Sunday 28th September 2025

Ride Statistics

11's - 51 Degrees North, Mickleham - 12 cyclists (9 go on to lunch).

Noisy, barely able to hear conversations....but good coffee.

Not easy to get to unless you come over the top (Headley) - 4 cyclists.

Lunch - Tesco's Extra Gatwick (Hookwood).

Screen ordering system as at Macky Dees.

Most popular choice - macaroni cheese (2).

Tea - Mickleham Church

First visit ever.

Smaller selection of cakes compared with Capel but my lemon drizzle was lovely & just £1 !

Last opening this year but from April 2026 - September 2026 - last Sunday in the month, 3pm - 5pm.

We'll be back!

Weather

Drull & deary, with patchy light rain pm but with zero wind.

Photo editing by https://www.canva.com/features/photo-straightener/ & Windows Photos.

Custom made, washable, waterproof, fabric OS maps splash-maps.com

Route provided by cycle.travel & plotaroute.com

Flat - 78%

Downhill - 12%

Uphill - 10%

Penny Farthing (Ordinary) Racing

21st September

A slightly chilly and gusty day, 11'S at the Pheasanrty, which was busy as usual, a few were already seated with the usual banter. Numbers gradually swelled to 9. 11.00 am arrived, so loo's visited, we departed. Graham headed directly home, just was we were about to leave Brian Bent  arrived and cycled with us just to the exit of Bushy Park. 

A rather direct route so we could lunch early to get to the track, We quickly got to Hanworth park and the track across, arriving at Feltham station and then across Glebelands playing fields and side roads to Gladstone Ave which once was the home of Freddie Mercury, and has the Blue Plaque. Obviously a stop for photo's. 

More back roads and a few alley's bought us to the A30 at Hatton Cross and into Heathrow using the cycle path where possible, and out to Harlington and the under pass for the M4, now only a short ride to the really busy Hayes, some tried the cycle path along side the main road, but that only wore out their bell trying to get through the throng.

The Botwell Inn (Spoons) soon came into view, The pub has railings around the outside seating area, making it ideal for bike parking, the Sun now out, we all sat outside. Service was quick and we were all soon tucking into our misconceived lunch. After lunch Dave W made hi own way home.

We were soon off on the short distance, about 2k, to the track. There were plenty of spectators and some racing had already taken place on  uni cycles. There were lots of Penny Farthing bikes to peruse, and some riders had made the effort to dress in semi period dress. Tea, coffee and a few snacks were available and as the afternoon wore on and the cold wind picked up, most of us took advantage of a hot bevy.

Then the racing started the speeds were amazing and the field soon spread out,  the course is a touch under a mile in length. We watched the 2 main races and after had a cycle round the track.

We set off back on a short route mainly on cycle tracks alongside the Parkway before crossing Hounslow Heath and onto tea at the caravan by the Shot Tower on the Crane river trail. Only a few stopped for tea, and cake. I was only a short ride home for me from there and I left the remaining group at the exit be the A316.

A thoroughly enjoyable day, thank you all for joining the ride and to Simon for bringing up the rear and Andy for the group photo.

Tony..

Bike Jumble

Sunday the 21st September

 A trip to Hayes cycle circuit to watch the Ordinaries (Penny Farthings) race.

Highly exciting event, they are amazingly fast, more than one race.

11’s the Pheasantry, Bushy Park

Lunch at the Botwell Inn, Hayes

Tea to be decided on the day

Tony..

14 Sept - Nonsuch Ride

It was to be a carefree adventure in the wild Wolds of Sussex and Kent.  But it was not to be.  Shakespeare would probably have put it more eloquently, but even if he was blessed in the language department, he didn't have a bike, so there.

The weather forecast said heavy rain and 30-40mph wind, so plan B said a more local ride.

Naturally, on the day, we woke up to calm, blue skies.  Despite the lack of ride ambition, twelve came to elevenses, eleven set off on the ride, and ten reached the summit at Walton on the Hill, Terry having diverted to Headley and Helen having come to 11s for a chat, and possibly out of curiosity.

Down with the kids at Nork Park
(Chris having a go on the track too)

That's English and Maths covered, now for Geography, History and Domestic Science: 

Tadworth and Banstead completed the climbing bit of the ride and then it was downhill to Sutton, and following a route suggested by Eric, we found the back streets to Nonsuch Mansion, which had an open day in the servants' quarters.   By now the weather had a hint of rain but no actual rain fell until around 2.30, when some had already visited the exhibition and the rest of us were about halfway round a fascinating insight into how "downstairs" worked in these large Victorian mansions.   

Mischief in the 'dry pantry'

The amazing model of Nonsuch Palace,
which, as everyone except me knew,
is different from Nonsuch Mansion.
(the last 2 photos from Niall)

By the time we set off for home, it was raining lightly but no Arks were needed, so I think we got off lightly.   And I confess, when I got home, I waited a bit until everyone would be safely home and then did a little rain dance, in the hope of a downpour to justify cancelling the trip to Tunbridge Wells.

