Local rides

5 and 10 miles from home

Local riding ain't so bad!   Over the past week or two I've been heading out in random directions from home to discover what's hidden in the suburbs.   Typically I've tried to choose roads I've never been along before, and there's quite a wealth of different rides available.    Tree-lined avenues (in full blossom), parks with plenty of space, fast straight roads, enviable houses, decent hills (if not quite Barhatch Road), woodland areas with bluebells, a few gorgeous views: and everywhere, parents out with their kids, on foot or on bikes, all happy to wave and say hello.  I've typically avoided towpaths or other places where there are lots of people in a confined space.

The roads are quiet: on alternate days I've been out with Liz, who prefers shorter rides and less traffic, and she's had no qualms in riding up to Ealing or round Acton.   We don't go far from home, so if an un-fixable mechanical happened, we could walk home, either with or without the bikes.  And, although I've pushed myself on Richmond Hill a few times with its various gradients, from Church Lane to the mini White Down of Nightingale Lane, generally it's at pootling speed, admiring the view.

As a guide to how far I can reasonably go, I drew a 5 mile and 10 mile circle on my Garmin.   A 2-3 hour walk home, if necessary.   So far I don't think I've been outside the 5 mile line, and there's so much variety, I may not need to.   Yesterday, I did a circuit of Richmond Park, just outside the park boundary - it was lovely, and a first for me.  Around 18 miles while staying within 5 miles from home.

Author: Simon L

2 Comments:

Dave Vine 07 April 2020 at 10:14 BST

Nice description of local rides Simon. Circuit of outside Richmond Park is on my list too.

Simon L 07 April 2020 at 10:27 BST

Circuit of Richmond Park best done in a clockwise direction, unless you like Coombe hill :-)

Covid-19 : Experience of Infection

I've just had a conversation with David Vine Following which I thought it might be useful to post here, as it would seem there is little direct experience amongst Wayfarers.

Time line:

17 March : Vicky started symptoms (Note: 5 days on from most likely infection event)

Both into Full Domestic Isolation. Living in separate spaces in the house, maintaining 2m separation at all times)

22 March I started Symptoms

24 March I allowed Vicky to access the rest of the house!

25/26 March My direct symptoms resolved but still "off-center"

30 March, Out of quarantine but I woke with zero sense of smell

2 April I felt fully recovered

4 April Sense of smell returned

Symptoms:

We both had deep seated, dry (no phlegm cough). Not continuous or painful.

Temperature 37.8C

Vicky: Muscle aches esp lower back and headaches.

Me: Just generally "Off"

Medication:

Vicky, paracetamol for several days

Me, paracetamol for 1 day

Summary

Long Term Inmates, will be aware that I have had long term chest issues, Covid-19 was therefore a real worry. I E-mailed my longstanding consultant as I started symptoms, she was very reassuring as to the likely mild nature of the infection, even with my history, and normal home base precautions were adequate. She and a GP friend advised to pay particular attention to any breathing difficulties, especially as other symptoms subsided.

NHS 111 advice on line and by phone was to stay hunkered down at home but push the red button at any dramatic change.

Not everyone will get away with symptoms as mild as ours, but many will.  So don't panic.

Interesting Observation

My routine meds include a fairly high daily dose of Hydroxychloroquine and 3*weekly Azithromycin, both in the news potential severity/duration reducing medications for Covid-19.

I'm an anecdatapoint!

We await the antibody test to confirm that what we had was Covid-19, and in the meantime must continue to follow the rules on the assumption that we are still vulnerable..

Many thanks to David, and others, for getting and keeping in touch to see how we are. Much appreciated.

Author: PaulKelly

1 Comment:

Dave Vine 07 April 2020 at 10:11 BST

Paul, Many thanks to you and Vicky for sharing such a detailed description of your experiences. And congratulations on coming through the experience successfully. Unfortunately our PM's plight shows that not every case is resolved without much more intense intervention. My very best wishes to you and Vicky, and stay well in the coming days.

Last week’s rides

My rides have become shorter and closer to home but I’ve tried to find something interesting each time.

The ride on Monday 30th was so close to home it was in my kitchen! I’ve acquired a second hand Tacx Booster trainer, it’s not a ‘smart trainer’ but it allowed me to pedal along to a video of someone cycling outdoors whilst following instructions of the effort level I should be putting in. The video was supplied by an app called ‘The Sufferfest’ and I did 45 minutes only having gone out too hard.

I quite liked it and decided to invest in speed and cadence sensors to give better interaction.

Tuesday 31st saw me back on my road bike with very tired legs from yesterday’s session. I cycled from Epsom, up the Downs where I looked back at the Grandstand bathed in sunshine on what was an otherwise cloudy, moody day. After Walton I turned right and then right again onto the Headley Road which was now fully open. Back to Epsom via Wilmerhatch Lane made a short ride of 13 miles and 768ft elevation. 

On Wednesday 1st,  the sun came out and I thought to myself what a perfect day it would be for a Wayfarers ride. I took the same route out but this time instead of turning right into Headley Road I carried on and descended Pebble Hill. After Betchworth I turned right towards Brockham where I did another right into Old School Lane and then Tilehurst Lane. The oilseed rape in the field at the top of the short sharp climb was beginning to turn yellow which was a lovely sight. Back to Epsom via Box Hill where there were a few cyclists but not enough to cause social distancing problems. I noticed on this and other rides that quite a few cyclists weren’t wearing helmets. I’d guess they’re not regulars but have dusted off their own (or even their children’s) bikes off to go for a ride. 25 miles and 1,627ft elevation. 

Thursday 2nd’s ride was a repeat of Tuesdays but this time I stopped briefly in Walton on the Hill to look at a brood of ducklings. 

