Easy Riders March 31st

Arrived at Hersham to find Roger, Fuzz, Albert and Peter, Bill, Geoff, Ron, and the Squirrels nattering. Suprised to see Ron as he had phoned me at ten to nine from Dorking. Dennis also arrived. Ron took a photo and departed on four wheels, Dennis went to supervise the arrival of a new fridge, Geoff departed for home and the remaining stalwarts set off into the drizzle. The route through Burhill Golf Course was successful, they've constructed a new bridge over the Mole, there is then a high metal locked gate, but by walking around the barn you can rejoin the road on the other side and proceed to the bridge over the A3 - gate open at far end and so into the suburbs of Cobham. Whether the route we took will be closed off to ramblers/cyclists will remain to be seen but it is an excellent cut through at the moment. We then headed north by usual route Green Lane-Fairmile Common-Sandy Lane -Stokesheath Road and track to Claygate and the Foley Arms. After lunch Fuzz, Albert and Peter went their own ways, Roger, Bill and I headed for Molesey via Orchard Lane and the track along the River Ember. A little of the Thames brought us to Hampton Court where Bill got the train and Roger and I did a circuit of Bushy Park before a quick cuppa at the Kings Field Pavilion (where the skateboard park is at Kingston Bridge end of Bushy Park - open til 3.30 most days).
From Steph

It was cold, wet and windy and we had a rather low turnout at Hersham so let us say it`s quality rather than quantity wot counts. Stephanie lead the ride with Bill H., Fuzz, Roger plus Peter and me on the tandem trike. We encountered a fair bit of mud en route but managed without mishap. We followed Steph`s email briefing so I`ve taken the liberty of pasting same here:- Had an exploratory cycle today so here is my intended route for Wed. Westwards along Burwood Road til we come to the entrance for Burhill golf course, we turn in and follow a lovely tarmaced surface all the way past Norwood Farm, bridge over the R mole and across the Esher bypass till we come to the A307 which we cross and cut through the private estate on the opposite side of the road, more lovely tarmac. We turn northwards and follow small roads up to Fairmile common which we have to cross a very short section of to get onto Sandy Lane. It was a little muddy in a few places but really not too bad at all. At the eastern end of Sandy Lane we do some more cutting through private estates so more good tarmac! - Stokesheath Road which brings us out at Fairoak Lane, here we turn left for half a mile and then have to turn left again up the track to Coverts Road in Claygate. This little offroad section is half a mile and is muddy in a few places but we can get off and walk. It is the quickest route to Claygate where we will lunch at the Foley Arms. About 6.5 miles.
After lunch we head west along Hare Lane turning right into Littleworth Lane - across the common (1/4 mile) straight over the Portsmouth road to join Ember Lane. I will be turning left at Orchard Way for a bit of very well surfaced off road to follow a little of the River Ember before heading north through Molesey to join the Thames for a little then over Hampton Court Bridge - (passing 5 on the Bridge!) to tea at far end of Bushy Park in the Kings Field Pavilion. Thence into Kingston and home. Hope you are well and ready to go..... Steph
End of quote:----------Pete and I went home after lunch none the worse for the experience, so thanks Steph-------------Albert

Author: Pete

B Group March 31st

On a wet cold and windy day Cliff led a small party of nine including, ladies first, Gill Pat Angie and Liz plus Eddy Dave Terry and Les out of Dorking via Punchbowl Lane. A bit of dissent in the troops occured due to the climb but everybody got up OK. Cliff promised that it was the only one but was proved to be inaccurate at the short lung tester at Trumpets Hill, whether you took it direct or tried to byepass it at the adjacent T junction.This was after passing through Brockham and Betchworth on the backway to Leigh. Here were no takers when an extension was offered to Newdigate as most people were cold and wet enough.
As a change to the Plough we went into the Seven Stars, first time for a long time for most of us, and enjoyed a pleasant lunch served by an amiable publican and his staff. After lunch Pat was found to have punctured and due to a dearth of gentlemen the ladies proceeded to change the offending tube, assisted, I have to say, by Les on the pump.Fortunately Pat had purchased the correct spanner for the removal of the wheel, thus avoiding the embarrassment of a previous puncture when we had been unable to get the wheel off.
Tea was had by Dave Terry Liz Gill and Cliff at Fannies in Leatherhead whilst the others continued straight home, I clocked a modest but cold 40 miles

Author: Pete

A Group 31 March

Between elevenses and tea we covered 29.7 miles today, some of them twice, as Jeff sought firstly to avoid the forecast rain and then to find a pub with a welcoming fire but no fire engines. He was more successful with the latter. Rolling average speed 11.2 mph at a steady 71 watts with the peak five minutes of 149 watts ascending Henfold Lane on the homeward leg. 1586 feet of ascent and 1411 calories on what really ought to be the last day of Winter.

Mark

Author: Mark G

Plan for Tomorrow's A ride from Dorking

Dear All

As there seems to be an alarming consensus among the weather pundits that it is going to be wet tomorrow, I am proposing only a modest A group ride from Dorking tomorrow. The plan is therefore to venture no further south than Lamb's Green and to keep our heads out of the clouds. I hope that this will not be thought too timorous. I hope to make up for it on the next ride from Dorking on 9 June!

