Bread pudding ride to Ripley

Sunday 23rd May. A Blustery day, with a few short but heavy Showers saw 15 Cyclist after 1 late cancellation, split into 1 Group of 8, 1 of 7, leave via Portsmouth Rd Track, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to Ripley for an early lunch at the ‘Jovial Sailor’, with a fantastic canopy covering most of the Garden, -very handy, because a short Deluge from above, & somehow Group 2 got fed first, so they could leave first-, Send Marsh, passing the remains of Newark Priory, Pyrford, West Byfleet, Byfleet (where another Deluge for gropup 2, let group 1 almost catch the tail, thus time for a group 1 Photo),

Group 2, Wey Bridge, from Brooklands Park: Carl S

Weybridge, Broadwater path, with a Fallen Tree, anyone got a Chainsaw ?, can’t go around it, can’t get under, we’ll have to lift our Bikes over the obstruction, now ‘Groupo Compacto’ as the Giro de Italia riders might say, to Walton Bridge for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Wilde Bunch’, Walton on Thames, Molesey, Thames Ditton – with Group 1 Leader not watching the tail, so initially unaware that 1 person had suffered a mechanical, leading to an alternaive route home- (a reminder to keep an eye on the back marker, even if we are almost back to the finish), Portsmouth Rd & track to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, Special thanks to Carl for leading group 2, thanks to Steve D & Mike F for Back marking each group, Thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1559849.

Note: For those familiar with the New Malden Raynes Park link, Kingston & Merton Council’s are looking for a name for this delightful route, there is a short-list of 4, I believe a 5th option will be added soon, but for now here is the link, open until June 2nd:- https://kingstonletstalk.co.uk/name-the-route , after further thought, Beeline way will be an added option.

Bread pudding Picnic ride to Burgess Park

Sunday 9th May, a very pleasant sunny day, much warmer than of late, saw 23 Cyclists, with 1 cancellation, split into 4 groups, but all groups seemed to play a version of Musical chairs at various stages of the day, (group 2 not being quite ready, so they were demoted to group 4). Leaving the Market place via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Raynes park, South Wimbledon, Wandle path, Earlsfield, with Group 3 suffering a visit from the ‘P Fairy’ meaning Group 4, now became group 2 ?, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Vauxhall, Camberwell to Burgess Park for a Picnic lunch, pausing earlier at the Lime Kiln, the Camberwell Beauty Mosaic & also ‘Silent Raid’, an Art installation in memory of a Zeppelin raid from WW1,

Group 2 or was it 4 ? with the Lime Kiln, Burgess Park

Group 1 with the Camberwell Beauty, Burgess Park

continuing via the Surrey Canal Path, Peckham, Dulwich, Brockwell Park, where an unfortunate coming together between 2 members of group 3, with 1 Bike unridable, & a slight Shoulder injury, meaning a Taxi ride home was the best option, thanks to members of Group 2/ 4, (if you’re keeping up), for there assistance, meanwhile ahead, due to an impromptu Loo stop, group 4/2 had briefly taken the lead, which was a surprise for group 1, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, Tooting Bec Common for a Tea & Bread pudding stop, Tooting, Mitcham, Morden Hall Park, Morden, Morden Park, Lower Morden, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands, to finish back at Kingston. Total 34 Miles. Special thanks to Bai, Carl, & Steve F for group leading, thanks to Toni, Steve D, Ellie & John E for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1534861

Casualty Update: Having spoken to Tom this Afternoon, he is in good spirits, looking forward to getting back on the Bike & joining us on a ride in the near future.

