Bread Pudding ride to Woodmansterne

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Oaks park, Woodcote

Sunday 26th February.  With the usual Leader feeling the after effects from a nasty spill, thanks to Mike for offering a ‘novel route’, so with a mostly cloudy day , 16 Cyclists, left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Worcester Park, North Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton, Carshalton Park, Stanley Park, Oaks Park, to Woodmansterne for lunch at ‘the Woodman’, then with a strong Blustery Headwind via Banstead, Burgh Heath, Tattenham corner, Epsom, the ‘Nescot path’, East Ewell, to Nonsuch Park for Tea & BP, Stoneleigh, Worcester Park, New Malden, Berrylands, to Kingston. Total 28 Miles, Thanks to Mike for leading, John E for Back marking & John D for the Bread Pudding.

Map :-www.plotaroute.com/route/363534

Challenge ride to Woking

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With ‘Martian Tripod’, Woking

Sunday 12th February, a not quite Frozen, cloudy day, saw 15 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Lower Sunbury, Halliford, Shepperton, Chertsey Bridge, where a slipped chain caused a false alarm, but by Addlestone, a visit from the ‘P fairy’ and the complications of Hub gears, meant an early departure for Steve, so with a new Back Marker selected, via Homewood Park, Stonehill, Dunstall Green, Coxhill Green, Horsell to Woking for Lunch at ‘the Herbert Wells’, (Wetherspoons), then after pausing for the Photo, via Maybury, Pyrford, Wey Navigation path, Byfleet, Brooklands Park, Weybridge, Burwood Park, to Hersham Garden Centre for Tea & BP, then Hersham, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 40 Miles, 1 new face, (from Watford), 1 Puncture.

Thanks to Steve F & Andrea for Back marking duties and John for the Bread pudding.

Map:- www.bikemap.net/en/route/3879368

Bread Pudding ride to Merton Abbey Mills

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Pen Ponds, Richmond park

Sunday 29th January, with a light Shower of Drizzle stopping shortly after the start, a merry Dozen Cyclists left via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, to Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney, Wandsworth, the Wandle Trail via Earlsfield & Summerstown, to Colliers Wood & Merton Abbey Mills for lunch at the ‘William Morris’, then more Wandle path, via Morden Hall Park, Ravensbury Park & Watermeads, but with Drizzle returning, a strategic shortcut was needed, so via the Wrythe, Rosehill to Lower Morden for Tea & BP at the ‘Wyevale Garden Centre’, then with heavier Drizzle, Morden Cemetery, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Total 26 Miles, Thanks to Steve D for Back marking duties, and John for the Bread pudding.

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3870070

Bread Pudding ride to Harlesden

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Bishop’s Park, Fulham

Sunday 15th January. a cold drizzly day saw 8 intrepid Cyclists willing to brave the conditions, leave via Kingston Bridge, Teddington, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, St Margerets, Isleworth, Syon Park, Brentford, South Ealing, Ealing Common, West Acton, Park Royal, Grand union Canal Towpath to Harlesden for lunch at the ‘Grand Junction Arms’, then return to the Canal towpath to Ladbroke Grove, Shepherds Bush, Brook Green, Barons Court, Fulham to Bishops Park Cafe for Tea & BP, then Putney Bridge, Putney, Barnes Common, Roehampton gate of Richmond Park, White Lodge, Ham cross, Ham Gate, Latchmere to Kingston. Total 30 Miles, thanks to Kim for Back-marking & as always thanks to John for the Bread Pudding.

