Central London CTC blog

The group take a moment after completing the lung-busting climb up the South Downs escarpment from Kingston - Charlie hopes he's not going to have to tell them they didn't need to go up it.

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RSF/CTC joint ride 17 May 2009

This was a joint ride of the Rough Stuff Fellowship [RSF] and the Cyclists Touring Club [CTC]. Most RSF members tend to be in the CTC as well so there was quite an overlap of memberships. The weather forecast was changeable and so it proved. It was raining when we assembled at the Brown Box Café in Harpenden, sunny shortly after we set off , raining again soon afterwards and so it continued all day. Most of us ended up keeping our waterproofs on as it seemed to start raining again whenever we took them off. more »

The one star trio enjoyed a really sensational ride. For the eyes, plenty of green and blue and white – blue sky, blue carpets in the green woods, white clouds, cow parsley rioting in the verges. For the nose, we were lucky enough to come upon a verge-trimming tractor, so we inhaled the scent of new-mown grass. more »

Some of you may remember an earlier blog concerning an incident for one of our members regarding Network Rail Cards.  Martin Hayman was threatened with a penalty fare or fine as he had not purchased his ticket in the same transaction as did the Network Card holders. It was purely due to an un unconnected incident on the train that the inspector abandoned this. The other riders present were surprised at this ruling, and at such a fine point being pursued. This matter was especially worrying, as this could potentially result in criminal conviction, which gives the person a criminal record. more »

Wednesday 8th April- Ypres

Ten cyclists met at St Pancras to load cycles for 11.00 departure. Too many bikes to get off at Lille, so extra train journey via Brussels to Ypres.

Five were nearly mislaid when train split. They alighted early and took evening ride past war cemeteries. The only rain of the week soon cleared.  The group reformed for the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate and supper. 30km or 2km

First dame blanche of the trip (to avoid any doubt, this is a Belgian ice cream).

A dame blanche

Thursday 9th – Ypres to Bruges

Full day’s canalside cycling. We lunched in the far west of Belgium, in town square at Veurne. Optional diversion (“wegomlegging”) via Diksmuide for picnickers. 80km

Evening arrival in Bruges – canal side hotel at end of cobbles. Beers and orange squash in main square and Portuguese–Roman (or possibly Romanian) dinner.

Landscape with cycle