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.
Roger’s rides 2023
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.
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
Midweek ride to Thorpe Green
Wednesday 12th April. An extremely Blustery, windy day,saw 2 cancellations & 1 no show, 12 hardy Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton -joined by one more-, Molesey, Walton, Weybridge -with 1 more addition, now 16-, with an impatient Motorist almost wiping out half the group, on the wrong side of the Road, Addlestone, Bretlands, Lyne, to Thorpe Green for lunch at the Rose & Crown- thanks to the Pub for letting us move the booking indoors-, just ready to depart when the Skies darkened & Rain began, so many wardrobe adjustments, – 2 heading for an early exit via Virginia Water Station-, Stroude, Egham, Staines Bridge, Staines, -2 more heading for the Train-, deciding to forego the delights of the Towpath, direct to Laleham, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury, -the leader doubting the ‘Walled Garden Cafe’ would have room indoors, proved wrong, so Tea & refreshments were taken-, now with a tail-wind, also some rather poor Road surfacing, 1 hole causing a dropped Pannier, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in the Market place. Total 32 Miles, thanks to Steve D for back marking & several others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/849407
Sorry, no appetite for a Photo.
2 Part ride to Twickenham & Epsom
Sunday 26th March. Part 1, With very grey skies & mostly light drizzle, with 3 cancellations, 11 Cyclists left the Market place via the Station Bridge, North Kingston, Ham Common (including the closed Road for ‘Toad Crossing’, no Toads squashed), Ham, Thames Path, Richmond Bridge, St Margarets, Isleworth, Worton,Whitton, Kneller Gardens (Photo), to Twickenham, for lunch at the ‘Prince Blucher’ (Fullers), then Strawberry hill, Teddington, a very congested Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in the Market. Total 13 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2195037
Part 2. Saying farewell to 4, & welcome to 7 fresh faces, with 1 no show (it turns out, someone forgot to advance the clocks 1 Hour!), with steady Rain for a while, 14 Cyclists left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Malden Manor, Worcester park, Auriol Park, Stoneleigh, Ewell, to Epsom for Tea & Bread pudding at the Old Moat Garden centre Cafe, then Horton lane track, West Ewell, Tolworth (now with a cold Headwind), Surbiton, Cranes park to finish back in Kingston. 16 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1684604
Midweek ride to Northolt
Wednesday 15th March. A mostly dull overcast day, saw 19 Cyclists leave via Kingston Station, -collecting 1 more-, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Kew, Brentford, Clayponds, South Ealing, West Ealing, Hanwell, Greenford, to Northolt for lunch at the recently repainted Crown (Sizzling Pubs), with a cold Headwind, via Northala fields (Photo), Southall, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Osterley, Isleworth, St Margarets (a slight shortcut, as now very cold), to Marble hill Park for Tea & refreshments, Twickenham Riverside,- very light Drizzle now added to the mix-, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in the Market place. 30 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to John for back marking, thhanks to many corner markers, especially Mags & Celia. Thanks to Pete for being on standby to lead a second group.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1794561
Bread pudding ride to West Wickham
Sunday 12th March. A bright start, but soon clouding over, after 1 cancellation, -with 1 person waiting at the wrong place in New Malden, then having an issue with her Bike, our ‘regular leader’ passed the leaders baton to a very reliable deputy-, 16 Cyclists left via the Beeline, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, South Wimbledon, -2 more caught up with the main party, and decided to leave the Deputy in charge for the remainder of the day-, Colliers wood, Tooting, -joined by 1 more, now 19 in total-, Streatham common, Norbury, Thornton heath, Heavers Meadow, Woodside, Ashburton field, Monks orchard, Elmers end, to West Wickham for lunch at ‘the Railway (Ember Inns), Shirley, Addiscombe, Lloyd Park, South Croydon, -with 1 person suffering a visit from the ‘P fairy’, & a little confusion on who the victim was-, Waddon, Beddington, Beddington Park (Photo), to Carshalton for Tea & Bread Pudding at ‘Sassis in the Grove’, the Wrythe, Rosehill, St Hellier, Morden Park, Lower Morden, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. 31 Miles, 1 almost new face, -approx 10 years since last visit-, very special thanks to Bai for leading, thanks to Toni & Mike for back marking, thanks to many corner markers.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1579827