Don't forget your capes.

Jeff

Author: Jeff

1 Comment:

Mark G 30 March 2010 at 17:20 BST

I'll bring my Wet Weather Bike.

The Story of Heaven and Hell

Albert again posted my photo so I suppose I have to tell you another story:

You read about the suicide bombers who create so much loss of life and the victims are all Innocent people. These suicide people are called radicalised, means their minds are brain washed. How it's done is they are offered entry into heaven where it is said they are looked after by beautiful women and there are rivers of wine as compared to the hell where the life is terrible. Now it means there is Heaven and Hell. Even other religions also preach. We are told good people go to heaven, bad people go to Hell when they die.

The story is Once a very popular politician, I forgot his name, after his death he went up in front of God and as he done some good work in life. The God told him that he could choose either Heaven or Hell. He said before I make a choice I like to see both places. He was first shown heaven, which was all peaceful calm no big house of common debates, he asked about newspapers, no papers as there was no bad things happening so no newspapers. He asked to be shown the Hell, The guide took him to the Hell. The Satan open the door, what he saw really amazed him there were lot of singing, dancing strikes people milling around more gay than Piccadilly circus lot of news stands selling Times, Daily Mail and lot of other papers.

He said to the Satan back on the earth we are all told the opposite of what it is here. Satan said, you see there are majority of do-good-er there they are all preaching for Heaven when I try to tell different, they all say "Don't listen to Satan, he cannot be trusted. So nobody believes me and now you have seen with your own eyes. He said good job I have seen if I had made my choice with seeing this it would have been terrible. So he told the messenger to go back I have made my choice. As soon the door closed the the scene changed completely. He was set upon beaten up dragged. He said to Satan what is this. Satan said the previous scene was the show case only for visitors Now you have made your choice and you are the immigrant now you get what is here. In life good and honest thing are all peaceful the bad things initially seems good the end results are always bad I hope the story is ???????

Mark Roy.

Author: mark roy

B Group March 24th

Spring has certainly sprung! What a glorious sunny day it was and warm as well - by the end of the day most of us were probably envious of Les who must have known something and was sporting his blue shorts for the first time this year! The sunshine had also brought out a horde of cyclists for today's ride - there were 20 of us in B Group!! (Judy, Liz, Stephanie, Terry, Brian, Johns G & S, Roger, Robin, Cliff, Mick, Bob, Ray, Philip, Eddy, Les, Godfrey, Frank, Ian and me - Gill) Given the large number the aim was to separate into two groups with Terry acting as Assistant Leader for the second group in order to make a break for passing traffic. This worked better in the afternoon than in the morning when Robin punctured at the foot of Egham Hill and Terry ended up leading the puncture party of himself, Robin and Godfrey while the rest of us continued on our way.

The lunch spot was The Fox and Castle at Old Windsor and our route took us out through Chertsey, along Ferry Lane to Penton Hook, to Thorpe and Egham, where we climbed Middle Hill as far as Parsonage Road. Here we cut across to Bond Street in Englefield Green but soon turned down Blay's Lane to join Wick Lane and do a loop past the Valley Gardens, Savill Gardens, ending up at Bishop's Gate. A speedy descent down Crimp Hill brought us to the pub. Opening specially for us (lunchtime opening doesn't start again until April), we soon had our orders taken and retired to the garden to enjoy the sunshine - a first for this year. Bob and Mick, however, seemed to spend most of the lunch break mending puncture no. 2 (Bob's). The Budget was on the TV in the pub and the announcement of a Road Tax for Cyclists by one of our group saw a few incredulous jaws drop before the grin of the perpetrator gave away the show!!

The afternoon's ride was a straightforward return to Egham via Runnymede, Staines and then along the towpath to Laleham. It was on this stretch that Terry again became leader of a small group after John G. had to stop for a slow puncture. The rest of us continued to Shepperton where those wishing to go home duly departed. With the decision to go to the Walled Garden for tea having been made by those who remained, the back group suddenly hove into view and eight of us enjoyed tea and cakes before heading homewards - leaving Brian to deal with his flat tyre - another slow puncture! (For information - the Walled Garden will be staying open until 5.00 p.m. as of this weekend with the change of the clocks - last teas served at 4.45 p.m.) Gill Finlay

PS It was good to see David Salmon at Elevenses and we wish him all the best with his chemo treatment starting tomorrow.

Author: Pete

Easy Riders March 24th

Good turnout at Shepperton with warmer weather. Before leaving the village, yours truly had a bit of a contretemp but happily no ill effects. John C., led our ride to The Running Mare at Cobham with Lynda, Beryl, Mark, Roger, Fuzz, Dennis, me and a couple more. The route took us over Walton bridge and down New Zealand Avenue to the cyclepath leading from Hersham to Westend. Here the potholes became pretty grim and the climbs a bit fierce. I am afraid the others had quite a few waits for me to catch up. It`s not that I`m getting old; I AM OLD. we did however get some freewheeling before reaching Stoke Road and the pub, which always does us proud. After lunch most of the others went on to Claygate for tea while I with good old Dennis headed for my place. Thanks John for keeping me clear of the offroad.A couple of pictures attached---------Albert

Author: Pete