I called in at Pinnocks at Ripley a couple of weeks ago and they displayed their new hours as of April 1. They now close at 4pm Monday - Friday rather than 5 which might call for an alternative on some summer rides.
Friday, 17 April 2026
Invitation to A Group Ride from Leatherhead 22nd April
It's about 23 miles to lunch and about 16 miles to tea at the Old Post Office in Betchworth with 2,200 feet of climbing, all on road.
Please use Spond to say if you want to join the ride. You will receive an invitation to join the ride from Spond shortly after 6pm on Friday.
If you want to join the ride and are not yet a member of the Spond group please let me know (clive.janes@gmail.com) and I will add you.
A RIDE FROM WEYBRIDGE 15/04/26
Clive J wrote:
It was a pretty gloomy morning when I set off for Weybridge. But it was good to try out the new elevenses venue at the Community Hub. There aren’t many places around there where we can all get together for elevenses so it was good to find out about this one. We will be returning in July.
A steady drizzle had set in when it was time for my group to depart (Fiona, Dave B, Dave E, Mike R, Guy, Patrick, Andy and Peter S). So we donned rain jackets and set off on Jennie’s route which started out quite flat taking us through Walton, Molsey and on to Claygate. I learned that some of this was included in the Olympic time trial route in 2012. The course became more undulating after Claygate culminating with Hurst Road just before lunch at The Chequers in Walton-ont’-Hill.
Those that ordered the sausage sandwich had a very long wait indeed. In fact one of the staff, armed with a till receipt and the pre-order list, came over to tell us that we had already received our sausage sandwiches! But it became quite evident to her that we had not, in fact, received the sandwiches so she went away again. Eventually the sandwiches turned up and the manager came over to apologise for the delay and to then accuse of calling one of his staff an ‘incompetent fool’. Which none of us had done!We was innocent!
Enough now about the pub; I won’t go in to Dave B’s cancellation of his order and the subsequent delivery of it to the table.
Upon exiting the pub, the Sun started breaking through the cloud and Andy set up his camera for a group photo.
We headed South in much nicer weather than the morning but with a new stiff head wind to contend with. After going up Root Hill the course started to turn North along Blackbrook Rd. so the wind became a tail wind for most of the way back to the chapel café in Horton. Where we were surprised to discover Jennie’s group already there enjoying tea and cake. This is despite the fact they were still polishing off their lunch at The Chequers when we left for the afternoon ride! Perhaps Jennie will explain how this was possible in her report.
Thanks to my group for the company, Fiona for back marking, to Jennie for organising everything and to Geoff for the sausage roll.
Jennie J wrote:
The new venue for elevenses at the Weybridge Library Hub, was excellent, very welcoming and helpful, a good selection of cakes and savouries.
16 riders left in two groups to make our way over to Walton on the Hil for our lunch stop at The Chequers, about 21 miles in distance. We followed a familiar route taking the river to Walton on Thames, towards Esher and onto Littleworth Common and into Claygate. From there to the outskirts of Epsom, then up Hurst Road to The Chequers pub.
After lunch, as we were somewhat delayed and taking into consideration of the forecast weather, we changed the original route to shorten it by about 4 miles to arrive in time for tea and refreshments at the Horton Cafe.
A big thank you to Clive for being my sub-leader and to Neil W for back marking in the morning and Simon L after lunch.
Thanks to everyone for your company on the ride
Obviously Clive in his report has covered the problems at the pub with the food, enough to say that it was very unfortunate and it will be a while before we use that establishment again.
Yours
Jennie
Thursday, 16 April 2026
B ride report for Wednesday 15th April Weybridge - West End - Hampton Court
We had a good turnout of 24 riders on Wednesday for our ride to the Hare and Hounds in West End. Despite a rather mixed forecast no one cancelled on the day and we headed out from Weybridge in three groups led by my trusty subs Gill H and Tim C. I think there was unanimous agreement that Clive J had played a blinder in finding The Hub cafe above Weybridge Library as a new 11's venue; great baked goods, lovely service and pristine toilets! What more could a group of Wayfarers require?
Gill H's report:
Our new venue at Weybridge was very well received with good bike parking and a lovely welcome. Coffee was acceptable but pastries a big hit!
