Midweek ride to Pyrford Lock

Wednesday 15th April, a mostly overcast day, with light drizzle for the Morning, occasional glimpses of Sun later, after 2 late cancellations, 15 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd, Surbiton, Long Ditton- joined by 1 more (16)-, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, the ‘new Wisley lane Cyclepath’, only to find a temporary detour for the Road has swallowed part of the path 😒, Wisley, to Pyrford Lock for lunch at the Anchor (Hall & Woodhouse), return to Wisley, Byfleet village, Brookllands Park, Weybridge, to the delightfully quaint, Whiteley village for refreshments at the new Community Cafe, also pausing near the Lake (Photo), Hersham, Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Steve D for back marking, thanks to Toni & others for corner marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2006267.

Bread pudding ride to West End/ Donkey Town

Sunday 12th April, with a blustery Headwind, 1 person lost somewhere in the town, 16 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd,- joined by 1 more, alas that person had a visit from the ‘P fairy’, decided to head for home-, Giggshill green, alas a small tumble for 1 of the group, seemed to be OK at first, but a little later, deciding the swelling needed attenttion, another abandon 😒-, Weston Green, Esher, Walton- joined by 1 more (17)-, Weybridge, Addlestone, Bretlands, Homewood Park- a brief but heavy Hailstorm, more or less over by the time everyone had donned Waterproofs-, Foxhills, Gracious Pond, Burrowhill, to West End, (also known as Donkey town?) for lunch at the Hare & Hounds, (Hall & Woodhouse),very speedy service thanks to our pre-orders 👍, Pennypot, Chobham, Foxhills- from the other direction-, Ottershaw, Addlestone, Weybridge, Cowey Sale (Photo), to Walton Bridge, – to find the planned Tea stop had a few power problems, but fortunately the nearby Boathouse Cafe was fine, Walton, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in Kingston. Total 42 Miles, thanks to Lindsay for back marking, thanks to Steve, Amy & others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3038427

Cowey Sale, near Walton Bridge with Swans: Lindsay

2 part ride to Teddington & Epsom

Part 1. A fairly bright Morning, with occasional glimpses of the Sun, with 2 late bookings, 22 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via the Station Bridge, North Kingston, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Tamsin trail, Petersham gate, Richmond, Richmond Bridge, St Margarets, Cole park, Twickenham junction Rough path- it’s actually quite nice- (Photo group 1), Fulwell, Teddington for lunch at the recently reopened Lion, -very helpful, friendly staff-, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston, Sub total 13 Miles, 4 new faces, special thanks to Steve F for leading group 2, thanks to Yee-liu & Toni for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3254716

Group 1 Twickenham Junction Rough- actually quite nice: Lindsay

Part 2 Now quite Chilly & overcast, Saying farewell to 15, welcome 2 fresh faces, 1 group of 9 left via Fairfield, Norbiton- the leader unwisely deciding to show some of the Highlights & drawbacks of the new Cambridge Rd track, alas I hadn’t spotted that Chelsea ladies had been playing at home, thus somewhat congested with pedestrian Traffic-, New Malden, Malden manor, Cuddington, Auriol Park, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, Nescot path, to Alexandra Park for refrershments at the Park view Cafe,-now with light but cold drizzle-, Epsom, Ewell Village, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 15 Miles, Total 28 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking, No photo for part 2. Map http://www.plotaroute.com/route/2559381

Breadpudding ride to Battersea

Sunday 22nd March. A Cloudy day with occasional glimpses of Sun, after 2 late cancellations, 24 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands- group 2 joined by 1 more-, New Malden, Motspur park, Lower Morden, Morden Park, Morden, Morden Hall Park, Mitcham, Tooting, Tooting Bec Common- busy with pedestrian & Dog traffic-(Photo group 1), Clapham, Clapham Common- with a huge Queue seemingly for free Easter Eggs-, Old Town, Battersea for lunch at the recently refurbiished & renamed Falconbrook (Portobello pubs), a bit more Battersea, Thames path, Wandsworth, Wandsworth Park, Putney, Barnes, East Sheen, to Palewell Common Cafe for refreshments- now just 1 group as some have headed home-, Sheen gate Richmond Park, Ham gate, Ham, Aerospace estate, to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, Special thanks to Andrea C for leading group 2, thanks to Andrea E & Ellie for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3259616

Group 1 Tooting Bec Common Pond: Lindsay

Midweek ride to West Wickham

Wednesday 18th March, A very pleasant sunny day, with a slight Headwind at times, saw 20 Cyclists spliit into 2 groups, leave via the Beeline way, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Merton park, Morden Hall Park, Colliers wood, Tooting- Group 1 joined by 1 more-, Graveney, Streatham vale, Norbury, Thornton heath, Heavers Meadow, Woodside, Ashburton Field, Shirley, Elmers End, Langley, to West Wickham for lunch at the Railway (Ember Inns), a different part of Shirley, Addiscombe, Lloyd Park (Photo’s x2), South Croydon, Waddon, Beddington, Beddington Park, to Carshalton for Refreshments at ‘Sassis in the Grove’, the Wrythe, Benhilton, Pyll Brook path, North Cheam, Joseph Hood Park, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 31 Miles, special thanks to Pete Mastenko for leading group 2, thanks to Steve D & Celia for back mmarking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1579827

