Challenge ride to Harrow

Sunday 3rd February. A cold, Sunny day saw 14 Cyclists gather for the first Challenge ride of 2019, leave via Skerne Rd, Latchmere,- with 1 person having Gear & Freewheel problems, deciding to leave us-, Ham Gate Richmond Park, to Sheen gate, Sheen, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, -with 1 extra Cyclist, managing to predict our route, so back to 14-, Chiswick, Acton, – with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, the victim insisting on the rest of the party continuing, – Park Royal, Stonebridge park, Wembley, where an Icy Cycle path caused our Leader to have an unplanned dismount, (a useful lesson to others to take it easy), Preston, Kenton, Kenton Park, Belmont to Harrow Weald for lunch at ‘the Duck in the Pond’,-with the ‘P victim’ managing to join us-, followed by a ‘steady climb’, to Harrow Weald Common, (Photo), Hatch end, Headstone, Headstone Manor Park, West Harrow, South Harrow, Northolt Park (a former Race track, the reason the area is now known as ‘the Racecourse Estate’), Northolt, Northala Field,- with no enthusiasm for an ‘alfresco tea stop’, Greenford, Southall, Norwood Green, to Osterley Park for Tea & Bread pudding, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & Kingston Bridge. Total 42 Miles, 1 visit from the P fairy, 1 other Mechanical, 1 Icy slip, thanks to Andrea for Back marking duties, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John for the BP.

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

Bread pudding ride to Ashtead

Fetcham Mill Pond

Sunday 20th January A bright, Sunny but Chilly day saw 22 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor, Worcester park, a somewhat busy Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, the ‘Nescot path’, Epsom, Woodcote, Ashtead Park- meeting a small detachment of the ‘Sou’westers’ in the opposite direction-, to Ashtead for lunch at ‘the Woodman’, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham Common, Downside, Cobham, Fairmile Estate, Portsmouth Rd to Claremont Lake, (National Trust) for Tea & Bread pudding, (with a victim of the ‘P fairy’ swiftly repaired) Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 3 new faces, 1 visit from the ‘P fairy, thanks to Mike for Back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John for the BP.

Map: www.plotaroute.com/route/749756

Midweek ride to Pimlico

Victoria Embankment

Thursday 17th January, a bright, Chilly day saw 7 Cyclists remember the different day, & alternative start, from New Malden, via Shannons corner, Raynes park, Cannon hill, Merton park, South Wimbledon, Wandle trail, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Vauxhall, to join ‘Cycle Superhighway 5, (CS5) across Vauxhall Bridge to Pimlico for an early lunch at the ‘White Swan’, Parliament Sq, to join CS3, (Victoria Embankment), to Southwark Bridge & CS7, (still mostly Blue paint), Borough, Walworth, Burgess Park, Camberwell, Loughborough Junction, Brockwell Park, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, Tooting Bec Common, (too cold for an ‘Alfresco Tea stop’), Tooting, Mitcham, Phipps Bridge, to Morden Hall Park Cafe for Tea & Cake, then South Morden, Morden Park, Morden Cemetery, Motspur Park, to New Malden. Total 32 Miles, thanks to Ellie for Back marking, & others for marking corners, thanks to Derek for the Dundee cake.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/747539

Bread pudding ride to Putn… erm, Wandsworth

Sunday 6th January. A largely overcast day, with a couple of brighter spells saw 19 Cyclists ready for the first ride of 2019, leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Clapperstile gate, ( with 1 extra catching the tail at the 2nd attempt), Teddington, Teddington Footbridge, Thames Towpath, Petersham, Petersham gate, Richmond Park, Sheen gate, Palewell, Barnes, Towpath again, to Putney, – where the chosen lunch stop was already stuffed with Football supporters prior to the Fulham/ Oldham game-, with a small group electing to have lunch at a Cafe, the main party continued to Wandsworth, with option 2, not having food, -alas 1 person realising they had left a Pannier at the 1st stop-, option 3 ‘the Garrett Tavern’, more than satisfying our needs, with all the lost sheep back with the group, the Wandle trail, Earlsfield, more Wandle path, South Wimbledon, Merton park, Lower Morden to the Wyevale Garden centre for Tea & Bread Pudding, Morden Cemetery, Joseph Hood Park, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands, to Kingston. Total 27 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Amy for back marking & others for corner marking, thanks to John for the BP.

Map:-http://www.plotaroute.com/route/741349

Midweek ride to Ashtead

Isle of Wight Pond, Bookham Common

Wednesday 12th December. A cool day, with Sunny spells, saw 9 Cyclists, leave via the Portsmouth Rd track, Hinchley wood, Littleworth, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, Bookham Common, Fetcham, Leatherhead, to Ashtead for lunch at the ‘Woodman’, Ashtead Park, Epsom, West Ewell, Chessington, to Long Ditton for Tea & Refreshments at Squires Garden centre, Surbiton, to Kingston, Total 28 Miles, thanks to Ellie for back marking duties.

