Challenge ride to Walliswood

Near Okewood Hill, with Leath Hill in the background

Near Okewood Hill, with Leath Hill in the background

Sunday 9th August. A hot Sunny day saw 19 Cyclists gather at Tolworth Station for the Summer special Challenge ride leave via, the ‘Bonesgate’ path, Horton country park (where a small twig almost terminated the leaders ride, thankfully just the front mudguard payed the price), Ashtead common, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Great Bookham, Effingham, White down, Abinger, Holmbury St. Mary, Forest green to Walliswood for a splendid lunch at ‘the Scarlett arms’. Then via Okewood hill, Tipham, Ockley, Capel, Newdigate, Shellwood cross to Brockham Church for Tea & BP, then Betchworth park, Pixham, Westhumble, Juniper hill, Headley, Langley vale, Woodcote, Epsom common, West Ewell to Tolworth.     Total 50 Miles, 5 new faces, 38 very tired legs.
Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/103102

Feeder ride to London freewheel

Richmond park feeder ride to Freewheel

Saturday 1st August. A bright sunny day saw approx 80 Cyclists leave the Market place, via Skerne Rd, Kingston gate of Richmond park, to Roehampton gate, with the numbers now swelled to 100 plus, then Barnes, Thames towpath, Putney Bridge, Fulham, Parsons green, Brompton cemetery, South Kensington, Belgravia, to Buckingham gate to join the central route for Freewheel. After a well earned lunch, the return ride gathered on Birdcage walk with about 50 Cyclists leaving via Constitution hill, to Hyde park, to Queens gate, Kensington to rejoin the outward route, Brompton Cemetery, Parsons green, Fulham, Putney bridge, an ‘almost overflowing’ Thames towpath, Barnes, Roehampton gate of Richmond park to Kingston gate, with only 10 cyclists finishing at the Market place. A very big thank-you to all the Marshals who helped Roger lead the ride.

Train assisted ride from Woking

Sunbury lock

Sunbury lock

Sunday 26th July. A mostly dull wet day, saw 11 Cyclists, (with 4 other non straters) gather at Woking, with the heavy rain stopping before we got to the Basingstoke canal towpath, then St. Johns, Knaphill, Bisley, Donkey town, Lightwater, Windlesham, to Chobham common for lunch at the ‘Four Horseshoes’, then via Gracious pond, Homewood park, Addlestone, Weybridge, Oatlands park, Ashley park, Walton on Thames, Thames towpath, Sunbury lock to say hello to Tony, (assistant lock-keeper ), Molesey where a jammed derailier almost finished our leaders ride, thankfully a bit of judicious twisting allowed us to continue to Molesey Cricket club for Tea & BP, then Hampton court bridge, more towpath to Kingston bridge & the Market place. Total 31 Miles, 2 new faces.
Map:-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3034076

Evening ride to Ewell

A dry bright evening saw 11 Cyclists leave via lower marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden manor, Stoneliegh, Nonsuch park, East Ewell, Ewell village for refreshments at the Wheatsheaf, the West Ewell, hogsmill path, Tolworth, where a puncture sufferer needed assistance from the leader, so the leaders baton passed to John W, back to Kingston. Total 14 Miles, 1 new face.

Ride London, Freecycle 1 August 2015

Ride London, Freecycle event. Saturday 1st August, the freecycle event is where the Mayor of London closes some of the central London streets to traffic for 1 day, this year it is Saturday 1st of August, why not join the Kingston Cycle Campaign ride from Kingston Market place starting at 9.45am, about 14 Miles, the route uses mostly quiet parks & roads, with no steep hills, it will take approx 2 hours & will be led by our regular ride leader Roger, supported by several other Marshals to show the way. If you wish you can register on the Ride London website, but there is no need, you can just turn up at the Market place on the day.

