2 part ride to Morden & Molesey

Part 1, with numbers yo-yoing up & down, before the ride, eventually settling on 10 Cyclists, -no wait, we have 1 transfer from part 2-, left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Merton park, Morden Hall Park (2 visits & Photo), Ravensbury Park, Morden, Sutton Common Park, to Lower Morden for Lunch at the very welcoming Morden Brook (Greene King), Joseph Hood Park, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 16 Miles, thanks to the new back marker Yee-Liu. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2283507

Part 2 Now with mostly cloudy Skies, saying farewell to 6 & welcome to 5 fresh faces, 10 Cyclists left via Berrylands, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Giggs hill Green, Weston Green- almost losing 1 corner marker, as the tail found a small detour-, Esher, -with more threatening Skies, a strategic decision to shorten the route-, Molesey to East Molesey Cricket Club for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Miss Polly’s’ Cafe, -now with light Rain-, Hampton Court, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 13 Miles, Total 29 Miles. 1 new face, thanks to Ellie for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2283666

Midweek ride to West Horsley

Wednesday 14th June. Another warm, Sunny day, after 1 cancellation, 14 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham -almost got sucked into a Charity ride, on a Wednesday ?- to West Horsley for lunch at the delightful Barley Mow, East Horsley, Orestan Plantation, Effingham, Great Bookham, Fetcham (Photo), Leatherhead, Ashtead Common, to Epsom for Tea & refreshments at the Old Moat Garden centre Cafe, West Ewell, Tolworth & Greenway, Surbiton to finish back in Kingston. Total 32 Miles. Thanks to Chris F for back marking & others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1508730.

Bread pudding ride to Harmondsworth

Sunday 11th June. A bright Sunny morning, saw a total of 27 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Kingston Bridge, Hampton Wick, Teddington, Strawberry hill, River Crane path, pausing at the Shot Tower to explain its purpose, Whitton, Hounslow Heath (Photo Group 1), West Hounslow, Cranford, Harlington, Sipson, to Harmondsworth for lunch at the Crown, (with a few electing to visit the Five Bells to spread the load), (Photo group 2), then a visit to the ‘Great Barn’,- with 1 more who missed the start, joining group 1-, resuming the ride, Harmondsworth Moor, Poyle, Stanwell moor, Stanwell, Ashford- with 1 person in group 1 suffering ‘Seized Brakes’, forced to abandon the ride, with a 2nd person becoming dehydrated, also abandoning the ride, & 2 others staying with that victim until help arrived-, Sunbury, Feltham, Hanworth, -now with dark clouds, light Rain, but very large rain Drops & rumbles of Thunder-, Hampton, Bushy Park for Tea & Bread pudding at the Pheasantry, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, 5 new faces Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Toni Z for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.

Update Re Dot: After a refreshing Drink of Fanta, much refreshed & safely home.

Update from Paula: the shop have confirmed the Brake fluid level had dropped, it can mean in very hot conditions, the remaining fluid gets too hot, causing the Brakes to lock on.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/840250

Group 1 with the Hounslow Heath Dragonfly: Lindsay

Group 2 Harmondsworth Parish Church: Bai Kamara

Evening ride to Molesey

A bright sunny evening, with 1 late cancellation & 1 no show, but with 2 unexpected guests, 11 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, to find the planned route closed, so a small detour to King Charles Bridge, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth Common, Esher, East Molesey to West Molesey for refreshments at the always delightful Bell (Greene King), a bit more East Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 13 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Jon W for back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1207451 (Red dotted line shows intended route).

Bread pudding ride to Woodmansterne

Sunday 21st May. A largely Sunny day, after 2 late cancellations, -with our regular leader away (climbing many big Hills in Wales)-, 18 Cyclists left via Berrylands, Tolworth & Greenway, West Ewell, Epsom, Epsom Downs (Photo), Tattenham corner, Burgh Heath, Banstead, to Woodmansterne for lunch at the Woodman (Stonegate Pubs), -with 1 extra passenger (Photo)-, Woodcote, Beddington, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, Wandle trail, Morden, Morden Hall Park for Tea & Bread pudding at the National trust Cafe, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles. Special thanks to Bai for leading, thanks to John E for back marking & others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/623630

Epsom Downs, near Grandstand

Chris & her new friend….. is it, no it couldn’t be, but there is a resemblance of sorts.