10/05 RM

Bread pudding ride to West Horsley

Sunday 18th April. After another long break, a glorious Sunny Day saw 23 Cyclists, find 4 Leaders, so at 5 Minutes apart, via Portsmouth Rd Track, Long Ditton, Hinchley Wood, Claygate, Claremont -would the group leaders remember the clue-, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham to West Horsley for a ‘Picnic Lunch’ at the ‘Barley Mow’, (as it was quite a struggle to find many Pubs doing Food just yet, after the latest Lockdown), Horsley Common (Photo), Effingham, Bookham, Fetcham & Pond (Photo’s Group’s 1, 2, 3 of course great minds think alike 😉), Ashtead, Epsom Common, Epsom, West Ewell, Stoneleigh, to Auriol Park for Tea & A Sumptuous Bread Pudding, Worcester park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, Very special thanks to Bai, Mags & Steve F for group leading, thanks to Mike, Andrea, Will & John E for back marking each group, special thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1508730

Roger’s review of 2020

Socially distanced lunch, Walton-on-the-Hill Credit Chris F

What turned out to be a very strange year, with various Covid lockdowns & other restrictions, had started very well with numbers at a record high of 21 after 6 Sunday rides, Midweek rides had also been well supported, with an average of 14, but then in March everything changed, the Government imposed a Lockdown to help control the Coronavirus, Covid 19, no group Cycling allowed 😦, the one other highlight from the early part of 2020, I was invited to visit Kingston Guildhall to receive a ‘Mayors Community award’, see fuller report here, https://kingstoncyclecampaign.wordpress.com/2020/03/07/community-award-and-history/ after being nominated by Derek, a very great pleasure & surprise.

After a 3 Month Hiatus, and looking at the ‘new rules’, from the Government,- Groups of up to 6 are allowed to mix-, but with Pub’s & Cafe’s still closed for now, would there be any support for a ‘Picnic ride’, the answer was an emphatic Yes, so in late June, after recruiting a couple of ‘Co-pilots’, – Special thanks to Mike & Mags-, perhaps a bit too Hilly for a first effort, after such a long lay off, but all said they had enjoyed the outing, with a few more willing Co-pilots for the various rides, Sunday, Midweek, 2 part, Challenge & Evening, we resumed, but with new restrictions, a max of 6 per group, having to book in advance at any Pubs (some regulars not so keen on visiting a Pub, due to Social distancing constraints), and by September our parent body, LCC, decided we should all book in advance using ‘Eventbrite’, which actually worked very smoothly. Evening rides had an average of 10 from 3 rides, Midweek managed just under 11 from 4 rides, the various Sunday rides had an average of 17 before the second Lockdown in early November, restrictions lifted briefly for 1 more ride in December with 18, ( it would have been 24 if the Weather had been more helpful), then London was put in Tier 4, effectively another Lockdown.

Very special thanks to all the Co-pilots who have helped lead rides, Mike, Bai, Mags, Carl, Steve F, Jon W, Steve D & Steve J, sterling work all & very much appreciated by many other participants on the various rides.

As always thanks to John D for all the delicious Bread puddings in what should have been a very special twentieth anniversary Year. Special thanks to all the Back markers, whilst often not really necessary, it still gives reassurance to any new Cyclists, and is still required to satisfy LCC, our parent body.

It was very notable that Cycling in smaller groups, we reached the Lunch & Tea stops much earlier than when we Cycle in one large group, which will be food for thought when we can return to ‘normal service’.

We hope to resume group rides again, as soon as the rules allow, but for the foreseeable future, it has to be ‘solo Cycling’, let’s hope normality can resume early in 2021.

Bread pudding ride to Northolt

Sunday 13th December, to bring a very odd year to a close, a semi-Picnic ride. After 5 cancellations & 1 no show, a Chilly day, with drizzly Showers saw 18 Cyclists split into 4 groups, leave 5 mins apart via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, Twickenham, River Crane path, Whitton, Hounslow Heath, West Hounslow, Cranford, Sipson, West Drayton, Hillingdon, Hayes, Northolt to Northala Fields for Tea & Bread pudding

Group 2 Northala Fields, Tea stop credit: Bai Kamara

(Photo group 2), with leader of group 4 suffering a visit from the ‘P fairy’, a few also having a picnic lunch, then Southall, Brent Valley Park, Hanwell, West Ealing, Ealing, Acton, Chiswick green (Photo group 1),

