bread pudding ride

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.

Ashtead Park Bridge, Group 1

Group 2 near St Michaels Chapel, Downside: Bai

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

Windsor Great Park, now the closest Cyclists can get to Virginia Water lake, Cycling now banned on the South of the lake & near the Totem Pole- Boo!

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.

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

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

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

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.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1866719

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

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

With the Wise Owl, Kneller Gardens, Twickenham: Lindsay

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