A Group Ride from Weybridge to Aldershot and Cobham, 8th July 2026.

 Aldershot is an army town. On our last trip here, in October 2022, David W. led us to view a military man on a horse - Wellington. This year I paused my group (Dave V and W, Brian and Neil W) at a memorial stone cenotaph with a bronze lion atop. Plaques commemorated the Great War horse cavalry, but also mentioned a new weapon in the First World War - the bicycle. The 8th Cyclist Brigade was formed in July1916, as the bicycle began replacing the horse for reconnaissance and patrolling. Perhaps early CTC cyclist soldiers were deployed?

Geoffrey S joined us just before our early departure - with a bloodied knee from a fall following a skirmish with a dog. (He pealed-off at Chobham). Fiona's group (see below) passed us, and were installed in the Queen Hotel as we arrived. On a hot day we topped-up bottles with the plentiful supply of iced water, and were away before 1pm. My errant navigation was corrected by Neil, picking-up the lovely new cycle path before Ockham bites and over the M25, before emerging in Pointers Lane. The air-conditioning in Gails made us very reluctant to leave!

 Fiona commented as follows. Another glorious sunny day. Setting off at 10.00 the temperature was quite pleasant. We went along many leafy lanes that gave us some shade, we arrived at Wetherspoons in Aldershot ready for some fluid.
I think in the afternoon all of us started to feel the heat particularly when we stopped pedalling.
Thank you to Dave B for back marking and to my group - as always, good company.

Thanks for Fiona for sub-leading, Dave W and V for backmarking, and for all coping admirably with the hot conditions.