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Bread pudding ride to Little Venice

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Brompton cemetery

Sunday 24th April. A mostly cloud covered day with a chilly breeze, saw 23 Cyclists leave via Canbury gardens, Lower Ham rd, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, White lodge,  Roehampton gate, Barnes common, Putney, Putney bridge, Fulham, Parsons green, Stamford bridge, Brompton Cemetery, West Kensington, Kensington gardens, Hyde park, Paddington, Paddington basin, Grand union canal to Little Venice for lunch at ‘the Warwick castle’, afterwards back to the Canal, via Kensal green & Willesden to Park Royal, then West Acton, (where the first visit of the day from the ‘P fairy’, caused Tony to abandon the ride as he didn’t have a spare tube, lesson to all me thinks, carry a spare tube for your bike,) Acton central, to Acton park cafe for Tea & BP, then South Acton, Chiswick park, (with a small breakaway being ‘shepherded back on course by Mike), Chiswick green, Grove park, (where the second visit from the ‘P fairy’, being swiftly repaired, but a ‘forward party needing onward travel, led by Steve, continuing), Chiswick bridge, Mortlake, (with a ‘flooded towpath & Road), East Sheen, Sheen gate of Richmond park, White lodge, Ham cross, Kingston gate to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, 3 new faces. Special thanks to Mike & Steve, as well as others for help in marshaling the ride, and of course thanks to John for the BP, and acting as backmarker. The map below is from a new ‘App’, I’m trialing, so let me know if you have any comments.

Map :- www.bikemap.net/en/route/3499429

Bread pudding ride to Effingham

IMGP0906Leatherhead Meadows.

Sunday 10th April. A mostly bright day, with a chilly wind on the return to Kingston, saw 29 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, the Greenway, Bonesgate path, Horton country park,- with a splinter group of 8 Cyclists taking a separate route to Bookham for lunch at ‘Domestique’-, Epsom common, Ashtead common, Leatherhead, Fetcham, with leadership duties briefly passing to Derek, whilst the leader helped with a ‘P’, Bookham to Effingham for a later than planned lunch at the ‘Sir Douglas Haig’, then East Horsley, Effingham junction, Downside, Cobham, Fairmile common, Oxshott heath, Claygate to Long Ditton for Tea & BP at ‘Squires garden centre’, then Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 4 new faces.

Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3215479www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3215479

2 part Bread pudding ride to Twickenham & Nonsuch park

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Pevansey Rd park

Sunday 20th March, Part 1. a cold cloudy day saw 14 Cyclists leave via Kingston bridge, Bushy park, to Hampton, Hanworth, Hanworth air-park, Pevensey Rd park, River Crane path, Kneller Gdns, Twickenham to the ‘Prince Blucher’ for lunch, then Strawberry hill, Teddington, Teddington footbridge, thames towpath to Kingston. Sub-total 14 Miles, 2 new faces.

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Hogsmill path, Ewell

Part 2 With the temperature a degree or to warmer, but still cloudy, we said farewell to 9, but hello to 4 fresh faces, so 9 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands,  Tolworth,  Greenway, Bonesgate path, Horton country park, West Ewell, St. Ebba’s path, Hogsmill path, Ewell village, East Ewell, to Nonsuch park, mixing with some of the ‘Sport relief’ walkers, for Tea & BP, then Worcester park, Old Malden, Malden manor, New Malden, Berrylands, to Kingston. Sub-total 17 Miles, Total 31 Miles.

Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3202072

Bread pudding ride to Woodmansterne

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Woodmansterne green

Sunday 13th March. A bright mostly sunny day, but with a chilly Easterly wind, saw 22 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, Greenway, West Ewell, Hogsmill path, St. Ebba’s path, Epsom, Chalky lane, Epsom downs grandstand, Tattenham corner, Banstead to Woodmansterne for lunch at the ‘Woodman’, (with some minor gripes at the quantity of mash with the Bangers), after the photo stop at the ‘wood-carving’, via Clock house estate, Woodcote garden village, South Beddington to Beddington park for Tea & BP at’the Pavilion’, then Hackbridge, the Wrythe, Benhilton, Sutton, North Cheam, Worcester park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Total 30 Miles, Map:-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3197174

Bread pudding ride to Hanwell

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Brentford dock, Grand union Canal towpath

Sunday 21st February. A mostly cloudy day with strong blustery winds saw 19 Cyclists leave via, Canbury gardens, Ham, Teddington footbridge, Strawberry hill, Twickenham, St. Margerets, Isleworth, Syon park, Brentford, Grand union towpath to Hanwell, for lunch at ‘the Fox’, then Hanwell viaduct, West Ealing, Ealing, West Acton, Acton park, Stamford, Ravenscourt park, Hammersmith, Fulham to Bishops park for Tea & BP, Putney bridge, Putney, Barnes common,where the ‘P fairy’ (or perhaps a faulty Tyre) left 1 member looking for a train from nearby Barnes station, the remainder continued to Roehampton gate of Richmond park, to Kingston gate, to the Market place. Total 30 Miles, 1 new face, 1 Puncture.

Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3183124

Challenge ride to Dorney

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Virginia water Waterfall

Sunday 7th February. A dry but windy day saw 14 Cyclists, leave via Kingston bridge with 1 more having suffered a visit from the ‘P fairy’, catching up in Bushy park, Hampton, Hanworth, Feltham, Bedfont, Stanwell, Stanwell moor, Poyle, Horton, Datchet, then the ‘Jubilee River’ path to Dorney for lunch at the ‘Pineapple’, then via the Dorney footbridge, Monkey island, Fifield, where the ‘P fairy struck again, Cranbourne chase, ‘Peanut’ roundabout, Cheapside, Windsor great park & Virginia water lake and Waterfall, Virginia water village, Thorpe green, Chertsey, Chertsey bridge, Shepperton to Walton bridge for Tea & BP at ‘Gino’s’, Walton on Thames, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 48 Miles, 1 new face + 1 returnee from 5 years ago. 2 Punctures.

Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3174940

Bread pudding ride to Pyrford lock

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the former Wisley Airfield

Sunday 24th January, a mostly overcast day, with a few snatches of Sun, saw 18 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Giggshill green, Weston green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands park, Byfleet village, Wey navigation towpath to Pyrford lock for lunch at ‘the Anchor’, then Wisley, Wisley Airfield, (thanks to Steve for the interesting history lesson), a rather muddy Bridge end farm, Martyr’s green, Cobham, Fairmile to Claremont lake for tea & BP, then Esher, Littleworth, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton & Kingston. Total 28 Miles, 1 new face.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/159653

Bread pudding ride to Battersea

Wandsworth CommonWandsworth Common

Sunday 10th January. A dry, mostly Sunny day saw 22 Cyclists ready for the 1st Ride of 2016, go via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, a very wet path across Bushey Meads, Merton park, South Wimbledon, Wandle path, (special mention for the ‘Wandle trust’, clearing yet more debris from the banks & the River itself), Earlsfield, Wandsworth common, Clapham common, Battersea, (where a sneaky move by the back marker nearly left the Leader stranded), Battersea park to Battersea for Lunch at ‘the Woodman’, with a small detachment taking lunch at the Cafe in Battersea park. Afterwards with all back together, using the Thames towpath, Wandsworth, Wandsworth park, Putney, Barnes Common, Roehampton, (where ‘an unplanned dismount’, led to a small sub-group, including the BP carrier overshooting the Tea stop ), the majority stopped for Tea & BP at Roehampton gate, then via White lodge, Ham cross, Ham gate, North Kingston to the Market place. Total 25 Miles. Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3159298

As an aside, Wandsworth Council have just launched a consultation on 2 improvements to local routes that are worth adding your thoughts to, (positive I hope). http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/quietways

Christmas special Bread pudding ride to Richmond

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Osterley Park

Sunday 13th December. A cold grey day saw 14 Cyclists leave via Lower marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Coombe, Ladderstile gate of Richmond park, Ham cross, to Richmond gate & Richmond for lunch at ‘the White cross’, with high tide not due until 4.00pm, even the Riverside railings where safe. After lunch & after Johns annual thank-you speech, saying farewell to 3, but hello to 3 more Cyclists, (how did they know where lunch was ?), via Richmond bridge, Ducks walk, St Margerets, Isleworth, Osterley to Osterley park for Tea & BP, return to Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Twickenham, Crane river path, Fulwell, Laurel rd gate of Bushy park, Cobblers walk, Hampton wick gate, Kingston Bridge. Total 22 Miles, 1 new face.

Map:-www.plota route.com/route/146100

Special thanks to everyone who has helped Marshal the Rides this year, particularly with the increased numbers on the rides, it does make things a bit easier knowing that others are watching out for other friends. We look forward to seeing many of you in 2016, and even more new faces.

Roger, John and Ruth.

Bread pudding ride to Epsom & Kneller Gdns.

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Hogsmill bridge, Berrylands

Sunday 22nd November, Part 1. An Icily cold, sunny Morning saw 11 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden manor, Worcester park, Nonsuch park, East Ewell, Epsom to Epsom common for lunch at ‘the Cricketers’ then via Horton, where a small detachment thought they knew a different route, but with all back together, St. Ebba’s path, Hogsmill river path, West Ewell, Tolworth greenway, King Charles, Cranes park to Kingston. Sub-Total 18 Miles, with very special thanks to Diane for help with Marshalling.

Part 2, with the Sky more overcast, but still dry, we said farewell to 6, no fresh faces, (and no Ladies)  just 5 Guys left via Canbury gardens, Lower Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park to Petersham gate, Richmond bridge, Ducks walk, St. Margerets, Cole park, Whitton to Kneller Gardens for Tea & BP, then Crane river path, Twickenham,  Teddington, Hampton wick & Kingston bridge. Sub-Total 12 Miles. Total 31 Miles

Map:- www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3131141