Challenge ride to Dorney

Sunday 14th May. A rather grey morning, with the Sun appearing in time for lunch & Afternoon, after 1 late cancellation, 14 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Stanwell, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, Horton, Datchet, Jubilee River path, to Dorney for lunch at the fantastic Pineapple, -famous for their Doorstep Sandwiches, some did I believe take some home as it was too much in one go-, Summerleaze Footbridge, Fifield, Cranbourn Chase, Cranbourne gate Windsor Great Park, Bishopsgate, Englefield Green- including an unintended tour of the Cricket Green-, Egham, Staines Bridge, Staines, a short stretch of Thames path, Laleham, Shepperton, to Walton Bridge for Tea & Bread pudding at Wilde brunch Cafe, -a slight delay getting all moving, led to 1 of the group leading us ‘off Piste’, which makes a change from the leader going astray 😉-, Walton, Esher, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in Kingston. Total 49 Miles, thanks to John E for excellent back marking, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/141834

You can also watch Tracey’s brilliant video https://www.relive.cc/view/vxOQQB7Qw2O

Jubilee River path, Datchet. Credit Tracey & Lindsay

Midweek ride to Hanwell

Wednesday 10th May. A pleasant mostly Sunny Morning, saw 11 Cyclists try a new variation via Fairfield, North Kingston, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, -with an inattentive motorist, almost wiping out a couple of the group-, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Strand on the Green, Gunnersbury Park, West Acton, Ealing Common, Ealing Studios (Photo), West Ealing, Churchfield Park (with Hanwell Viaduct just visable above the trees), to Hanwell for lunch at the always delightful Fox, -with 1 brief heavy shower during lunch, & mostly light drizzle to follow-, passing the series of 6 Locks on the Grand Union Canal, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Isleworth, Cole Park- with an unwelcome visit from the ‘P Fairy’, but Bright sunshine to help the repair-, Twickenham, Crane River Path, -to find the Path flooded under the Railway, but a very narrow raised path alongside, just wide enough to push the Bikes along-, to Kneller Gardens for Tea & refreshments, Fulwell, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 27 Miles, Thanks to Dave P for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2240956

Evening ride to Hampton

Wednesday 26th April, after 1 late cancellation, 7 Cyclists left via the Station Bridge, North Kingston, Ham, Teddington Footbridge, Teddington, Fulwell, Hampton hill- with a slight navigational hiccup-, to Hampton for refreshments at the almost hidden Railway Bell, a bit more Hampton, Bushy Park -No moonlight & barely any Deer, but some very bright Cycle lights-, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 12 Miles, thanks to Jon W for back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1872658

Bread pudding ride to Effingham

Sunday 23rd April, A day with mostly light Rain after 2 cancellations, saw 17 Cyclists leave via Cranes park, King Charles Bridge, Tolworth, West Ewell, Long grove Park, Ashtead Common, Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham to Effingham for the recently re-opened Queen stage for lunch, Effingham Junction, Ockham, Hatchford,- with 2 people deciding to (almost) Swim the flooded road, whilst the remainder of the group taking a small detour-, Cobham, Fairmile, to Esher for Tea & Bread pudding at Claremont lakes, -now with bright Sunshine-, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton to finish back in tthe Market place. Total 29 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading a few sections of the ride (and entering the Duathlon), thanks to John E for back marking & others for marking corners, thanks at short notice to Christine for the BP. Sorry no Photo this time.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1866719

Bread pudding ride to Harrow

Sunday 16th April, Spring has finally arrived, a dry warm day, sadly nott much Sun, (let’s not be greedy), after 1 late cancellation & 1 un-announced guest, 16 Cyclists left via the Station Bridge, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Grove park, Chiswick, Acton, Park Royal, Stonebridge, Wembley, Kenton, Kenton Rec, Belmont, to Harrow for lunch at ‘Duck in the Pond’ (Ember Inns), Harrow Weald, Headstone Manor Rec (Photo), South Harrow, Northolt, -alas a dropped chain led to the tail briefly losing touch with the main party, at probably the most complex part of the ride to cross Target Roundabout-, Northala fields, Southall -with a touch of wheels causing a fall, no injuries, but another slipped Chain-, Norwood green, to Osterley Park for Tea & Bread Pudding, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & finally, the reopened Cycle path on Kingston Bridge. Total 40 Miles, thanks to Amy for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/755785

Headstone Manor Rec & Tulips: Lindsay

Kingston Cycling Campaign

Promoting safer and more enjoyable cycling in South West London and beyond

Author: rogerdodge59