Good morning everyone

Here are links to the routes for Sunday's ride

Morning

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54325929

Afternoon

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54325933

Hopefully this will give you access to the routes but any problems just get in touch and I'll send them to you direct.

And to make up for my earlier mistake here's another photo of the ride taken on our recci back in March.

Have a great ride today with the Wednesday riders and see you Sunday.

Bernard

Ride Report - Sunday 17 May 2026

 We met for elevenses at the Whitley’s Community Cafe, 11 riders came for coffee and 9 of us actually started the ride. The cafe was very welcoming and had an amazing selection of cakes!

The weather was good and we headed out towards Cobham, I had intended to go from Cobham to Ripley but due to to the clock ticking on I decided to turn at the Plough pub near Ockley and make our way towards Effingham and then onto Leatherhead. At Ashtead we took the off road route using the common exiting this close to the Wells Estate and down into Epsom. At the Assembly Rooms we met Ed and Colin already there and enjoying their lunches, it was really great to catch up with them both.

A big thank you to all that joined me on the ride, a lovely day and we were very lucky with the weather, and a big shout out to Dave W for back marking.

Good evening everyone

I'm leading the Sunday ride this weekend and I have prepared a morning route and an afternoon route.

In the morning we start in Polesden Lacey with lunch in the Sun, Whetherspoon in Redhill.  

In the afernoon we head back to New Malden.... we can have our tea in the Watchman, Whetherspoons or a little along the High Street there are other cafes such as Nero's, Costa's or a local independent 601.

Below are links to the two routes and if anyone has trouble downloading please let me know and I'll send out the routes direct.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54325929?privacy_code=9kcpn6KB5Suq7bA8xJi08qJzSeFqtp9b

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54325933?privacy_code=vZEu6x6D16iQtdnHCVRiqiYs16qVXGtM

And here is a photo taken on the recci Sabina and I did on 22nd March.  We'll be doing another recci this Wednesday just to make sure the route is in good order.

Have a great week.

All the best

Bernard

Sunday 17th May 2026

 Only my second visit to the fabulous Whiteley (Community) Village café where 11 met in the spacious surroundings.

In May you'd perhaps expect to be outside but this year "Spring" seems to be dragging its feet.

I saw cake, sausage rolls & fresh bacon rolls being devoured.....all to satisfaction.

Leaving Niall & Terry we (Jennie, Christina, Tim, Martina, Dave W, Keith, Ruth, Jan & myself) set off for Epsom passing Hersham Station & an old favourite bit of off-road where the River Mole continues north to join the Thames at Hampton Court.

 

BW10 was on Dave W's route to work & he recounted a funny story to me. 😂

Many roadies were on the Portsmouth Road, not a particularly enjoyable stretch but needs must because we were making for Cobham.

Plough Lane took us to the Black Swan PH where a change of plan 'cut short' the planned ride.

Nobody complained & we arrived at the Assembly Rooms (Wetherspoons) at about 1.30pm but not before a photo at the pond in Leatherhead.

The track layout of the minature railway just across the pond can be clearly seen on this map.

The Surrey Society of Model Engineers: http://www.ssme.co.uk/

Great to see Ed & Colin too at the (always) busy 'Spoons.

Thanks to Jennie for leading, Dave for backmarking & everyone else for your company.

Plans for Sunday 17 May 2026

Sunday’s ride starts from Whiteley Village Community Cafe KT12 4EG, and travels towards Cobham, Ripley, Leatherhead and finally onto Epsom, approx 23 miles.  with a mixture of tarmac and off-road paths.

In Epsom, we shall enjoy a leisurely lunch  at our usual venue, The Assembly Rooms, and have the chance to catch up with other club members.

As the weather forecast at present does not look good I propose to end the ride there.

Plans for AGM ride Sunday 10th May 2026

 Elevenses at Café Barbera, Stoke D'Abernon.

Fourteen miles to lunch/AGM at Merton Abbey Mills where there are multiple food outlets.

I plan to visit in the coming days to identify a suitable venue.

But it may be an idea to carry sandwiches just in case.

No afternoon tea.

GPX on request.

I hope you can join me!

Excursion to St Albans - May 3rd

For something a bit different, we decided to see what life (and cycling) is like north of Watford.  We headed to the old Roman city of St Albans, and the verdict was that the cycling is excellent!

Despite a dubious weather forecast, twelve of us gathered at Twickenham Wetherspoons, which was still recovering from the Army vs Navy rugby match the previous day.  There was no bread for toast or butties, and the floor was still a bit sticky in places.  We made the most of the unlimited coffee, perhaps unwisely.  It was good to welcome Julie B for her first ride with the C&M - welcome Julie!

First toilet stop

Second toilet stop (taken by our Eye in the Sky, Eric)

Lunch was near Watford so we had 20+ miles to cover in a more or less straight line north, fairly quiet roads except for the occasional traffic queue of people doing whatever they do on Sundays, and also consistently a bit uphill to Northwood Hills.  Eventually we arrived in Cassiobury Park, dodging dinosaurs in the undergrowth, to arrive at the cafe, where we were served pretty quickly.   The weather was a mix of sun and overcast, good cycling weather, and it was pleasantly warm to sit outside.

Cassiobury Park

After lunch we were in the countryside, and also definitely in the Chilterns.  A succession of short but sharp hills, some lovely descents and very pretty roads led us round to the wide open spaces of Gorehambury Park.   A swooping descent led us to Verulamium Park, the site of the old Roman settlement, where we felt very much at home among the battered old relics.

Gorehambury Park

remains of Gorehambury House

What it used to look like. Drone photo from 1578.

We passed Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, a pub Andy remembers visiting on a C&M ride in 2002*, and then up a final hill to the magnificent cathedral, before retiring to the nearly equally magnificent Wetherspoons, the Waterend Barn for tea.

A few left for the station before tea, a few left for the station after tea, and a few of us did a bonus ride of another 15 miles to Borehamwood, through delightful Hertfordshire countryside in the quiet of the evening sun.   That just left Eric still in the pub, as he was meeting friends there.

Many thanks to all who turned out for a journey into the unknown and made it such good fun and a pleasure to lead the ride.  Thanks also to Brian G who led the Wayfarers to St Albans in 2019, showing us Gorehambury Park.  And special thanks to Andy for co-leading, Alan and Jennie for back marking, and to everyone who took pictures of a special day out.

* From Andy's 2002 rides list: Jul 28 - Watford Sainsburys, St Albans, Batchworth - Andy (09.01 train East Croydon to Mill Hill Broadway)