Bread pudding ride to Pimlico

Sunday 7th January, after 1 late booking & 1 cancellation, with a bright Sunny morning, mostly cloud after lunch, the first ride of 2024 set off from New Malden with 20 Cyclists, via Raynes park, South Wimbledon, the Wandle trail – collecting 1 more-, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common- suddenly with an icy headwind-, Stockwell, the Oval, Vauxhall, Vauxhall Bridge, to Pimlico for lunch at ‘the White Swan’ (McMullens), then Wesdtminster (Photo), CS3, Southwark Bridge, Bermondsey, CS14, CS10, Burgess Park, Camberwell, Loughborough, Brockwell Park, -where the hoped for indoor Cafe, was closed for a refit, so Al-fresco Tea stop & No Bread pudding-, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, Tooting Bec Common, Tooting, Myrna Gardens, Colliers wood, a bit more Wandle trail, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Cannon hill Common, Motspur park to finish back in New Malden. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Chris & John E for back marking & others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/933539.

With a recently refurbished Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben): Lindsay

Midweek ride to Hammersmith

Wednesday 13th December, a mostly grey day, with light Drizzle, after 2 late cancellations & 1 late booking, with a late realisation that Teddington Footbridge would not be very user friendly, whilst undergoing some maintenance work, 16 Cyclists left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Coombe, Ladderstile Gate of Richmond Park, to Roehampton gate, collecting 1 more (17), Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge, Bishops Park, Fulham, to Hammersmith for lunch at the ‘Plough & Harrow’ (Wetherspoons), now into a chilly Headwind, to go with the Drizzle, on the superb ‘Cycleway 9’, to Chiswick green, Dukes Meadow & the new platform under Barnes Bridge (Photo), Strand on the Green, a bit more C9, Brentford, to Syon Park for Tea & refreshments, Isleworth, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 26 Miles, thanks to Yee-liu & Celia for back marking.

Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/1033328

Christmas special ride to Thames Ditton

Sunday 10th December, with several lightweight or Fairweather Cyclists (albeit some with very good health reasons), with a dry start, but only 2 minutes down the Road, the drizzle started 👎, a total of 22 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor, Cuddington, Stoneleigh, West Ewell, Chessington, Claygate, Hinchley wood, to Thames Ditton, -for lunch at a new venue forr us-, also finding another 13 guests, the Limping Fox, very welcoming, friendly staff & great Food & Drink, after thank-you speecch’s from myself, with a thankyou Book for Mags, (supplied by Amy), a special prize for ‘Lifetime achievement’ for John Dunn, together with a collection to thank him for all his efforts from the last 24 Years & his fantastic company (we do still hope to persuade him to join us once in a while), with Bai saying a few words of thanks to me on behalf of everyone, for my leadership over the year, with many then heading for home or Train, 15 were still happy for an afternoon Ride, a slightly shorter route than planned via Ember court, Molesey, to Molesey Cricket club for Tea & Bread pudding at Miss Polly’s, -almost losing 4 people because of a Lights problem-, return to Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in the Market place. Total 21 Miles, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Jon W for back marking each group, & an extra big thank-you to John D for all the BP’s over the past 24 years.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/527788

Group 1 near Hogsmill River: Lindsay

Group 2 almost exactly the same spot, how did they know ? : Bai

2 Part ride to Chessington & Kingston

Sunday 26th November. Part 1. After 2 late cancellations, a mostly cloudy morning saw 16 Cyclists leave the Market via Kingston Bridge, Thames Towpath, Hampton Court, Molesey, Molesey Common (Photo), Esher, Littleworth Common, Claygate, to Chessington for lunch at the North Star (Ember Inns),- joined by 1 more-, more Chessington, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 15 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking & others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2086965

