A Group 4th November to Shamley Green

Frances reports:

We were very fortunate to have a lovely cooler dry day to ride to the Bricklayers Arms in Shamley Green at this time of the year.  The majority of our riders met at Cobham RBL across all three groups with Janice's group promptly departing at 10.30 to meet her on their way through Effingham - nothing like some dynamic planning to keep everyone on track.

Hot of her heels was my group, Andy C, Dave V, Brian and Dave W - all of which assisted throughout the day.  We met Graham (welcome) at the pub and he made his return with us, whilst Dave W headed off earlier.

The route was very pretty and whilst we negotiated a couple of "pop up" road works since the previous weeks recce, we managed to overcome them all!

We arrived without a hitch to the pub just before 12.25 and it was great to be greeted with friendly prompt service.  The group departed just after 1ish and this allowed us to negotiate Guildford by avoiding the afternoon school rush hour.  We pushed on to Leatherhead arriving by 3pm so decided a much needed drink was a good idea, meeting Patrick and Guy in the new Esquires coffee shop - very nice too.  

At this stage after a windy return I opted for the train back whilst the hardy group continued 👏 by bike.

Thanks everyone for helping the day run smoothly, using Spond 😁and being flexible.

Janice reports:

As the first Wednesday in the month we should have all been meeting at Cobham; however, the closure of Fairoak Lane by Malden Rushett meant that myself and a few others started the ride from where the route passed through Effingham.

My group comprising Patrick, Guy, Hans, Dave B, Jacky B, Mike, Neil W and myself we’re all ready to leave on time despite our different starting points. The day was cool, staying around a feels like temperature of 8° all day. No complaints though as it was dry and the Autumn colours were at their peak.

It was a hilly route, starting with the ascent of Green Dene, followed by the hill out of Shere which then merged into more climbs including Hound House Rd. As the colours were spectacular we decided a photo stop was called for at the top of Hound House.

We were finally rewarded with a very long descent into Shamley Green and our lunch stop. The pub was warm and the food was good although not cheap. It took a while for Patrick’s eyes to stop watering after paying £6.40 for a pint of Coke. However, he knows for next time that the beer is cheaper.

In no time we had to leave the warmth and go back into the cool day for the homeward journey. Not as hilly as the morning had been but nevertheless the climb up to Warwick’s Bench Peak near Guildford kept us warmed up!

The group eventually split with several going home via Cobham and the rest via Leatherhead. Patrick and Guy stopped for some reviving cake in Leatherhead. A lovely day out with spectacular scenery, a perfect route for a dry Autumn day.

Thanks to Frances for the route and to my group for their cheerful good company and in particular Hans for his top notch back marking!

Janice

Ged reports: 

One event dominated our ride - and provided lively chat at lunch. Bizarrely, we encountered a traffic jam on the very narrowest of country lanes, the ascent of Winterfold Heath Road. What was the cause? Nothing less than the impasse between a very big car transporter meeting a couple of white vans. Nothing moved for minutes on end during this standoff. With no passing-spaces, there was nowhere for us, never mind vehicles, to pass. We waited patiently till the stalemate was eventually resolved - the white vans very slowly reversing, and creating a gap for us to squeeze past, walking our bikes. Once clear we passed numerous cars waiting patiently for the log-jam to clear, (see photo), shouting out the reasons for the inordinate delay. The cosy Bricklayers Arms was very welcoming, albeit over 15 minutes late.

After a quieter afternoon, my group deserted me at the Black Swan, making their way to Cobham, whilst I caught up with some of the first and second group at tea in Leatherhead.

Many thanks to Frances for a splendid autumnal route, and for a well organised pub lunch. Thanks also to Jenny for expertly backmarking. 

Cheers

Ged

B Group ride report Teddington to The Fox at Hanwell

I’m not sure what the record number of riders for a B group outing is but I think we must have been pretty close last Wednesday. Thirty of us set off in perfect riding conditions for an urban jaunt through Richmond Park, down to the river at Mortlake, over to Kew Bridge and onwards to The Fox at Hanwell for lunch.

Ali and her staff did us proud and suitably refreshed we continued north along the canal returning to Teddington via Osterley and Twickenham, to tea at Bushy Park.

A big thanks to my sub-leaders and by way of keeping this report short and sweet, I just asked them for a ‘highlight of the day’ each.

From Brenda, who it should be said, had a nightmare recce on Sunday, but did a brilliant job on the day:

My highlight was seeing Teddington lock bridge on the horizon and realising I’m following the route at last , as opposed to my bonkers inside out , upside down , round and round in circles backwards recce the Sunday prior , oh plus it was a treat to only do the sewage works once that day not 4 times 😂 👃 😝!

A great day out 🚲 🌞

From Julie:

One of our highlights was to see the Three Bridges after coming off the grand union canal (where the road goes over the canal while also going over the railway line). My group hadn’t seen this before!

Also we were fascinated seeing how a canal can travel up a hill at Hanwell locks.

From Bernard:

"A very pleasant ride was had by all on this perfectly measured route giving everyone plenty of time to get home in the afternoon before darkness fell.  The highlight was the sunshine in late autumn bringing out the best of the colours at this time of year.  Our riders were Keith, Grant, Chris, Sabina, Dawn, Mick, Tim and me.  Many thanks to Tim for back marking and Sue for planning the route. "

And from me, my highlight was certainly to see  so many of our members out enjoying the ride! And of course Ian pleased that he had been served lunch before other customers....

Invitation to a B Group ride on 4th November

We will meet at the Royal British Legion for Elevenses then head out into the hills, taking High Barn Lane up to Ranmore Common Road.

Our destination for Lunch (18 miles) will be The Crown Inn in Capel which we visited and enjoyed on September 2nd but the route will be fairly different and somewhat less challenging this time.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/57468699

Please look through these menus and, when you reply to this invite, let me know what you'd like to eat.