Map:- http://www.bikemap.net/en/r/4716052

Christmas special Bread pudding ride to Woodies

Sunday 9th December. A day, with a heavy Shower finishing before the start, Bright Sunshine, mixed with heavy Clouds, saw 24 Cyclists leave the Market place via the Portsmouth Rd track, Giggshill green, Western Green, Esher, Claygate, Chessington, Bonesgate path, Tolworth, Malden Manor, to New Malden for lunch at Woodies freehouse, adding an extra 6 people that had somehow found the Pub independantly, 😉 afterwards, John announced the winner for the best attendance on this years rides for John E, Roger gave the award for best support Rider to Jon W, Bai said a very big thanks to the Leadership from Roger, the Catering to John D & Derek, some decided to stay for more refreshments, some headed for Home, but 16 were insistant that more Cycling was required, so via, Berrylands, Tolworth, Long Ditton, Thames Ditton, a very busy Hampton Court Roundabout, Bushy Park, Fulwell to Squires Garden centre, for Tea & Bread pudding, with darkened Skies, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Total 24 Miles, thanks to Steve F & Amy for back marking duties, and many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-http://www.plotaroute.com/route/721930

2 part ride to Twickenham & Hersham

Sunday 25th November. Part 1, a mostly Cloudy, chilly day saw 22 Cyclists leave via Skerne Rd, Lower Ham Rd, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond Park, to Petersham gate, Richmond Bridge, Ducks Walk, -pausing briefly to see the Memorial Plaque for Charles Lightoller, the most senior Officer to survive the Titanic -, thanks to Rob for the news
Charles Lightoller , St Margeret’s, Isleworth, Whitton, Kneller Gardens to Twickenham for lunch at the ‘Prince Blucher’, Strawberry Hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & Kingston Bridge. Sub Total 12 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to John E for back marking & many others for watching corners.

Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/723496

Part 2. Still cold & Cloudy, farewell to 10, & welcome 3 fresh faces, so 15 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton Court Bridge, Thames Towpath to Walton on Thames, Ashley Park, Burwood Park, to Hersham Garden centre for Tea & Bread Pudding, Hersham, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd & track to a very busy Market place. Sub total 16 Miles, Total 28 Miles, thanks once again to John E for back marking, & others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP

Map:-http://www.plotaroute.com/route/723510

Bread pudding ride to Streatham

Brixton Windmill

Sunday 11th November, on a mostly bright, Sunny day, would those who signed the Armistice 100 years ago have expected a group to find a War memorial to reflect for the 2 minute silence, then Cycle onward, yet 18 Cyclists, went via Cranes park, King Charles Bridge, Berrylands, New Malden, to pause at the ‘Malden & Coombe War Memorial, for the 2 minute silence, afterwards, Andrea read a few words from ‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:’, by Laurence Binyon , Lisa also reminded us that in modern Wars, it is the Civilian population that bears the brunt of hostilities, with that, we resumed our journey, via Motspur park, Cannon Hill, Morden, Merton park, South Wimbledon, Tooting, Tooting Bec Common, to Streatham Hill for lunch at ‘the Crown & Sceptre’, afterwards, finding a heavy Shower had dampened the Saddles, (I’m getting good at timing lunch to avoid the Rain, 😉 (see Midweek ride to Northolt)), Tulse Hill, Brockwell Park, to Brixton Windmill, Clapham park, Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, where Mags pointed out the location of the ‘Royal Victoria Patriotic Building , Earlsfield, to Wimbledon Park for Tea & Bread pudding, Wimbledon Village, CopseHill, Malden Golf course, Mount Pleasant, Norbiton to Kingston. Total 26 Miles, thanks to Andrea for Back marking duties, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/717450

Midweek ride to Northolt

Northala Field, Northolt

Wednesday 7th November, a mixed day with Slight Showers intermingled with Sunny spells, & Stiff breeze, saw 8 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, River Crane path, Whitton, Hounslow, Osterley, Osterley Park, Norwood green, Southall, Northala Fields, to Northolt for lunch at the very reasonable ‘Crown’, -with a very heavy Shower hitting over lunch, ;-)-,then joining the Grand union Canal towpath (Paddington branch), to North Greenford, Greenford, Hanwell- pausing briefly to admire the ‘Wharncliffe Viaduct’-, more GU Canal towpath, Brentford, to Syon Park for Tea at the Garden centre, Isleworth, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & Kingston Bridge. Total 29 Miles, thanks to Steve D for back marking.

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

Bread Pudding ride to Wraysbury

Penton Hook

Sunday 21st October. A Warm Sunny day saw 24 Cyclists, with 1 extra arriving just in time , so 25 left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, (with everyone following the leaders ‘Squeaky Brakes’, me thinks the Pads have reached the end of life), Hampton, Hanworth, Feltham, Bedfont, Stanwell, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, to Wraysbury for lunch at a very hospitable ‘Perseverance’, then Hythe end, Staines upon Thames, Thames Towpath, Penton Hook, Laleham, -with 3 of the group getting ahead of the Leader, staying with the Towpath & finding an alternative route to Tea-, Shepperton, Walton Bridge, to ‘Gino’s’ for Tea & BP, Walton on Thames, Walton Park, Esher, Weston Green, Giggs Hill Green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 31 Miles, 1 visit from the ‘P fairy’, 2 new Faces, thanks to Mike for Back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the Bread Pudding.

Footnote: A sandwich box was picked up at Lunch, if anyone wants to claim it, do let me know, by E mail rogerdodge59@gmail.com

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/707341

Kingston Cycling Campaign

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

Author: rogerdodge59