Midweek ride to Pimlico

Wednesday 17th September. With just a few drops of drizzle, after 1 late cancellation, & 1 unexpected guest, – including 1 person who forgot the starting point,- 16 Cyclists leave on the Beeline, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, South Wimbledon, Wandle Trail- with a minor Gear change issue, soon fixed-, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Stockwell, Vauxhall, to Pimlico for lunch at the White Swan (McMullens), Westminster- thankfully before the ‘anti Trump protest march’-, Victoria Embankment (C3), Southwark Bridge (C7), also C14 & C10, Burgess Park (Photo), Loughborough, Brixton, Brockwell Park, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, to Tooting Bec Common for Tea & refreshments, Tooting, Colliers wood, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 30 Miles, 2 new faces, special thanks to Ellie for back marking at short notice. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3104112

Evening ride to Twickenham

Wednesday 10th September, with some light Drizzle, after 1 late cancellation & 1 unexpected guest, 7 Cyclists left via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, Petersham gate, Richmond, Richmond Bridge, St Margarets, Isleworth, Whitton, to Twickenham for refreshments at the Sussex Arms, also meeting a few other old friends, then Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 12 Miles. Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/837624

2 part ride to Twickenham & Morden Hall

Sunday 7th September, Part 1 A mostly Sunny Morning with 1 late cancellation & 1 late booking, 10 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, to stop briefly near the site of SHAEF, (Photo), Hampton, & Nurserylands estate, Hanworth, Hanworth Air Park, Leitrim Park, River Crane path, Kneller Gardens, to Twickenham for lunch at the Prince Blucher (Fullers), Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 14 Miles, thanks to Lindsay for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3097236

Bushy Park near the site of SHAEF: Lindsay

Part 2 An absolutely packed Market place with the Kingston Carnival taking place, saying farewell to 4, welcome to 3 fresh faces- 1 no show, possibly unable to find the group-, 9 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, Joseph Hood Park, Morden Park, Morden, to Morden Hall Park for refreshments at the ‘Potters Shed Cafe’, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, Beeline, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 14 Miles, Total 28 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Andrea C for leading, thanks to Wendy T for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3089822

Midweek ride to West Horsley

Wednesday 20th August. A rather cloudy Morning, gradually brighter in the afternoon, with a late surge in bookings & finding that the Co-leader had decided to do a Recce ride without support, alas 3 late cancellations, & 1 late booking, 17 cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton,- 1 more for group 1, (18)-, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham (Photo group 1), to West Horsley for lunch at the Barley Mow, East Horsley, Orestan Common, Effingham, Bookham, Fetcham, (Photo group 2), Leatherhead, Ashtead, Ashtead Park, Woodcote, Epsom, to Alexandra park for Tea & refreshments at Park view Cafe,- now just 1 group-, Ewell village, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Special thanks to Celia for superb leading of group 2, without a ‘shadow leader’, as had been planned, thanks to Steve D & Toni for back marking each group. 2 new faces. Total 33 Miles. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1508730

Group 1, Long Reach, West Horsley: Lindsay

Bread pudding ride to Addlestone

Sunday 17th August. A glorious sunny day saw 21Cyclists- hang on, there’s 1 extra who hadn’t booked (22)-, split into 2 groups, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, – Oh look my Limo, no wait, they’ve sent 2 identical, no there’s even more, turns out they were celebrating 60 Years since the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow first appeared-, Byfleet, New Haw, Rowtown, to Addllestone for lunch at the Pelican, -next to the Wey Navigation-, Victory Park, Chertsey Mead, (Photo group 1), Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton, Halliford, to Lower Sunbury for Tea & refreshments at the walled Garden, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Mags for leading group 2, thanks to Ellie & Will for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1868983

A rather ‘unruly group 2’, near Brooklands Museum.

