Isle of White Randonnee

Isle of Wight near Freshwater bay. Credit Bai Kamara

Sunday 1st May, 65+ Miles, 3000 ft climbing, it can only be the Isle of Wight Randonnee, 5 Cyclists met at the ‘Kite hill’ campsite, Wootton, on a cool, but gloriously Sunny day, with some campers still ‘de-frosting’, taking the ‘clockwise route’ via Havenstreet, Upton, Nettlestone, St. Helens to Bembridge for the 1st Tea stop & checkpoint, also gathering 1 more member, then Yarbridge, Adgestone to Alverstone for the next checkpoint, with 1 member having a’gearshift failure’, (did that slow him down, not a bit of it), Winford, Sandford, Wroxall, Upper Ventnor, to Whitwell for the 3rd Checkpoint, Niton, the long climb to Blackgang, Chale, -where a small detachment took a detour, via Chale green, Kingston & Shorewell-,others Atherfield, Yafford-, Brightstone, Mottistone to Brook, -with 1 member missing both of the quiet options, taking the shortcut on the ‘A’ Road, all back together for Freshwater to Yarmouth, for the 2nd Tea & refreshment stop & 4th Checkpoint, then Thorley, Wellow, Newbridge, Newtown, Porchfield, Gurnard, Cowes for the ‘Chain ferry’ & the 5th Checkpoint, then with some very tired legs on the last big climb, to Whippingham, Wootton Creek back to the Campsite. Total 66 Miles.

A smaller party of 4 Cyclists started from Alverstone, Newchurch, on ‘Sustrans’ route 23, Merstone, Blackwater, Newport to Cowes, the Chain ferry & Checkpoint 1 Whippingham to Wootton & Checkpoint 2, Havenstreet, Nettlestone, St. Helens to Bembridge for Tea & refreshments and Checkpoint 3, then Yarbridge to Alverstone. Total 34 Miles.

PS. 1 other Cyclist starting from Alverstone completed the longer 66 Mile route. Well done all who took part.

Mayoral Debate – Friday 29 April

Final hustings of the mayoral campaign

The Mayoral Debate 29 April Nick and Ruth from KCC were in a packed audience at the cycling (and transport) hustings held at The News Building this morning. You may have already seen our tweets at #asklondonmayor and now you can watch the debate on Facebook.

The Deputy Editor of The Times, Emma Tucker, chaired a panel featuring most of the main candidates: Sian Berry (SB), Zac Goldsmith (ZG), Sadiq Khan (SK), Caroline Pigeon (CP), Sophie Walker (SW) – all of whom have signed for cycling – and Peter Whittle (PW). George Galloway has also signed for cycling, unfortunately he couldn’t be there.

After introductions the candidates were asked to outline their solutions – see the LCC website for these and their answers to questions submitted at the door and from the floor and the Chair posed some direct questions which only needed simple answers:
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Evening ride to Wimb…..,er Ham

near ‘White lodge’, Richmond park

Wednesday 27th April, a very chilly Evening still saw 12, no wait 13 Cyclists leave the market place, to Skerne Rd, Lower Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, Ham cross, then a bright flash, was that li…, yes lightning then thunder, more of the same, still our leader ploughed on, turning towards White lodge, slight bit of drizzle, with sn…, no sleet, but a moment later a full blown blizzard, sheltering under a tree in a thunder storm, not recommended, so lets retreat to Ham for refreshments at ‘the New Inn’, then with light but cold drizzle, via the Tudor estate, to Kingston. Total 10 Miles, 2 new faces.

Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3504905

Bread pudding ride to Little Venice

Brompton cemetery

Sunday 24th April. A mostly cloud covered day with a chilly breeze, saw 23 Cyclists leave via Canbury gardens, Lower Ham rd, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, White lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes common, Putney, Putney bridge, Fulham, Parsons green, Stamford bridge, Brompton Cemetery, West Kensington, Kensington gardens, Hyde park, Paddington, Paddington basin, Grand union canal to Little Venice for lunch at ‘the Warwick castle’, afterwards back to the Canal, via Kensal green & Willesden to Park Royal, then West Acton, (where the first visit of the day from the ‘P fairy’, caused Tony to abandon the ride as he didn’t have a spare tube, lesson to all me thinks, carry a spare tube for your bike,) Acton central, to Acton park cafe for Tea & BP, then South Acton, Chiswick park, (with a small breakaway being ‘shepherded back on course by Mike), Chiswick green, Grove park, (where the second visit from the ‘P fairy’, being swiftly repaired, but a ‘forward party needing onward travel, led by Steve, continuing), Chiswick bridge, Mortlake, (with a ‘flooded towpath & Road), East Sheen, Sheen gate of Richmond park, White lodge, Ham cross, Kingston gate to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, 3 new faces. Special thanks to Mike & Steve, as well as others for help in marshaling the ride, and of course thanks to John for the BP, and acting as backmarker. The map below is from a new ‘App’, I’m trialing, so let me know if you have any comments.

