Carbon vs Aluminium Rims

https://vimeo.com/80046117

Easy Riders - 16th March

About 8 riders from North Cheam rode to Bike Beans cafe in Ashtead. After we arrived Ron and Doreen came in. On our table we had Margaret from Canada who often rides with us when she is over, and Dave; Vernon' s dad, who was a leader on the Spain trip the week previous. As I led to Ashtead through Ewell, back of Epsom and through Ashtead Park; we came back via. Ashtead Common. The path has been widened here and smoother to cycle on. We made our way to Longmead then Nonsuch Park, to The Grumpy Mole on the Ewell Road. (Alias, The Bell), where I worked 8 yrs ago! I booked a round table for 6; Sandy, Ray, Norman, Margaret, Sonia and myself. We enjoyed a very nice meal in pleasant surroundings.

Lynda

A Ride to Burnham

A very early puncture (in the car park) meant that the A Group were on the back foot from the start. But a lively pace through Eton, Slough and Burnham ensured that we arrived in good time at The Pineapple where we encountered the real test of the day, lunch. Gargantuan sandwiches arrived in good time but eating them was another matter, it took time.

Refreshed but a little heavier the group rolled back to Eton and then through Windsor. A roller coaster of a ride over Crick Hill and down to Chertsey and Walton to tea at Hampton Court.

A good ride considering we always seemed to be riding into the wind and at a reasonable average pace of 14mph.

Thanks to Steve for back marking and to all who assisted with way marking.

Hilly 50 closing account

Hi All,
Thanks to some very generous support from riders today at Addestone  the total now has risen to £220. Excellent! If anyone else would like to add more for the Cheam & Morden local Hospice - St. Raphael's please let me know.

A group Ride 16 March 2016

Hans you are an amazing man! I do not know where you get your strength from, you are like a man possessed and must annihilate your followers who gradually fall off the back but somehow your back marker keeps everything together. Do not let me put you off, today I found the ride so hard without too many hills. I am so glad I was not on my Iron Raleigh touring bike which is so heavy though it is a fine bike and one of the last built by RSP (Raleigh Special Products) at a factory in Alfreton Derbyshire. This is the place where the Raleigh Record Ace was produced and used to great effect  by World track champions like Reg Harris and the first man under 4hrs for 100 miles my old club mate Ray Booty!
Hans, never the less, thanks for setting a good pace. I have this year been suffering from a chronic left knee condition for which I have been receiving excellent physio treatment from Jules. Today's ride confirmed that my knee is improving and my 65 miles door to door is a measure that it is on the mend. I will await to find out Thursday morning if I still have a Leg!
Finally on a melancholy note, I do not know why I went strait on when you guys behind went left, which exposed me to going strait on to Weighbridge, while I guess you guys went on over Walton Bridge? On entering Weighbridge I came across a sad memorial to a fellow cyclist.
Last week my lovely son Tim took me to the Olympic Velodrome for the World Track Champs. I had a great time! On returning by tube to London for a meal in town I picked up a copy of the Evening Standard, which sadly I have thrown away, so my facts maybe array!
While riding into Weighbridge I came the following scene. Photos follow but I will add them below as I always have problems in uploading photos.
The Evening story was about a fellow cyclist who had gone down a pot hole next to a drain in the gutter. The hole was big enough to put a foot down and had been reported previously as dangerous but not attended to by SCC!  What I noticed as I proceed along the road was that every drain had a red cross on them! My thoughts were why, they did not seem so bad. So when I saw the death scene I rode on thinking I have to get home but then my conscience said - Miked turn back and despite the horrendous traffic, I stopped, mounted the pavement and turned back to reveal the following!