Our team of John, Lillian, Stephanie, Fixie, Robert, Tony, Keith and Gill started in rain which, though light, seemed to drench us and drop the temperature somewhat. Once we hit the inclines and the sun made a comeback all was well. The route across Chobham Common was very pleasant and we arrived at the Hare and Hounds to a flurry of pink blossom!
We avoided any further rain on our pm ride through leafy lanes and along familiar roads back to Hampton Court. Playing cat and mouse with the first group due to a combination of toilet stops, a wrong turn on my part and sadly Geoff’s dismount, we arrived at Coppernose first and found it quite a comfortable tea stop. Plenty of seats both in and out for future reference.
Thanks to my two back markers, Tony and Keith, and the rest of the group for their lovely company. Thanks Sue for a most enjoyable route.
My report:
I don't think I have anything that can be usefully added to Gill's report apart from mentioning Geoff's tumble and the magnificent way my group responded. Initial DRABC (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation) established and an ambulance summoned there was excellent 'outside the box' thinking. Caroline summoned her husband to collect Geoff's bike, Chris M began work on clearing the thorny shrubs to make it easier for the paramedics to extricate Geoff and Alan collected details from the very kind couple who stopped to help.
Thankfully, Geoff has just sustained some nasty bruising and hopefully he will be back out riding with us again soon.
And a lovely picture of Tim's group outside the Hare and Hounds!
Monday, 13 April 2026
Notice of the AGM for CTC South West London
Notice: The AGM for CTC South West London will commence
at 11:00 on Wednesday 29 April in the Long Ditton Village Hall (Upper Hall)
Long Ditton Village Hall, 2 Ewell Road, Long Ditton, KT6 5LE
N.B. This location marked below proved popular from a show
of hands in favour at the last AGM and was therefore retained for this year. An
exhibition of photos from this year’s annual competition will be available to
view before and after the AGM. Ride leaders please allow a short time for this
before heading off afterwards
Signing in sheets will be circulated once you
are sitting down. The AGM Agenda, 25/26 Annual Report, Treasurer's Report and
Minutes of the 2025 AGM, will be available to read download or print at home in
advance online via links. Unlike previous years, other than 30 A4 copies of the
agenda, no other paper copies will be provided. Please take the time and
trouble to do so as this will help the meeting run smoothly and get us all back
on our bikes quicker. 😀
We have to vacate the Hall and return it “as found” by 13:00.
No rubbish please. (Many hands made light work of this last year, thank you.)
There is no official bike parking but there are plenty of
sturdy railings around the building within sight of the meeting room windows and,
less securely, the park over the road. Security
however cannot be guaranteed, so please feel free to use your more secure locks
and ideally please “double up” with someone in your subgroup to both save bike parking
space and increase security.👍.
Please send any apologies via my email dlferrett@hotmail.com rather than any subgroup WhatsApp’s.
NB: Links to read/download the AGM documents :
Posted 13/04/2026
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Hilly 50k - Saturday 25th April - Don't Miss It!
The date for the Hilly 50k fast approaches - Saturday 25th April starting from Ryka’s, Dorking. Sign on from 9.00am. Finish at the top of Box Hill.
This year we have revised the route to include friendlier hills, scenic descents, and fewer potholes. I’m sure everyone will find it a significant challenge, but hopefully the new route will attract a wider group of riders who might not normally attempt such a ride.
For full details see our Hilly 50 web page.
If you are not familiar with the route, or nervous of the hills I plan to organise a sensibly paced group ride, including a mid-ride coffee stop at Kings Head Shop on Pitland St, Holmbury St Mary. Please let me know if you are interested (d.vine207@btinternet.com).
As in previous years we ask riders to support St Raphael’s Hospice. Donations of £10 (or more if you prefer) via our JustGiving page to this most deserving cause.
Invitation to the B group ride on Wednesday 15th April
You are invited to join the B ride next Wednesday. The morning route starts in Weybridge and we have a new 11’s venue, The Library Hub Community Cafe in Weybridge High St. The cafe is on the first floor above the library - go through doors on the right when you enter the main library building and take the stairs to the first floor. There are bike racks at the front or down the side of the building which can be accessed via the car park at the rear.
The morning route of 12 miles takes us across Chobham Common and through pretty lanes to lunch at The Hare and Hounds in West End. Thankfully we don't need to pre-order.
After lunch we will follow familiar roads back to tea at Hampton Court.
Please let me know if you would like to join the ride so I can sort out groups.
Hope you can join us.
Sue
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