Group 1 Chiswick Green, Credit: Lindsay Webster

Grove Park, group 1 having a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, seeing group 2 & 3 by-pass, & even group 4 before the group got back on the Road, Chiswick Bridge, Mortlake, Sheen gate Richmond Park, White Lodge, Ham gate, North Kingston to finish in the Market place. Total 35 Miles, 2 visits from the ‘P Fairy’. Special thanks to Bai, Mike & Carl for group leading, thanks to Ellie, Steve F, John E & Nigel for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/1364189

I hope everyone has an enjoyable Christmas, lets hope we can get back to ‘normal service’ early in the new Year.

Challenge ride to Downe

Sunday 4th October. A largely Wet day still saw 11 brave Cyclists, with 5 cancellations split into 2 groups rather than the 3 planned, leave the Fountain Roundabout via Motspur park, Joseph Hood Park, North Cheam, Sutton, Wrythe Green, & the new Pop up planters on Butter Hill, Beddington Park- with bonus points for anyone doing the Breaststroke in the ‘Guy Road Pond’-, Croydon, Heavers Meadow, Ashburton Field, Shirley, Coney Hall, Keston to Downe for a welcoming lunch at the Queens Head, High Elms, Farnbo0rough, Orpington, Southborough, Norman Park, Bromley, to Beckenham for Tea & Bread Pudding at Kelsey Park Cafe and Photo’s

Elmers End, South Norwood Country Park, South Norwood with more Pop up Planters 🙂, Heavers Meadow, Selhurst, Thornton heath, Pollards hill, Mitcham, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, to finish back in New Malden, Total 45 Miles, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2 also Carl for being ready to lead a third group, thanks to Mike F & John E for back marking duties, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/1302921

Bread pudding ride to Wraysbury

Sunday 20th September. 18 Cyclists having successfully negotiated the new booking system from LCC, in fact it worked so well, the ride was fully booked barely 4 Hours after sending the invite ! A mostly warm Sunny Day saw 16 Cyclists, with 1 late cancellation & 1 no show, the 3 seperate groups left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton Hill, Hampton, Hanworth, Feltham, Bedfont

St Mary the virgin & its Topiary with group 1

who’d have thought, Group 2 at the same spot Credit:Bai Kamara

(Photo, group 1 & group 2, more on the Topiary can be found here https://londongardenstrust.org/conservation/inventory/site-record/?ID=HOU046 ), Stanwell -including a new Cycle track, not very far but might get extended sometime, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, to Wraysbury for lunch at the ‘Perseverance’, with service slightly peddestrian, but worth it when the Food & Drinks did arrive, then Hythe End, Staines, Laleham, Shepperton (with group one missing a turn, soon back tracked, whatever distracted our leader, we’ll never know), Walton Bridge, to ‘Wilde Bunch’

Group 3 enjoying Tea & Bread pudding, if the other two groups haven’t eaten it all 😉

for Tea & Bread pudding, Walton, Molesey, -all three groups struggled crossing a very busy A309, Hampton Court Way-, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd & track to Kingston. Total 31 Miles special thanks to Bai & Carl for sterling work leading group’s 2 & 3, thanks to Amy, Ellie & Andrea for back marking there group, thanks to John D for the Bread pudding

Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/1287729

2 Part ride to Chessington & Bushy Park

Sunday 6th September Part 1. A mostly bright morning saw 18 Cyclists split into 3 groups, leave 5 Minutes apart go via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park alas the Level crossing was down an inordinate time, allowing group 2 to catch the tail of group 1 😦, Joseph Hood Park, North Cheam, Cheam Park, Nonsuch Park, Stoneleigh, Hogsmill open Space, West Ewell, to Chessington for lunch at the very pleasant ‘William Bourne’ (Stonegate), Bonesgate Path, Tolworth & Greenway, Surbiton, Cranes park to Kingston. Sub total 17 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Jon W & Mike F for group leading,, thanks to Ellie, John D & John E for back marking their group.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/860017