By Friday 3rd my new speed and cadence sensors had arrived so I did a half hour session on my turbo trainer followed by a home gym session (no I don’t have a gym at home, it was in the kitchen) using the minimal equipment I have. 

Saturday 4th I took my partner, Doug, out for the same ride as Tuesday. He hasn’t been on a bike since our cycling holiday last September so it was at a gentle pace. Maybe he’ll do a few more local rides as he’s unable to play golf, his first love, right now. 

By Sunday I was missing the sociability of group rides and the coffee and cake stops and didn’t feel like another solo ride despite the beautiful warm sunny weather. So I made myself get on with a big gardening job I’ve been putting off for quite some time, a couple of years or more.  

For the coming week I’ve decided I need to find some more routes, preferably with the odd flat section, to keep my interest and motivation. 

Stay safe everyone! 

Author: Janice

4 Comments:

Geoff Gregory 06 April 2020 at 13:36 BST

Hi Janice really nice to read about your rides, the turbo you have is a good choice I may need to invest in the add ones you have, let us know how you get on. I've set mine up for Christine as she is missing out on getting to the gym but is out fora run every other day.
So good to hear from people abouy what they are doing.
Stay safe and enjoy the company on your rides.
Geoff G.

Mark G 06 April 2020 at 16:25 BST

I feel sorry for your poor old Roberts, Janice. He's looking out of the window.

mike morley 07 April 2020 at 10:54 BST

Hi Janice me and my family have been keeping an eye on the ducklings on Walton Pond, I too took some photo's with the intention of posting but you beat me too it! At first there were 10
One used to wonder of and now there are 9, not sure what happened to the 10th. Maybe got lost at the 10th Tee on the Golf course!

mike morley 07 April 2020 at 10:55 BST

Hi Janice me and my family have been keeping an eye on the ducklings on Walton Pond, I too took some photo's with the intention of posting but you beat me too it! At first there were 10
One used to wonder off and now there are 9, not sure what happened to the 10th. Maybe got lost at the 10th Tee on the Golf course!

For our time

Hello everyone, just been forwarded this video, I hope that it gives hope to all of us and those that we know.

Take care and stay safe.

Author: Geoff Gregory

3 Comments:

Dave Vine 06 April 2020 at 14:42 BST

Nice one Geoff!

Jeff 06 April 2020 at 17:39 BST

A refreshing and positive perspective. Wonder who made it. Not the Russian fake news factory nor the lunatic conspiracy theorists who want to burn down mobile transmission pylons.

Geoff Gregory 06 April 2020 at 18:29 BST

Thank you both, just watched it again and still brings a lump to the throat
Geoff G.

Some CTC Badges

I've been tidying up my little collection of CTC Memorabilia, and came upon a couple of items that I thought might interest people.

The first is the white CTC Badge in the picture above.  It is like the standard 1" badge, but of superior quality.  It was made by Thomas Fattorini, of Birmingham, a well-known badge and medal manufacturer.  Fattorini hold a Royal Warrant, which is a partial explanation for the crown on this badge.

These badges were produced in 1910, when HM King George V became the first Royal Patron of the CTC, again in 1936 when HM King George VI became Patron, and possibly again in 1952 when HM Queen Elizabeth II became Patron.  From its condition, I doubt that this is a 1910 badge, though it may be, and the font on these badges changed in the early 1950s, so although it could be a 1952 badge I think that it is most likely to be from 1936.  

Underneath is a second badge, 'South Wales Veterans', which I think is from the same era.  These could be purchased to recognise a particular achievement, and would be worn with your normal CTC badge.  Tri-Vets didn't start until 1959, so I take this badge to be a precursor of Tri-Vets.

I've a couple more of this type of challenge badge:

These are for the classic CTC challenge distances; I have also seen a '200 in 24 hours', but I haven't got one of these.  

Who knows, in 80 years or so someone may be puzzling over our 'Wayfarers 40th' badge, trying to work out how it fitted in to the scheme of things.

I hope so.

Mark

Author: Mark G

3 Comments:

Mark G 03 April 2020 at 13:24 BST

Brian Bent has pointed out that the crown is a King's crown, not a Queen's, so it's definitely not 1952.

mike morley 03 April 2020 at 14:49 BST

Well done Brian for pointing that out how clever you are! Mark glad you have posted this, I was beginning to wonder if my fellow wayfarers had all gone down with CD-19, in view of the sparse populating of this blog!

Simon L 27 January 2021 at 20:02 GMT

I've just belatedly noticed the apostrophe in Cyclists' Touring Club. Quite right too. I'll be using it from now on, until I forget. (Jan 2021)

Circular ride not too far from home as recommended!

One good thing about self isolation and solo bike riding it gives one chance to explore new tracks with hardly a soul about.
Still can't get the full hang of posting photos in the right order and getting the story to make sense! Any way as I struggled up Hurst Lane to Walton I was overtaken by two fit and fast riders going past me like a dose of salts which was very appropriate as we were near Epsom! As the lady behind passed me by I asked, do you have a bungee? to which the reply was a laugh! I finally caught them up resting at the green in Walton next to the Telephone Box Defibrillator. It was then that I realised it was Jennie & Dave. A wave and high guys carry on I greeted and went home!

Following pics not quite in sequence but at least it kept me occupied!

Today I found a lovely garden to relax in but unfortunately it had a big guard dog!

So then I climbed a big steep hill and my legs felt like dead wood! Had CD-19 finally got me?

No I was still alive and came across a view so rested my MTB to reveal the North Downs framed by trees!

Author: mike morley

No Club ride today?

Splendid !

Author: Terry

1 Comment:

mike morley 01 April 2020 at 14:24 BST

I hope that is not 2 foot in the grave!