News of Robin Johnson

Unfortunately, whilst arranging treatment for an underlying condition, he became unwell and was admitted to Charing Cross Hospital. After a few days he had urgent surgery to deal with a very serious abdominal infection. He was then transferred to the intensive care unit and kept sedated and under life support.

The update today is that Robin remains in the intensive care unit recovering but is off the main life support as his body is coping. He is conscious but very weak. I managed to have some conversation with him earlier today. He will have another challenging 24-48 hours. If this next period is OK he is likely to be moved from intensive care to another ward when general visiting may be possible.

This was received from Robins Godson.

A Group 14th March

A glimpse of Spring for Ged's ride today.  It may not last, but it was good to see it.  41.3 miles from Addlestone to Leatherhead.  Lunch at the Good Intent and tea at Annie's gave us the chance to re-visit old friends.

It feels as if the season has opened.

Mark

A Group - 4th April, have a try at leading

On the 4th April I will be leading a group from Cobham to East Sheen then back to Walton for tea, as always we are looking to recruit ride leaders and I would like to invite those of you who are still thinking about the position to join me in a co-leader ride.
I have tried a co-leader ride before with Mike R and think it went well, only Mike can confirm this so any doubts please talk to him.

The route is a local one taking in some slight inclines. I have already gone over the route and mapped it out using Strava, I can send this to anyone interested, don't have a Garmin etc then I can lend you mine OR give you a hard copy to follow.

Should you still feel unsure I would be willing to meet you at a time and date convenient to both of us and go over the route or part of it.
If there were a couple of you wanting to grab this opportunity then we could arrange for you to swop duties after lunch.
If you are interested either speak to me at Addlestone tomorrow or contact me by mobile on 07950 474 550 OR geoff.1946@ yahoo.co.uk

Geoff Gregory

B Group ride

B group will be having lunch at the Hare and Hounds, Donkey Town. No off road, just a pleasant steady ride!!. I see we may even have sun shine..
Cheers Pam.😊👍🚴

Mark Roy has died

Lynda has received the very sad news from Mark's daughter Ayesha that after a couple of days in hospital Mark has died. He was an active and greatly respected member of the club for a very long time, more recently riding with the Easy Riders on his eBike, and he will be greatly missed.

October 2017: Lynda and Mark reminiscing about the old days

~ Tim

A Group - Addlestone 14th March.

We'll be heading for the Good Intent pub, Puttenham, for lunch - 24miles, and Leatherhead for tea.

Lunch needs to be pre-ordered, so please make your choices to me at Elevenses - from Bar Menu or Full Menu.

http://www.inapub.co.uk/uploads/dbfiles/bfe29f252d1943a7a280e0ca8fd5fd1c.pdf

http://www.inapub.co.uk/uploads/dbfiles/adbac6aa6d5844d6819325eb906e3cd1.pdf

Only off-road will be the Hogs Back Trackway into Guildford - a bit muddy on the first bit, but perfectly rideable.

Prompt start please.

New Rides Secretary - Ged Lawrenson

As first announced at the AGM, Brian Greenwood has decided to step down as Wayfarers’ Rides Secretary. He has been organising our rides programmes, venues and leaders for over 6 years. It’s a tribute to his dedication that we have never missed a ride, other than due to dire weather. In addition he has been responsible for establishing our Riders’ and Ride Leaders’ Guidelines which have helped make our cycling safer and more enjoyable. He deserves our heartfelt thanks.

Ged Lawrenson has kindly volunteered to take over from Brian after a short handover period. We wish him every success, will give him all our support, and I’m sure he will be an outstanding Rides Secretary.

Spotted this in Cycling Weekly on-line.

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cycling-club-veteran-killed-van-driver-failed-stop-give-way-line-court-told-370880

How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

Alpine Profile Road Book

Yesterday, I brought a copy of the CTC Alpine Profile Road Book along to the Wayfarers' Lunch, and quite a few people enjoyed looking at it.  For those of you who didn't get a chance to see it, here are a few pictures and a brief note.

The Road Book was published in 1910, towards the end of a series of CTC publications starting in the early 1890s and, effectively, ending with the First World War.  The British Isles were covered in detail, and revised several times, and there were Road Books for a number of European countries.

A particular attraction of this copy is the local association.  Although I did not buy it locally, the flyleaf is annotated 'EM and CL Rook, 32 Grove Road, Surbiton' and is dated 1935.  

I had particularly wanted to ask Keith if these people were relatives, but they are not, it is just coincidence.  The Rooks may have bought a second hand copy of the road book to plan their Alpine tour, but John Bassett raised the interesting possibility that they may have bought it new, as the guide was never revised. It may have been the best available at the time and still offered by the CTC.

It covers the Alpine chain from Geneva to Cortina, paying scant attention to the French passes now popularised by the Tour de France, not least because the railway infrastructure and road surfaces were much better around the Swiss and Austrian - or Austro-Hungarian - passes of the time.