One of the more colourful Silver Shadow’s, Brooklands: John R

Evening ride to Wimbledon

Wednesday 13th August, a warm evening, – thankful that the ‘Mini storm’ passed by in the Afternoon, so 16 Cyclists left via Lower marsh, Berrylands- joined by 1 more-, New Malden, Motspur park, Cannon hill Common, Merton park, South Wimbledon to Wimbledon for refreshments at the Sultan (Hop back), more Wimbledon, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 14 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to Yee-liu for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3075615

Challenge ride to Holmbury St Mary

Sunday 10th August, a gorgeous Sunny day, after 1 late cancellation, with 1 late booking, 17 Cyclist’s split into 2 groups- with group 2 leader slightly late due to a cancelled Train-, left the Market via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher- joined by 1 more for group 1-, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, Effingham, Whitedown, Abinger, to Holmbury St Mary for lunch at the delightful Royal Oak, – joined by 2 more (20)-, with a sudden change of leader for group 1 ( the back marker deciding maybe she could ‘dip her Toe in’ to see if she could lead a group), back to Abinger, Friday Street, Wotton, Westcott, Milton Court (Photo group 1), Dorking, Meadowbank Park, A24 Cycle track, Norbury Park Farm (Photo group 2), to Bocketts Farm Cafe for refreshments, – with leadership for gr 1 reverting to yours truly due to Battery running low on the Sat Nav-, Leatherhead, Ashtead, Ashtead Common, Epsom Common, Long Grove Park, West Ewell, Tolworth, Berrylands, to finish back in Kingston. Total 45 Miles, very special thanks to Nigel for leading group 2, special thanks to Chris for leading part of the ride, thanks to Chris F & Andrea E for back marking, with Celia stepping in whilst Chris was at the front. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/653318

Group 2, on the Mole Bridge, Norbury Park Farm: Nigel

Bai Kamara 1974- 2025

I think it was 2013 when Bai first joined 1 of our rides, initially quite cagey about his work, saying that he ‘worked with the Police’, only after 3 or 4 rides did he admit he was actually a detective in the fraud department, always likable & with a huge smiling face. It was during the Covid pandemic, when the Government announced, we could ‘exercise in small groups of 6’, I asked for volunteers to lead a sub-group, Bai was 1 of the first to put his hand up, as time progressed & rules were relaxed a little, we did realise that smaller groups actually helped the ride flow better & the LCC decided a maximum of 15 in a group, plus Leader & Marshals, Bai remained the most consistant, reliable group leader & sometimes if I was away on Holiday, he would lead the whole ride. When in 2023 we started the Fun Family rides, again Bai was 1 of the first to offer to help marshal the rides, even if the first ride didn’t go as smooth as we hoped, Bai ending up shepherding 1 youngster on a Balance Bike, he wasn’t deterred, he continued to lead a group or Marshal a ride until the end.

There are many more Pictures on a Google page:- https://photos.app.goo.gl/oZCgUjcP3UeWnQva6

RiP big fella.

Bread pudding ride to Harmondsworth

Sunday 27th July. A mostly overcast but dry day, a subdued mood & a Minutes silence following the sudden death of our good friend Bai, with 1 no show, 16 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Stanwell, Stanwell moor, Poyle, Harmondsworth Moor- with a pile of Garden rubbish seemingly deliberately blocking the exit from the path👎-, to Harmondsworth for lunch at the Crown (very good value grub 👍), after a quick visit to the Great Barn, Sipson, Harlington- including a special Water feature in the Subway under the M4, was it a message from our friend now in heaven, to remind us all of a similar incident when he found himself in much deeper water a few years ago?-, Hayes, Grand union Canal towpath, Southall, Norwood Green, – sadly the P fairy had payed a visit to 1, but as we were so close to our Tea stop in Osterley Park, others continued, whilst the repair was swiftly performed-, after pausing at the House for a Photo, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingstoon Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 1 almost new visitor (6 years or so since last visit), thanks to Chris F for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/840250

Evening ride to Ewell

Wednesday 23rd July. A bright evening saw 10 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands- collecting 1 more (11)-, Tolworth, Old Malden, Auriol Park, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park,- a brief impasse after a dislodged chain-, East Ewell, to Ewell village for refreshments at the friendly Wheatsheaf, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 13 Miles, thanks to Steve F for back marking.

Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/2318838

Kingston Cycling Campaign

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

Author: rogerdodge59