Bread pudding ride to Maida Vale
Sunday 26th February a rather chilly Northerly headwind, but a mostly bright day, after 4 cancellations, & 1 unexpected guest, 14 Cyclists left via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, to Roehampton gate, -with 1 more joining-, Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge-, with 2 more joining, now 17 Cyclists-, Eel brook Common, Brompton Cemetery, Kensington, Kensington Gdns, Hyde Park, Marylebone, to Maida Vale for lunch at the very hospitable Carlton Tavern, -despite the Pre ordered food e mail getting lost-, very good service, then Paddington Rec to see 2 Plaque’s for Sir Roger Bannister ( From 1951 to 1954, Bannister trained at the track at Paddington Recreation Ground in Maida Vale while he was a medical student at the nearby St Mary’s Hospital. There are two Bannister plaques at the pavilion, both unveiled by him on 10 September 2000; a circular blue plaque and a rectangular historic plaque containing additional information. According to the latter, Bannister was able to train for just an hour each day due to his medical studies. From Wikipedia) a second Plaque for Sir Bradley Wiggins, who went to School nearby (Photo), – Thanks to Steve J for the pointer-, Kilburn, North Kensington, Hammersmith, Ravenscourt Park, C9 to Chiswick Green, Grove park, Chiswick Bridge, Mortlake, East Sheen- with 1 person, not paying attention, almost crashing into Roadworks-, to Palewell common Cafe for Tea & Bread pudding,- with 1 extra person just finding the group-, Sheen gate, Richmond Park, Kingston gate, Kingston to finish. 30 Miles, 3 new faces, thanks to Amy for back marking & others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2162317
Midweek ride to Little Bookham
Wednesday 15th February. A mostly bright Sunny day saw 16 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth, joined by 1 more, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, -with 2 almost making a break for freedom-, Bookham Common (including Isle of Wight & Photo)-, to Little Bookham for a Picnic lunch at Ye Olde Windsor Castle (Chef & Brewer), but no Chef today, so most had come prepared -at least the Brewer part lived up to expectations-, Great Bookham, Fetcham, Leatherhead, Ashtead, Ashtead Park, Epsom, to Alexandra Park for Tea & Refreshments at the delightful ‘Park view Cafe’, Ewell village- including having to dismount & walk as West St was being resurfaced 🙂-, Ewell Court Park, West Ewell, Tolworth, Berrylands to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking & others for marking corners.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1814953
Isle of Wight area, Bookham Common
Challenge ride to Downe
Sunday 12th February. A mostly overcast day, with some ‘Misty drizzle at times, with1 cancellation & 1 no show, 14 Cyclists left via Motspur park, North Cheam, Pyl Brook path, Sutton, the Wrythe, Hackbridge, Beddington Park, Croydon, Selhurst -with 1 more joining the group-, Heavers Meadow, (with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, soon repaired), Woodside, Ashburton Field, Shirley, West Wickham, Coney Hall, Keston, to Downe for lunch at the ever reliable ‘Queens Head’, although a little confusion with 1 food order, then a brief detour to see Down House (& Photo), home where Charles Darwin lived & wrote many works, including ‘Origin of the Species’, -as a complete coincidence, today is the anniversary of Darwins birth-, retracing our steps, then Farnborough, Orpington, Southborough, – with our leader suffering a small tumble due to a ‘sticky Toe strap’-, Norman Park -with one car park full with Film caravans-, Bromley, to Kelsey Park for Tea & Bread pudding, – with 1 person having departed to get a Train, then rejoining the group, as Engineering work had cancelled services, impressive-, alas a fruitless search for 1 BP tub, proved unnecessary, as our leader had forgotten, he was carrying 2 pots, not just the 1 he put on the table, also mistakenly almost leaving 1 person behind, oops, Elmers End, South Norwood Park, Heavers Meadow, Thornton heath, Pollards hill, Mitcham, the brand new resurfaced Dean city Farm path & new Bridge to Morden Hall Park, Morden, Raynes park, to finish back in New Malden. 45 Miles, Thanks to John E for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2152617
Kingston Cycling Campaign 