Plans for Sunday 15 March 2026

We shall be leaving from elevenses at The Golden Cafe in Addlestone, then going to on to Guildford for lunch at the Rodboro' Buildings, (approx 14 miles)

After lunch it's back to the National Trust Cafe, Claremont Gardens, Esher, (approx 14 miles, slightly undulating)

DON’T FORGET, THE GOLDEN CAFE IS CASH ONLY*

The route is mainly on-road but with a couple of sections beside the canal on paved tracks, and there is also a pedestrian footbridge in Guildford to walk over.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Yours 

Jennie 

* It's rumoured that they may accept cards for orders over a fiver, but don't quote me on it (Ed).

Sunday 8th March 2026

 We're well into March, the days are longer, the early Spring flowers are opening, the birds are singing (or squawking as parakeets do) but venture outside as I did today to ride the 5.3 miles to New Malden it felt like something was missing.

Warmth.

Last year's 2nd Sunday in March......

Never mind, it was nice to see a good turnout at The Watchman (Wetherspoons) where long queues formed at the two coffee machines, possibly down to an earlier malfunction.

Leaving Keith, Niall & Dave V, a large group of thirteen - Dave W, Simon, Dave J, Jennie J, Steph, Eric, Ruth, Sabina, Bernard, Tony, Martina, Geoff & myself ventured out into the cold on a route largely direct to Hammersmith Bridge.

The bridge opened on 11th June 1887.

There were repairs in 1997 & 2014 when the bridge was closed to traffic.

A further closure in 2019 led to a funding dispute between the government, TFL & the local council, the bridge was closed to vehicles & buses that year.

It currently remains open for cyclists & pedestrians only.

The necessary cost of repairs & reopening the bridge fully to all traffic is upwards of £300 million according to Sadiq Khan who has said that he's keen for that to happen.

From the local council website:

'Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the Department for Transport are currently considering a range of options and engineering solutions for the long-term future of the bridge.'

I led the group under the Hammersmith flyover to join C9 cycleway going west through Chiswick to Brentford & lunch at Hilliers Garden Centre at Syon Park.

Just after 2pm, we rode south to cross the Thames at a ferry crossing to Ham on the opposite bank.

Hammertons opened in 1909 & the musician Phil Collins is the grandson of the original proprietor, Walter Hammerton.

Photo from Eric

We carried on south of the river to Kingston, then north to Hampton Court & Molesey Boat House for tea.

photo from Bernard

Thanks to Jennie for backmarking, Simon & others for corner marking & everyone else for your company on a chilly March day.

Sunday 1st March 2026

 Meteorological boffins would have us believe Spring starts today as they split the seasons into 3 month groups.

March 20th is the actual date of the Spring equinox.

Anyway it's same old, same old as regards the weather - light rain & mildish.

I joined Dave, Niall, Tony, Simon, Diane & Chris at Squires, Long Ditton....later to be joined by Steph & Brenda.

Six set off towards East Surrey CTC territory which are still going strong with the section meeting at Purley.....today they had 11's at Tanhouse Farm & lunch at Warnham.

They appear to avoid Wetherspoons (judging by the list of pubs on their website).

Unlike C&M who today are riding to a 'new' aquisition just beyond Croydon called Coombe Lodge.

I chose a north-easterly route along quiet suburban streets, briefly losing Steph & Brenda who had gone to see the sights of Mitcham Eastfields.

Holmsdale Road takes you past the towering stand at Selhurst Park where shortly after Dave left us & after the best part of 2½ hours we arrived at this 'out of town' pub.

Online reviews point to 'teething problems' - it opened in December 2025 after a million pound refurbishment having previously traded as a Beefeater.

I sat in the conservatory whilst the others went to order food.

Quite quickly I sensed several meal & drink options were not available (run out I assume) which is not something we're normally used to in Wetherspoons.

Anyway other choices were made & served without any problem indeed at one point some chips & something breaded was plonked on our table only to be swiftly removed after realising the error.

The toilets were tiny by 'Spoons standard & the pub is run as a franchisee so whether that has anything to do with its failings, I've no idea.

There were brief glimpses of the sun on the way to tea at the Honeywood Museum, Carshalton.

Thanks to Steph for backmarking & everyone else for your company.

Ride Report - Sunday 22 February 2026

Our relationship with the weather is one sided... it dictates we compromise. This morning it decided to rain, why, no reason... it just wanted to. But hey, Garmi was down to lead a ride today and I couldn’t let him down and so out from under the warm blankets I rolled. The aroma of the filtered coffee on the stove got me down to the kitchen and seeing Sabina on her bike and ready to go installed a certain pep in my step and still yawning there I was sitting behind Garmi on my bike.

