Invitation to A-group ride from Dorking on Wed 18 Jan

This is a rerun of Ged’s ride last January. The ride will start from St Martin’s in Dorking (group times TBA). It’s 22 miles to lunch at the Punchbowl Inn in Okewood Hill (via Farley Green and Cranleigh), then another 17 miles via Newdigate back to Leatherhead for tea. Total ascent 2,400ft. If you’re planning to come, please email michaelreynell@gmail.com by 7pm on Monday 16 Jan, and please indicate your food order from the full menu at https://www.punchbowlinnokewoodhill.com/ or the sandwich & light bites menu BELOW: Thanks, Mike R

Author: MikeR

Paul's winter tootle down the river, departing from Hersham on 11 January, running order

 Group 1, the Lechlades, depart 10.40

leader Mick Arber

Dave Cullen

Ian Prince

Paul Day

Ken Day (maybe)

John Austin

Sue Bellamy

Arwyn

Group 2, the Oxfords, depart 10.50

leader Stephen

Lilian Chelli

Ian Williamson

Christina Berkley

Chris Hyde

Margaret McKinlay

Tim Gibbons

Group 3, the Hungerford Gaps, depart 11.00

leader Steph Wyatt

Gill Finlay

Pam

Tony Hopkins

Liz Bernard

Francis D'Silva

Group 4, the Eel Pie islanders, depart 11.10

leader Paul James

Maggie James

Alan Clark

Tony Hooker

Julie Buckman

Bob Pannell

Brian Greenwood (maybe)

Group 5, The Craven Cottagers, depart 11.20

leader Madeleine

Anne Walker

Tim Court

Sabina

Bernard

Geoff Gregory

= any non-bookers who have not already left

Author: Paul

Annual Subscriptions for CTC South West London

Thanks for those who have paid the £2 annual subscription (2023) for CTC SW London.

We are in 2023 now, Membership Representatives Patrick Watmough (A), Christina Berkley (B) and Helen Tovey (C) are now ready to collect the £2 annual subscriptions from Wayfarers for 2023.

Please remember too that for Third Party Insurance purposes we all need to be members of Cycling UK, of which CTC South West London is a 'Member Group'.

If you are able to pay online, which we encourage you to do, please get in touch with Simon Lambourn or Tim Court for our bank account details if you don't already have them.

Kind regards

Christina

Author: Tim C

Report for Easy Riders - 4th January

Six met at North Cheam for the first Midweek Wayfarers ride of 2023, Gill, Frank, Anne and John, Ed and Helen, heading into the wind for our ride via Claygate and Blackhills to Cobham. No delays at the private estate gates this morning, much to our pleasure, a happy start to the new year.

On arrival, we were pleased to find our esteemed membership secretary, Christina, as she had missed the early B group departure, and welcomed her, along with Don and Jane to our merry band for coffee and the day's adventure.

We decided on the Woodman in Ashtead as our lunch destination, posting it on the WhatsApp group for benefit of any oversleepers who wished to join us. Away we headed shortly after 11.40, crossing Bookham Common and heading downhill through Fetcham. We took the River Way via Fetcham Splash, where the Mole was swirling full and fast after the previous night's rain. Then down into Leatherhead and along the cycleway from the station to Lower Ashtead. 

Liz S joined us for lunch, so we were a cosy party of 10 around the table together. Food was excellent, service kind and welcoming, and company friendly and warm as usual. And as we set off with the wind behind us for our crossing of Ashtead and Epsom Commons, the sun emerged to brighten our ways home. All in all, our day was a very good start for this year's Wednesday rides out together. About 25 miles round trip from North Cheam.

Helen Tovey

Author: Tim C

Winter Down the River. Invitation to the B Group Ride from Hersham on 11 January

You are invited to Paul's B Group ride on Wednesday.

A gentle winter's morning ride of 16 miles through parkland, side streets and along the barge path to lunch in the Sussex Arms at Teddington.  Thereafter another 7 miles to tea at Roehampton Gate, including the only real hill of the day, the short climb inside Ham Gate in Richmond Park.

No need to book for lunch, but the Sussex Arms would welcome confirmation of numbers, So I should be grateful if those who want to come e-mail me at Paulandrewjames1949@yahoo.co.uk by midnight on Monday

Route, prior to any changes resulting from Monday's recce, is to be found here.

Look forward to seeing you.

Paul

  

Author: Paul

Ride Invitation - Wednesday 11 Jan – Hersham

Wednesday’s ride from Hersham will be to the Red Lion Lightwater for lunch, finishing at Walton for tea.

19 miles to lunch, all on-road or surfaced except for Muddy Lane (again, sorry).

16 miles to tea at Walton Riverhouse Barn.

The pub have asked me to pre-order lunch from the menu below.

Please email me d.vine207@btinternet.com with your lunch order by Monday evening 7pm if you would like to join me. Thanks.

Author: Dave Vine

A Group Ride from Cobham, 4th January, Second Instalment.

After Neil's illustrated history tour of Chilworth, Dave Jackson reported on his group's ride.

Our group of eight riders left the RBL in Cobham, the first group out, on time at 10.30. hrs sharp, an eclectic gathering, three ladies, five men, three electric assist cycles, I had decided that as there was eight of us we would try to undertake our ride without a back marker, which proved fine. Avoiding as much of the wet/flooded roads as we could we made our war to Ripley and then towards the outskirts of Guildford. As we approached the first of the real climbs one of the group mentioned that there is a way up to the top of Halfpenny Lane by a much flatter route other than Tangier Road and One Tree Hill, so we thanked Ged for that so quickly after the Christmas period! This did not however deter us and by whatever way we had to, either assisted or not made a good steady pace up then down and onto the pub, where we arrived at 12.15. None of the other groups had passed us so we were first to be served and would be first away after lunch.

More of the same after our break, through or around the flooding at the bottom of Coombe Lane, this a harder climb than in the morning but approached in the same manner. We arrived in Leatherhead, having had a couple of riders peel off home, again in good time, some stayed for afternoon tea whilst others headed off home as well.

From my point of view, thanks to everyone for such an enjoyable day out, big appreciation and thanks to Ged for devising a challenging but rewarding route.

Combe Lane - after the ascent.

After a few weeks of Christmas indulgence, our first ride in 2023 - and the only serious ascent of the day, caused this group to pause atop Combe Lane to catch their breath. At least it was dry on top - compared to Combe Bottom.

A wet Bottom!

We were 23 in number leaving Cobham, with Neil W and Dave J as sub leaders - and with half-a-dozen Dave's spread amongst us. After a slight hiccup missing the turn into Clay Lane, we reached the Percy Arms on the dot of 12.20pm. We'd last visited the Percy Arms 4 year's ago (Mike Reynell had led us up Martha's Hill - descent down Halfpenny Lane was somewhat easier this time), and lunch didn't disappoint.

Setting-off for tea - from the Percy Arms.

Many found the route interesting - so here it is again:- https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/141420629.

Thanks to Neil W and Dave J for leading their groups, and to Mike R for expert back marking of my middle group. Also special thanks to Dave Vine for cakes at Cobham. (And if you ever need an urgent bike repair in Woking, I'd highly recommend this LBS - Martin at Woking Cycles).

 

Author: Ged Lawrenson