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!

Ode to a Day Without Rain - 8 Feb to Camberley

During a slight pause in the current monsoon season, we met at Whiteley Village's Community Cafe - a new elevenses venue for us.  An amazing turnout for a grey February day - eighteen riders found their way there.   Was it curiosity about the new venue, or just desperation to get out of the house without getting instantly soaked?   I think we were all delighted to see so many people, especially Niall after his recent spell off the bike.   The cafe staff and regulars seemed very pleased to see us too, and encouraged us to come back soon.   It's a lovely old building with plenty of space.  We had the Conservatory to ourselves, and a good selection of pastries, sausage rolls and bacon butties was enjoyed by all.

Part of the large Millenium tapestry

Ah yes, so much fun chatting, but we had a longish ride to do, so a round dozen of us left fairly promptly, destination Camberley.   I had tried desperately to make it sound attractive in my "invitation" to the ride, and David W found a much more interesting poem by John Betjeman, A Subaltern's Love Song, which includes the lines

By roads "not adopted", by woodlanded ways,

She drove to the club in the late summer haze,

Into nine-o-clock Camberley, heavy with bells

And mushroomy, pine-woody, evergreen smells.

After much research, I found that David W had already invented the best route, so I stole that with a few adaptations.   We had to dodge the flooded river Wey at Brooklands, and reduce the stretch along the canal because it was a bit mucky, but soon enough it was "only another ten miles" and we were approaching Pirbright.   It's a little-known fact that Camberley is on top of a small mountain, so there was a fair bit of climbing through the above-mentioned mushroomy, pine-woody, evergreen woodlanded ways.

Eventually we reached the sanctuary of the Claude Du Vall, named after a gallant and non-violent French highwayman who charmed the ladies and tied up the men before relieving them of their valuables.   It ended badly, as he was captured and executed at Tyburn in 1670.   His memorial stone reads as follows:

Here lies DuVall: Reder, if male thou art,

Look to thy purse; if female, to thy heart.

Much havoc has he made of both; for all

Men he made to stand, and women he made to fall

The second Conqueror of the Norman race,

Knights to his arm did yield, and ladies to his face.

Old Tyburn’s glory; England’s illustrious Thief,

Du Vall, the ladies' joy; Du Vall, the ladies' grief.

The return was much more straightforward, with only a small mountain to climb in order to leave Camberley, and no highwaymen troubling us.  Soon we were speeding to Lightwater, Windlesham and Gracious Pond Road.  We nearly saw Pam in Chertsey (she waved at us from the bus, having just visited Vic) but we were at the end of a longish ride, it was tea time and our attention was elsewhere.   Just four stopped for tea at Shepperton, everyone else heading home to make the best of the daylight.

Thank you everyone for making it such an enjoyable and sociable day.  And especially to David W and Andy for leading a second group of riders, and Geoff for back marking, plus Dave E and Diane for their photos.

Plans for this Sunday's ride to Camberley

This Sunday, we will be visiting the spa town of Camberley, well known for its famous pub The Claude Duvall.  Even more exciting, we will gather for elevenses at Whiteley Village Community cafe, which is two miles west of Hersham, along the Burwood road.

If you're coming from Walton, you can ride through Ashley Park (Ashley Park Road/Silverdale Avenue), but beware that if you ride through Burwood Park (Erlswell Road) you can't exit at the southern end until a car comes through.  (Unless someone knows a better way?)

It's about 22 miles to lunch, and then 17 back to tea at Shepperton.  I hope you can join us.

Sunday 1st Feb ride report - Steph

Alan and I cycled from North Cheam together, leaving North Cheam at 9.15 and arriving a little wet at Polsden Lacy cafe at 10.30. Dave and Simon were ahead of us and we had coffee and left at 11 arriving at Wetherspoons Epsom at 12.10. We traversed Chapel Lane, Juniper Lodge Bottom, Headley and descended swiftly past Ashtead Garden Centre into Epsom. The weather was damp and drizzly, only 2 heavy showers fell, but enough to give us damp feet and gloves heavy with water. Lunch was a cheerful social with Colin Quemby arriving first, followed by Ed and finally Ann Bath. A very useful catch up with a couple of our non cycling members.

