Sunday 1st November 2026

 A change to the published ride saw us meeting at Molesey Boat Club on a cold overcast morning.

I witnessed a lot of lifting, maneuvering & guiding - boats to water, & entirely by (very fit) women.

Upstairs was cosy, & gradually folk arrived having read the change of venue on the blog.

Leaving Dave V & Tony we set off on an untested route to Wallington via Kingston, Richmond Park, Raynes Park (where Ged left us) & Mitcham - 19 miles

New-ish wide cycle provision alongside Beddington Lane was an unexpected delight even though it crossed multiple roads to the various companies that have locations here including two large bus depots (Go Ahead London & Abellio).

It was nearly 1.30pm by the time we arrived at The Whispering Moon (Wetherspoons) & Colin was already tucking into his fish & chips, & was shortly joined by Paul & Maggie James who live nearby.

Aware of fading light, we left Sue & Lilian & took a familiar (at least to me) route to Squires, Long Ditton - 16 miles.

Priest Hill Nature Reserve is south of NESCOT & is currently managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust.

It's a lovely spot & as this is green belt land, hopefully many future generations can enjoy it's peace & tranquility.

https://eehe.org.uk/25298/priest/

Access to it from Banstead Road is via a kissing gate which took us to the memorial of Josef František.

The ride continued, crossing the railway by steps, a plethora of dog walkers on Ashtead Common, two fields (Chessington Countryside Walk) & according to one rider, akin to a orienteering course.

I wouldn't go that far but sometimes I like to push the boundary, indeed we made tea before closing by the skin of our teeth!

Grateful to those joining me for a fun ride & Simon for back marking.

Stains to Uxbridge

 A small band of C&M stalwarts rocked up at the George in Staines, for coffee, the fact it was blowing a gale probably put most people off, but the sun was out, so after saying goodbye to Tony, we set off to Uxbridge, through Wraysbury, Horten, Colnbrook and Iver to the Good yarn ( Wetherspoons ) sitting outside in the sun was pleasant for lunch, after saying goodbye to Dave W and Simon, Andy and I took the Colne valley trail back to Staines and stopped for a cuppa at the ferry cafe in shepperton, as we left the cafe we noticed the hunters moon, low in the sky, it was just getting dark at this point, a good day out despite the windy conditions.

Dave E 

Don't Stop Me Now - I'm a Rocket Ship on my way to ... Stoneleigh?

I had a sleepless night before the ride.   Not just the usual pre-ride excitement, but I had caught a lurgy, and was considering my options.  The C&M group has plenty of excellent ride leaders who can lead from a GPX route, but I wanted to ride it myself.    So I decided to lead in a socially-isolated sort of way.

Eighteen came to North Cheam for elevenses, including new rider Stephen.  Welcome, Stephen!  Lovely to see everyone but I tried not to talk to them or cough on them.   We decided that two groups were best, with David W taking the second group, and then Andy leading in the afternoon.

Our route was based on the river Wandle, familiar to many, so we went to find one of the sources first, in Carshalton Park.  It was dry after the dry summer.   No worry, we soon found water the other side of the High street.  We trickled down the Wandle Way, a river of green and gold autumn colours as well as sparkling water in the warm sunshine.   We dodged a few doggies in Morden Hall Park, continuing down with the Wandle getting wider and more industrial now as we approached Wandsworth and the Thames.

Lunch at the Rocket, at Putney seemed to go well, at least I heard no complaints from my distant table, and we were all ready to go promptly to the secret tea destination.   By now the clouds had come in and a cold north wind was blowing, but there was no rain.  

Where did the sunshine go? (Photo: Andy)

We found a fairly gentle way up through the grand houses of Putney to Putney Heath, and then crossed Wimbledon Common before passing through Worcester Park and on to our secret tea destination, which a few had guessed as the Secret Garden at Ewell Court.  There was much amiable discussion over teas / cream teas inside the warmth of the glasshouse, but I couldn't tell you what was discussed, as I was keeping at a safe distance, the other side of the glass.

Thank you to all who joined the ride, and especially to David W and Andy for co-leading, and to Alan, Tim and Bernard for back marking at various times.

sundays ride to uxbridge

 sunday the 25th , we meet at the george (spoons) staines upon thames , for coffee around 10am

then depart at 11am for uxbridge for lunch at the good yarn (spoons) around 17 miles on the road

and some canal towpath , the return will be mostly offroad using the colne valley trail , a good surface

back to colnbrook and then staines , if people want to stop for tea , i was thinking about the ferry in 

shepperton , but with the clocks going back an hour on saturday night we will loose an hour of daylight

see you on sunday.

