Wednesday 12th Feb B group ride to Ace café

 Gill and Maddie had kindly agreed to sub-lead for this ride on what turned out to be a rather chilly and damp day. Suitably fortified with  excellent sausage rolls at Elleray hall, our biker groups departed; me leading the Harleys, Gill leading the Vespers and Maddie with the BMW’s.

With Tim G kindly back- marking, my group of 7 (Julie B, Jane F, John A, Mick A and Dave E) made our way through west London via canals, river banks and quiet roads. It is always astonishing to experience how far you can travel  around London without encountering busy roads. Much of our route in fact was on the C40 cycleway.

Reaching the Ace we re-charged our batteries with very promptly served grub and were on our way again, taking a shorter and more road -heavy route back to Bushy Park. Navigation had been going reasonably well on the route to the Ace however Garmin gremlins kicked in on the way home and my map and directional arrow changed from the usual north up display to point back the way I had come thus showing all the turns in reverse! Time to call upon group members to lend a hand with navigation which they duly did! Thanks to all who came along yesterday and especially nice to have Dave E with us on his first club outing in a while. Hope you enjoyed the B group banter, Dave.

Garmin post script: the very helpful person in customer services at Garmin talked me through restoring the north up display so fingers crossed all sorted!

Gill's report:

A winter’s ride to the Ace Cafe sounded perfect and so it turned out.  Sue’s route, modified from a Simon route, was spot on with enough challenges to keep us entertained and happily for the most part without traffic.

Our buzzing band of Vespas comprised myself, Liz, Ray Y, Carolyn, Karl, Anne W, Grant, Bob and Tony.  Unfortunately Tony left us early, but Liz’s wrist managed to survive the lumps and bumps of tree routes on the Grand Union Canal and she was able to complete her first ride with us for 6 months.

The Ace Cafe lived up to its reputation, and has no problem catering for large groups.  The food was served almost before we sat down. The jacket potatoes were a great hit on our table!

Despite every traffic light turning red for us on the pm ride back to Bushy park we made good time and 3 of our group enjoyed tea and cake with the first group.

So pleased to have got to the Ace Cafe at long last. Thanks Sue!  Thanks to my group and especially to Bob for back-marking. 

and Maddie's group:

Tim C, Maggie & Paul J, Gill, Pam and Ray W all followed Madeleine on an intricate and interesting route through the back streets and canals of NW London. As a treat, Maddie added a couple of extra diversions in the way - including an unfortunately-muddy steep rise and an extra snippet of canal. We were slow but steady, Ray acting as back marker and sweeping along Tim - who we were all delighted to see back with the B’s.

A puncture for Maggie at lunchtime was efficiently sorted by Paul - fuelled by tea. The lunch at Ace seemed to be enjoyed by all. Ray was miffed that we weren’t labelled as the Harley Davidson’s, since he owns one (as well as a BMW). So, inspired by Ace’s motorbike display, the last group did a bit of re-branding. How much better is ´Triumph Bonneville’s than BMW’s?’ 

Hilly 50k - Saturday 26 April - Save the Date!

This year’s Hilly 50k will be on Saturday 26 April 2025 from Ryka’s, Dorking. Sign on from 9.30am. Finish at the top of Box Hill.

You will be pleased to hear that the route, and all the hills you love are unchanged. For full details see our Hilly 50 web page.

If 26th April is not suitable, you are welcome to do the ride alone or with friends at any time of your choosing.

If you've not yet experienced this memorable ride, this is definitely the year for it! And check out the video by Charlotte Barnes who rode the 2010 Hilly 50 on fixed wheel.

Last year we were successful in attracting a good number of female riders. This year we hope to continue that trend and also attract a wider group of riders who might not normally attempt such a ride.

If you are not familiar with the route, or nervous of the hills, I plan to organise a sensibly paced group ride, including a welcome (for me at least) mid-ride coffee stop at Kings Head Shop on Pitland St, Holmbury St Mary. Please let me know if you are interested (d.vine207@btinternet.com).

As in previous years we ask riders to support St Raphael’s Hospice, a cause close to the heart of our late organiser, Mike Morley. Donations of £10 (or more if you prefer) via our JustGiving page to this most deserving cause.

