Midweek ride to Woodmansterne

Wednesday 19th February. A mostly overcast day, with glimpses of Sun, stll rather chilly, after 2 late cancellations, 18 Cyclists split into 2 groups, via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth- having to dismount to pass a crashed Car & cut down traffic lights!- West Ewell, Epsom, Epsom Downs (Photo group 1), Tattenham corner, Burgh Heath (Photo group 2), Banstead, to Woodmansterne for lunch at the Woodman (Stonegate Pubs), a slight delay, with traffic having to go slow past a fallen Tree, Wallington, Beddington,- with Group 1 leader taking an embarrissing tumble-, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, Wandle Trail, Morden, to Morden Hall Park for Tea & refreshments,- now just 1 group-, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, Special thanks to Mags for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Toni for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/945357

Group 2 Burgh Heath Rec, with an exuberant Toni: Mags

Midweek ride to Pyrford Lock

Wednesday 15th January. A mostly cloud covered day, much warmer than of late, saw 19 out of 15 who had booked- yes 4 unexpected guests-, leave in 1 group, via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton- joined by 1 more-, Molesey, Walton- joined by yet 1 more (now 21)-, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet village, Wisley, to Pyrford Lock for lunch at the Anchor (Hall & Woodhouse/ Badger), back to Wisley & the new Wisley Bridge (Photo), Ockham, Hatchford, Downside, to Stoke D’Abernon for Tea & refreshments at Cafe Barbera, Oxshott, ‘Birds Hill estate’, a freshly resurfaced Bridleway in Claygate, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Toni for back marking a larger than expected group & to Celia for being a ‘Super Marshal’. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2006267

Near the new Wisley Lane Bridge: Lindsay

Midweek ride to Battersea

Wednesday 11th December. A dull grey, chilly day saw 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands- group 2 collecting 1 more-, New Malden, Motspur park, Lower Morden, Morden, South Wimbledon, Wandle trail, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, to Battersea for lunch at the Asparagus (Portobello pubs), – now just 1 group, as a few have departed-, a bit more Battersea, Thames Path, Wandsworth Park, Putney, Barnes Common, to East Sheen for Tea & refreshments at Palewell Common Cafe, Sheen gate Richmond Park, Ham gate, Ham, Canbury Gardens, to finish back in Kingston. Total 27 Miles, thanks to Steve D & Toni for back marking each group, also thanks to John E for back marking after Tea. Apologies, no Photo this time. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2826090

Midweek ride to Maida Vale

Wednesday 13th November. A bright day, with some Sun, after 1 late cancellation, saw 15 Cyclists leave the Christmas Market place, via Skerne Road, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, White lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge, Parsons Green, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, Kennsington Gardens, Bayswater, to view an odd House or 2, Paddington, to view an ‘arty Clock’ & a few ‘Animals’ enjoying lunch- sort of-, a rather congested with traffic Marylebone, to Maida Vale for lunch at the Carlton Tavern, Kilburn, North Kensington, Shepherds bush, Hammersmith to Ravenscourt Park for refreshments at the recently refurbished Paddenswick Tea Gardens, Cycleway 9, Chiswick, Grove park, Chiswick Bridge, Mortlake, Sheen gate Richmond Park, Kingston gate, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, thanks to Dave P for back marking & others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2162317

With ‘Wild Table of love’, a Gillie & Marc piece, near Paddington Station: Lindsay.

Note; see more G & M art, in Kingston Town centre at the moment.

Midweek ride to Northolt

Wednesday 16th October. A rather Dull grey Morning, with a bright Sunny afternoon, after 2 late cancellations, 14 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, Crane River path, Whitton- joined by 2 more (16)-, Hounslow, Osterley, Osterley Park, Norwood Green, Southall (including the new Cycle path on Kensington Rd), to Northolt for lunch at the Crown- very good service, with only 1 person, serving/ Waitering, without issue-, alas as about to depart, 1 person had suffered a visit from the ‘P fairy’ with a new gadget to get the Tyre back in place, ‘Tyre Glider‘-, alas more woe, the intended path has been closed by HS2 works, so retrace our steps, more Northolt, Greenford, Perivale to vist the Art Deco Hoover Building (Photo), – now some flats & a Tesco store-, a missed path led to a slight detour, vis North Ealing-, Ealing town, South Ealing, Brentford, to Syon Park for Tea & refreshments, Isleworth, St Margarets, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking & Celia for marking corners.