Map :- www.bikemap.net/en/route/3499429

Signing for Cycling – Surbiton Station

Surbiton Station

Kingston Cycling Campaign was at Surbiton Station’s bike stands this evening (18 April).

Campaigners were talking to commuters about the need to encourage more journeys to be made by bike, and how to encourage this by creating safe space for cycling and tackling lorry danger.

They were also gathering signatures for Sign for Cycling and handing out free saddle covers and “ass saver” mudguards.

If you want to sign the petition please go to signforcycling.org

Bread pudding ride to Effingham

IMGP0906 Leatherhead Meadows.

Sunday 10th April. A mostly bright day, with a chilly wind on the return to Kingston, saw 29 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, the Greenway, Bonesgate path, Horton country park,- with a splinter group of 8 Cyclists taking a separate route to Bookham for lunch at ‘Domestique’-, Epsom common, Ashtead common, Leatherhead, Fetcham, with leadership duties briefly passing to Derek, whilst the leader helped with a ‘P’, Bookham to Effingham for a later than planned lunch at the ‘Sir Douglas Haig’, then East Horsley, Effingham junction, Downside, Cobham, Fairmile common, Oxshott heath, Claygate to Long Ditton for Tea & BP at ‘Squires garden centre’, then Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 4 new faces.

Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3215479 www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3215479

Sign for Cycling

SignForCycling Flyering Events Cover Photo London elects its next Mayor on 5 May. London Cycling Campaign has launched its biggest campaign yet, Sign for Cycling.

London stands at a crossroads; population levels are rising, our streets and public transport are getting busier, and our air is dangerously polluted. The only way forward is to get more people out of motor vehicles and into cycling and walking. The only ways to do this are to create safe space for cycling, to encourage more journeys to be made by bike, and to tackle lorry danger.

You can tell the Mayoral candidates that you want a city that really is healthier, greener and easier to get about. Imagine a better London! Please sign the petition today at signforcycling.org

Get involved locally

You can get involved in helping to spread the message in Kingston-upon-Thames, for example by helping us hand out leaflets, tag bikes, or collect petition signatures. Find out more about supporting the campaign at signforcycling.org/#getInvolved or contact us.

2 part Bread pudding ride to Twickenham & Nonsuch park

Pevansey Rd park

Sunday 20th March, Part 1. a cold cloudy day saw 14 Cyclists leave via Kingston bridge, Bushy park, to Hampton, Hanworth, Hanworth air-park, Pevensey Rd park, River Crane path, Kneller Gdns, Twickenham to the ‘Prince Blucher’ for lunch, then Strawberry hill, Teddington, Teddington footbridge, thames towpath to Kingston. Sub-total 14 Miles, 2 new faces.

Hogsmill path, Ewell

Part 2 With the temperature a degree or to warmer, but still cloudy, we said farewell to 9, but hello to 4 fresh faces, so 9 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, Greenway, Bonesgate path, Horton country park, West Ewell, St. Ebba’s path, Hogsmill path, Ewell village, East Ewell, to Nonsuch park, mixing with some of the ‘Sport relief’ walkers, for Tea & BP, then Worcester park, Old Malden, Malden manor, New Malden, Berrylands, to Kingston. Sub-total 17 Miles, Total 31 Miles.

Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3202072

Bread pudding ride to Woodmansterne

Woodmansterne green

Sunday 13th March. A bright mostly sunny day, but with a chilly Easterly wind, saw 22 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, Greenway, West Ewell, Hogsmill path, St. Ebba’s path, Epsom, Chalky lane, Epsom downs grandstand, Tattenham corner, Banstead to Woodmansterne for lunch at the ‘Woodman’, (with some minor gripes at the quantity of mash with the Bangers), after the photo stop at the ‘wood-carving’, via Clock house estate, Woodcote garden village, South Beddington to Beddington park for Tea & BP at’the Pavilion’, then Hackbridge, the Wrythe, Benhilton, Sutton, North Cheam, Worcester park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Total 30 Miles, Map:-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3197174