A bright sunny evening, with 1 late cancellation & 1 no show, but with 2 unexpected guests, 11 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, to find the planned route closed, so a small detour to King Charles Bridge, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth Common, Esher, East Molesey to West Molesey for refreshments at the always delightful Bell (Greene King), a bit more East Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 13 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Jon W for back marking.
Sunday 21st May. A largely Sunny day, after 2 late cancellations, -with our regular leader away (climbing many big Hills in Wales)-, 18 Cyclists left via Berrylands, Tolworth & Greenway, West Ewell, Epsom, Epsom Downs (Photo), Tattenham corner, Burgh Heath, Banstead, to Woodmansterne for lunch at the Woodman (Stonegate Pubs), -with 1 extra passenger (Photo)-, Woodcote, Beddington, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, Wandle trail, Morden, Morden Hall Park for Tea & Bread pudding at the National trust Cafe, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles. Special thanks to Bai for leading, thanks to John E for back marking & others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/623630
Epsom Downs, near Grandstand
Chris & her new friend….. is it, no it couldn’t be, but there is a resemblance of sorts.
We believe bikes are perfect for exploring. So, on top of our cycle campaigning, we organise year-round rides for all ages and abilities that are always fun, and always free. From towpath trips to family-friendly outings, and evening explorations to adventures further afield, our new calendar of upcoming rides (Wednesdays and Sundays) is now out for the year ahead.
And on 4 June and 10 September this year we’re hosting our first family-friendly fun bike rides through the borough – shorter, easy-paced outings that take in a mix of quieter roads, bike lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), to help encourage more Kingston residents of all ages to feel confident using their bikes for local journeys.
So, whatever your experience or energy levels, you’re sure to find the perfect ride with your name on it. Simply pop the dates in your diary, book your place via our website and join our friendly group.
After all, life is like riding a bicycle – to keep your balance, you must keep moving. We look forward to seeing you on one of our rides soon!
Sunday 14th May. A rather grey morning, with the Sun appearing in time for lunch & Afternoon, after 1 late cancellation, 14 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Stanwell, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, Horton, Datchet, Jubilee River path, to Dorney for lunch at the fantastic Pineapple, -famous for their Doorstep Sandwiches, some did I believe take some home as it was too much in one go-, Summerleaze Footbridge, Fifield, Cranbourn Chase, Cranbourne gate Windsor Great Park, Bishopsgate, Englefield Green- including an unintended tour of the Cricket Green-, Egham, Staines Bridge, Staines, a short stretch of Thames path, Laleham, Shepperton, to Walton Bridge for Tea & Bread pudding at Wilde brunch Cafe, -a slight delay getting all moving, led to 1 of the group leading us ‘off Piste’, which makes a change from the leader going astray 😉-, Walton, Esher, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in Kingston. Total 49 Miles, thanks to John E for excellent back marking, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/141834
Wednesday 10th May. A pleasant mostly Sunny Morning, saw 11 Cyclists try a new variation via Fairfield, North Kingston, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, -with an inattentive motorist, almost wiping out a couple of the group-, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Strand on the Green, Gunnersbury Park, West Acton, Ealing Common, Ealing Studios (Photo), West Ealing, Churchfield Park (with Hanwell Viaduct just visable above the trees), to Hanwell for lunch at the always delightful Fox, -with 1 brief heavy shower during lunch, & mostly light drizzle to follow-, passing the series of 6 Locks on the Grand Union Canal, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Isleworth, Cole Park- with an unwelcome visit from the ‘P Fairy’, but Bright sunshine to help the repair-, Twickenham, Crane River Path, -to find the Path flooded under the Railway, but a very narrow raised path alongside, just wide enough to push the Bikes along-, to Kneller Gardens for Tea & refreshments, Fulwell, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 27 Miles, Thanks to Dave P for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2240956
Wednesday 26th April, after 1 late cancellation, 7 Cyclists left via the Station Bridge, North Kingston, Ham, Teddington Footbridge, Teddington, Fulwell, Hampton hill- with a slight navigational hiccup-, to Hampton for refreshments at the almost hidden Railway Bell, a bit more Hampton, Bushy Park -No moonlight & barely any Deer, but some very bright Cycle lights-, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 12 Miles, thanks to Jon W for back marking.
