Bread pudding ride to Pimlico

Sunday 24th October. With 1 late cancellation, & 1 unannounced guest, a rather Cloudy Morning, & a Sunny Afternoon, saw 20 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave New Malden, via the Beeline (C31), Raynes park, South Wimbledon, a stretch of the Wandle trail- with 1 more joining group 1-, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, -with 1 member of group 2 suffering a Saddle Malfunction, manage to find a Bike shop, get a new Saddler fitted & rejoin the ride before the end of lunch, quite impressive-, Vauxhall (Q5), Vauxhall Bridge CS5), to Pimlico for lunch at the ‘White Swan’ (McMullens), Westminster (Photo group 2), Victoria Embankment (CS3), to Southwark Bridge CS7), Borough, Walworth (C17), Burgess Park, Loughborough, Brockwell Park, Tulse Hill, Streatham, To Tooting Bec Common, for Tea & Bread pudding, Tooting, Mitcham, Morden Hall Park, Morden, Morden Park, Lower Morden, Motspur park, to finish back at New Malden. Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to Steve D & Mike F for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP. It was good to see Tom again after the incident earlier in the Summer.

Group 2 at Westminster Abbey: Bai Kamara

Note: The various Cycle track, Quietways, Cycle super highways, etc, are gradually in the process of being renumbered by TfL, all as Cycleways, this should make route’s a bit easier to follow in the future

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/747539

16 new Secure Cycle Hangars being installed across Kingston and Surbiton

16 new Secure Cycle Hangars are now appearing in streets across Kingston and Surbiton after Kingston Council obtained funding for their installation from Transport for London.

Each of these Cycle Hangars allows six bikes to be securely stored on the street with the hangar taking about half the amount of space a car would take. Each person who hires one of these spaces will receive secure access to the Hangar and can store their bike there for as long as they keep hiring the space. Cycle Hangars have been in place for many years on some of Kingston Council’s housing estates so it is great to see Hangars now being installed on the borough’s streets.

Find out where the Cycle Hangars are being installed, their likely cost and how to register for them below.

*Four of the new Bike Hangars installed in the Borough*

Why are Cycle Hangars so useful?

Many people do not have space in their home (including lots of those who live in flat conversions) so these new Cycle Hangars will allow many residents the opportunity to store a bike securely for the first time. This will support an increase in bike ownership in the Borough and therefore help more people to cycle.
Encouraging more cycle use is essential to help the Borough’s air quality problems, reduce congestion and assist the Borough’s residents with becoming more active.
The Cycle Hangars are very efficient use of street space as six bikes can fit in less than the space needed for a single car.

Where are the Cycle Hangars being installed?

The Cycle Hangars have been installed on the following roads:

Adelaide Road, Surbiton
Anglesea Road, Kingston
Berrylands, Surbiton
Cadogan Road, Surbiton
Claremont Road, Surbiton
Elm Road, Kingston
Grayham Road, New Malden
King Charles Road, Surbiton
Lovelace Road, Surbiton
Maple Road, Surbiton
Oakhill Crescent, Surbiton
Princes Road, Kingston
St Andrew’s Square, Surbiton
St Mark’s Hill, Surbiton
Surbiton Hill Park, Surbiton
The Avenue, Surbiton
Windmill Rise, Kingston (not yet installed)

A map produced by Kingston Council of all the new cycle hangars is below:

How much will the Cycle Hangars cost?

If the Council do not subsidise the cost of renting a space in the hangars, we understand that the annual charge will be about £70 for the hire of one space in a Cycle Hanger. This will cover the maintenance and administration of the Hangars.

How do I get a space in the Cycle Hangars?

The Council has published this web page with details of how to register an interest in a Cycle Hangar space. We understand that they will be available to use from December 2021. We will update this page once we know more.

Why isn’t there a Cycle Hangar on my road?

If you would like a Cycle Hangar on your street but your road isn’t on the list above, why not contact your Local Councillor or the Sustainable Transport team to ask when Kingston Council will be installing more? Ask your neighbours if they would be interested as well and get them to contact the Council or Councillors too. The greater demand that is shown for the Cycle Hangars on your street, the higher likelihood that more will be installed!

Though it is great that Kingston Council is installing these new hangars, nearby Wandsworth are installing 111 Cycle Hangars over the next year whilst Waltham Forest now has around 500 Cycle Hangars. New Malden is only receiving one Cycle Hangar of the 16 new ones being installed with none due to be installed in Tolworth or South of the A3. Kingston Cycling Campaign will therefore continue to campaign for more Cycle Hangars to be installed in the Borough as well as making sure other types of cycle parking are improved.

Midweek ride to Ripley

Wednesday 13th October, A mostly bright sunny day, with 1 cancellation due to a visit from the ‘P fairy’, saw 19 Cyclists (I think this is a record for a Midweek ride), left via Portsmouth Rd track, Thames Ditton, Molesey, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet, West Byfleet, Pyrford, Newark Priory (Photo)- whilst Group 1 stopped for the Photo, group 2 took the lead, never to return it, cheeky or what ;-)-,

Send Marsh, to Ripley, for lunch at the Jovial Sailor, with the Garden mostly closed off for repairs, space was somewhat restricted, but all got Fed & Watered, then Ockham, Hatchford, Cobham, Fairmile, to Claremont lakes Cafe for Tea & refreshments, Esher, Littleworth, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. 32 Miles, 2 new faces, special thanks to Pete M for leading group 2, thanks to Mike F & Dave P for back marking each group.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1559849

Challenge ride to Harrow Weald

Sunday 10th October, An overcast Morning, with 3 late cancellations, 18 Cyclists, split into 2 groups, wait 1 late arrival for group 1, left via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, congested Mortlake ? Chiswick Bridge, Chiswick, Acton- to find the Level crossing closed, A what detour to take, B how to let group 2 know, retrace our route, to the Junction, who should be approaching, hence, stay as 1 large group for a short section-, West Acton, Park Royal, Stonebridge park, Wembley- with a visit from the ‘P fairy’ for group 2- ,

Screwy !

