B ride to Charlton and the River Crane Country Park

A short ride from Hersham over the curly wurly bridge on the Old Charlton Road to the thatched delights of the Harrow.  Pre ordering meant the food was actually on the table as we arrived.  A pleasant afternoon down Grovelly and Snakey Rds to the well surfaced linear path following the R Crane to the outskirts of Twickenham.  Then into the Ham gate for tea in the sunshine on the terrace at Pembroke Lodge.  Ten for lunch and four at tea. Thank you for your company on a beautiful autumn day.

A Group 14th November

A short and easy ride today, after the AGM.  Down the road and along the trackway over the Mole - happy memories of Cheam starts - then across the green to The Angel for lunch. Tables reserved, and pleasant service, allowing us to walk the pitch for the forthcoming Christmas lunch fixture.  Things are looking very good.

We were back on the road by two, crossed the level crossing without having to wait for a train, which is a rare enough thing, then along the river past Hampton Court to Kingston Bridge.  Here we made a detour through the Christmas Market, foolishly without stopping for mulled wine, then into Richmond Park for the Tamsin Trail.  Good and easy riding here on a well made gravel surface, enlivened with a spot of roadside tuning as one of Brian's cranks came loose.

Loose Cranks
Photo:  Ged

Easy enough to fix, at least well enough to get home, then on along the trail in the afternoon sunshine, with plenty of autumn colours and long shadows.  

Near Roehampton Gate we saw a herd of deer, then left the Park to climb to Wimbledon Common and the Windmill Cafe.  A familiar Condor was parked outside, and Dave was buying his tea as we went in.  Spectacularly for mid November we were able to take our tea outside, before beginning our journeys home as the sun was setting.  An easy afternoon, but a good ride in good company - thank you all.

Mark

2018 Annual Report

You are cordially invited to read an unexpurgated final draft version of the 2018 Annual Report which will be discussed and, if all goes well, approved at the AGM.

From our website's home page hover over 'Information Hub' then click 'Reports and Minutes'. Double click on 'Annual Reports' and select the '2018 Annual Report (final draft)' by double clicking on it.

Numerous people have contributed and it is a good read. Your reward for coming to the AGM will be your very own printed copy.

Time to get excited, the AGM is coming!

~ Tim C

Chrismas Lunch orders

Pam won't be at Elevenses (before the AGM) on Wednesday. She will be at Elevenses on 21st (Leatherhead) and 28th (Kingston) but would prefer to collect orders sooner especially for A group whose Lunch is on 5th December.

So Liz Bernard will be collecting orders this Wednesday when we have Elevenses at Hersham.

~ Tim

It's never too late to start.......

A neighbour of my mother's, who had been a friend and "good neighbour" over many years, had always had a bike but mostly for utility use and was now finding this harder work than she used to. She was left a small bequest in my mother's will and with little hesitation decided, at the age of 80, that she would buy an electric bike. So she's bought a Kalkhoff and is absolutely thrilled. She has now ridden 650 miles in the four months she's had it and her longer trips have included 25+  miles to Appleby and Mardale Head past Haweswater. Winter in Cumbria will slow her down a bit but she is really looking forward to exploring further next year.

A ride after the AGM

A short run to lunch at The Angel, Thames Ditton - chance to practice for Christmas - then variously to the Windmill Tea Rooms, Wimbledon Common.  Conditions permitting, we may take a look at the Tamsin Trail, the longest stretch of gravel in Central London.

Mark

B ride after the AGM

B riders lunch will be at the Harrow at Charlton on Wednesday .

Notice of Annual General Meeting

CTC South West London will hold its AGM after Elevenses at 11:00 am on Wednesday 14th November.

Please be on time.

The venue is the same as last year, just a short walk from the Queens Road exit from the Day Centre.

All Saints Hall
All Saints Roman Catholic Church
13 Queens Road
Hersham
KT12 5LU



 













The hall is located at the back of the premises. There are two halls with a shared entrance. Our meeting is in the Small Hall.

There are no bike racks but there is plenty of space to park bikes against the buildings near the hall entrance. Please bring your bikes to the hall rather than leave them at the Day Centre.

There are normally plenty of spaces on the premises in front of the church for anyone arriving by motor vehicle, with access from Queens Road.

Our Treasurer, Simon has advised that due to the current low annual subscription rate (£1 p.a.) we will not be hiring a bouncy castle this year.
 