Dave E

Plans for Sunday 18 October

🎵 Fly me to the moon, let us play among the stars. 🎵  On Sunday we will be boarding a rocket in Putney for a lunchtime escapade.   Please arrive at the departure gate in the Nonsuch Inn, North Cheam, in time for take-off at 11.00.   We will follow the picturesque river Wandle from one of its sources to the launch pad, where we will have lunch before taking off to tea at a secret destination near Stoneleigh.

I hope you can join us.

Not a Ride Report - Sunday 11 October

 

There was no volunteer to lead today, so this isn't an official ride report!   Andy C kindly offered at the last minute to lead the ride back from Guildford, which was very helpful because I could only manage to lead the outbound leg.

Anyway, there was an excellent turnout for elevenses at quirky but good venue, Whitely Village including newcomer Graham K.   Some headed home from elevenses, while eight joined me the ride towards Guildford.  We took the opportunity for the C & M to 'christen' the new Cobham to Ripley cycle route in full.  It's a pity the initial access and first few hundred metres are so poor - after Painshill Roundabout, it's great!

After that I had to cut my ride short a bit, but we reached lunch just before 1.00 pm.  I had to turn around and head straight for home leaving the rest of the group to a lavish Wetherspoon's lunch!   Of what happened after that, I have no knowledge, but it appears from the photographic evidence that tea was taken at Claremont Gardens....

Ken's funeral - some pictures

I've put a short write-up and some pictures of the funeral on the Wayfarers blog here.

Coming soon - the new-look Sou'Westers website

The website gnomes have been working to update our website, to make it more easier for us all to find the info we need, and to make it simpler for prospective new members to discover the joys of riding with us.

We hope you will still find it simple to use and to get access to the blogs, rides list, and other important information.

The website address will not change, so when you go to the website you will see an updated front page like the picture above. 

Many thanks to the webmasters, Paula and the committee for their input into the re-design.  We hope you like it.   

If you discover any mistakes or if you have any queries about how to find things, please do drop me a line at simon.lambourn@gmail.com.

Plans for Sunday 4 October 2026

Elevenses on Sunday is, as planned, at the Golden Cafe, Addlestone, but, in a slight change from the published programme, Jennie's ride will then lead us to the Edmund Tylney at Leatherhead instead of the Cinnamon Cafe, Windsor.

Sunday 27th September 2026

 Sunshine was at a premium today but with slightly higher temperatures than the average for late September.

Sue C joined me for a 14 mile ride to Edwins Garden Centre, West Clandon which we last visited in January 2025.

The coffee was good, the scones pricey but friendly staff made this a great 11's stop.

The St Margarets Cycling Club all wearing their club kit, occupied an adjoining table, their destination unclear.

Leaving Niall & Dave V, Sue & myself were joined by Dave's W & E + Steve D. 

A repeat of a ride I led in May 2025, taking advantage of dry conditions, it featured a fair bit of off-road.

But first we had to negotiate the metropolis of Guildford & this we did with a combination of shared paths/quiet back roads. 

At Wood Street village, we continued west on the Christmas Pie trail, a level path going through woodland to emerge at Flexford.

Nobody objected to an unplanned extra few miles as we avoided Wanborough Hill but later had to climb & cross the Hog's Back (A31) which at lunchtime on a Sunday, is four lanes of fast moving traffic.

Not advisable & unlikely to 'attempt' again!

NCN 22 at Seale took us to lunch at The Good Intent, Puttenham.

Last year, I was impressed with the sandwiches at a reasonable price.

No sandwiches on a Sunday nowadays & I'd be less keen to visit again until they're back on the menu.

We bid farewell to Dave W & we took the usual route (NCN 22, Mount Road & One Tree Hill) to tea at The Plucky Pheasant, Newlands Corner but not before Steve attended to a rear wheel puncture.

Rain threatened to end the day but we all arrived home in the dry (I think).

Thanks to both Daves for the pictures & everybody else for joining me on one of my favourite rides! 

 

Ken Day - funeral details

Ken's funeral will be held at Randall's Park Crematorium and Cemetery, Randalls Road, Leatherhead KT22 OAG on Thursday 8th October at 1:15pm.    Afterwards, there will be refreshments at Ken and Maggie's house in Cobham.