Group 1 Lloyd Park, with a field of Daffodils: Lindsay

Same Daffodils as Group 1, from another angle: Pete M

Bread pudding ride to Ripley

With Grey overcast skies, & just a few drips & drops of rain, after 2 cancellations, 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, then via Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile- with group 1 having a visit from the ‘P fairy, thus group 2 took the lead-, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to Ripley for lunch at the Jovial Sailor (Barons pubs), now with Blue skies & some Sun, still with group 2 in front, via Send Marsh, Newark- taking advantage of the ‘closed Road’-, (Photo, group 1), Pyrford, a brief visit to the Wey navigation, Byfleet village, Brooklands Park (Photo group 2), -somehow Group 1 managed to grab the lead back 🙄-, Weybridge, Walton, Molesey, to Molesey Cricket club for Tea & refreshments at Miss Polly’s, East Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 33 Miles, 1 special guest, having last joined us over 10 years ago! Special thanks to Celia for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Andrea C for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1557141

Group 1 with Newark Priory in the background, fortuitously with a closed Road: Lindsay

Group 2, Brooklands Park, Group 1 even tried to Photobomb the shot, but they did snatch the lead back instead: Celia

Midweek ride to Northolt

Wednesday 18th February. Just when I was beginning to think we had passed the worst of Winter, the weather gods, decided to send an Icy blast. so not too surprising, 7 cancelations, & 1 no show, thus only 1 group of 10 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, a short bit of River Crane path, Whitton, Hounslow, Osterley, Osterley Park,- with our leader suffering a minor mechanical issue, time to put the ‘spare leader’ to good use-, problem sorted, Norwood Green, Southall, Greenford, Northala Fields, to Northolt for lunch at the Greenwood Hotel, ( a spctacular Art Deco interior), now with a Freezing Headwind, a bit more Greenford, Hanwell, the Boston road path, Brentford & a lovely area with Georgian houses (18th C) (Photo)- the Butts, to Syon Park for Tea & refreeshments at the Clocktower Cafe, Isleworth- to find the Thames somewhat overflowing, (Photo), not being easy to assess how deep until after, we dismounted & walked the short distance on a higher path-, Cole park, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, special thanks to Mags for taking the lead briefly, thanks to Steve D & John E for sharing the back marking duties.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/714331

Challenge ride to Downe

Sunday 8th February. A mostly Cloudy but dry day saw 17 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave New Malden, via Motspur park, North Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton, Bedddington Park, Waddon, Croydon, Selhurst- joined by 1 more for group 1-, Heavers Meadow, Woodside, Ashburton Field, Shirley, West Wickham, Coney Hall, Keston, to Downe for lunch at the super friendly Queens Head, a detour to see Down House, home of Charles Darwin, for both groups (photo), then splitting again, High Elms, Farnborough (not that one), Orpington, Crofton, Southborough, Norman Park, Bromley, to Beckenham for Tea & refreshments at Kelsey Park Cafe- despite the Main gate being closed-, with a re-jig of the Groups, 1 returning to New Malden, gr 2 for those who might want to head for other destinations, Elmers End, a strategic decision to avoid South Norwood Park which would likely be quite Marshy after recent Rain, so Beckenham Cemetery instead, South Norwood, Heavers Meadow, Thornton heath, Pollards hill, Mitcham, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 45 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Nigel for leading group 2, thanks to Celia & Andrea E for back marking each group.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/699556

Bread pudding ride to Thorpe Green

Sunday 25th January, A mostly cloudy day, with some light Drizzle, after 3 late cancellations, it was decided to go with just 1 group of 16 Cyclists, via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Knowle Green, Staines (Photo, with a Swan upper), Egham, Pooley, Stroud, to Thorpe Green for lunch at the Rose & Crown (Barons Pubs), Lyne, Bretlands, Addlestone, Victory Park, Weybridge, to Walton for Tea & refreshments at the Riverside barn (a new Tea venue), -alas 1 person had suffered a visit from the ‘P fairy’, withh a protracted repair-, more Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 31 Miles. Thanks to Andrea C for being ready to lead group 2, thanks to Andrea E & Celia for sharing the back marking. Post ride I did present my award for ride assistant of 2025 to both Andrea C & Celia. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2802886

With Swan Upper, Staines riverside: Lindsay

Midweek ride to Maida Vale

Wednesday 14th January. A very chilly but Sunny Morning, mostly cloudy afternoon, after 3 late cancellations, 17 Cyclists split into 2 groups, left via Skerne Rd, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate Richmond Park- group 1 joined by 1 more-, Sheen gate, Barnes- a long wait at the Level crossinng, saw group 2 almost catch group 1, but then sadly saw a visit from the ‘P fairy’-, Hammersmith Bridge, Hammersmith, Shepherds Bush, North Kensington- a second visit from the ‘P fairy’ for group 2-, Kilburn, to Maida Vale for lunch at the Carlton Tavern, then Paddington to pause at the ‘Real time Clock‘, by Maarten Baas, Bayswater to view the ‘fake houses, hiding the District line, Kensington Gardens (Photo x2), South Kensington, Brompton Cemetery, Fulham, Putney Bridge, Putney, Barnes Common, Roehampton gate- with a vote not too stop for Tea, as the Skies seemed to be threatening Rain-, Kingston gate, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, special thanks to Pete M for leading group 2, thanks to Dave P & John E for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2162317

Group 1 Kensington Gardens: Lindsay

Kingston Cycling Campaign

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