'Our kitchen takes pride in serving proper home-cooked food.' Yum!

Note that they (and we) won't know what the Pie of the Day will be until Tuesday.

After Lunch we'll ride through Brockham towards Dorking then up Box Hill for Tea at The Village Café in Walton on the Hill.

Please reply to me by late afternoon on Monday and advise what you'd like for Lunch.

Alan, Julie and I are looking forward to leading you.

~ Tim

A’s October 28th - Ace Café & Harrow-on-the-Hill

It’s that time of year again when we have to think about getting everyone home before dark. In our favour this Wednesday it was half term so quieter roads than usual, and a big bonus was the weather, dry and even sometimes sunny.

We have not recently visited the Ace Café, first introduced to us under the leadership of Frank Cubis, whose untimely death was 10 years ago. Nor had we recently been to Harrow-on-the-Hill, pioneered as a destination by Hans and Mike R. For this ride I “borrowed” (actually, copied) the route used by Neil C in October 2021 so I knew it would work, subject to recce.

Working backwards from a planned 3.30 tea stop at Richmond Bridge, meant leaving Elleray Hall around 10.30, with an early lunch at the Ace around 12.00, where I hoped for speedy service to send us on our way promptly.

This plan defied all conventional wisdom, leaving the longest distance and most of the climbing to the afternoon, but on the day it worked. Apparently undeterred by this breach of custom, we had 15 riders, so two groups, and I was fortunate to have Neil C to lead a group (and to take me round on the recce).

My group (Graham K, Patrick, Neil W, Sue C, Andy and Guy) left first, with Neil’s group (Clive, Gina, Simon, Jennie, Dave E and Karl) shortly after. The morning went smoothly with occasional pauses for sightseeing atop bridges, including the canal aqueduct over the North Circular.

 

The Ace Café, which seemingly never changes, welcomed us and served us promptly, and there were even a couple of us who chose to lunch outside in the sun. Before we left I was asked by the manager when we would return, which was nice to hear. We departed on time for the challenging bit of the day. 

     

 

The route took us up Horsenden Hill and Harrow Hill, climbing the latter via Music Hill or Garlands Lane, depending on whether you preferred steps to speed bumps and pave. Unfortunately en route one of us suffered a broken chain and had to go home by train.

Lord Byron’s viewpoint is now compromised by trees, but some of us did our bit to get full value from the climbing effort, though we failed to spot the gleaming spires of Basingstoke as promised on the viewpoint plaque.    

 

From here it was largely downhill to the Grand Union Canal for 3 miles of towpath to Southall. The towpath is a mixed blessing; it gets you a long way without interruption or traffic, but it does get boring, and occasionally bumpy. Thereafter we took familiar roads back to Richmond Bridge. Neil’s group arrived first, and mine just after 3pm.

Thanks to Neil C for leading his group, Neil W for back marking my group, always visible in his Sou’Wester jersey, and all for your ever-cheerful company.

    

 

MWW A Ride 4th November- Cobham, Shamley Green, Leatherhead

 Here is the link for the Wednesday ride. Bring lights and usual repair kit etc. PLEASE ALL RESPONSES VIA SPOND APP 

Total mileage 41, out to Shamley 20miles Return to Leatherhead 22miles Total ascent 2300ft, majority in first 25 miles. Return we go around Guildford with some junctions to cross at lights so care required. Important note from recce - There is a RIGHT TURN from Barhatch into Winterfold Heath Road which can be easily missed. Note this junction has potholes at beginning of Winterfold Heath Rd, route continues into Shophouse and Row Lane. ITS UNEVEN , potholes and dry leaves/grit so please take it slow and carefully. We were fortunate to have a dry day. Return as we pass through Cranleigh and at the junction of The St and Station road, on a corner we are taking a Right Turn into Chinthurst Lane, ITS EASY TO MISS, CAUTION. Lunch is at the Bricklayers Arms which will need pre ordering - I am awaiting an up to date menu. NOTE ORDERS WILL BE REQUIRED NO LATER THAN 5PM MONDAY SO I CAN LET THEM KNOW.

Tea in Leatherhead, Charlie&Ginger or another depending on timing. Note at a steady pace it is approx 1hr 40mins each way. I have 2 sub leaders, Janice and Ged https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/525196063

A and B group Christmas lunches

Christmas is coming!  

You will all be excited to learn that the 2026 Xmas lunch is now booked! B Group lunch is on December 2nd and A Group on December 9th at the Angel Inn,Thames Ditton as usual. The menu is here with options for 1 course £18, 2 courses £25.50 and 3 courses £33. 

Please send your choices to Paula on pibpaula@icloud.com and make your payment (including subs at £3), referenced with your name, via bank transfer in the normal way. If you need the bank details please ask Richard (treasurer) on the5baileys@btinternet.com 

Paula

 

B ride from Teddington to The Fox at Hanwell on Wednesday 28th Oct

This week's ride will seem a little tame after Francis's adventure into the Surrey Hills last Wednesday but I am going with the 'variety is the spice of life' philosophy.  My partners in crime will be Bernard and Brenda and we cordially invite you to join us on an urban ride from The Elleray Centre in Teddington to The Fox in Hanwell for lunch followed by a ride through Osterley Park and back to Bushy for tea via the scenic Mogden Sewage Treatment Works.

RWGPS route to The Fox and back to Bushy

The morning ride is 11 miles to lunch and 10 miles back to Bushy. We don't need to pre-order but if you could take a look at the menus in advance that will help to speed things up when we arrive. 

The Fox Lunch Menu

The Fox Main Menu 

If you would like to join the ride please let me know by Monday evening.

Hope you can join us

Sue

sue.foster39@gmail.com