~ Tim

B Group - 7th November

Cobham to Horsell

It turned out to be a short ride to lunch which was ‘per chance’ appropriate for the day’s weather!   Never the less, thirteen riders joined me.   I opted to use Chilbrook Road to get to Ockham as so often after so much rain Plough Lane can be like a river!! (Almost)!  On to Ripley, Pyrford, Maybury and so to The Plough at Horsell.  Yes, one did have to be aware of the puddles, and pot holes hidden by fallen leaves but apart from a short heavy down pour before Maybury we were reasonably dry upon getting to our lunch stop.

My effort at pre-ordering was to no avail for the pub did not answer their phone, neither was my e-mail picked up!!  The ordering became much quicker once Andy (publican) served us and left Jackie (partner) to sort out the food orders.   Several opted for the turkey and stuffing sandwiches which were good value – and tasty.  No complaints about other menu choices.   Pity the pub was so cold when we arrived but the heating was put on before we left!!

As usual on a damp day, most of the group decided not to stop for tea so after returning via the lanes…..Horsell Common Rd. Philpott, Old Chertsey Lane, we split at Green Lane, most continuing through Addlestone, others via Chertsey where Tony introduced four of us to a wee café to sample their tea, coffee and cake.  All very reasonably priced!

My thanks to all for joining me, for those who cornered and to Terry for back marking.   Pity about the rain but, for me, it was an enjoyable day in good company. 

Pam  

Map of Pam's short but pleasant autumnal ride to Horsell

~ Tim

7 November - A Group Ride to Shamley Green

Despite the forecast twelve intrepid souls lined up outside The Legion for a trip to Shamley Green. A direct route was planned via the Haut Boy and West Horsley. First we had a bit of drizzle, then light rain but by Combe Bottom we were getting a full-on soaking.

On towards Albury before climbing up to Farley Green and down the rivers roads to Shamley Green.

The Bricklayer's Arms gave us a warm welcome and promptly served good food but we left them with a puddle under every chair!

The worst of the weather seemed to have blown over by the time we left but the roads were still treacherous in place with puddles, leaves and other debris. We took the quiet loop along Lordshill Road before climbing up to Blackheath, then Halfpenny Lane over St Martha's Hill.

Next it was the A25 to West Clandon and on to Ripley. Here we stopped outside Pinnocks but with blue skies ahead, dark clouds behind, and a tailwind, most decided to push on for home and try and outrun the rain. I hope you all made it.

Thanks for joining me and thanks to Ged for turning up in back-marker gear - he got the gig.

Mike's B'Day

So sorry the weather was not conducive to the usual crowd at Cobham to enjoy biscuits and cake but then plenty left for the Scouts to enjoy on Armistice Day 11/11/18.

Meanwhile thank you girls for making my day!

A Group - 7th November - Preview

A shorter ride this week due to the wet and windy forecast.
Lunch at The Bricklayer's Arms, Shamley Green.

I'll be taking orders at Cobham so please have a look at the menu and decide in advance if you can.
http://www.bricklayersarmspub.co.uk/content/brickies-winter-menu

Prompt departure at 11am to beat the walkers to the pub!

The trees are looking wonderful but care needed on descents.

Cobham 7 Nov 2018 All welcome

Tea/Coffee/Biscuits/Cakes to celebrate 77 years of mayhem from Morley.

Millie my 10 year old Granddaughter made a card for me and my Brother Peter from Nottingham when visiting Lincoln Castle recently came across a Statue. Both are pictured below.

A most beautiful photo

This photo from today's Independent shows riders in historical costumes participating in the annual penny-farthing race in Prague.

Attributed to Reuters

B Group - please pre-order your food

Pam's ride on Wednesday will take us to The Plough in Horsell. The pub has recently been rebuilt after a huge fire a couple of years ago.

Their new website is not up and running yet so Jackie at the pub has asked if we could pre-order. Please take a look at this menu and notify Pam by email or text about your choice.

PS There will be soup too.

Pam will also be available to take orders on Wednesday morning before we take off.

~ Tim

Tom Simpson

Curl Up With a Book

What a summer that was! Now the darker nights have arrived, what better alternative to cycling than … reading about cycling?