Map :-www.plotaroute.com/route/342703

Christmas Ride to Richmond

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Richmond Hill

Sunday 11th December. A mostly bright day saw 17, no 1 more has snuck in, 18 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, River Crane path, Twickenham, -having to negotiate the delightful Street fair/ Market in St Margerets- Richmond Bridge to Richmond for lunch at the White Cross, (with some confusion with a chaotic ordering system) then Richmond Hill, Richmond Park to Roehampton gate, Roehampton, Putney Heath, Wimbledon Common to the ‘Windmill tea room’ for Tea & BP, then Wimbledon Village, Copse Hill, Malden Golf course, Norbiton to Kingston. Total 22 Miles, 1 visit from the ‘P fairy’. Thanks to Bob for Back marking, & to John for the very special Bread Pudding.

Map:- www.bikemap.net/en/route/3843659

2 part ride to New Malden & Molesey

Sunday 20th November. Part 1, a very overcast day, with strong Winds, but otherwise dry day, saw 8 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Thames towpath to Hampton Court,  Molesey, Esher, Claygate, Chessington, Tolworth, Old Malden, to New Malden for lunch at Woodies- where due to delayed taking of orders, the Leader took the opportunity to repair his Puncture-, continuing via Berrylands to Kingston. Total 16 Miles, 1 new face. Thanks to Ellie….and John for Back marking. 1 Puncture.

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3834319

Part 2, with the wind now a stiff Breeze, we said goodbye to 3 & hello to 2, so 7 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd & the new Cycle path, (still partly shared with Pedestrians, because of ongoing Path & Landscaping work), Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Thames towpath to Molesey, for Tea & BP at Molesey Cricket club, then Hampton Court Bridge, Bushy park, Hampton Wick & Kingston bridge. Total 13 Miles, 1 new face. Thanks to Ralph for Back marking and to John for the Bread pudding .

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3834329

Bread Pudding ride to Ashtead

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Leaving the Woodman, Ashtead

Sunday 6th November, A bright Sunny start, with increasing Cloud as the day progressed, with a late Shower to Dampen the mood, saw 18 Cyclists, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, the Joseph Hood Park, West Sutton,- where the first visit from the ‘P fairy’ and a failed repair, led to 1 person saying farewell & heading for the Train,- Cheam Village, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, Epsom, Ashtead Park to Ashtead for lunch at ‘the Woodman’, after some confusion with 1 order, a slightly delayed restart via Leatherhead, Fetcham, where a ‘strategic decision’,led to a shorter, but slightly hillier route, Stoke D’Abernon, Cobham to Claremont Lakes for Tea & BP, then Esher, Hinchley wood- where the 2nd visit from the ‘P Fairy’, and a very gallant John E willing to help the victim, the remainder of group continued in the by now steady Rain-, Long Ditton, Surbiton to Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 2 Punctures.

Thanks to Will & Jon for acting as Back markers and others for marking corners, also thanks to John for the BP.

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3827154

Mini Holland proposals, (Go Cycle)

These consultations have now closed

The Kingston Cycle Campaign broadly welcomes the latest Mini Holland proposals, (Go Cycle) the Council seem to have limited the amount of ‘shared Space’, which we welcome, but all 3 Schemes would benefit  from more Cycle parking, especially near Shops. The Consultations can be found at www.kingston.gov.uk/consultations , or follow the link in each of the Paragraphs below.The closing date is 17 November.

Kingston to Kingston Vale There is still possible conflict with parked cars in Old London Road. It would help if the car parking was reduced in this area. The ‘two-way cycle track’, from the Queen Elizabeth Road junction to Cambridge Road, continuing to the roundabout junction with Park Road and Kingston Hill,  looks promising. The route continues on Kingston Hill with a segregated cycle lane on both sides. Apart from some small sections of shared space, there does need to be provision for a segregated crossing for cyclists who wish to turn right from Galsworthy Road onto Kingston Hill, or vice-versa. The link for this individual scheme is http://consult.kingston.gov.uk/portal/planning/go/go_cycle_october_2016/gckv

Kingston to New Malden The crossing from the two-way cycle track on London Road, to continue along Cambridge Road, looks promising. The junction with Chatham Road and Hawks Road will need careful design to minimise conflict with pedestrians. And to keep the existing link between Chatham Road and Hawks Road a viable option, there needs to be full segregation under the rail bridge near South Lane West. If Cyclists do have to use ‘shared space’ where delivery vehicles are parked, there needs to be clear signage. The link for this scheme is http://consult.kingston.gov.uk/portal/planning/go/go_cycle_october_2016/gcnm.

