The Tinkerers - An Everyday Story of Cycling Folk!

The story so far - Graham having been unable to proceed with his planned, train-assisted ride to Lasham on 18 May, you will remember that Andy very kindly swopped his lead from 1 June to fill the gap.   Meanwhile, we had hoped Graham would be able to lead his Lasham ride on 1 June, but, sadly, it's got to be postponed again, to take place later in the summer, fingers crossed!

That leaves a gap for this coming Sunday, 1 June.   It's a while now since we met for elevenses at The Pheasantry, Bushy Park (and it's not scheduled for July or August), so I suggest we meet there.   The Botwell Inn, Hayes, reached via a trundle along the canal towpath, is a possible lunch stop, followed by a 'planespotters' special' return to tea at Walton Marina.

Author: David W

Ride Report - Sunday 25 May 2025

 

News that I was leading today's ride at short notice obviously hadn't reached Andy, Niall, Pam, Liz, Christina, Keith, Tony, Ann and Graham, who before they turned up, completely unsuspecting, at old C & M favourite, the Golden Cafe, Addlestone, expecting a properly-led ride!  Gina had even made a heroic, train-assisted effort to join us at the start.

To their credit, they hid their disappointment well when they discovered the horrible truth, and only Graham actually turned for home.  For the rest of the group it was the usual shambolic performance from me.    I had the idea that if we rode straight into the rather strong headwind, it would likely take us in roughly the right direction to start with, then we could ask a passer-by for directions.   I duly wetted a finger, and held up in the air, and we were away!  Some places we passed through looked vaguely familiar, and, at some length, after a pointless slog up yet another unnecessary climb, a sign told us we were at Windsor Great Park.   At last, at the top of another rise, a spectacular panoramic view of Slough opened up to our right.   By good luck, as I admired the cooling towers, I noticed what I could just make out what I thought was Windsor Castle hidden in the foreground.   That was the signal for us to alter our bearing slightly to the north, and head downhill, and, by some miracle, we arrived at the Cinnamon Cafe just after 1.00pm!

After nerves had been settled, and giant buns and copious jacket potatoes had been consumed all round, it was time to head for home.   Questioned about the return route  and likely refreshment stop, I tried to be vague.    Not surprising since my idea this time was to try to keep the wind behind us all the while, and hope we ended up in the right general area.   Don't try this at home, dear reader, but the trick worked for me once again, and, after some time had elapsed, we found ourselves, as if by magic, at Shepperton Lock.   I'm not one for riding my luck, and beat a hasty retreat before I could do any more damage, leaving the others to recover, and revive themselves over tea and cakes.

The moral of this tale - it's best never to join a ride led by me, but, at all costs, avoid riding with me on a calm day!  Many thanks to all for putting up with it, and for their company, and thanks to Andy C for very patiently back-marking all day.

Author: David W

1 Comment:

Tony 27 May 2025 at 10:38 BST

👏👏👏👏

Update - Sunday 25 May 2025

The strating point for Sunday's ride remains the Golden Cafe, Addlestone, as planned, but there is a short-notice change of leader, and the lunch stop will likely be changed. I will confirm details in the next few days

Author: David W

Squires Garden Centres

 Breaking News! Squires Garden Centres are moving to an app based loyalty scheme for free hot drinks. But until the end of May, providing at least ONE stamp is on any card they will give a FREE beverage to the card holder but only until the end of the month. Dig out those loyalty cards for a freebie!

Author: Tartan Socks(long)

Sunday 18th May 2025

 Sometimes, certain conditions can make off-road riding more than acceptable....in fact quite enjoyable.

Today those conditions were met with what the Daily Telegraph described this spring (so far) as having more sunshine than the whole of last summer !

Four met at Squires, West Horsley for this hastily arranged change to the programme where the conversation flowed until 11.30am & we bid farewell to Carolyn.

Dave & Alan then followed me to the "concrete road", a link to the A3 & Jacobs Well. 

From there we cycled west to Wood Street to pick up the Christmas Pie trail to Wanborough Hill & lunch at Puttenham where we waved to Dave as he continued to Guildford.

£6.95 for all this! Wetherspoons prices at the Good Intent.

The journey home included NCN 22 to Watts Gallery & the chalk track heading to Guildford, perfect for a photo op. 

Guildford Cathedral, only completed in 1965 & Woking over my left shoulder

Down The Mount & up the cobbled High Street, we were soon back on the NDW to tea at Newlands Corner.

"Toilet humour" at the Plucky Pheasant.

Yummy Lemon Drizzle with a view.

There has been a café here for over 60 years, & is popular with cyclists & walkers, both Alan & myself have fond memories.

Originally called "The Barn" it is now The Plucky Pheasant.

Cathy Garthwaite and Christina Collins met as mums at their children’s school. Cathy had a background in hospitality and Christina in retail merchandising and they both shared a passion for delicious tasting food. They opened their first café The Speckledy Hen in Shamley Green in 2012, followed shortly by The Dabbling Duck in 2013 and most recently The Plucky Pheasant in 2018.

Thanks & nice to see Carolyn at 11's, Dave for his continued support & especially Alan for his company all day.

Author: Tartan Socks(long)

Tri-Vets 2025

 

 

The Tri-Vets event will be held on the 18th of June. 

