Roger’s rides 2023

Midweek ride to Pimlico

Wednesday 12th July. After a brief shower just before the start, mostly cloudy skies, after 1 cancellation, 15 Cyclists left from New Malden via the Beeline, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, South Wimbledon, Wandle trail- joined by 1 more, who had a visit from the ‘PFairy’, hence missed the start-, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common (Photo), Clapham Common, Stockwell, Oval, Vauxhall- in one linked move through 5 sets of Lights-, Vauxhall Bridge to Pimlico for lunch at the always welcoming White Swan (McMullens), a very congested Westminster & many other Cyclists battling our way to join the Embankment route C3, to Southwark Bridge, (going a little off Piste in Bermondsey), Burgess Park, Loughborough, Brockwell Park, Tulse Hill, Streatham, to Tooting Bec Common cafe for Tea & Refreshments, Tooting, Colliers wood, a different part of the Wandle trail, Morden Hall Park, Morden, Cannons Hill Common, Motspur park, to finish back in NeW Malden. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Toni & John for Back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/933539

Wandsworth Common: Lindsay

Bread Pudding ride to Pyrford Lock

Sunday 9th July. With Grey skies to start, followed by Bright Sunshine in the late afternoon, after 2 late cancellations & 1 late booking, 22 Cyclists, split into 2 groups, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton, Molesey, Walton, Weybridge, Brooklands Park (Photo group 2), Byfleet, to Pyrford Lock for an early lunch at the Anchor (Hall & Woodhouse), (with a little confusion over Vegetable deliveries), -conbining as 1 group for a short stretch, Pyrford, Wanham gates, Ripley Green-, Ockham, Hatchford, Cobham, Fairmile, to Claremont lakes (NT) for Tea & Bread pudding, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Andrea E for back marking, thanks to Christine for the BP at very short notice.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2313436

Group 2 near Brooklands Museum.

Evening ride to Richmond Hill

Wednesday 21st June, on the longest day of 2023 (what you mean it’s downhill all the way to that ‘C’ word), with a glorious Sunny evening, 22, no wait, we have 2 more unannounced guests, 24 Cyclists- I think that’s a record for an Evening ride!-,left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, Twickenham, Junction Roughs path,Cole park, St Margarets, Richmond Bridge, to Richmond Hill for Refreshments at a very busy Roebuck & many chats with other groups from various Borough’s from South & West London, also watching the setting Sun, Richmond Park- with delightful views of Deer mingling with the various Cycle lights-, Kingston gate, Kingston Station Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 12 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to Andrea for back marking thanks to Chris F & others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1588396

Taking a breather, near the Roebuck: Pete M

Sunset from Richmond Hill : Pete M

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

Wandle Bridge, Morden Hall Park: Mags

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.

Fetcham Mill Pond: Lindsay

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

Ealing Studios