If you would like to come along, perhaps you could let me know by email, so we can give an idea of numbers.   Maggie tells me that you are very welcome to wear cycling kit if you wish.

This Saturday....

 

Penny Racing

SUNDAY the 20th

As well as penny racing, there will also be, uni cycle racing, chopper bike racing and Brompton racing, as well as a small bike jumble. Obviously we will not be there to see all the events 

11' will be at Osterley park, it will be a short ride to lunch at the Bothwell Inn, Hayes, this will give more time to watch the Penny Racing and explore the cycle jumble, so bring your panniers. 

Tea will will be decided on the day if required

Tony.. 

Plans for Sunday 13th

 Elevenses now at The Assembly Rooms, Epsom NOT Polesdon Lacey *note change

Then via Epsom Downs, Banstead, Chipstead & Farthing Downs to lunch at Hangar 9 Cafe, Redhill Aerodrome (16 Miles)

Then some NCN21 to Horley & Surrey lanes via Leigh to tea at Brockham Church (fundriasing for Macmillan) (14 Miles)

6 September - the Teddy Bears' Picnic

If you go down to the woods today
you're sure of a big surprise

If you go down to the woods today
you'd better go in disguise

'Cause every bear that ever there was

 

will gather there for certain because

Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for teddy bears

The little teddy bears are having
a lovely time today (?)

Watch them, catch them unawares
and see them picnic on their holiday

See them gaily gad about

They love to play and shout,
they never have any cares

At six o'clock, their mummies and daddies
will take them home for tea,
'cause they'll be tired little teddy bears.

An off-road ride from Reading?   With various cancellations and train disruptions, I wondered if anyone would turn up, but I was delighted when a whole group of adventurous riders arrived at the Gorge cafe from various directions, including Patrick who rode the whole way to Reading.

The morning ride only had a bit of off-road as we followed the Thames past grand houses, big views and alpacas, crossing the river at Pangbourne.  We loosely followed the river Pang for many pretty miles to our lunch stop at Bucklebury Farm Park.  After lunch, we climbed to the start of the off-road trail, and then descended into the beautiful and varied woods of the Bucklebury Estate, which are criss-crossed by tracks and footpaths, not to mention roots, fallen trees and other obstacles to watch out for.

After quite a few miles in the jungle there was a shout and a sort of crunch.   We went back to investigate and found that Sue's back mudguard had folded itself inside-out against they tyre.   Sue herself was shaken but not stirred.   The wheel was taken off, mudguard removed, (surprisingly looking completely undamaged), and we continued on to tea.  Arriving at Aldermaston Wharf tea rooms, we were welcomed by being told that they were just about to shut (in 25 minutes), but they were definitely not stressed about it.   We knew that because the lady told us quite forcefully that she wasn't stressed.  Anyway we enjoyed tea and cake by the canal before the deadline and continued along the canal back to Reading.

My thanks to everyone who came for taking a risk with our adventure and for your excellent company, to Andy and Ged for photos, to Eric for spotting various train warnings, and to Andy for back-marking.

Plans for 6 September - Gravel ride from Reading

You're invited to do something a bit different on Sunday.   A ride in the beautiful West Berkshire countryside, with a fair bit of gravel riding: on bridleways, through ancient woods and returning along the Kennet & Avon canal towpath.   A third of the ride is unsurfaced, so if you don't like stony surfaces, this is probably not for you.  But if you're confident on loose gravel, it's fine on a road bike.  I've done it twice with 28mm tyres and loved it.

Elevenses at the Gorge cafe, near Reading Station, lunch at Bucklebury Farm Cafe and most of the off-road in the afternoon.   We will hopefully have tea at Aldermaston Wharf tea rooms, which closes at 4pm, before the final nine miles along the canal back to Reading.   39 miles in all and 1400 feet of climbing.

Important - Travel advice

Please be ready to leave at 11, to increase our chance of getting to the tea stop in time.   This post has details of how to get to the Gorge Cafe from Reading station.

There are no trains from Richmond/Twickenham to Reading (there's a replacement bus service).   Options are:

• Elizabeth Line from Ealing/Southall/Paddington/Farringdon etc.  Farringdon connects with Thameslink trains.
• From Surbiton/Wimbledon etc, change at Basingstoke, about 20 mins from Basingstoke to Reading.
• From Dorking Deepdene, direct, takes about an hour

I do hope you can join us!