There are details of how to book your place, including a link to an online registration form, on our website.

Click here for full details

This event is generally very popular with our CTC SWL members and for our guest riders from other clubs. Places are limited so please sign up soon 🙂.

~ Mick Arber

 

Author: Tim C

Changes To The Planned Ride on Sunday 18 May

The train-assisted ride from Church Crookham to Lasham has had to be postponed at short notice and will now take place later in the summer.

There will  be a replacement ride for this Sunday, and details will be posted on the blog asap.

Apologies for this short-notice change which is due to unforeseen circumstances.

Author: David W

Cheam & Morden - Some history....

Ahead of the AGM on Sunday, I've been looking through the archive from 1944, although Colin Q informs me the "North Cheam Section" as it was called then was started in 1939.

Some years are missing between 1939 & 1943 & the early nineties.

1944 - Earliest AGM in my possession

1947 - Sub-Section “Wayfarer” formed

1949 - Section renamed “Cheam & Morden”

1949 - 60 present at AGM - Morden Park

1965 - Pete Mitchell General Secretary & Treasurer

1967 - Richard Delamare Runs Secretary

1968 - Additional Section Wayfarers formed

1972 - Bob Eberhard Runs Secretary

1983 - Club run competition (attendance) & Puncture competition introduced free lunch/inner tube as prizes

1988 - Andy Coxhill Press Secretary

1998 - Post Christmas lunch (from December to save money)

2004 - Graham Hill General Secretary

2006 - Andy Coxhill Runs Secretary

2008 - Formal group – CTC Cheam & Morden

2008 - Hilly 50km raised £474.20 on £2 entry fee (remains in account at present)

2009 - Puncture/annual lunch prize abolished

2016 - Tony Hopkins Runs Secretary

2019 - David Ward Runs Secretary

2021 - Annual Lunch abolished  

I'll be bringing along to the AGM the following:

Minutes from a commitee meeting in 1946 requesting "methylated spirit stoves" for a ride to the coast.

An agenda from 1950 that had ten positions to fill.

A photocopy of the CTC Gazette which they reported a circulation of 200 copies of the Sou'wester also in 1950.

A press photo of Bob Eberhard's campaign to change a council's plan around Epsom station.

Pete Mitchell's ingenious way of recording attendance in the late eighties.

A "Welcome to the Cheam & Morden Section" handout from 1999.

A map of all the rides in 2004/05.

Author: Tartan Socks(long)

2 Comments:

Colinq 07 May 2025 at 22:13 BST

I thought the North Cheam Section was formed pre-war as this extract from the Sou'Wester archive confirms: "Bill Quemby was South London DA Secretary at that time and he and wife Dorothy had founded the North Cheam Section in 1939."

Andrew J C 09 May 2025 at 08:31 BST

Hi Colin, I don't doubt you're correct but the (incomplete) archive I have only goes back to 1944.

Ride Report - Sunday 4 May 2025

 

The last time the Cheam and Morden met for elevenses at Windsor Farm Shop Cafe (last summer), it was very hot and we were longing for a cooling breeze.  How things change - this time we were huddled up trying to dodge the chill north-easterly wind!  Thirteen of us had made the long trek to royal precincts (was that an omen?).  Carolyn, John and Niall, no doubt wise to the perils of rides led by me, elected to return straight home, while Simon, Alan, Dave E, Andy, Ruth, Sarah, Pam, Robert and Ann gamely elected to join me on another of my dreaded 'bike adventures'!

We duly set off via Windsor, Bray, and the rather exotically-named Furze Platt, Pinkneys Green, Stubbings and Burchett's Green.   There were no incidents on the way to lunch except for a pannier which dropped off because of a pothole!    We eventually got the wind behind us a bit and soon gained the (truly rather sweet) Honey Lane, passed old C & M favourite, the Dew Drop Inn, and then picked up the forest track leading to Pudding Hill, then it was a short uphill to Velolife, new old C & M favourite (if you see what I mean)!

Delicious toasted sandwiches were duly consumed and we set off for home.    Less interseting place names this time - only Bottle Lane and Shottesbrooke stand out!    Progress was good to start with, but we gradually turned back into the wind, and tired legs quickly became even more tired!   Despite this, we still reached tea (at Great Cockcrow Railway) well before 4.00 pm, and were met there by Tony H, now back on his bike after a short absence.

Thanks all for your company, and for putting up with it all, and many thanks to Simon for back-marking.

Author: David W

Do Join Us on Sunday 4 May!

 

Sunday's ride will take us from elevenses at Windsor Farm Shop Cafe (Datchet Rd, Old Windsor SL4 2RQ) to lunch at Velolife cyclists' cafe, Warren Row (RG10 8QS).

It's about 16 miles to lunch by a route we haven't used on a Sunday ride for some years (if ever), and about another 20 back to tea at Great Cockcrow Railway, Lyne (changed from Staines as per original rides list).   There will be some climbing, amounting to about 900 ft of height gain, but nothing too serious!   There is some off-road riding, but nothing too rough, and no mud is expected!

The image above gives an idea of the route which I will post up later after final checks.

You're more than welcome to join us but please note that we'll be leaving elevenses promptly at 11.00 am, so allow plenty of time to get to Old Windsor!

Author: David W