There will be a return ride leaving at 3.00pm from Birdcage walk.
www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/The_Events/FreeCycle/Register.htm
Note. Anyone under 16 is very welcome, but must be accompanied by a responsible Adult. Do remember to carry some drinking water, also Suncream if it’s a hot day.

Bread pudding ride to Send Marsh

Wey Navigation at New Haw

Wey Navigation at New Haw

Sunday 12th July. A mostly cloudy day with light drizzle in the Morning, saw 19 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Claygate, Stokesheath Rd, Oxshott, Stoke D’Abernon, Downside, Ockham, Groveheath to Send Marsh for lunch at ‘the Saddlers arms, also bumping into a small contingent of CTC ‘Sou’westers’. Afterwards via Pyrford, West Byfleet, Basingstoke Canal & Wey Navigation towpath to Weybridge, Thames towpath to Walton bridge for Tea & BP at ‘Gino’s’, then Ashley park, Walton park, Esher, Weston green, Giggs hill green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, 1 Puncture.

Map :-www.plotaroute.com/route/90179

Dieppe weekend 2015

Team Photo Dieppe 2015

Day 1. A cloudy but otherwise dry day saw 4 intrepid Cyclists gather at Tolworth, for the journey via the Hogsmill path, West Ewell, Epsom, Langley vale, Headley, Pebblecombe, Betchworth, then Reigate garden centre for Tea, then Earlswood common, Redhill Airfield, Smallfield, Crawley down to Turners hill for lunch at ‘the Crown’. Continuing via Ardingly, Lindfield, Scaynes hill, Wivelsfield, green to Plumpton for more refreshments at ‘the Plough’, then Chiltington, Offham, Kingston, (near Lewis), Rodmell to Southease for our stay at the YHA, before an Evening walk back to Rodmell for Dinner at the ‘Abergavenny Arms’. Total 54 Miles.

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New Malden – Raynes Park link

NM-RP2.29.6.15.

Illustration of New Malden end of route

The next Mini Holland Project in Kingston is the New Malden to Raynes Park greenway on a Thames Water Main and Sewer alongside the railway under the A3 dual carriageway.

This was taken to the next stage at the Council committee on Thursday 25 June. Initially Thames Water appeared to want £1m plus apparently to check this link won’t damage any of their pipes ! Following a meeting with TfL and RBK we understand Thames Water accept they can’t use the greenway as an opportunity to replace their infrastructure at the taxpayer’s expense.
There are also local protesters who do not want the route built. We look forward to engaging with them during the consultation in due course.

Set your pedals for Portsmouth Road Mini Holland Scheme !

Illustration of Portsmouth Road scheme

Illustration of Portsmouth Road scheme

On 25 June Kingston Councillors unanimously voted to approve the revised proposals for Portsmouth Road. Work will now start on the detailed design stage and construction schedule. The current programme is for construction work to start winter 2015 and be completed Summer 2016. We hope that ambitious timescale can now be adhered to.

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2 part Bread pudding ride to New Malden and Marble Hill

Some Kingston Cyclists on a two part ride

Some Kingston Cyclists on a two part ride

Sunday 21st June. Part 1, A mostly bright day saw 19 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Claygate, Malden rushett, Horton park, Long grove park, West Ewell, Hogsmill path, Tolworth, Malden manor to New Malden for lunch at ‘Woodies’, then via Berrylands and lower marsh to Kingston. Sub total 16 Miles, 3 new faces. Part 2, farewell to 9, hello to 3 fresh faces so 13 Cyclists left via Canbury Gardens, towpath to Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham House, Towpath to Richmond, O’Higgins Square, Richmond bridge, towpath to Marble hill house for Tea & BP, then St. Margerets, Twickenham, Kneller Gardens, Crane river path, Fulwell, Hampton, Bushy park, where a wayward Child Cyclist, (not with us), almost caused a calamitous incident with 2 of our group suffering some minor bruises, Hampton wick, Kingston Bridge. Sub total 14 Miles, Total 30 Miles.