Kingston to Tolworth The two-way cycle track along Penrhyn Road as far as Grove Crescent looks promising, continuing with seperate cycle lanes either side of the road. St Marks Hill will need a crossing for cyclists who wish to access Hollyfield School, also those who wish to access King Charles Road and other routes from Lamberts Road. The design of the ‘central cycle lane’ along Ewell Road needs to ensure that there are no conflicting traffic movements where car traffic wants to turn right across the cycle path, it might be better to continue the ‘two-way cycle track’ at the side of the carriageway, then join up with the ‘Greenway’ at the junction with the Broadway. The link for this scheme is http://consult.kingston.gov.uk/portal/planning/go/go_cycle_october_2016/gct

All three schemes should be supported. We urge everyone to go to the www.kingston.gov.uk/consultations page and fill out the seperate consultation for each of the three schemes. You can find more of our thoughts at http://kingston.cyclescape.org/threads , the Consultations close on 17 November.

Bread pudding ride to Brockley

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Cator park, on the ‘Waterlink way’

Sunday 23rd October, a mostly bright Morning with more cloud later, saw 18 Cyclists Remember the alternative start from the Fountain, New Malden, (see if you can track how many Parks & Commons we traverse), via Motspur park, – where a severely snagged Chain, caused Andrea to abandon the ride, 😦,- West Barnes, Morden, Merton park, South Wimbledon,- where we were joined by 1 extra Cyclist-, Graveney River Park, Tooting, Tooting Bec Common, Streatham hill, Tulse hill, Brockwell Park, Dulwich, Dulwich Park, East Dulwich, Peckham Rye Park, Nunhead to Brockley for lunch at the ‘Brockley Jack’, then Ladywell Fields to join the ‘Waterlink way’, via Catford, the Pool River Park, Lower Sydenham, Cator Park, Clock house, Maberley Park, South Norwood Park, Norwood, Heavers Meadow, Selhurst, West Croydon to Wandle Park for Tea & BP, then Waddon, Beddington, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, the Wrythe, Benhilton, Pyl Brook path, Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Park, Motspur park to New Malden. Total 33 Miles, 1 new face, I make it 14 Parks & Commons !

Thanks to Steve for Back marking, and many others for marking corners, and as always, thanks to John for the Bread-pudding.

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3818271

Challenge ride to Stanmore

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Harrow Weald Common, with Harrow on the hill

Sunday 9th October. A bright Sunny Morning, with a Chilly breeze, saw 19 Cyclists dodge the ‘Fun runners’, via Skerne Rd, Towpath, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, to Sheen gate, East Sheen, Mortlake, Chiswick bridge, Grove park, Chiswick green, Acton, Acton park, West Acton, Park Royal, Stonebridge park, Wembley, Preston park, Kenton, Belmont to Stanmore for lunch at the ‘Duck in the pond’, afterwards a steady climb through Harrow Weald, to Harrow Weald Common, where John D suffered a slip, resulting in a few grazes, then Headstone lane, Headstone Manor park, West Harrow, W. Harrow Rec., South Harrow, Northolt to Northala Fields for Tea & BP at ‘San Remo’ Cafe, having dodged the Shower that had left some sizeable puddles, (could we get back to Kingston without more Rain?..), Southall, Norwood green, Osterley Park, (with Rainbow), Osterley, Worton, Whitton, Twickenham, Fulwell, Teddington, – where the Heavens finally opened-, Hampton Wick, Kingston bridge. Total 43 Miles, 2 new faces.

Thanks to Bai for Back marking & many others for watching corners.

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3808646