Part 2 With some very light Drizzle (or Mizzle), saying farewell to 8, hello to 5, 14 Cyclists left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Cannon Hill Common, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands, Cranes park, to the Guildhall, -also with 2 special guests John’s Girlfriend Anita & his Brother Peter-, to share Tea & Bread Pudding with the Mayor of Kingston (Councillor White), in the Mayors parlour, also the Mayor said a few words in Tribute to our wonderful Bread Pudding maker, John Dunn, who has decided he needs a rest from Cycling & ‘slaving over a hot stove’, after almost 24 wonderful years, – I know l speak for all who joined today’s rides, & all those who have ever enjoyed Johns company and/ or the delicious Bread pudding, we are going to miss you!! Total 12 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking, very special thanks to John for the BP, thanks to Jon White, the Mayor & Brian the Mace bearer, for inviting us for Tea. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2451305

The group with Kingston Mayor, & 2 special guests: Brian, Mace bearer

Mayors Consort Jon, John Dunn, & Mayor, Diane White (L to R)

Midweek ride to Wraysbury

Wednesday 15th November. A bright Sunny slightly chilled day saw after 1 late cancellation & 1 extra unexpected guest, alas 1 person left the Market place in the wrong direction, maybe following a different group, so 16 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Staines, Hythe End, to Wraysbury for lunch at the George Inn (Gastro Pub), we were all glad to see the missing Cyclist managed to find his own way to the Pub, despite suffering a nose bleed on the way, with a Photo stop at the Windmill & 2 nice Motorists moved out of the view 👍, then Poyle,- now withh a nice tailwind-, Stanwell Moor, Stanwell, Bedfont, Feltham, Hanworth Park, Leitrim Park, River Crane path, to Kneller Gdns for Tea & refreshments, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 30 Miles, thanks to Chris F & Celia (again), for back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1656189

Bread pudding ride to Little Bookham

Sunday 12th November, with light Drizzle to start, & slightly heavier Drizzle after Tea, after 4 late cancellations & 1 no show, 17 Cyclists were asked to walk away from the Market place, to Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton- joined by 1 more recruit, Hinchley wood, to pause for the 2 minute silence at 11am, followed by a reading of ‘For the Fallen’,by Laurence Binyon, ‘They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old from Andrea, then Esher- with a slipped Chain swiftly sorted-, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, Bookham Common, to Little Bookham for lunch at Ye olde Windsor Castle (Chef & Brewer), only had capacity for the 8 booked in advance, despite the website suggesting other meals could be taken in the Bar area 👎, more Bookham, Fetcham, (Photo), Leatherhead, Ashtead, Ashtead Common, Epsom Common to Epsom for Tea & Bread pudding at Old Moat Garden centre Cafe, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, thanks to Celia for back marking, thanks to Toni & Bai for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1814953

Bread pudding ride to Brockley

Sunday 22nd October. With the Kingston half Marathon, starting in the Market place, a New Malden start seemed best. A gorgeous Sunny day, with 2 late cancellations, 17 Cyclists left via the Beeline, Raynes park, South Wimbledon, Colliers wood, a newly resurfaced path in Myrno nature reserve, Tooting, Tooting Bec Common- joined by 1 more member-, Streatham Hill- dropping by to say hello to 1 regular currently indisposed after a recent op-, Tulse Hill, Brockwell Park, Dulwich, Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park, Nunhead, to Brockley for lunch at the’ Brockley Barge’ (Wetherspoons), – a quick adjustment to 1 gear shifter-, more Brockley, Ladywell fields, Catford, Pool river path (Photo), Lower Sydenham, Cator Park, Beckenham, South Norwood country Park, South Norwood, Heavers Meadow, Selhurst, Thornton heath, to Norbury for Tea & Bread pudding at Moon under Water (a 2nd Spoons of the day), Lonesome, Mitcham,, Morden Hall Park, Morden, Morden Park, Lower Morden, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 32 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking, thanks to Chris F & Yee-liu for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2415136