Afternoon Tea stop, Bushy Park Credit: Steve J/ Amy

Part 2 saying farewell to 8 and welcome to 4 fresh faces, with group 2 in a rush to depart, before group 3 from the morning had finished, so 2 led the way via Skerne Rd, Kingston Gate Richmond Park, the Tamsin trail, (group 1 almost catching the leaders at Petersham gate), Richmond, Richmond Bridge, Ducks walk, East Twickenham, group 1 took a devious detour to pass group 2, 😉 St Margartets, Cole Park, Crane River Path, Twickenham, Fulwell, Hampton to Bushy Park for Tea & Bread pudding at the Pheasantry, Cobblers walk, Hampton Wick gate, Kingston Bridge to Kingston. Sub total 12 Miles, Total 29 Miles, special thanks to Steve J & Mike for group leading, thanks to Amy, Ralph, & John E for back marking duties, thanks to John D for the BP. Thanks to Amy for remembering to take a Photo at Tea.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/1263233

Challenge ride to Walliswood

Group 1, Weare Street Duck pond

Group 2 Fetcham Meadows

Sunday 9th August, A hot steamy day was perhaps not the best day to pick one of the Hillier rides we might do, but having to plan, organise sub groups & book ahead at the moment meant we had to stick to the plan. 14 Cyclists (after 2 late cancellations), split 3 ways, leave via Kingston Rd Cycle track, Chessington, Claygate, Princes Coverts, Oxshott, Fetcham (Photo 2, (who is the masked crusader? Me thinks it might be Chris)), Bookham, Effingham, with group 1 deciding wrongly in hindsight to use the Bridleway past the Roadworks, groups 2 & 3 wisely walked past the obstruction, Whitedown, Abinger, Holmbury St Mary, Forest Green to Walliswood for lunch at the always delightful ‘Scarlett Arms’, then Okewood Hill, Weare Street (Photo 1), Ockley, Capel, -where things started to go slightly awry-, 2 of group 1 decided to take a detour to visit ‘Dorking Brewery’, then had to backtrack, hence Group 2 caught up & took the lead, Newdigate, Henfold, Stonebridge, -only to lose 2 of group 2 off the front (a reminder to listen to instruction from leader if you get in front)-, hence Group 1 retook the lead, Pixham, A24 Cycle track to Burford Bridge, for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Rykas’, with group 3 splintering, some heading for Leatherhead & Train, 1 missing a turn & heading straight for home, the last man standing joined group 1, the 2 groups remaining electing to take an easier less Hilly route than planned, Leatherhead, Ashtead Common, Horton, West Ewell, to Tolworth. Total 49 Miles, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, & Mags leading group 3, thanks to John E, Steve F & Will for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/1238121

Bread Pudding ride to Northolt

Group 1 Northala field

Sunday 26th July , a mostly bright day with light rain at the end of the lunch breaks, & steadier Rain after the Tea stop, saw 15 Cyclists, split into 3 groups of 5, having managed to find an alternative to Garmin’s non functioning Website for group 2, leave via Kingston Bridge, Teddington, Twickenham & the new ‘Railway Path’, Isleworth, Syon Park, Brentford, South Ealing, Boston Manor Cycle track, Hanwell, Churchfield Rec, High Lane Path, Southall, Greenford to Northolt for lunch at the very hospitable ‘Crown’ (Sizzling Pubs), all 3 groups electing to stay in the Garden, then Northala field, (Photo group 1), Southall, Norwood green, Osterley Park, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, to Kneller Gardens for Tea & Bread pudding, -with group 2 finding an alternative route, & temporarily mislaying 2 members, oops-, 20200726_145553 group 3 arrived before 2 (Photo group 3 at Tea), Crane river Park, Fulwell, Bushy Park, Kingston Bridge, to find group 2 had found a different route to Bushy Park, usurping group 1 in the process. Total 29 Miles, very special thanks to Carl & Bai for leading groups 2 & 3, thanks to Mike, Ralph & John E for Back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1212522

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bread pudding ride