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

Porridge bread

Stuck in doors during this cold spell, you may possibly like to have a try at this recipe, as per the title you need to use it as a bread though you could adapt the recipe to your taste by adding sugar or as I did add caraway seeds instead of those suggested.
1 tub of natural yogurt 500 ml
2tubs of porridge oats (use the pot)
2 table spoons of baking powder
A hand full of seeds, poppies seeds are good or anything of your choice
2 tablespoons of oil you can use coconut oil if preferred

Heat the oven to 200C
Put everything into a mixing bowl apart from the oil and blend together use the oil to grease the loaf tin
Pour all of the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 45 minutes
Allow to cool on a wire rack before cutting

As said treat as bread and try different toppings
This comes care of British Cycling, the original video can be found on YouTube
Happy baking
Geoff

Weds 28 Feb 2018 - Walton Day Centre

As I live less than 500 metres from Walton Day Centre I hardly had any excuse for not turning up (on foot) at elevenses despite the lying snow.   I scarcely expected to see any other Wayfarers so was very pleasantly surprised when 'Young Bernard' (Power) arrived shortly after me having valiantly cycled all the way from Whitton and suffering nothing worse than slightly damp shoes.  Eventually a message came through from Simon that all the day's planned rides were cancelled, leaving Bernard and I with no alternative but to repair the short distance to The Regent for a 2-for-1 lunch deal.  Two points each are well-deserved I think!

Dave (W)

Armchair version

In 1812 passengers in the cheap seats on the London to Bath coach actually froze to death.  So today's intended excursion through the historical novelties of the route is best appreciated from indoors.
The old route to Bath came out of London from the Bell Savage Inn on Fleet Street via Hyde Park, Kensington, Chiswick and Isleworth.  The first stage for changing horses was Hounslow where there was stabling for over 2000 horses (300 coaches a day travelled the route in the 18th century).  Fast coaches would "fly" from London to Bath in 3 days  and the route would be interesting to cycle as its about 110 miles and the possibilities for cyclists to use the pretty Kennet and Avon at the Bath end would make up for the density of traffic at the London end.   However I digress.  Today's ride heads  out of Walton, down to the river, under and over Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Littleton, Charlton, Ashford.  At Charlton we pause to give The Harrow a quick glance.  A gatehouse for Windsor ...A hunting lodge....probably just a fairly low status farmhouse or cottage but an important A frame building in English oak,  beams handcarved, mortise joints can still be seen apparently, spaces between the frame filled with wattle and daub (willow and mud).  The discovery of a cache of silver coins hidden beneath a door frame dates the building pre 1130.  Calls itself the oldest pub in Middlesex with good reason.  Back in 1852 it became a pub.  No piped water or drainage, the water pump can still be seen outside the front door.     Across Stanwell Moor, left at Vermeulens, right at the Anchor pub...under the underpass and loop through Horton.  There is a gypsy graveyard here somewhere that Irene showed me once upon a time.   Also the birthplace of Milton. A paradise lost indeed, as you cycle this section you get a feel that it must have been a busy farming area long ago.
A pause at the Ostrich Inn at Colnbrook, beams, crooked stairs, cobbled courtyard for all those coaches (must go back and have a meal) .  Foundation stone laid in 1106 it stands opposite the 17 milestone from London.  Originally named The Hospice but over the centuries corrupted to Ostrich.
Over 60 people murdered here over the centuries.  Jarman, an enterprising landlord in the 17th century constructed a trapdoor in the floor of his best bedroom and carefully placed a hinged bedstead over it.  The wealthiest guest were tucked up and when sound asleep he would tip them through the trapdoor into a vat of boiling liquid being tended by his wife in the room beneath.  They were found out when the horse of a wealthy clothier Thomas Cole was found wandering the streets .  A search ensued and the body of Thomas discovered in the Colnbrook.  From here a short trot to lunch, aided by the network of footpaths that surround Harmondsworth, we enter by a path that follows the Duke of Northumberlands river (feeds the fountains in Bushy Park/Hampton Court?), past the monument to Barnes Wallis (the bouncing bomb) to the Five Bells.   The barn is an outstanding example of medieval carpentry and all details are on their website.  Suffice to say it is well worth a visit and I was disappointed when I reccied (having not looked at the website) that it was closed but opens after Easter and is English Heritage.
Boots on now and out to enjoy the snow.   Steph x

Easy riders cancelled this morning

Such a beautiful morning but sorry folks it's really icy and I have been advised to cancel.

28th Feb B RIDE CANCELLED ...armchair version to follow...

Today’s A ride

With snow on the roads, possibility of more to come and temperatures not getting above freezing I’m taking the decision to cancel today’s ride. I’ve sent a message to most regular A riders that I have an address for, so hopefully they will have already drawn the duvet over their heads.

Easy riders tomorrow 28 February

A nice flat easy ride is planned for tomorrow.   After our coffee at Walton, we'll head for Staines along the north side of the river -the towpath is well surfaced most of the way along, the last mile or so is a bit bumpy and there's a muddy field at the end but this should be better in the cold conditions.  Lunch is at the Kings Head in Ashford, just over an hour's ride from Walton. It was bright and busy when visited last Saturday, ale was great and food smells good!  Then head back to the river via Sunbury, for tea near Hampton Court. Let's hope for lots of sunshine and light snowy showers as today!

A Ride with the ‘Beast from the East.’

Tomorrow’s ride from Walton is planned for an outward route to Tongham then Shakleford for lunch at the Cyder House. Return via Newlands to tea at Ripley. Well, that’s the plan. Let’s see what tomorrow brings as my ‘weather man’ has told me that schools are closed around Farnham, not a great omen.

B ride Wed 28th Fed

Very disappointing not a flake of snow here this morning (Tues) and sunshine on the chart for tomorrow.  If I wake up to no snow on Wed the ride will run to Harmondsworth and T at Syon or Richmond Park.  The recce is on strava. S.

Frank Cubis

While cycling along Northfields ave I came across this Ghost bike placed there as a tribute to Frank Cubis, it is located at the spot where his accident happened.

 

Tony..