pies.  I was unaware of this, but pies, beer and sandwiches were promptly served and equally promptly despatched.  We were back on the road just after two, in the sunshine, now.

Quiet and pretty dry roads up Okewood Hill, and then up Weare Street, having to run the gauntlet of the two geese by the pond, both very keen to assert their territory.  Flowers in the hedgerows giving a spring-like air to things.  All very nice, but it's not Spring yet.  Let's hope Winter doesn't return.

Past Newdigate and up the Henfold Road the peloton had the bit between its teeth, but we kept to smaller groups with good space for cars to pass, which seemed to go off nicely.  Although not busy, this was probably the busiest part of what had been a very quiet ride.

Into Denbies for tea, where the Wayfarers' Bake-Off prize went to the cherry and marzipan cake.  A little heavy, thought some; portions might have been larger, opined others.  But the clear winner of this week's competition.  Surf Cake next week, perhaps?

Not a lot left ...

37.9 miles elevenses to tea, with a seasonally appropriate rolling average of 13.2 mph. My thanks to Mike for his sterling work as back marker, and to all who acted as corner markers.  Keeps the pace up.

An enjoyable day out in good company - thank you all.

Mark

ps:  Editor please note the solid attempt to avoid photographs of cyclists outside pubs.  There is only one.  (Well, you have to have one ...)

2015 Photo competition

Please note that the competition is now closed to new entries. A big thank you to everyone who has sent in their photos.

~ Tim

A Group Ride Wednesday

A winter canter on Wednesday - nothing too demanding.  Over the hills and down the other side for lunch at The Kings Head, Rudgwick.  After lunch, more easily to tea at the ever-popular Denbies.

20 miles to lunch, but only fourteen after, so we should be fine with the light.

Prompt start, please, to be in good time for the pub.

Mark