Sunday 23rd April, A day with mostly light Rain after 2 cancellations, saw 17 Cyclists leave via Cranes park, King Charles Bridge, Tolworth, West Ewell, Long grove Park, Ashtead Common, Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham to Effingham for the recently re-opened Queen stage for lunch, Effingham Junction, Ockham, Hatchford,- with 2 people deciding to (almost) Swim the flooded road, whilst the remainder of the group taking a small detour-, Cobham, Fairmile, to Esher for Tea & Bread pudding at Claremont lakes, -now with bright Sunshine-, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton to finish back in tthe Market place. Total 29 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading a few sections of the ride (and entering the Duathlon), thanks to John E for back marking & others for marking corners, thanks at short notice to Christine for the BP. Sorry no Photo this time.
Sunday 16th April, Spring has finally arrived, a dry warm day, sadly nott much Sun, (let’s not be greedy), after 1 late cancellation & 1 un-announced guest, 16 Cyclists left via the Station Bridge, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Grove park, Chiswick, Acton, Park Royal, Stonebridge, Wembley, Kenton, Kenton Rec, Belmont, to Harrow for lunch at ‘Duck in the Pond’ (Ember Inns), Harrow Weald, Headstone Manor Rec (Photo), South Harrow, Northolt, -alas a dropped chain led to the tail briefly losing touch with the main party, at probably the most complex part of the ride to cross Target Roundabout-, Northala fields, Southall -with a touch of wheels causing a fall, no injuries, but another slipped Chain-, Norwood green, to Osterley Park for Tea & Bread Pudding, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & finally, the reopened Cycle path on Kingston Bridge. Total 40 Miles, thanks to Amy for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Wednesday 12th April. An extremely Blustery, windy day,saw 2 cancellations & 1 no show, 12 hardy Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton -joined by one more-, Molesey, Walton, Weybridge -with 1 more addition, now 16-, with an impatient Motorist almost wiping out half the group, on the wrong side of the Road, Addlestone, Bretlands, Lyne, to Thorpe Green for lunch at the Rose & Crown- thanks to the Pub for letting us move the booking indoors-, just ready to depart when the Skies darkened & Rain began, so many wardrobe adjustments, – 2 heading for an early exit via Virginia Water Station-, Stroude, Egham, Staines Bridge, Staines, -2 more heading for the Train-, deciding to forego the delights of the Towpath, direct to Laleham, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury, -the leader doubting the ‘Walled Garden Cafe’ would have room indoors, proved wrong, so Tea & refreshments were taken-, now with a tail-wind, also some rather poor Road surfacing, 1 hole causing a dropped Pannier, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in the Market place. Total 32 Miles, thanks to Steve D for back marking & several others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/849407
Cycle into summer on Sunday 4 June and join us for our first fun and family-friendly bike ride through Kingston.
Celebrating World Bicycle Day (3 June) plus the start of Bike Week (5 June), we’ll set off from central Kingston (Fairfield Park) at 11am on a circular route designed for all ages and abilities. Join us for an easy-paced outing, taking in a mix of the borough’s quieter roads, bike lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
Our hope is that this gentle ride will help build confidence as we showcase some of Kingston’s cycle routes. The scenic outing will therefore be in a figure of 8, giving you the option to stop after 4.5 miles or continue for the full 7.5-mile route, depending on how you’re feeling on the day.
We’ll set off at 11am from the pavilion in Fairfield Recreation Ground (by The Albion pub, opposite the children’s playground), proceeding slowly on bike-friendly routes along the riverside (via Portsmouth Road), through Surbiton, towards Berrylands and back to Fairfield. For those keen to keep pedalling, we’ll continue down the Albert Road LTN, towards North Kingston & Latchmere Rec and back via the Lower Ham Road LTN, using the Kingston Station bike path to return to Fairfield.
So invite your friends, neighbours and family – young and old – and join us on this fun and easy ride through the borough!
We’re already looking to arrange a follow-up ride later this summer to continue showcasing other safe cycle routes around Kingston, so follow us on Eventbrite, Facebook or Twitter to stay informed. And, if you’ve got the cycle bug, Kingston Cycling Campaign also runs longer rides for its members three times a Month, exploring further afield.
Register for your free place (to help give us an idea of how many marshals we will need) and find out more about the ride on tiny.cc/KingstonFunRide.
