An Invitation to a New Years Day Ride and Mince Pies

In an effort to revive/continue Ed Sharp and Peter Mitchell’s New Year’s Day tradition, Madeleine will lead a short from the Spring Tavern in Ewell to Richmond Park.

It will be a leisurely tootle in time to have coffee or just chat with anyone who cares to gather at Roehampton Gate around 11am.

We will then set back off to Epsom to Madeleine’s house for mince pies and a cuppa (KT19 8SJ).

For those who’d like to join at Ewell, we will meet at the Spring Tavern around 9.45, depending on numbers.

Please let Madeleine know if you’d like to join, and whether you are likely to come back to her house for a warm drink afterwards. A private message via WhatsApp is best: 07533673919

Anyone who would like to is invited to bring hot or cold chocolate for the ride - and/or snacks to add to the mince pies back at the house.

Author: Clive J

New Year's Day Elevenses Meet 2024

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Everyone from all SWLDA sections is welcome at the Cheam & Morden Section's traditional New Year's Day meet at Colicci Cafe, Roehampton Gate, Richmond Park on Weds 1 January.    Arrive at any time from early on until midday and you'll be in good company!    

Wednesday 'B' group riders who are interested in a possible ride starting from the Epsom/Ewell area to Richmond Park and back should contact Madeleine Shearer for further information.

Apart from that, no formal group rides to or from Richmond Park are currently planned but it's never too late to volunteer to lead an inbound, outbound, or round trip ride!   A lunch stop is not compulsory!

Seasons greetings in the meantime, and don't forget that the C & M don't stop for Christmas - we do have a ride planned for Sunday 29 December too!

Author: David W

Report for B Group - 18th December

Well done and thank you to all members of our three groups who put up with the early rain. ‘Rain before seven certainly did clear by eleven.’ 

Francis’ report sums up all three:

The first group of Geoff, Bernard, Sabina, Pat and Anne left the splendid Elleray Hall and headed for a half-loop of Richmond Park in dry but windy conditions. Soon, we were on the urban roads again heading for Tolworth through the quiet back streets. In no time at all, we were entering the Horton estate and shortly at Spoons, Epsom for lunch. A good morning's ride. Francis

So, at this time of year may I make a more general comment as opposed to more riding reports:

“Thank you to all members of the Midweek Wayfarers, past and present, for being so open, friendly and inclusive. This really is a great bunch of people; however we achieve this supportive response, may it last and continue.”

John

Author: Tim C

A Group Ride from Teddington to Eton and Hampton Court, 18th December 2024.

 On a blustery and balmy December day - it was warm enough for Simon to wear his cycling sandals without socks!, 23 A riders turned up at Teddington for an early start to Eton. (Apart from 3 other rides this year with 24 riders, this high turnout was a bit unexpected for a ride with the least daylight). Maybe it was the lack of a chill factor that brought people out - (the chill factor was experienced later in the Waterman's Arms where the heating thermostat probably matched the 15 degree outside temperature!).

Janice's group at St. Mary's church, Bedfont.

Janice led an on-road group. However, as she says, it was an off on-road ride and an on off-road ride as well!

Peter S, Richard, Patrick, Neil W, Dave W, Dave B, Daniel and I set off from Teddington as the final group.

We were the only on road group but as I hadn’t been able to recce the route I forewarned everyone and asked them to keep an eye on their navigation devices and let me know of any missed or wrong turns.

Quite soon there was a roadside discussion as to the correct turning but we all managed to stay on course. At a later turning I decided to forgo the on road route to avoid a busy roundabout to take the familiar gritty muddy path under the M25. Some followed me, some stuck to the course. That set the scene for the hybrid on/off road hybrid route that we then followed (or at times stumbled upon).

We caught up with Dave V’s group on the footbridge over the M4. 3 of my group elected to go off road with Dave but we caught them up when we turned left into Ditton Park. Something had gone wrong either by making that turn or shortly thereafter and my Garmin never fully recovered as we were now off course and the screen was frozen.

It took a while but by then I realised that when inviting the group to keep an eye on their navigation devices I had assumed that we would all be following the same on road route given in Ged’s email. Alas, some were following the off road route hence the confusion all round.