Preston park, Kenton, Kenton Park, Belmont, to Harrow Weald for lunch at the Duck in the Pond, with the Sun emerging from its hiding place, a Sunny Afternoon, Harrow Weald Common (Photo’s), Hatch end- with 1 of group 1 suffering a small tumble, swiftly remounted-, Headstone Manor Rec, West Harrow Rec, South Harrow, Northolt, Northala Field, Southall, Norwood Green, to Osterley Park for Tea & Bread pudding, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton- with 1 member of group 1 needing a short rest after an ‘SVT episode’, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 42 Miles, 1 new face, Special thanks to Carl for leading group 2, thanks to Toni & John E for back marking each group.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/1717345

Train assisted ride to Horley

With the Ancient Yew tree, St Georges Church, Crowhurst

Sunday 26th September. A mostly Cloudy morning, with some Afternoon Sun saw 11 Cyclists gather at Clapham Junction, for the Train to Hurst Green collecting 2 more en route, so a Bakers Dozen (13) Cyclists in 1 group with a surprising turn, Bai took the lead, via Merle Common, Crowhurst with a brief chat on the Yew tree (Photo), Blindley Heath, Horne, Smallfield, to Horley for lunch at the very homely ‘Farmhouse Pub’, then a poorly surfaced stretch of NCN 21, Whitebushes, Woodhatch, Flanchford, to Brockham for Tea & Bread pudding at the Church hall, Coach Rd, Pixham, A24 track, Leatherhead, to finish at the Station. Total 31 Miles, very special thanks to Bai for leading, thanks to Mike for back marking, thanks to the Apprentice Corner marker (he does show propmise, he may prove useful in the future), thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1606022

Car free day ride to Epsom

At the start, Kingston Market place: Hilary G

Wednesday 22nd September, in a new departure for KCC, a jointly organised ride with Kingston Council, to celebrate International Car free day. A warm Sunny Afternoon, saw 9 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & the Greenway, Kingston Rd Track, West Ewell, St Ebba’s path, Long grove Park, Manor park, to the Old Moat Garden centre Cafe for Tea & Refreshments, then Horton Country Park, Chessington, Tolworth, Surbiton to finish back at the Market place. Total 14 Miles, 4 new faces, special thanks to Helen for acting as Back marker, thanks to Peter for help with organising the ride.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1693919

Midweek ride to Maida Vale

Wednesday 15th September, A mostly overcast morning, with a brighter afternoon, after 1 cancellation, saw 12 Cyclists leave via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, White Lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge- with 1 extra ready to join us, now a Bakers Dozen-, Parsons Green, EEl Brook Common, Brompton Cemetery, Kensington, Hyde Park, Marylebone, to Maida Vale for lunch at the newly rebuilt & very hospitable Carlton Tavern, –quite a story-, Kilburn, North Kensington, Shepherds bush, Hammersmith, Hammersmith Bridge, Barnes, – with a very long wait for a Train to appear on Line 1 at the dual Level crossing 😦 -, East Sheen to Palewell Common Cafe, for Tea & refreshments, with some home made Cookies, Sheen gate, Richmond Park, Kingston gate, the Station Bridge to finish back at the Market place. Total 29 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking, thanks to Janet for the Cookies.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1691708

2 part ride to Molesey & Epsom

Sunday 12th September Part 1. A largely Sunny Morning, with 1 late cancellation & 1 unannounced visitor, saw 16 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands – with 1 extra joining group 2-, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth Common (Photo group 1), Esher to Molesey (somewhat too early), for lunch at ‘the Bell’ (Greene King), then Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 13 Miles, Special thanks to Carl for leading group 2, thanks to Toni & Mike for back marking each group, 1 new face. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1684206.

Part 2 With cloudier skies,we said farewell to 7, & welcomed 5 fresh faces, plus 1 more late arrival, just missing departure of group 1 so 16 Cyclists, in 2 groups, left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Worcester park, Stoneleigh, Ewell, to Epsom for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Old Moat Garden centre Cafe’, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 16 Miles, Total 29 Miles. Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Andrea for back marking each group, 2 new faces. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1684604

Part 2, Group 2, Hogsmill open space, Ewell: Bai

Evening ride to Wimbledon

Wednesday 6th September. A warm Sultry evening saw 10 Cyclists, in 1 group leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park- with an inordinantly long wait at the Level crossing-, Cannon Hill, South Wimbledon to Wimbledon for refreshments at the Wibbas Down Inn (Wetherspoons), with Rain & Thunder forecast 1 member made an early departure, 2 others also headed in other directions, the main group, with steady rain soon turning to light Drizzle, continued via Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton to finish back in Kingston. Total 14 Miles, thanks to Ellie for back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/879155

Bread pudding ride to Ashtead

Sunday 22nd August. A largely grey day saw 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley Wood, Esher, Claremont, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, Bookham Common including ‘the Isle of Wight’ ?, Fetcham, (Photo group 1), Leatherhead to Ashtead for lunch at ‘the Woodman’, Ashtead Park, Epsom, East Ewell, Nonsuch Park, Cheam Park, North Cheam, Lower Morden to the ‘Blue Diamond’ Garden Centre, -including a long tour of the building to the Cafe-, for Tea & Bread Pudding, Morden Cemetery, (Photo group 2), Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands to finish back in Kingston. Total 32 Miles, 1 new face, Special thanks to Carl (with a little help from Bai), for Group leading, thanks to Mike & Amy for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1306141