Many thanks to all of you who joined us for your company, and to Andy for suggesting that we make use of a rainy afternoon to get to know Nonsuch Mansion a bit better - and for back marking.    I hope to reschedule the Tunbridge Wells trip for a dry day next summer.

Would it fit on my bicycle?

For weather enthusiasts ...

Actual rainfall .. wet but no deluge

Actual wind .. rather modest

vs. forecast wind

*Changed* Plans for Sunday 14th Sept - Another day for the Opera

Due to adverse weather, Sunday's ride will be a shorter ride, not going to Tunbridge Wells.  My apologies but it looks as if it might be dangerously windy, and very wet in the afternoon too.  

The weather looks OK for the morning, so I plan to lead a morning ride from Leatherhead, via Walton on the Hill and then back through Sutton to either New Malden or a cultural option suggested by Andy, North Cheam where there is an open day at the Service Wing Museum for the old Nonsuch Palace.   Either way you will be nearer home when the rain arrives. 

In the same spirit of madness adventure as the ride from Reading to Reading, I volunteered to lead a ride to Tunbridge Wells next Sunday.   This is based on a ride to the Easter Tour in 2024; dodgy weather but a lovely route which deserves repeating. 

Plans are not yet finalised, subject to a recce tomorrow (Weds) but so far it looks like this:   11s at Leatherhead as advertised; lunch at Lingfield (22 miles), tea in the glamorous surroundings of The Opera House, Royal Tunbridge Wells, which happens to be a spectacular Wetherspoons pub.  A bit longer than an average C&M ride at 43 miles, and a modest 2240 feet of climbing, but most of the hills (and some lovely scenery) are near Tunbridge Wells.

Trains from Tunbridge Wells return to London Bridge & Waterloo East; if you have an Oyster 60+ card you can get a ticket to Orpington in Zone 6.  If you're feeling adventurous (Patrick?), then you also have the option of riding back along the Worth Way, an old railway line, which takes you to East Grinstead and Three Bridges in 23 'flat' miles.

The Met Office is currently forecasting good weather for Sunday, but if it begins to look terrible I might do a shorter ride.   However, advance single tickets are currently about £4 from Tunbridge Wells to Orpington with a railcard, so you might want to take a gamble.   Just bear in mind that the last bit of the ride is hilly so if we're running late, we will not be able to rush to the station, so I recommend a train after 18.00 to allow plenty of time for enjoying the sights.  

The ride to Tunbridge Wells will be rescheduled.

Shorter Sunday ride

A few not wanting to venture a long way south just for 11.sopted for a closer to home 

start and ride. So Lonacres GC was our 11’s stop, with Simon and Maureen already 

there when I arrived, followed by Pam and eventually Martina. 

 

We set off around 11.15 and took a well cycled route to Horton, then up to Colnbrook,

 and whirly bridge to Langley and onto the up to the Langley road.and then right

 up to George Green, an old C&N well cycled route up to Wexham and Pinewood 

GC for lunch or not, the GC has closed and is now an ambulance service centre.

So we carried on North on roads I have not cycled in a good few years, eventually 

stopping atStoke Poges and a Cost coffee  I have used before, we were fortunate 

to have a lovely community garden to sit and enjoy our sandwiches and a coffee 

in the Costa.

 

Heading back South and entering the outskirts of Slough but avoiding roads as 

much as we could by using some lovely cycle routes through parks, eventually

 coming into Eton. Then a very familiar route back to Egham and an untimely 

mishap with a bollard resulted in a slightly bloody knee for one of the group. 

Then onto tea and biccy’s at Cafe De Pam.

 

Much chatter and putting the world to rights, plus a few yawns and I was the 

first to depart. I had a strong tail wind so headed directly along the A30 at a 

blistering speed (for me that is), and home quicker than expected. 

A good day on the bike apart from the closeure  of lovely, quirky GC. Thank  

you all for joining the ride and to Simon for back marking.

Tony..

Sunday 7th September 2025

Elevenses at Farncombe Boathouse, now called the River Path café, but sadly without the rowboats, canoes or punts for hire.

The Enviroment Agency who have traditionally dredged this area for at least the past 20 years no longer have the funds to do so....& the water is just a few inches deep in places.

A small turnout means a chance for some off-road, the first of which we encountered just past Elstead.

Hankley Common is used for military training but perhaps more commonly known as a film location site with three Bond films, Dr Who & even a Blackadder episode being shot here.

In addition, large sets were constructed for the First World War film 1917 & in 2019, filming the blockbuster Black Widow, planning permission had to be granted for a 'crashed' helicopter.

Sandy in places, I was so far ahead that I didn't hear any complaining & besides, lunch was only a mile or so away or so I thought......

The Rural Life museum began in 1968 as a collection of Madge & Henry Jackson & now has 40,000 objects including a steam railway.

Last year could of been its last with admissions & donations falling but remarkably, they managed to raise £150,000 in just three months to keep it open.

A busy café sent us 0.3 miles to Squires & four stamps on my loyalty app.

Not done with 'rough-stuff', I included this section on the way to Milford.

Another Squires for tea at Milford but not before bidding farewell to Graham & Chris heading back to the station.

Alan & I made the 16.50 (class 455) at Guildford in the nick of time...phew!