Somehow and with a muckier bike than hoped but mercifully no punctures we arrived at The Waterman. The sandwiches were inexpensive and good but the pub was cold.

We were glad to get outdoors again on the short December day so that we could warm up.

The on and off roaders.

The journey back to Hampton Court was plain sailing as far as navigation was concerned although the hoped for tail wind was still a fairly strong head wind for much of it. For those who stopped we were rewarded with enormous slices of cake and decent coffee.

Thanks to Ged for the route and apologies to my group for the uncertain and confusing lead! It was nevertheless enjoyable to be out in the fresh air on such a mild December day. Particular thanks to Peter for back marking and coping with having to decide at times which splinter of the group to follow!

My group were suited for on and off road, coping well with a large puddle in Ditton Park. Mike pictured us at crossing the bridge to the rather muddy track across Eton College Playing Fields.

Arriving in good time for lunch, there was plenty of opportunity to cool down as the other groups arrived, but it was rather too cool for most. Andy C mended a puncture whilst we lunched. It was good to get moving again!

 

The well-composed middle group.

Dave Vine had recced the route with me, and his group of eight picture below had a trouble-free ride - expertly back-marked by Simon. 

A large handful of starters arrived for tea at Dish, where Patrick happily tucked into the largest slab of coffee cake I've ever seen!

Thanks to Dave Vine and Janice for sub-leading a sometimes tricky route. And many thanks to all for making it a very enjoyable winter day's ride. Thanks to Mike for a seasonal visit and diligently back-marking my group all day.

Happy Christmas to all Wayfarers.

Author: Ged Lawrenson

1 Comment:

Dave Vine 19 December 2024 at 10:40 GMT

Thanks Ged, excellent day's cycling, and you even wrote the ride report for me.
One clarification, the eighth member of my group you mention was a helpful passer-by who took the photo, then went on his way.

Chapeau to Janice for leading without a recce. With thr benefit of my recce, I knew which puddles to ride through, and which to ride round, though my group were most forgiving when I made the occasional mistake. Happy Christmas all.

Report on A Group ride to Christmas Lunch on 11 December.

As the weather was fine and everyone was keen we had three groups of six leave Claygate at five minute intervals.

We headed into Esher, across the High Street and at Esher Green entered the Esher Place Estate. At the bottom of the hill is Wayneflete Tower, Part of the Palace of Esher established in 1462 by Bishop William Waynflete of Winchester, (More information here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayneflete_Tower )

Then we headed through West End and back to the Portsmouth Road before turning down Fairmile Lane for Stoke D'Abernon and on to Fetcham.

After a mile on Lower Road we reached Bookham and turned North to head for lunch. Bookham Common only had a few muddy patches and we enjoyed the traffic-free route over to Downside. In Cobham we re-joined the Portsmouth Road and it was then just a five and a half mile straight road to The Angel.

All three groups arrived within minutes of each other and in the order they left Claygate.

Thanks to Dave Vine and Clive Janes for leading groups for me.

Author: Neil C

Christmas greetings from Tony Ashford

I've just received this from Tony who, for the benefit of those of us who haven't met him, lives in Germany and comes to Dieppe every year with his family and stays at La Plage. 

Hi Tim,

              Just to wish you and the Sou'westers a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year with many happy hours on the bike. Of course my still being in Germany our main meeting point is the Tour des Trois Vallées in Dieppe. We will be there next June arriving just the day before the event because of my son's school holiday timetable.

              On our return this year we took another biking holiday in the Lorraine near Lac de Madine and I can thoroughly recommend it. There are gentle hills and much history too (and much from World War I). And very peaceful too. We are returning there in 2025.

I wish everyone all the best for 2025

Tony Ashford

Author: Tim C

Invitation to the B Ride on Wednesday 18th December

We shall set out from Teddington on a ride through Richmond Park to end up in Epsom for lunch, about 18 miles. There will be no planned afternoon ride so please make sure you know your way home from Epsom.

Our route:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49200511

If you would like to join one of the groups please email me by close of play Monday. If you would prefer an early or later depart please let me know, also if you already know that you will be riding home with someone you are very welcome to let me know so that I can put those p.m. riders into the same morning group.

John A

Author: Tim C