Wednesday 20th September after 1 late cancellation, with a blustery tail wind, 7 Cyclists left via Skerne Rd, Kingston gate Richmond Park, White lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney, a very congested Putney Bridge, Fulham, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Marylebone, to Maida Vale for lunch at the Carlton Tavern, -now with a blustery Headwind, but still dry, for a while-, Kilburn, North Kensington, Shepherds bush, Hammersmith- finally the Rain arrived, steady rather than torrential-, C9, to Barnes Bridge to see the ‘new Non-cycle path’ under the Bridge, walk the steps onto Bridge, Barnes, to East Sheen- with a hasty debate, the vote was split 50-50, to stop for Tea or not, so just 3 stopped at Palewell only to find the Shutters down, hence a detour to Roehampton gate Cafe for Tea & Bread Pudding- What, on a Wednesday ? (still left over from Sunday), Ham gate, North Kingston, to finish back in the Market place. Total 30 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1691708
Roger’s rides 2023
Bread pudding ride to Knaphill
Sunday 17th September. After 2 late cancellations & 1 no show, with darkening Skies, 13 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton- collecting 1 more-, Weston Green, Esher, newly resurfaced path to Hersham, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet, a brief visit to the Wey Navigation, Pyrford, Maybury, Woking, – with an internal Sat-nav failure and Mr Google not very helpful, a bit of ‘toing & froing’, at the third attempt-, to Knaphill for lunch at the very welcoming Royal Oak, perfectly timed as the Heavens opened shortly after arrival, much debate whilst eating, eventually a Battersea led rebellion decided to head back to Woking for a Train back to home turf, but 5 hardy souls continued in the Rain via Chobham, Stonehill, Ottershaw to Addlestone for a pause at the Crouch Oak- an 8 to 900 year old specimen-, settling on a shorter route, with no Tea stop & now with the Sun breaking through the clouds, Weybridge, to reverse the outward route via Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Thames Ditton to finish back in Kingston with full Sun. Total 40 Miles, thanks to Andrea & especially Celia for back marking duties, thanks to John D for the Bread pudding. Sorry no Photo this time. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2391904
Evening ride to Twickenham
Wednesday 13th September. After 1 cancellation, 10 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Hanworth Park- is this a ‘Night hike’ our leader is on ?, with 2 people slightly detached from group, soon found thanks to Andrea-, Leitrim Park, River Crane path, Kneller Gdns, to Twickenham for refreshments at the Sussex arms, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 12 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking.
2 Part ride to Chessington & Marble Hill Park
Sunday 3rd September. Part 1, a glorious Sunny morning, with 3 late bookings 15 Cyclists left the Kingston Carnival preperations behind, via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden- with 1 of our party suffering a ‘fat lip’ from a Bee sting, very many thanks to the local resident who had some Anti Histamine tablets-, Malden Manor, Auriol Park, Stoneleigh, West Ewell, Long Grove Park (Photo), Horton Country Park, to Chessington for lunch at the William Bourne (Stonegate Pubs), then Bonesgate Path, Tolworth, Surbiton to finish back in an extremely congested Market place. Sub-total 16 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/860017
Part 2, saying farewell to 5 & welcome to 7 fresh faces in the hordes celebrating the Carnival, leaving via Skerne Rd, Aerospace Estate, Ham, Ham Gate Richmond Park- with the Marshal at the gate insisting, ‘no Cycling allowed anywhere in the Park’, but we could walk 😉 even kind enough to move the barrier to allow the group entry, also not much evidence of the recent high speed Car crash, that demolished 1 gate post-, out of sight of the Marshal, remounting to Petersham gate, Richmond, Richmond Bridge, Ducks walk, Isleworth, St Margarets, to Marble Hill Park Cafe, for Tea & Bread pudding, Twickenham, Fulwell, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in a still busy Market place. Sub-total 14 Miles, total 30 Miles thanks to Chris F for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Evening ride to Wimbledon
Wednesday 23rd August, A mostly bright sunny Evening saw 9 Cyclists, with 1 extra unannounced visitor, 10 in total leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, Cannon Hill, – with a very dark threatening Cloud, doing nothing more than that-, Merton park, South Wimbledon, to Wimbledon for refreshments at the ‘Wibbas Down Inn’ (Wetherspoons), Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 14 Miles, thanks to Andrea forr back marking. Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/879155
Bread pudding ride to Ashtead
Sunday 20th August. A bright Sunny day, after 1 late cancellation & 2 no shows, due to navigation problem but 1 late booking & 1 unannounced visitor, 20 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside (Photo group 2), Bookham Common (a little bit of soft Mud, & a fallen Tree for group 1), Fetcham, Leatherhead, to Ashtead for lunch at the Woodman (Ember Inns), Ashtead Park (Photo group 1), Woodcote, Epsom, Nescot path, to Nonsuch Park for Tea & Bread pudding,- with group 2 taking an alternative route, due to a sat-nav malfunction-, electing to ride as 1 group for the final stretch, Worcester park, Old Malden, New Malden, Berrylands, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 2 new faces. Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2- & a little help from Mags-, thanks to John E & Amy for back marking each group. Special thanks to Christine for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/312617.