There is no mention of bikes or gearing, but the book gives a number of helpful tips: to estimate the time to cover a kilometre, multiply the gradient by two - viz. it will take you twelve minutes per kilometre on a six percent gradient.  It also counsels caution when transporting your bike by train, as Romanians were apparently inclined to steal tools from tool-bags, and in a couple of places which it notes as particularly steep it advises paying a man to wait at the spot ready to push your bike up, so that you may walk unencumbered and enjoy the view ...

This summer, just like Michael Portillo with his Bradshaw's, Maggie and I plan to take our tandem over the Gotthard, Furka and Grimsel passes, using this book as our guide.  I think it will be fine.  For the Gotthard in particular, the road mentioned in the guide is still there.  It is now, in essence, a national monument, with a well-maintained cobbled surface, just as in 1910.  It was by by-passed by a new road in the 1930s, and by a tunnel in the 1960s, so there is little traffic now.

I'll let you know how we get on.

Mark

B Group - 7th March

It took a while for people to gather at Cobham this morning, probably due to the rain first thing, and it was a combined B & Easy Riders group of approximately 14 people, which set off in the sunshine shortly after the A group.  Our route was via the Tilt, along the Fairmile, West End, Esher, Weston Green, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton & Ditton Hill, arriving at Ristorante Sorrento at the same time as some Easy group riders approaching from the opposite direction!  Well done to the group for keeping together so well, also to back marker Tony Hooker, to Pam & Tony Hopkins for marking corners.   Well done, too, to the organisers of an excellent Annual Lunch.  

Gill Finlay

Awards presented for achievements in 2017

The Winners

 

Here are the links to full sets of photos in each category:

Person/people, male   https://photos.app.goo.gl/0297UpZLC4oymkSa2 
Person/people, female https://photos.app.goo.gl/ML3AsYLTBCtqsYmU2 
Action                https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y7AZWYAyCVW9aakC2
Scenery/Landscape     https://photos.app.goo.gl/pWuXsgc6VwE7U5Xt2 
Building/buildings    https://photos.app.goo.gl/NrdicIJXvkbjIBgn1 
Humorous or funny     https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y42keLkEzsmxZNWq1 
Best Group photo      https://photos.app.goo.gl/RFGpfEXQ9mPms0Vc2   
 
Hors catégorie        https://photos.app.goo.gl/JWKqWicwWYDOtTbS2

Taken at the lunch:   https://photos.app.goo.gl/5nvVQ3Cj8GTYEE9P2

To read Robert Tolley's prize winning account of his circumnavigation of Taiwan please click here:
July/August Sou'Wester (2017)

Thank you to everyone who took part and congratulations on your achievements.

We hope that the photos and winning scores will inspire your adventures in 2018.

~ Tim

A Group 7th March

A bit of a curate's ride today, but a quick and direct route to lunch.  Just a bit muddy, in parts ...

But all worth it in the end.  My thanks to the organisers for a splendid lunch and prize-giving, and to all of my Clubmates for another great year's riding.

Mark

Sou' Westers Annual Lunch

A Group 7th March

I'm leading the A Group to lunch on Wednesday - a short, flat ride with the prospect of a few hundred yards of track to give a more enjoyable route.  I'll check the surface on Tuesday and will miss it altogether if it's soggy.

I noticed the machine in the picture on the wall of a bar in Switzerland.  No, inner tubes, not condoms.  The financially informed will see that an inner tube from the machine costs about a tenner.

Mark

Hilly 50 Cancelled - Sods Law

In the very unlikely event that anyone should turn up  went to Ryka's to greet them. Well done one and all for getting the message out "Event Cancelled"
Leaving Walton on the Hill at 9.10am the Dorking Road was completely clear with traffic moving freely all the way to Best Weston atop Box Hill, where the National Trust had kindly put a road closed sign out which everyone seemed to ignore hell bent on making it to the car park with sledges and ski's etc. The information hut was also open with leaflets on display. I made it down to Ryka's very slowly along the compacted snow of the Zig Zag, which by the way will be closed to Traffice for 24hrs on the night of the 7-8 March to preserve the NT private road status. Nothing to do with Brexit just stupid English Law!
Pictures below show compacted snow and a deserted Ryka's very pleasant in the morning sunshine. My guess is that the thaw came just one day too late. Ryka's have agreed that we can run the event in September or whenever we want I just need to let them know!
The rapid thaw should allow the KPRC Dinner/Dance/Prize presentation to take place OK at Tyrrels Wood Golf Club. Some travelling from afar have cancelled and 6 tickets are available at whatever you would like to pay, the food is being prepared and the band is already warming up. Contact Brian Powney 0208 394 0931

The East Wind doth blow........

....giving ideal conditions for servicing the bike.

Terry