Awards presented for achievements in 2019

The Winners

 
















Here are links to the albums for all the photos in each category:

Person/people, male   https://photos.app.goo.gl/dzWwDG2pZBWntygh8
Person/people, female https://photos.app.goo.gl/bnhmwFMepTQ7YEyt9
Action                https://photos.app.goo.gl/hSs7kS9qGeY1FPmT6
Scenery/Landscape     https://photos.app.goo.gl/zhCSBuMsanjvcHGo9
Building/buildings    https://photos.app.goo.gl/EPnGpgSeFLR3yU1z9
Humorous or funny     https://photos.app.goo.gl/WMzSe5tAKMsJPpx28
Best Group photo      https://photos.app.goo.gl/vAMBBFsvCgaCx8EY6

Hors Catégorie        https://photos.app.goo.gl/zuT3E3jKQUPhGpxz9 

[Due to a technical issue I am unable to make the font for this list more readable.]

Photos arrive in this HC category for numerous reasons, not delivered before the deadline, not showing an obvious link to cycling, not taken by the person submitting the photo, exceeding the quota of two photos per category, or not meeting other criteria for the competition. But they are good photos all the same.  

A big thank you to Mike Morley and Paul James who judged the photos this year, (along with myself).

I remain grateful to Jez Darvill at Bowlrite in Tolworth who engraved all the trophies in plenty of time for our presentation.

To read Neil Crocker's prize winning account in the Sou'Wester of his participation in the mind-boggling Paris-Best-Paris Audax ride visit our 'SW London Tours' blog page, or in the archived Sou'Wester here: Sou'Wester 2020 (Jan/Feb)

Thank you to the committee for reading through a long list of contenders for this prize.

Thank you to everyone who took part and congratulations to all prize-winners.

We hope that the photos and winning scores will inspire your cycling adventures and witty articles for the Sou'Wester this year. And note the targets to aim for if you are at all serious about the keenly fought mileage competitions, and indeed, the attendance competition.

~ Tim

Author: Tim C

Hilly 50k this Saturday

Yes, spring must be here: The Hilly 50k is this Saturday and the weather forecast looks decent!
Here's a video from 2010 to whet your appetite.   You can just turn up at Ryka's Cafe at 9.30 and enter on the spot.  More info here.

Author: Simon L

A Heads Up for the Bs tomorrow!

Getting from Cobham to Tolworth avoiding very busy roads is only possible by using some off-road sections as the As are to find out. For the Bs tomorrow the same applies. After Cobham and Oxshott we will negotiate Arbrook Common taking care through the glutinous bits on the way to Claygate and Chessington and then we will utilise the Hogsmill Open Space to get to Tolworth. About 13 miles altogether with 2 tiny inclines.

I know Arbrook Common well as its my favourite way of avoiding Esher High Street. I walked it this afternoon and it was passable. If after tomorrow you feel the need for real wet and real mud may I suggest you try the Lake District. I got back yesterday having seen some very dirty bedraggled cyclists and they were on the roads!

Peter T

Author: Peter T

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus seems to be just around the corner, but hopefully will pass us all by.

In the meantime, I am conscious that we have a number of members who could be considered vulnerable. And many of us are in the older age group.

On Wednesday the Annual Lunch will be the biggest gathering of Sou’Westers this year.

So If anybody is feeling unwell before the meal, perhaps they should consider missing it this year. Hopefully this message will not apply to any of us. But if it does, could you please let Simon or Tim know. We can notify the restaurant and hopefully we can arrange a refund should you be unable to come.

Thanks for your understanding

Dave Vine

Contacts

Simon: simon.lambourn@gmail.com
Tim: timcourt50@gmail.com

See here for a reminder of the plans for tomorrow's lunch.

Author: Tim C

HEADS UP for A group ride from Cobham to Tolworth, 4 March (annual lunch)

If you join the A group for this short ride, there are quite a few off-road segments and I can promise you two things:

1) your bike will need a good clean afterwards (and so will you if you don't have mudguards)
2) there will be some segments that few (if any) of you have done before

From Cobham we will head through Downside, across Bookham Common and over the river Mole, then skirt Leatherhead, Ashtead and Epsom before following the Hogsmill river towards Tolworth. It's a bit of a cyclo-cross adventure in some places but 3 of us did it on road bikes with slick tyres on Sunday - after a lot of rain the day before - and we only got stuck once!

For those who don't fancy this, you could go with one of the other groups (who I'm sure will take a more sensible route) or you could make your own way to the Sorrento restaurant in Tolworth.

It's just 14 miles and 350ft ascent between Cobham and Tolworth, we are planning to arrive by about 12.30 and there is NO ride planned after lunch.

Author: MikeR

3 Comments:

Geoff Gregory 02 March 2020 at 17:00 GMT

Thanks for HU as I am hoping to get some work done on my bike Thursday I hope to get it into the workshop Wednesday so will not take advantage of the mud and grime on offer, see you in Tolworth. Are you bringing a change of clothing or riding in plastic bags?
Geoff G.

MikeR 03 March 2020 at 13:13 GMT

Ha! Don’t worry mudguards and overshoes are all you need!

Jeff 03 March 2020 at 13:50 GMT

What about face masks? Some arriving at Sorrento after a ride at a spanking pace may be perspiring heavily and showing signs of high temperature. Will quarantine be necessary?
Jeff T

Chain Wear

It has been a rough old winter, and the more exposed components of the bike will have taken a bit of a beating.  I've been checking mine over this morning, and have remembered a handy trick for measuring chain wear.

Take a 12" ruler and place it against the chain, measuring the centre of a rivet to the centre of a rivet.  With a new chain, this will be exactly 12".  Acceptable wear on this length of chain is 1/16th";  the chain should be replaced if the wear is 1/8th" or more.  This works with 9, 10 and 11 speed chains. It's quite easy to see, and no special tools are needed.

If a new chain is needed, pop on a new cassette at the same time and your world will be a better place.

Mark

Author: Mark G

1 Comment:

Ged Lawrenson 02 March 2020 at 11:59 GMT

With my eyesight I'd struggle to spot 1/16inch!
I've used a Park Tool for years - measuring % wear. This enables chains to swapped, and circulated, before excessive wear - saving cassette replacement. However endless threads on the CTC blog indicates no one method fits.

B Group - 26th February

24 riders left from Walton DC for the ride to Dorney, we all battled against the fairly strong wind taking in Chertsey, Staines, Old Windsor and Datchet. By now, as advised to me, one of the party had turned around to make their way home, from there the wind seemed to increase, particularly across Dorney Common, so that on arrival at the pub more than one remarked that they had been on a hard workout.

Lunch was pre-ordered for 20 with the Palmer Arms pub, we were made very welcome, the orders came swiftly and correctly, and generally the riders were pleased with the standard of food. 

After lunch, with a tail wind most of the time, we made good progress through Datchet, Wraysbury, Staines and Chertsey again until the tea stop at The Ferry Coffee Shop, Shepperton Lock.  Never having been to this particular café I was very pleased, it was friendly, good service and a pleasant stop.

Particular thanks to Pam, who gave me some prior knowledge for getting around Staines Bridge and also for everyone who marked the corners and route as requested.

Jennie gave a 9/10 for leaving ‘gaps’ to aid safety and allow cars etc. to be able to pass, so well done everybody!

Lastly, thanks to Jennie for back marking.

Next time, hills I think!

Best

David

Author: Tim C