Group 2 near St Michaels Chapel, Downside: Bai
Midweek ride to Egham
Wednesday 16th August. A gorgeous Sunny day saw a Bakers dozen (13) Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Staines (Photo), Staines Bridge, Egham Hythe, to Egham for lunch at the very hospitable ‘Red Lion’ (a new lunch stop), then Stroude- with a a couple of Motorists outraged that we weren’t using the inadequate Cycle path-, Thorpe Green, Lyne- with 1 of our party suffering a ‘Pedal issue’, soon sorted-, Chertsey, Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton, Walton Bridge to the Boathouse for Tea & refreshments (a new venue), Walton- with a pleasant surprise, a newly resurfaced Bridleway-, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Road, to finish back in Kingston. 31 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Steve D for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2348333
Challenge ride to Walliswood
Sunday 6th August. A rather windy but Sunny day saw 12 Cyclists leave from Tolworth Station, via Chessington, Claygate, Princes Coverts, – somewhat of a Mudbath after recent heavy rain, (don’t blame the ride leader, an act from the Weather gods, or the other bloke, absent without leave)-, Stoke D’ Abernon, Fetcham (Photo), Bookham, Effingham, Whitedown, Abinger, Holmbury St Mary, Forest Green, to Walliswood for lunch at the delightful ‘Scarlett Arms’, -a slight delay as the ‘P Fairy had paid a visit -, Okewood hill, Weare St, Ockley, Capel, Newdigate, Shellwood Cross to Brockham Church, – doubley handy, as there was no Bread pudding provider for this ride, but the Church had many delicious Cake’s to fill in-, Pixham, Mickleham, Norbury Park, Leatherhead, Ashtead Common, Epsom, West Ewell, to finish a bit later than expected back in Tolworth. Total 50 Miles, Very special thanks to Bai for leading, thanks to John E for back marking, thanks to Chris F & Celia for marking corners.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/103102
Train assisted Bread pudding ride to Ascot
A mostly bright Sunny day saw 12 Cyclists gather at Surbiton station, for an unusual Train direct to Wokingham, with 3 more already on board, with 2 visits to Virginia Water station, then a long wait (the vagaries of crunching 2 different rail journey’s together), upon arrival at our destination, to find 1 of the party having suffered a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, soon fixed, followed by a couple of navigational mishaps, finally escaping the Wokingham area, via Binfield, the edge of Bracknell,- only to lose track of the tail end in ‘the Chestnuts’-, a strategic decision to take a more direct route to lunch via the A329 Cycle path, to Ascot for lunch at the Stag (Greene King),- with a limited Menu due to a broken grill, the staff were surprisingly Cheerful-, then Cheapside, Windsor Great Park (Photo), Guards Polo ground, Egham Wick, Egham, Staines Bridge, Laleham, Shepperton, -now too late for the Walled Garden,- a detour to Walton Bridge & just in time for Tea & Bread Pudding at the ‘Wilde Brunch’, then a plea for help from another customer, Lindsay put her nursing skills to good use, before an Ambulance arrived to take over, Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Potsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 34 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2329421
Evening ride to Ewell Village
Wednesday 19th July. A mostly bright Evening saw 15 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor, Auriol Park, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, to Ewell Village for refreshments at the always friendly Wheatsheaf- with a surprise encounter with the Clarencourt Cycle club-, then Hogsmill open space, a short stretch of the Hogsmill path, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton to finish back in Kingston. Total 13 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to John E for back marking.
Kingston Cycling Campaign 