 

Ride Invite – A’s Feb 12th – Teddington to Knaphill

Wednesday’s ride from Teddington Elleray Hall is to lunch at The Garibaldi at Knaphill, notable for being the home of the annual Downslink Challenge charity cycle ride from Knaphill to Brighton and back, in aid of Woking Hospices.

24 miles on road to lunch, can be shortened if bad weather.  A short hop of 16 miles to tea in Cobham.

The Garibaldi have asked us to pre-order food. Their menus are here and here

Please contact me d.vine207@btinternet.com if you would like to join me, by 12 noon on Monday, as I need to send the food booking in early.

B ride to Ace Café on Wednesday 12th Feb

 

You are invited to join our  ride to Ace Café next Wednesday. We will be using Simon L's excellent urban route which takes us along a varied selection of water-filled delights: the River Crane, the fascinating Mogden sewage works and quite a lot of the Grand Union Canal. So, lots of parks and canal paths and sturdy tyres are recommended. It is only 14.6 miles from Elleray Hall in Teddington to Ace Café but the terrain will mean a ride of just under 2 hours to lunch.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49522676

We don’t need to pre-order and Gill and I can heartily recommend the sausage sandwiches.

In the afternoon we leave the water largely behind and return on roads and cycleways to tea at Bushy Park, a ride of 12 miles.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49524083

If you would like to join Gill, Maddie and I on an expedition to this iconic café please email me by Monday evening.

Hope you can make it!

Sue

Sue.foster39@gmail.com

Ride Report A group 5th February 2025

 It was with some trepidation that I was to lead a ride from Cobham as my fitness the previous Wednesday was questionable. Having altered a route we had done in 2022 I did a partial recce and found roadworks galore. After I settled the route, it was pointed out by Dave V, who offered to lead a group, that the Castle Road bridge in Epsom which led to the cycle path was still closed. A quick re-plot of the route 3 more times and sending out the wrong one, eventually I finished up with something workable.

So 20 wayfarers arrived at Cobham to start the ride. Andy C couldn't come, but a surprise arrival was Dave B who I had cycled with in the Over 40s club for some years. It was very good to see him and that he was still a fit, strong rider. 

Everyone had the opportunity to benefit from Ged, who, celebrating his birthday kindly supplied drinks and cake at elevenses at the RBL.

Dave F left first with Dave W, Brian, Sue C Richard and Diane P.

Dave V left next with the second group and here is a few words from him.

Ride Report – Brockham Red Lion

There were 6 in my group. Simon W, Frances, David J; Jennie, Peter and Neil C. Steve’s

route had it all, offroad on a slightly gloopy Bookham Common, two sizeable climbs, some

nice gentle descents, and a pub we had not visited for several years, and of course

roadworks. We were lucky enough to pass through the latter on Little Bookham Lane,

having charmed the dumper truck driver into moving his truck.

The rest of the morning passed pleasantly in sunshine, with snowdrops a-plenty on

Flanchford Road. Both David and Frances left us before lunch to go their separate ways.

Lunch was served promptly and generously portioned in the red Lion’s marquee, where

temperatures varied from sauna to shivery.

A quick photo in the garden, overseen by some strange creatures was followed by a

warming dash for home. Neil helpfully dragged us along the A25 to Pixham. I trailed the

group led by Jennie up Box Hill. Simon carried us across Headley Common, after which

Peter signed off as ever watchful back marker on the descent from Headley to go

straight home. Thank you, Peter.

Four of us stopped for tea at the Old Moat, together with members of Dave F’s and

Steve's groups.

A grand ride in excellent weather. Roll on spring.

I had Patrick, Neil W, Clive, Dave B, Janice and Dave B in my group.

I rode out in front with Dave B having a chat about rides past. We crossed Ranmore,

down through Dorking and in the blink of an eye it seemed we were at the Red Lion Betchworth.

We were catered for quickly in the cosy Marquee and quite soon we were ready for the climb up Box Hill.

It was good to know most of the climbing was done at the top.

Some riders then headed for home, but 8 from all three groups stopped for tea at The Old Moat garden Centre. We had a little sun today, could do with more and higher temperatures as well.

Many thanks go to Dave F and Dave V for not only offering to lead rides, but for their personal recces and advice to make the route as safe as possible. I also appreciate the offers to lead from many other riders. Thanks to Janice also for back marking in my group and to all the riders who braved the cold.

Steve D.