Remember the Sou’Westers Library, launched in a small blaze of publicity almost a year ago? It might contain just the perfect book for you. The books range from humorous novels to in-depth histories. Some of the titles are listed below. And if you would like to offer a book for loan, it’s simple – see below.

• The Way of St James – A Cyclists’ Guide: guide to the Camino de Santiago
• The Wind in my Wheels: Josie Dew’s experiences of cycle touring all over the world
• Winged Wheel: The history of the first 100 years of the CTC
• A W Cycles – a history: The history of the last independent cycle shop in Merton
• One Man and his Bike: A middle-aged journalist decides to cycle round the coast of Britain
• Training Techniques for Cyclists: 100 pages of easy to read tips from Bicycling magazine
• French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour de France: The ultimate amateur attempts to cycle the route
• Tomorrow We Ride: The story of the two Bobet brothers who rode in rural France post-war
• The Death of Marco Pantani – a Biography: the rise and demise of the Italian Tour & Giro winner
• Personal Best: The autobiography of Beryl Burton
• In Search of Robert Millar: The quest to find the Scottish TdF King of the Mountains 1984 winner
• Crossing Europe on a bike called Reggie: A light-hearted story of a ride to Brindisi
• Downhill all the way: Cycling through France from La Manche to the Mediterranean

To borrow library books (or offer them), go to the website, and click on Library, which is under the Information Hub tab. Or click here.

A Group 31st October. Weybridge.

It was just a perfect day - for the hills. Sunny, dry, bright with a slight autumnal nip in the air.

Staple Lane, Pitch Hill, Leith Hill and Box Hill were on the agenda. However we didn't vouch for the road closure up from Shere, at the junction of Hound House Road and Hook Lane. No matter, Mark was able to guide us along quiet lanes via Burrows Cross into Peaslake. Whilst the planned climb up Pitch Hill would have been a gentle gradient, the ramp-up from Peaslake along Walking Bottom to rejoin the route was a bit of a shock to the system. But with a fast descent to lunch at the Bulls Head meant we hadn't lost much time.

Our route from Weybridge took 16 of us through Row Town, West Byfleet, Pyrford and Ripley, with a stop for a breather at Send Prison. Then it was up Staple Lane. Unfortunately Geoff had to scratch with a knee injury, handing over back-marking to Dave Vine. Still he enjoyed an early tea at his favourite teashop (Pinnocks) waiting for his chauffeur home!

 
Mike Morley made it 16 again at the Bulls Head, Ewhurst, tucking into his 'Seniors Lunch'

Then it was the third climb of the day up Leith Hill, shortly followed by Box Hill - where the fast climbers waited for the tail-enders - (one needing a sit-down!)

Eight made it to tea at Destination Bikes, where, after tea and cakes, we drooled over the bike bling on offer.

35miles, with 994m of ascent made for challenging, but enjoyable riding. Lets hope it's a foretaste of winter riding.

Thanks to the back-markers and corner makers keeping the show on the road.

Check-out our route. https://www.relive.cc/view/1938202971

B Group - 31st October (map and photo)

I know that this map is a bit more fuzzy than usual

Quite a bunch of characters

A most enjoyable ride with Terry. No sign of any rain at all although it was cool and B Group seems to have decided en masse that the long-trouser weather is very much with us now. Lovely shades of Autumn on the Basingstoke Canal.

B group, 31st October

A chilly, sunny but dry start to the day for the ride to 11s at Weybridge. After phoning through our lunch orders to The New Inn, Send, twenty of us set off through the residential area of Addlestone to Woodham, then joined the canal towpath at West Byfleet, leaving it at Hermitage bridge. That was a very pleasant, quiet, scenic five miles or so. We then turned into Blackhorse Road, shortly turning into Saunders Lane and 'following our noses' to Old Woking, when, after turning into Broadmead Road we soon arrived The New Inn. Here 'part-timers' Toni/ys D'I and Hooker were waiting for us. Food was good and served quickly.

With the changing of the clocks we had less time for an afternoon ride so I had planned/hoped for 3s at The Patisserie at Stoke D'Abernon. Despite a fairly direct route of  Potter's Lane, Vicarage Lane, Tythbarns Lane, Hungry Hill Lane and Ockham Lane we didn't arrive before closing time so some of us went to Squires Garden Centre, then headed for home.

Special thanks to not very well Tim for tec and numerous corner markers, it makes leader's job that much easier. Thanks all for company, hope you enjoyed it.

Terry