Sunday 30th August 2026

 

A feature of Summer 2026, the sunflowers as seen here at Shere.

Elevenses (West Horsley, Squires) - Andy C, Keith R, Dave W, Eric G, Sue F, Terry L, Dave V, Caroline & John B + Dawn.

Conventional roads to Farley Green then we took the pretty but still climbing Shophouse Lane & a short off-road exploit which was perfectly rideable even after the recent rain.

A very brief shower just before a cheeky back route through Cranleigh School took us to a quiet B2128 & lunch at Notcutts, Cranleigh

We all went our separate ways in the afternoon but I followed the published route to Ockley then to Broomehall Road to climb up to Coldharbour from the south.

The wiki entry for Broome Hall:

'The actor Oliver Reed bought the 56-bedroom property in 1971, and became the so-called "Master of Broome Hall" for eight years. 

Reed only bought the house because he was looking for a field for a horse he had bought from Johnny Kidd, the father of future supermodel Jodie Kidd, who ran a stud farm in Ewhurst. 

He then spent a fortune renovating it.

The naked wrestling scene with Reed and Alan Bates in Ken Russell's 1969 film Women in Love is said to have been filmed there. 

Reed was banned from his local pub there for descending a chimney naked and shouting out: "Ho! Ho! Ho! I'm Santa Claus'.

Later, the Grade II-listed building was bought by a property developer & converted into eleven flats.

Thanks to Keith for the ford photos & everyone else for your company.

Cycling UK Awards

Two of our longest-serving members, David W and Andy, were presented with awards from Cycling UK yesterday, recognising their dedication and hard work to support the Cheam and Morden section over the years.

In the days when Cheam and Morden had a reputation for hard riding, Andy was Rides Secretary for many years, developing a programme of longer rides to far-flung places, usually with a picnic lunch.   In later years David took over the Rides Secretary role, and Andy has now taken over the General Secretary role. Under their leadership, the Cheam and Morden section is in good health with a combination of quite adventurous rides plus some more local outings to include those who don't want a longer ride.

Both David and Andy are prolific ride leaders, drawing on their long experience of riding to come up with interesting rides, and are very deserving recipients of these Cycling UK awards.   Thank you, David and Andy, for your steadfast and quiet, no-fuss service and dedication, turning out week after week; and creating an easy-going atmosphere where people are welcome and there’s always an interesting ride on offer.

Thanks are also due to Maddie and Alan for their work behind the scenes to make these awards happen.

Doubly-discombobulated - Ride Report for Sunday 23 August 2026

 

We were having a very enjoyable al-fresco elevenses beside the river at Staines when Simon, very ominously, stood up, demanded silence, and began to make an announcement.   Oh crikey, I thought, I've been rumbled at last.  In front of everyone, including our chair and our secretary, my bicycle pump is going to be ceremonially broken in two,  my CTC badge torn off, and I'm going to be formally (and rightly) expelled from the group for disservices to cycling!   And not before time, either, you say!

Imagine my surprise when, instead of suffering this fate, Andy C and I were presented with impressive 'certificates of appreciation' from CUK for services rendered.   Many thanks, everyone, your appreciation is greatly appreciated!

Anyway, somewhat discombobulated, I began the ride I was due to lead to Camberley.   All went without incident until we were near Blacknest, when my chainset decided to spontaneously deconstruct itself!   It is somewhat disconcerting to suddenly find your left foot still connected to a pedal and crank which are no longer connected to your bike!

It could easily have been far worse!  Fortunately, the rest of the group managed to avoid me, and I managed to recover and refit enough parts to get mobile again, if not 100% roadworthy.    My first thoughts were to abandon my ride, and Simon very kindly offered to take over the lead, but, after brief reflection, I saw I had to get home somehow and seemed a good idea to ride along with the group for a bit and see how things went.   

As it happened, there were no further problems, and things worked out better than I had hoped, although I was, by now doubly-discombobulated!   I stopped to check my bolts every now and again, and in the end, was able to enjoy lunch at The Claude Duvall with the group, and then lead them on to tea at Great Cockcrow Railway.  How fortunate for them!   I don't doubt it will be of great comfort to C & M riders in future to know that have two certified people to lead them!

Many thanks to everyone for your company, and for putting up with a more than usually disjointed ride from me, and special thanks to Simon, and to Andy for back-marking, and the usual photo credits to all.