We were on the tarmac... but with hardly a mile done we were sodden with another 20 miles of drench filled bucket loads to ride. We were on track to elevenses and weighing up the joys of kayaking on a bike. On arrival at Knights Garden Centre in Betchworth it was high fives (metaphorically for Garmi of course): We had made it through river like roads and up and down squisshy squasshy hills.

We walked through the ‘delicate’ plant section; so many of them, needing sensitive handling and protection from nasty winter weather.... kind souls tendered their needs ensuring that everything was just so (basically all nicely tucked under warm covers in comfy beds, oblivious to winter’s lashings, metaphorically speaking of course}. Then we came upon the ‘hardy perennials’, plants that were out all year round, capable of withstanding the depths of minus temperatures and the highs of the severest of frosts. And there on the other side of some very hardy looking evergreens were a couple of seasoned C&M'ers ready and waiting for this delicate to lead them out into the wettest of winters. I felt a shudder.

If it weren’t for Sabina holding me upright and gently ushering me forward I would have crouched and hid behind one of the extra large perrenial hardies and texted one of my fellow C&M'ers, “sorry... can’t make it... got a cold.... “ pinged them the route and let them get on with it. Then with grace and dignity I would have made a retreat and swiftly to the train station back to a warm bed where I naturally belonged. But before I could put this very sensible plan into action Sabina introduced herself to our fellow cyclists and said “Bernard is really looking forward to leading you today!”

So on our bikes we got... aiming for a lovely piece of Art Deco architecture, the Jack Fairman Whetherspoon in Horley. They recently spent a bob or two sprucing it up and they’ve done a wonderful job. It has those iconic straight lines for decoration, in fact the building has a wonderfully understated symmetry and balance with not a curve in sight. Its frontal is painted in low key white and blue. It really is a gem of early 1930’s architecture. The one shame is that I couldn’t find out who the architect was and I really do think his or her name should be sited somewhere as just recognition for their excellent work. Anyway, with these musings Garmi led us to Charlwood from where we headed straight to Horley cutting out the Gatwick chunk of our ride. I was grateful for this because when we did the reccie on an even wetter day than today it had felt like a war zone; the bellowing of airplane engines skimming our scalps as they took off and came in to land, stressed to the eyeballs drivers speeding to who knows where on single lane roads, pot holes and crater scars to avoid, mud ditches just to the side and not least Russian-roulette styled roundabouts.

Tummies nicely fed and watered we were soon back on gleaming snake-skin roads. We were all in positive mood for above us we could see yonder the hovering dark cloud Spring blue sky. It beckoned to us and we all rode like the wind heading for tea and cake in Leatherhead. The sun was out and the flat green lands of the countryside had a golden hue. Amidst the purples and yellows of the daffodils and crocuses wrens flitted in and out of the hedgerows. There were snow drops too. Spring was saying hello!

We finished our ride in Leatherhead where we enjoyed coffee and cake in Charlie and Gingers.

Thanks to Andy C for the allusions and to David W for the route!

I was led by Garmi and escorted safely around the route by Sabina, Jenny, Gina, David W and Andy C with Terry joining us for elevenses in case extra help was needed in making sure I made the course.

I finally did make it back to my warm bed and I’m writing this under the covers safely tucked away out of reach of the pesky rain! 

Do Join Bernard's Ride On Sunday 22 February

On Sunday Bernard will be leading us from elevenses at Knights Garden Centre, Betchworth to lunch at The Jack Fairman, Horley (about 20, not too hilly miles), then about 16 miles back to tea at Leatherhead.    There may be one or two unfamiliar bits of route, not least the home of the world marbles championships!

Do join us!

Ride Report - Sunday 15 February 2026

 

Now at last I know what 'C & M' really stands for - cold and miserable, obviously!  Actually, it could have been worse.   The weather forecast wasn't at all encouraging, and I fully expected to be on my own at elevenses at Staines Wetherspoons, when the cavalry unexpectedly arrived in the form of Pam and Liz (making her final appearance with the C & M)!

At some length, reluctantly dragging myself away from The George, I had a C & M moment (cussed and madcap), and set off on a cut-down version of my carefully-curated route to Staines.   Well, the show must go on!   I just about got away with it, but I did have the distinct impression in places that the waters on either side of the road would close together after I had passed!

I made it to Woking, and the comfort of a warm train, but, of course, by then the rain had subsided!

Thanks to Pam and Liz for their company!

Plans for Sunday 15 February 2026 - When George Met Herbert!

As billed, Sunday's ride will take us on a tale of two Wetherspoons from The George, Staines to The Herbert Wells, Woking.   I've kept the outbound route short (about 15 miles) in case of rain, and it can be further shortened further if it's very wet.    A lot of the route will be on roads we don't often traverse, and there are a few surprising hills too!

The return route (about 10 miles) to Walton Bridge starts off the usual way but then veers off up yet another unnecessary hill!   That's the price you pay for variety!

Do join me if you can't think of an alibi!