Pool River path, Lower Sydenham: Lindsay

Midweek ride to Addlestone

Wednesday 18th October, after 3 late cancellations & 2 missing a train, with very light Drizzle as we left, 11 Cyclists via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton- with 1 more joining in-, Gigghill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet, New Haw, Rowtown, to Addlestone for lunch at the delightful Pelican, also finding the pair who missed the Train, now 14 in total, also the Drizzle becoming steady Rain, but no dropouts yet…. Also making minor adjustments to a rubbing Mudguard, Woburn Hill, Chertsey Meads, Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton (Photo), Haliford, -a brief debate to stop for Tea or not, no stop this time with Rain gradually increasing-, Sunbury, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 29 Miles, Special thanks to Celia for back marking, & others for corner marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1868983

Second ‘park and ride’ event proves fun for all the family

Blue skies and late summer sunshine provided a glorious backdrop for our second family-friendly, guided bike ride, which saw nearly 150 local residents gather in Kingston Road Recreation Ground on Sunday 10 September.

From sleeping toddlers to spritely grandparents, and cargo bikes to tandems, the smiling participants represented a fantastic cross-section of ages and experience levels, all united by a desire to build their cycling confidence.

Adding extra excitement to the proceedings, local MP Ed Davey was on hand to meet the riders and cheer the group on after a whistle start. Our easy-paced 5.5 mile ride (route here) then took in a mix of the borough’s quieter roads, bike lanes and traffic-free routes, riding along the brilliant Beeline Way to Raynes Park, crossing back into New Malden via Malden Golf Course before weaving our way back to Norbiton.

“These rides are really fantastic at getting kids out with their mates – they help build their confidence so much.”

The gentle 5.5-mile circular route showcased a mix of quieter roads, bike lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), introducing many riders to fun new routes to explore the borough on two wheels.

“I’m relatively confident but being in a group makes such a difference and gives us the confidence to venture a bit further as a family.”

As with our June event, the outing represented the first group ride for many of those who joined in the fun, with the route helping introduce new corners of the borough to even some of the more experienced participants. What’s more, with such a wide range of non-standard bikes taking part, it demonstrated the importance of ensuring routes across Kingston are safe and accessible for all.

“I want to expose my young daughter to cycling, so being part of the ride was really enjoyable and positive for her.”

Thanks again to everyone – from ride assistants to participants – who helped make our scorchio September ride such a fun, family-friendly affair. And we’re especially grateful to our friends at Full Cycle Community Bike Project, Friends of Kingston Road Recreation Ground and the Friends of Beeline Way, who helped support us in the run-up to the big day and were all on hand to cheer us on.

Whether the event inspired you to join London Cycling Campaign (of which we’re the local group), come along on one of Kingston Cycling Campaign’s year-round calendar of longer rides for more experienced cyclists, or helped build your confidence to use two wheels for local journeys, we hope you enjoyed the ride.

Keep Sunday 14 January 2024 free to join our next family-friendly outing, starting from Alexandra Park in Berrylands. Sign up for your free place here.

Happy cycling!

Challenge ride to Chislehurst

Sunday 8th October, a glorious,, Sunny day- can someone just check, it is October, not August-, with 1 late booking, 1 cancellation & 1 no show, 17 Cyclists left the Fountain roundabout, Motspur park, a devious detour to avoid the Gas pipe works, the Hamptons, North Cheam, Sutton, the Wrythe, Hackbridge, Beddington Park, Waddon, West Croydon, Selhurst, Heavers Meadow, South Norwood country Park, Cator Park, New Beckenham, Beckenham Place Park, Downham, Plaistow, Elmstead, to Chislehurst for lunch at the Queens Head (Ember Inns), a bit more Chislehurst, Jubilee Country Park (Photo)- enter left a ‘Photo bomber’, sadly he wouldn’t come back for a second shot-, Petts wood, Southborough, Normon Park, Pickhurst, West Wickham, Shirley, Ashburton Field, Woodside, Heavers Meadow -again-, Thornton heath, Pollards hill, Mitcham, to Morden Hall Park, for Tea, -except most people just missed out, the Cafe closing 15 mins earlier than stated-, so a dry Bread pudding stop-, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, to finish back at New Malden. Total 44 Miles, thanks to Toni & Chris for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2410955