Central London CTC blog

In glorious sunshine, 15 of us set out from West Ewell in deepest suburbia.  Most were on MTBs but a few brought their hardy touring bikes and Michael’s small wheeled belt-drive bike also made an appearance.

After a couple of minor navigational lapses somewhere improbably leafy near Tolworth, we were soon bowling along the easy flat paths in Horton Country Park amid beautiful late autumn foliage and blue skies.  Across Ashtead Common and the railway line and on past the City of London Freemen’s School in its fine country setting and then after a mile on road we darted up Stane Street, a Roman road, to take us to the pub at Headley spot-on 12 noon.  Once the menus were rustled up, we were fed and watered reasonably quickly and on our way again.

After lunch things got a little more ‘technical’ due mainly to the mud which took its toll on those with close fitting mudguards. more »

The icy gusts of Saturday gave way to cycle-friendly weather for the first ride day after the time change, with moments of sunshine and temperatures up to 8C.  Twelve riders set out along the River Medway for an anticlockwise circuit through Kent and Sussex lanes.  A number of promising-looking pubs were passed near Tonbridge at unfeasibly early hours; an interesting study might be made of how rides might be led past such spots as the Hopbine at Petteridge or The Man of Kent near East Peckham at lunchtime.  Slow going and a few navigational errors found us only as far as Goudhurst at midday.

Rather than push on to the intended Ticehurst, we elected to lunch where we stood, which turned out to be The Vine, a rambling inn at the village crossroads. Drawn by the chalkboard’s promise of a ‘locally made rabbit stew’ special, the ride leader enticed the group into the ultimate nightmare of the keen Sunday cyclist, A PUB THAT HAD RUN OUT OF REAL ALES. more »

Network Rail frustrated Paul’s 65^th birthday ride of 65kms by cancelling our intended train, so we started an hour late. The train was met at Welwyn North by Paul and his stepson Daniel.

Off road tracks were in good condition in spite of the recent heavy rain. More challenging was a flooded road, caused by a broken water main, with some getting wet feet. Over lunch in Hertford therefore Laurence developed the sock sandwich (two socks with cling film in between): perhaps he also developed trench foot later.

Hertford Castle

more »

Simon Binning’s two-star ride from Harlow on Sunday 3rd June:  75km, 100mm of rain (well, it felt like it).

It couldn’t have been a sharper contrast from the previous weekend: splendid sunshine for Christine’s weekend Cambridge tour, dismal downpours for our ride from Harlow. Steve didn’t need his factor 50, though Kerry could have done with it on Christine’s ride, she was wearing a sleeveless top in the blazing sun, and her shoulders got burnt. She’d refused Michael’s offer to apply sun cream to her back, possibly because his hands were covered in oil after his fruitless attempts to repair two broken spokes.

He’d replaced the spokes during the week, and seven of us braved the weather for a 75km spin out from Harlow to the Black Horse at White Roding, with the additional benefit, for the republicans amongst us, including me, of escaping the royal fawn-fest.(Steve’s wife had sent him out for the day so she could enjoy TV coverage of the Thames pageant, unspoiled by his anti-monarchist sentiments). Simon gave us such a lovely route round pretty country lanes, everyone commented on how attractive it was, despite the rain. I think the pub is new to our section, I do recommend it. The staff are pleasant and efficient, the food is tasty and reasonably priced, and although they like to keep their vegetarian options secret from the customers, (the veggie dishes aren’t listed on the menu), they will tell you what’s available if you ask.

After lunch we continued to tea at the open air café in Hatfield Forest, where we encountered a lone Morris dancer gazing wetly into his beer, a soggy symbol of the Jubilee Weekend Wetting. Paul had unwisely dressed according to the calendar, rather than the temperature, and complained about his chilly extremities, until, emulating Kelvin on a previous ride, we all told him to Man Up . Derek, more stoical, kept quiet about his frozen fingers, aware that his choice of fingerless mitts over full length gloves could open him to Mockery and Ridicule from his better-clad companions.

The company was great, even if the weather was rubbish, and the glass is always half-full: nobody got sunburnt.

Unfortunately train changes meant that we couldn’t meet Peter for his ride and tea at leader’s; fortunately David stepped in at short notice for an alternative. Last week had been snowed off and the legs needed an outing so, although the weather wasn’t promising and temperatures at zero, there were five hardy regulars at Marylebone, and four more waiting at West Ruislip. Paul was showing off his new bike. more »

‘It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play’

When the Beatles released their Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, those of us who were twenty then also remember another song

‘When I’m Sixty-four.”

Back then it seemed

‘Many years from now”

Paul met us at Welwyn North to lead a ride celebrating his safe arrival at this age. The day promised to be fine, sunny and hot as we were enjoying an Indian summer. Thirty riders assembled at the station and Eleanor and Susie joined us for the group photo.

The group photo.

more »

We met at St Pancras on 24 July ready for our Sunday ride, but unfortunately the day did not begin well.

As normal we had left our bikes in a stack while we gossiped nearby and shopped for tickets and breakfast. When we came to move on we found we were one cycle short, the top bike having disappeared, a rather rusty substitute left close by. It seemed a passer-by had decided to trade in his bike for a better model without paying the difference.

The moral is that we need to immobilise our bikes whenever stopped in London, even if in the group and only waiting a few metres away. Most of leave our bikes unlocked at the station at the start of rides, so it could have been anyone of us left without our wheels. more »

An impressive (for a winter ride) 16 riders met at St Pancras on 23 January.  We had all been saving since Christmas for a trip on the HS1 train.  There were very few others on the train and we were very soon in Ashford, where we met those who had been travelling for hours on the slow train.

We took a quiet route out of Ashford and then along a Roman road up to the Greensand Ridge, over the top and down onto the flat lands of the Romney Marsh.   more »