Today's B Ride

12 of us viz Adam, Angy, Christine, Gillian, Ian, John G, Mike M, Norman, Pat, Ray, Robin and my good self set out from North Cheam. 12 miles to my home in Crystal Palace through suburbia although the route kept us away from too many busy roads. Coffee and then a trip round the local excitements. 

First the almshouses: 

There are many Victorian almshouses in Penge, the oldest being the Royal Watermen's Almshouses, built around 1840 by the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the City of London for retired company Freemen and their widows. It is also known as the Free Watermen and Lightermen’s Almshouses on Beckenham Road, built 1840-1841 to designs by George Porter (architect). It is the most prominent building in Penge, Kent. In 1973, the almspeople were moved to a new site in Hastings, and the original buildings were converted into private homes.

The Queen Adelaide Almshouses, also known as the King William Naval Asylum, St. John’s Road, founded 1847 and built in 1848 to designs by Philip Hardwick at the request and expense of Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, the widow of King William IV, to provide shelter for twelve widows or orphan daughters of naval officers. Again, the almshouses are now in private residences.

Then the dinosaurs:

In 1854 Queen Victoria opened ‘the world’s first theme park’ complete with the first life-sized models of prehistoric animals built anywhere in the world. These models were built to demonstrate the process of evolution - before the publication of Darwin’s ‘Origin of the Species’. A recent massive restoration programme has restored them to their former glory. 

 Then the remains of the Crystal Palace:

 The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. Following the success of the exhibition, the palace was moved and reconstructed in 1854 in a modified and enlarged form in the grounds of the Penge Place estate at Sydenham Hill. It attracted visitors for over seven decades.

Sydenham Hill is one of the highest locations in London; 109 metres (357 ft) above sea level (spot height on Ordnance Survey Map); and the size of the palace and prominence of the site made it easy to identify from much of London. This led to the residential area around the building becoming known as Crystal Palace instead of Sydenham Hill. The palace was destroyed by fire on 30 November 1936 and the site of the building and its grounds is now known as Crystal Palace Park.

Then swimming for some and lunch for all.

Everyone seemed to enjoy it and it was after 3:00 before we left. As soon as we set out Pat let the side down by having a puncture and ended up with a wheel that wasn't circular. A glimmer of sunshine on our way back to Mitcham Common where we parted. I'm most grateful for the bottle of malt whiskey and the bottle of wine which I was given.

Very many thanks.
Bernard

Author: Bernard Brindley

1 Comment:

Pete 01 September 2011 at 07:01 BST

Certainly a ride with a differance well done Bernard.
Thanks to Lisa for sorting the pictures out

Easy Riders - 31st August 2011

Molesey - Osterley Park - Grand Union Canal - Richmond Bridge

Author: Tim C

A Group 31st August

A maiden lead from Paul today, and a good lead it was. Hilly before lunch, over White Down and Leith Hill to Newdigate, and flat after, giving a good opportunity for a sprint finish to Annies, where we enjoyed our teas in the sun.

32.68 miles at a rolling average of 13.1 mph, maximum speed 43.8 mph, 2,567 feet of ascent and 1,464 calories.

Mark

Author: Mark G

Easy Riders report 24th Aug.

From Greeno most of our easy riders went with B group who were going to Isleworth along the tow path and the number was too many and easy riders also went to Isleworth the previous week for lunch at the APPRENTICE pub. So six of us decided to go to PRINCE OF WALES at West end Esher with our leader Ron Weedon instead of Fuzz. names are Mark Roy, Beryl, Roger and John C.We crossed over the Walton bridge and entered the the housing estate high class houses and roads as smooth as baby's bottom and exited at the road Walton railway station from there we crossed over in to Burwood housing estate towards seven hills road then turned left towards Hersham passed the day centre to the roundabout right towards Esher over the river Mole right towards Garson's farm and ended up at the pub.

From the pub after lunch we came back towards Esher and again through the housing estate emerged opposite one-way system and entered another housing estate and through woods to Claygate Day centre and had very nice big lump of bread pudding costing 50P. After that we all went our own way John C and I towards chessington climbed the hill with ease after the bread pudding and named the hill as "BREAD PUDDING" from now on. I clocked as many miles as I did the previous week to Isleworth a total of 25 miles less a Bee sting which I had on the tow path on the way back from lunch.

Mark Roy.

Author: mark roy

CTC Birthday Rides Framlingham

The imposing Framlingham College was an excellent venue.

Detail of one of the three Birthday Cakes

The Historical Framlingham Castle seeped in history and the Howard family of Duke of Norfolk fame. Plutocratic caravaner's seemed to be separated from the campers close to the mere!

The two Princess's & the Toad next to the water clock on Southwold pier! For those wishing to know it's a Surrey Road Toad though it was seen during the week in both Sou'Wester and KPRC skin!
More pictures on the SWLDA Blog

Author: mike morley

A Group 24 August

Shepperton - Dorney - Shepperton LockJohn

Today assuming the mantle of the Grand Old Duke of York

Sunning ourselves beside the pineapple fields of Dorney

Ready for the magical mystery tour

The advance party at Shepperton Lock

What is Paul looking at?

Author: Jeff

“A” ride from Shepperton, 24 August 2011

17 left Shepperton and cycled on a flat route through Staines, Wraysbury, Horton, Datchett and Eton to Dorney Lake, the venue for the 2012 Olympic rowing events. Then via the wide tarmac road on the South Bank of the lake to sandwich lunch at the Pineapple in Dorney village. The route back through Windsor, Windsor Park, Sunningdale, Wentworth and Chertsey was a little hillier and it was nearly 5 p.m. when we arrived for tea at Shepperton Lock.

Before planning the ride I had heard rumours that A Group’s bikes (and their riders) were so delicate that they only cycled on main roads with a white line down the middle. I decided to ignore any such namby-pamby nanny-state “health and safety” type restrictions and included some good quality non-tarmac paths on our route. By puncturing four times during the ride, the group managed to demonstrate that this was a mistake .
John Gould

Author: Pete

3 Comments:

Pete 25 August 2011 at 14:13 BST

Who punctured please for the record.
You did'nt make a mistake the bikes were not fit for purpose!

Jeff 25 August 2011 at 15:26 BST

Wakey!Wakey! Three puncture victims were recorded yesterday! I didn't count Toni's second, as that was already in the spare. All the bikes were very fit for purpose; just not THAT purpose!

Jeff 25 August 2011 at 22:48 BST

+ a slow puncture for Daniel on the way home. That makes a puncture strike rate of 25%.One rider retired before lunch.