Invitation to A group ride from Cobham 6th May

 

We will be riding 23 miles to lunch at The Milk Churn ,1500 ft of ascent and returning, 13 miles to The Old Clunker cafe with 900 ft of ascent. After the Hilly 50, a piece of cake!

If you would like to lead a group please respond on Spond.

Route files on Whatsapp.

Steve D.

B Group Ride Report - 29th April '26

A bright, fine but windy day set the scene for today’s proceedings. A handful of early birds met for morning refreshment at the portable cafe at the far end of Long Ditton recreation ground while others gathered outside the Village Hall. The AGM meeting ran smoothly and matters covered in record time. Congratulations to all those involved. 

Team John A

Twenty two cyclists spread over three groups left a little earlier than planned to enjoy the fine but bracing and breezy conditions ahead. Mick A kindly took photos of each group just before their departure. 

Team Francis D'S

Our morning ride took us on a meandering route via Claygate, Esher, Walton, Weybridge to Chertsey where we enjoyed lunch at the Bridge Hotel. Service was prompt and efficient in relaxed and comfortable surroundings.  

Team Tim G

Breezy conditions persisted as we later headed alongside the river to Laleham then Shepperton, Sunbury and Hampton to our final destination at Bushy Park. A few off-road sections were included for added interest. Fortunately all went well and there were no issues. Cyclists from each group enjoyed tea at the  Pheasantry Cafe outside in the warm sunshine. 

Thanks to everyone who made today’s ride a success, to my two subbies John A and Francis D’S and to our three back markers. Always a pleasure to plan and enjoy a ride that is appreciated by all involved. A good day had by all !

TimG. 

Arthur Jessop Award 

I was so thrilled to hear about the presentation of the Arthur Jessop Cycling Award. Thank you so much for this recognition. 

Being a part of The Wayfarers has been such a rewarding experience for me, and it means a lot to know that my contributions have made an impact. I truly appreciate joining such a wonderful list of the others that have received it.

Thank you once again for this honour.

Yours 

Jennie J

Ride Report - Hilly 50k Saturday 25th April

This year’s Hilly 50k attracted a bigger bunch of riders than previous years. Was it the dry roads and perfect weather, or the promise of fewer potholes on the newly revised route? Or dare I say it, the absence of Sheephouse and Whitedown?  Or more likely, a mixture of reasons.

As well as the normal support from H50-hardened Wayfarers, we had significantly increased female support, and from B group members. So many riders that the usual “sensibly paced” group ride had to be split into two, led by Andy C and me. In addition there was a group of seasoned Saturday “Beginners” led by Steve W.    

We also had impressive support from Bella Velo (thanks Frances) Teddington Velo and Wimbledon Windmilers.    

   

     

In all 45 riders on the road, with a strong showing from the home team.

                                    

Andy’s group left on time around 10am with my group about 5 minutes later, with Peter S backmarking (thanks Peter). My group soon settled into a pattern of climbing at our preferred pace, then regrouping at the top, with occasional briefing on the next stage. 

All the groups (Andy’s, Steve’s and mine) met up for refreshments at the King’s Head Shop in Holmbury, where the staff coped admirably with our numbers, which well exceeded the estimate I had given them.     

After leaving Holmbury we descended, and rode some beautiful lanes, before the shock of Pitch Hill, which was the first of a quartet of afternoon climbs (Combe Lane, Crocknorth and Box Hill). Despite the climbing there was good evidence that we were beginning to enjoy ourselves.    

And there were some nice descents too, with chances to admire the scenery or, if you prefer, the bluebells.

All the groups arrived atop Box Hill before 3.30 where we were checked in by Terry, and delighted to find Christina had arranged a welcome feast with Sabina’s help.    

  

Special thanks are due to Maggie J who organised signing-in from early morning, and Terry who stayed to the finish, checking riders as they returned.      

Thanks also to Steve W, Paul J, Andy C, Tim C (IT support and team photographer) and Christina (finishers feast).

This year Mike Morley’s son Tim was away and he and his team will be riding  on May 16^th. So far we have collected around £1,170 for St Raphael’s, and the JustGiving site remains open for further donations, which are all much appreciated.

P.S. There's a link to Steve W's excellent Beginners report here.

P.P.S. Click here for a full collection of photos.

B Group Ride 29th April '26

You are invited to join us for next week's B group ride after our annual AGM at Long Ditton Village Hall. We will be heading out towards Chertsey via Walton-on-Thames for lunch at 'The Bridge' Hotel. The afternoon ride will return back via Sunbury-on-Thames for tea at Hampton Court.

Please reply by Monday evening to be added to the ride list.

Email - timgibbons1@virginmedia.com

WhatsApp - 07756961505

Look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.

TimG.

A Group Ride Report 22 April - Leatherhead to Warnham

It was a beautiful Spring Day for a bike ride along the country lanes of Surrey and West Sussex, down to Warnham for lunch at The Sussex Oak. Bluebells, Spring sunshine, a 700 year old church, a duck pond and village pub. Not much more to be said really. But here are some photos to prove it:

Thank you to Dave and Brian for sub-leading. Thanks also to Mike for back marking and to the rest of my group for the company. Sorry for covering you all in sealant.

Dave’s Report

Our group (Andy C, Jennie, Dave W, Francis, Ged and Guy) set off on familiar roads, until I went off piste and took them up to Abinger Common. We wondered why Brian's group who passed us on Ranmore had managed to get back in front at Forrest Green. After that it was plain sailing down a bumpy Weare St. to the pub in Warnham.

Dave W and Ged left us there, and we set off for tea at the Reading Room, Brockham. Thanks to Dave W for back marking on the way out and Jennie on the way back.

Brian’s Report

My group of seven were Sue C, Sue F, Gill H, Gina, Neil W and Dave F. We were overtaken by Clive's group just before the Ranmore cross roads and then by Dave E's group while we stopped just after. That wasn't the last we saw of Dave's group though as they appeared behind us (!) at Forest Green and we saw them again briefly after Weare Street.

The pub did well with all three groups there together and we were on our way again withing an hour. 

It was a lovely day to be riding but the wind was cold and the dappled shade in the lanes made it difficult to read the road surface ahead. Parts of Weare Street were particularly challenging. The afternoon ride was uneventful but the wind seemed colder and stronger. It was good to be over the top at Rusper but Clive had routed us via Charlwood so there was still Norwood Hill to conquer before it was mostly downhill to Brockham.

My thanks to Clive for an interesting variation on previous routes to Warnham, to my group for their company and to Dave F for back marking.

Here’s the route:

Invitation to A Group Ride from Long Ditton on the 29th of April

 Please join me on my ride from Long Ditton following the AGM on the 29th of April.  

(Long Ditton Village Hall, 2 Ewell Road, Long Ditton, KT6 5LE).

Lunch is at Epsom Wetherspoon’s (pre-order not required).

It's about 6 miles to lunch and 17 miles to tea at the Flying Saucer Café in Bourne Hall in Ewell with about 1300 feet of climbing. The majority of that is up to Headley via Lodge Bottom Road. There is a short unpaved section through Ashtead common.

Please use Spond to say if you want to join the ride. You will receive an invite on Friday.

If you want to join the ride and are not yet a member of the Spond group please let me know on my e-mail: kmitch1963@gmail.com and I will arrange to have you added.

I look forward to seeing you.