B Group - 16th March

Addlestone - Ascot - Sunbury

Another 'bumper bundle' to-day!   Twenty six, a mix of B, C and A riders!  We left Addlestone via Green Lane, through Homewood Park into Stonehill Road. Gracious Pond Road took us to Burrowhill, straight over the cross roads to Windlesham.  Sorry folks, I went past my right turn - talking!   From Windlesham we crossed the A30 into Sunninghill Road towards South Ascot.  Whilst on a quick reccie on Tuesday I came across road works at the next cross roads, traffic lights with 4 way control, resulting in a long wait.   Fortunately we were able to do a left turn into St Mary's Road, which took us into Brockenhurst Road, beyond the road works towards Ascot where we had lunch in the Stag pub. Considering the number of punters, (we were the second large group to arrive after 12.30), the staff looked after us very well...Oh yes...the food was excellent!

No surprises for our return route to Squires at Sunbury. A  pleasant downhill - OK, gradient, via New Mile Road and Watersplash Lane into Ascot gate, Windsor Great Park - exiting at Bishopsgate.  Straight on through Englefield Green, down Prune Hill, Thorpe, Chertsey and onward through Shepperton to tea where, I believe....16 of us enjoyed chatting over the day etc. etc.  I like this part of the day - very relaxing!

Once again my gratitude to Terry for back marking and for all corner markers - brilliant :) :)   Not forgetting Tim with his map and mileage etc. :) :)
MAY I JUST EXPLAIN.....the changes in ride leaders.....To start - Gill and I had swapped which means Gill is leading from Shepperton 13th April.   I WAS to lead her ride from Teddington 27th April, BUT Stephanie and I swapped...so now Stephanie is leading from Teddington 27th April.   
My thanks to all for joining me - great, Pam :) :)


A map for Pam's ride out to Ascot (14.6 miles), and back to Squires in Upper Halliford for Tea (16.5 miles).

We ran out of pixels in Shepperton, just before we reached Squires

At The Stag in Ascot

Hilly 50 Closing Total

Hi all, this is not a begging letter but simply put if anyone wishes to make a donation for St. Raphael's Hospice Cheam I will happy to collect at Addlestone on Wednesday 16th March. Last year we raised £350 with fine weather but sadly due to snow and cold only 36 riders completed plus one donation of £5 making a total of £185.

A Group Ride from Addlestone

The A ride tomorrow will be starting promptly from Addlestone to Farnham Royal, Burnham and lunch at the Pineapple (again!). Lunch is approximately at the half way point. Tea will be at Hampton Court but not before a switch back ride between Windsor and Chertsey. All on road, not all pretty but you have to do the hard miles.

Cycling South Africa - Part 2

Having missed the renowned Cape Argus Cycle Ride by a week our CTC tour held its own 'mini Argus' on Sunday to finish our tour in style. Starting in Simon's Town, halfway down the Cape Peninsula, we made steady progress against strenghing headwinds, into the Table Mountain National Park. Reaching Cape Point on the tip of the Cape of Good Hope was a battle against the wind, but with a favourable following wind to relish heading north we didn't linger too long over coffee. The return leg up the west of the Peninsula was exhilarating: high above the Atlantic Ocean we whizzed up and around Chapman's Peak, around Hout Bay, and raced through the seaside resorts leading back into Cape Town. Reputed 50mph gusts tried to unseat us but we remained upright! Earlier in the week we dipped our wheels into the sea at Cape L'Agulas - the southernmost tip of Africa, and meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. A trip to the Birkenhead Brewery to sample local ales met with universal approval, whilst our second rest day at the coast at Hermanus provided sightings of whales and dolphins. A beautiful ocean ride to Gordans Bay was also a highlight of the trip. Whilst Mike will shortly be riding again with the Wayfarers, I will be extending my South Africa experience (not on two wheels) 'till after Easter, and hopefully emerging warm weather cycling.

Information about rides on 16th March

Steph has advised that she will lead everyone from North Cheam to elevenses at Addlestone, leaving at 09:00.

However note that Pam will be leading B Group instead of Steph. (Steph will lead the Bs on 13th April.)

~ Tim

9 March - A Group in search of Mr Blue Sky.

The forecast for Wednesday had not been good for at least a week. Apologies for absence arrived by email and text while many just left the country to find sunnier climes. Plan A of a trip to Dormansland was shelved and Plan B of a trip to Oxted was recce'd but Plan C (a train ride to Redhill to announce abandonment) was also considered.