Plans for Sunday 1 February 2026

Spring must be on the way because we're heading back to Polesden Lacey for elevenses for the first time since since October.   But, just to be on the safe side, we'll be meeting in the Stable Courtyard Cafe, not the outdoor one near the entrance where we usually gather.   From there Steph will lead us on a lovely route to the Assembly Rooms, Epsom.

Invitation to our 2026 Annual Lunch

CTC South West London Annual Lunch and Prizegiving

4th March 2026 at 12:30 for lunch at 1 p.m.

We are delighted to tell you that Jennie has booked the Ristorante Sorrento (379 Ewell Road, Tolworth, KT6 7DE) for our annual lunch.

This has proved to be a most popular venue for the occasion since our first visit in 2018 and we are pleased to be able to hold the event there again.

The set price for our three-course lunch will be £25.25. This includes a 10% service charge, but does not include any drinks, coffee or tea. This is our menu:

Click on menu to enlarge

Please book by placing your order, and pay in advance by Sunday 15th February.

We expect the occasion will be attended by over 60 members, as it has been in recent years.

Please send an email message to Tim Court with your order for (i) a starter and (ii) a main meal. The waiters will take your orders for dessert after the main course on the day.

The preferred method of payment (£25.25) is a direct transfer via your online banking facility, but we can also accept cash or a cheque. For online payment please ask Tim C for our bank details if you don’t already have them. For a cash or cheque payment please check with Tim or your section representative. For anyone who has yet to pay their 2026 club subscription please consider adding your £3 when you pay for your lunch.

Any food allergies, dietary disorders or Vegan requirements must be notified to Tim when you advise your order so that these details can be noted and passed to the restaurant staff.

All ride leaders please note that your teams should be delivered to the restaurant by 12.30 p.m. so that everyone will have time to buy drinks, chat, and browse the photography exhibition, and settle down ready to confirm orders with the waiting staff.

Thank you

Tim C

Sunday 18 January 2026 – 11s Ride Report

 Bushy Park to Oxshott and Beyond

Bushy Park was once again the 11s venue for today’s ride. A relatively short, gently undulating route was planned, featuring a new lunch venue.

A good crowd turned out for the ride: Tony, Andy, Martina, Dave, Clive, Keith, Sabina, Alan, Simon, Graham, Carolyn, and Bernard. Joining us for the 11s section only were Dave V, Helen, Diane, and Madi.

We left Bushy Park via Lion Gate, heading south before turning left into Thames Ditton, continuing through Hinchley Wood, and crossing the Kingston Bypass to Claygate. A short detour took us up the hill at Red Lane, before turning right into Stevens Lane and onto the back end of Claygate. From there we headed west toward Esher.

We turned left onto the Portsmouth Road, riding almost as far as Cobham, where we entered Fairmile Lane for a few hundred metres. This led us onto the enjoyable downhill of Leigh Hill Road, then Stoke Road, and into The Tilt, which has been resurfaced since my last visit and was riding very nicely.

We soon arrived outside Café Barbara, the scene of the previous Friday’s 11s ride, before continuing on through Brundle Lane to Oxshott for lunch at the excellent Munch & Wiggles café. The owner, Ben, had reserved a covered and heated outdoor seating area for us, which was extremely cosy. He also organised a secure area for our bikes. Service was relatively quick, the food was very good, and we arrived just in time, as the café closes at 2:00 pm on Sundays.

We spent about an hour chatting and relaxing, helped along by some wonderful chocolate truffles kindly supplied by Ben. On departure, a few riders headed home directly, while the rest of us rode back toward Esher, turning into Sandy Lane for about a kilometre before turning left into The Ridings. Here we stopped at the blue plaque marking Tommy Sopwith’s residence in the early 1900s.

Soon after, we rejoined the Portsmouth Road for a short stretch to West End, then passed through part of the estate, riding past Wayneflete Tower, before descending to Molesey for our tea stop at Dish.

I believe Simon claimed the prize for the largest piece of cake, accompanied—as always—by plenty of banter and relaxed conversation. Eventually, though, it was time to head home.

It was a truly lovely day on the bike with a great group—thank you all. Special thanks go to Simon for back-marking, and to Andy and Dave for taking the photos.

Finally, a note for the future: it is becoming harder to fill the rides calendar, and we could really do with a few more ride leaders stepping forward.

Tony..