A windy Sunday morning with a chill in the air set the scene for our ride. Elevenses took place at Fat Boy’s Café in Poyle (no reflection on the group!). While it was a little further northwest than usual for some, it sparked memories of past meets at Bolter’s Lock and Jenner’s Café in Maidenhead—perhaps destinations better suited to a long summer ride. Now there’s a thought.
The Start
Simon kindly led Geoff, Alan and Christina from Twickenham Station, and they arrived just before me. Dave Ellis and Martina had already arrived separately, and before long Dave W and Andy joined the group.
With toast, tea, coffee, and bacon sandwiches enjoyed by all, we were ready to set off. I had the route in mind, though without GPS I tend to adapt as I go.
The Ride Out
We began with a lesser-used off-road route passing under the Bath Road and skirting the edge of Harmondsworth Moor—pleasant and not too muddy. From there, we followed a mix of roads and cycle paths through West Drayton and onto Tavistock Road, leading to Trout Lane and then onto an off-road section of the London Loop.
The London Loop
We paused on the bridge over the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal for a group photo, courtesy of Andy. Continuing along Old Mill Lane, we turned right into Iver Lane and then immediately left onto the canal path heading north, eventually exiting at Cowley Mill Road.
A gradual climb followed, taking us over the M25. We then continued along Slough Road before turning into Swallow Street, passing the intriguingly named Whip & Collar pub (no idea why the name—you do wonder!). Shortly after, we took a short off-road section and across Wood Lane and entered Langley Park.
This scenic stretch led us past a static mobile home park, onto St Mary’s Road, and finally to our lunch stop at The Red Lion. Dave W left us there to make his own way home.
Lunch Stop
With the sun now shining, we sat outside in the pleasant garden. Food arrived promptly and was very enjoyable. We relaxed, chatted, and made the most of the sunshine before eventually setting off again.
The Return Journey
The return was shorter and more direct. A good cycle path took us across London Road and into Ditton Park. We skipped a planned photo stop as rain began to fall and continued across the M4, following cycle routes through Colnbrook to Heathrow, and the cycle to Stanwell, before heading straight down to Ashford.
A tea stop had been loosely planned, and Chaii Coffee was chosen. Only Simon, Andy, and Martina stopped, while Dave Ellis headed home independently. Geoff, Alan and Christina followed me towards Feltham and on to Hampton, where we parted ways.
Summary
A total of 37 miles for me, though most had cycled further. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day on the bike, with some sections I hadn’t ridden in quite some time.
Many thanks to everyone for the great company, and special thanks to Simon for back-marking.
Next Sunday, and exciting ride fromom the Nation Trust cafe at Runnymed to The Bear at Maidenhead, we will cycle through Ascot Race Coure.
Tony..