Come the day, despite a very wet night, I left home without rain although a  headwind slowed my ride to Redhill. I arrived to find a group of valiant riders keen to take on the weather. Shortly after 11.00 seven of us got ready to leave just as John arrived to keep the numbers even.

Heading southeast we passed to the east of Redhill Aerodrome, over the M23 and on to Outwood. By now the rain was beginning to fall and I was riding like a meercat, looking out for the small areas of blue (or at least less grey) sky and heading in that direction.

This approach was not as successful as we would have liked and by the time we got to Horne it was raining heavily and I decided to turn for Horley and the protection of The Jack Fairman. However the rain soon abated and we turned south along Downlands Lane and Effingham Lane to pass Copthorne Prep School.

The smells from the kitchen extractor fans reminded us of lunch so we passed through Copthorne and Shipley Bridge to arrive at The Jack Fairman just before one.

All morning many of the lanes had been more like streams and many of the fields more like lakes. We had had to avoid lots of detritus and gravel on the roads and pass through flooded roads but arrived safely for lunch.

After lunch Simon, who was suffering from non-cycling pains, went in search of painkillers before heading for the station. The rest of us headed off for another session of shower dodging and fording.

After Meath Green and Hookwood we got held up by a traffic jam caused by fracking protesters trying to prevent an artic getting to a site on Horse Hill. After a short delay we managed to pass the traffic with cheers from protesters. We passed through Norwood Hill and Parkgate before heading north to Bunce Common, Roothill and Punchbowl Lane.

As we reached Denbies it was still raining so six of us went for tea while it all blew over. An hour later we all left for home in much better weather.

Thanks to Ken, Simon, Brian, John, Andy, Steve and Hans for a good day out despite the conditions.

About 30 miles from 11s to tea. Sorry no photos this week.

2016 - Training Camp Costa Blanca (Albir Gardens)

Wednesday, 9th March 2016

 

Some months ago, Pam suggested that we should repeat our 2015 training session at Albir Gardens, Costa Blanca, Southern Spain. Ten Wayfarers registered to accompany Pam, as above: Frank H., Lillian, Jane J. Francoise, Cliff, Tony (our Sports Tour Leader), Dave J., Maureen, Sandy, Steph, Liz B. and Pam.

The weather has been mixed this year and perhaps not as hot as a year ago but we enjoyed our rides on Sunday to Moraira (72 km with 1,384 m elevation gain), Monday to Fenestrat (a short ride to avoid the afternoon rain - 546 m elevation gain), Tuesday to Guadalest (a serious climb with 1,310 m elevation gain - 59 kms).

Wednesday was "Rest Day" - which at the camp does not mean "no" cycling - but a leisurely ride following a flat stretch of the coast to Villa Joyosa for lunch, returning via Benidorm sea front cycle path with a stop at an Italian Ice-cream Parlour (38 kms).

Francoise

B Group - 9th March

Many of our regular riders were cycling abroad or taking heed of the weather forecast and therefore we were down to only four riders. We set out in the dry to ride to Charlwood for lunch but were not able to avoid the rain. We had a good lunch at the excellent Half Moon Inn and then set off northwards as the rain drove in from the east. By the time we reached Wray Lane (see elevation profile) the weather was better and we headed for tea in Banstead.

Thank you Tim, Ian and Terry for braving the elements and helping to make a very pleasant day out.

John Austin

Maps for John's route from Redhill:

The main ride as far as Reigate

The last bit - Reigate to Banstead

Elevation profile for the afternoon ride showing the climb up Wray Lane

Cycling South Africa

After climbing Cape Town's Table Mountain, Mike (Barrett) and I set off for our CTC tour of South Africa's wine region. Yes, Mike did actually climb the mountain! but needless to say, I took the easy route by cable car - saving my energies for the two weeks of cycling ahead. Following the coast north out of Cape Town to Durbanville, we cycled the now well- established circuit of Wine Towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Villiersdorp, Worcester, and by the end of the first week, Montagu. Cycling in this region is pretty easy-going with modest climbs, good roads and manageable daily mileages. However with temperatures in the high 30's, a stiff 7km climb out off Franschhoek towards Stellenbosch on Thursday nevertheless proved testing for our group of 21 riders. Delightful rural guesthouses and hotels make cycling here very comfortable, especially with refreshing swimming pools at the end of the day! Now into our second week we look forward to more hot days - and try to forget that Surrey is still in the grips of winter, and our summer Lycra will need to packed away again once we return.