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

Midweek ride to Hanwell

Wednesday 18th September, a cloudy morning, with more Sun in the afternoon, after 2 late cancellations & 1 no show, 15 Cyclists, left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, a short bit of Crane river path, Whitton, Hounslow, Osterley, Osterley Park (Photo), Norwood Green- with a loose bag, leading to the tail end missing a turn, soon corrected (leader must make sure we are all together)-, Grand union Canal path to Hanwell for lunch at the delightful & friendly Fox, Churchfields Rec- with the viaduct just visable through the trees-, West Ealing, Hanger Hill, North Ealing, Acton, Acton Park, South Acton, Chiswick Green, Grove park, Chiswick Bridge, Mortlake, to East Sheen for refreshments at Palewell Common Cafe, Sheen gate Richmond Park, Kingston Gate, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, thanks to Celia for back marking & Toni & John E for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/786525

Midweek ride to Pimlico

Wednesday 21st August, A mostly Sunny morning, cloudier in the afternoon, after 1 cancellation, 14 Cyclists left via North Kingston, Kingston gate Richmond Park, White lodge, Roehampton Gate, Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge, Fulham, Eel brook Common, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, a rather congested Chelsea, to pause & pose for a Photo, with some ‘special friends’, Victoria, to Pimlico for lunch at the always reliable White Swan, Vauxhall Bridge, the Oval, Stockwell, Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, Wandsworth, a brief visit to the Wandle Trail, to Wimbledon Park for refreshments, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, thanks to Toni & a little bit from Chris F for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2710703

Who knew, Elephants, Rhino’s, Hippo’s could ride a bike? Lindsay

Midweek ride to West Horsley

Wednesday 24th July, a largely bright, somewhat humid day saw 16 Cyclists, split into 2 groups, no wait, 1 extra unannounced guest wants to join group 2, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, joined by 1 more for group 1, Hinchley wood, Esher, 1 more for group 2- total 19-, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to West Horsley, to find the Pub not yet open, we’re ‘Twirlies’🤣- a term some here when trying to use a Bus Pass, ‘too early‘- , soon we found the landlord, so lunch at the Barley Mow, even though a couple of food orders did need chasing, East Horsley, Horsley Common, Effingham, Bookham, Fetcham & Pond (Photo group 1), Leatherhead, Ashtead,- almost losing group 1 back marker-, Ashtead Park, Woodcote, Rosebury Park, Epsom, to Alexandra Park, only to find the intended Tea stop had gone on holiday this very day, a quick discussion, group 2 settled on a Tea stop in Ewell village, group 1 continued, West Ewell, Hogsmill Park, to Court Farm Garden centre Cafe, for there Tea stop, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 33 Miles, special thanks to Nigel for leading group 2, thanks to Dave P & Toni for back marking each group. Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/1508730

Midweek ride to Lyne

Wednesday

Wednesday 12th June, Flaming June, I don’t think so, a rather chilly overcast day, with 1 cancellation, & 1 unexpected Guest, left via Portsmouth Rd

Long Ditton- joined by 1 more (15), Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher- with work in progress on the Weir gate, a short dismount to walk past the obstruction, Walton, Weybridge, Addlestone, to visit the ‘Crouch Oak’ (Photo), a splendid ancient tree, circa 800 years old, reputedly Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed a picnic under the tree, now supported by some Ironwork, closing 1 of the traffic lanes, a novel ‘Low traffic neighbourhood’ me thinks, Bretlands, to Lyne for lunch at the ‘Royal Marine’, then Thorpe Green, Stroude, Egham, Staines Bridge, Staines, Ashford, Sunbury, Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton, Bushy Park, for refreshments at the Pheasantry- with new much more Cyclist friendly gates-, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking, & others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1049116

Midweek ride to Deptford

Wednesday 15th May. A mostly cloudy morning, with much more Sun in the Afternoon, with 1 late booking, 15 Cyclists left New Malden via the Beeline, Raynes park, South Wimbledon, Colliers wood, Tooting- joined by 1 more (16)-, Tooting Bec Common, Streatham Hill, Tulse Hill, Brockwell Park, Loughborough, Camberwell, Burgess Park- pausing briefly to chat to Sustrans-, to join C10 via South Bermondsey, back of Millwall FC, Folkestone Gardens, to Deptford for lunch at the Dog & Bell, then a fairly new C4, NCN425, Greenland Dock, & Russia Dock woodland (former Surrey Docks, a real delight), Rotherhithe, & the Brunel Museum, a brief visit to the Thames Path, Bermondsey, Potters Field- near Tower Bridge, only to find the intended sculpture for the backdrop to our Photo has been moved (see before & after below), the Borough, Waterloo, Lambeth, the Oval. Clapham Common, to Wandsworth Common for refreshments at ‘the Skylark Cafe’, Earlsfield, Wandle trail, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes Park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 33 Miles, thanks to Ellie for back marking & others for marking corner. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2532828

A previous view of Tower Bridge,

With Tower Bridge today, lacking our friends & there ‘Tandem’.

Kingston Cycling Campaign

Promoting safer and more enjoyable cycling in South West London and beyond

Midweek ride