Hilly 50 report

Please see SWLDA Blog for initial report more to follow!

CUK Brand Toolkit for your saddlebag

The BTC/CTC 5 August 1878 - 5 April 2016

R.I.P.

  Brand Roll-Out

Click on the link above and weep.

 Words fail me (nearly)!

Jeff

Re-Branding

David Cox – Chair / Paul Touhy - Chief Executive
Cyclists’ Touring Club
Parklands,
Railton Road,
Guildford,
Surrey, GU2 9JX

Philip Benstead
CTC Brand Petition,
19 Greencoat Mansions,
Greencoat Row,
Westminster,
London, SW1P 1PG
philipbenstead1@gmail.com
0794-980-1698

Thursday, 03 March 2016

Dear Sirs,

I have despatch a package to you today by registered post please confirm safe receipt of this package by emailing philipbenstead1@gmail.com

In accordance with Article 11 Memorandum of Association of the Cyclists’ Touring Club (As Amended by the AGM On 12 May 2012)

A poll of the whole Club shall be taken if either one third of the members of the Council or 200 Members of the Club shall within three months of the passing of a resolution in a Council Meeting or General Meeting lodge with the Secretary a petition in writing signed by the petitioning members)

I am submitting is petition on behalf of CTC members to demand a polls of the whole club in regard the motion passed at CTC Council meeting on 23rd January 2016 that agree to the replacement of the existing “Cyclists` Touring Club or CTC” and associated logo(s) and heritage marks with “CYCLING UK” or any other branding name and logo(s).

We are petitioning the CTC to demand a poll of the whole club so CTC members will have the opportunity to indorse or overturn the motion.

I would be obliged if you would confirm receipt of this letter and the enclosures by return.

The petition comprises 47 sheets, containing the names, CTC membership number and signatures of 392 members of the CTC. I have excluded signatures without a CTC membership number or otherwise spoiled. This exceeds the 200 signatures required under Article 11.

I have taken advice from my CTC Councillors on the procedure to be followed for the petition. I understand that the CTC is required to publish full details of the petition in the next but one issue of the Club magazine to be distributed after the petition has been lodged. Councillors confirm that would be the June/July 2016 edition.

Please note that, in addition to taking advice from councillors, I have informed CTC Councillors for the petition, to whom I am copying this letter, and understand that they will be closely monitoring how it is dealt with by the National Office and Council. I have been assured that the advice and support of councillors will fully available to me at all stages of the process.

Also I have photocopied these sheets and in addition I expect many more sheets will be arriving in the near future which I will forward to you in due course.

Yours faithfully,

Philip Benstead
BRAND PETITION COORDINATOR AND POST-BOX
Cc CTC Council

B Group - 2nd March - Map for Helene's ride to Prezzo

Beryl, A Yorkshire Woman's Cycle through Life

The acclaimed play about Beryl Burton will be on at the Rose Theatre in Kingston from the 8th to the 19th March. Stephanie and Lynda are going on the evening of Tuesday 15th so if you would like to join them please send a text to Steph (07909 774 234) before this Friday lunchtime so that she can buy tickets for you. Seating in the pit on a cushion is going for £8, proper seats for £18.

~ Tim

Further Trophy Winners 2nd March 16

Finally one from me from last weeks "A" ride to Little London. Nothing to do with cycling except this fine specimen of an MGA was parked outside the pub at lunch. It brought back memories for me as when I fist got married I bought a white one and if I had kept it, it would be worth £30,000 today!