Blog posts

Backyard Bliss on a Thursday ride?!

By John Child on 6 June, 2014 / Blog posts

Louise Gagnon writes…. A Wednesday ride being postponed to Thursday? Now this is most unusual but a good call that the Group Leader of the Woking Midweek Wayfarers, John Murdoch, saw fit to make given the abysmal weather forecast on Met Office and BBC news right up to 9:30 AM yesterday. A disappointment I am sure for the unlucky few who could not re-schedule and ride with us today. All in all a fantastic day, complete with:

bright sun and 21C (cool shades essential)
a fantastic bunch of 13 riders working as a team
a little historical visit and briefing at the former Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunsfold
circumventing Guildford for 54 miles, hence the ride name of Backyard Bliss 54 (see Garmin Connect link: http://connect.garmin.com/course/6816542
trying out Chris Juden’s technique of “human signposting”; everyone loved it. Makes for a smooth flowing, uninterrupted ride and provided some rotation for riders. Still, we could not stop Brian King laughing with any riders; no rotation could keep him subdued (refreshing exuberance; well done Brian!).
a nice finish with a 3 mile “race” from West Horsley to Ripley, won by Ian Pickering, one of our new bees. But what really, truly made the day was the constant blend of laughter and the huge inclination to have a blast of safe fun out there. Thanks everyone; it truly was 54 miles of “Backyard Bliss!
Canadian Spitfire ground crew at Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunsfold, circa 1943

End of day, after the impromptu 3 mile race West Horstley to Ripley

3 mile race won by Ian Pickering (centre), close second was Patrick Guimard (a droite) and in third position John Child (left) who zoomed past me at Mach 3

Now isn’t this a fine bunch of happy “Thursday” riders?!

The 54 mile route: proof that great rides can be had in one’s own backyard!

Wednesday Intermediates Isle of Wight Ride ~ 28 May 2014

By Mark Waters on 3 June, 2014 / Blog posts

The weather didn’t disappoint – it was out to get us from the start! But we still had a great day and it actually stopped raining during the afternoon. Good company, good riding and good food probably sums up the day as well as any other words one could write.

Members present: Chris Williamson, Louise Gagnon, Mark Waters, Steve Bethell (guest), John Child, Alex Nash, Jo Stokes, Hilary Stephenson, Laurie Mutch, Noel Boyd, Brian King & Ian ….

We took the Fishbourne car ferry from Portsmouth at 10am, so it was a relatively late start. The car park opposite the terminal cost £8 for the day. Do book the ferry online in advance to save an ‘admin charge’ which doubles the cost of a ticket – £10.20 return for senior railcard holders.

John was our noble leader and an excellent job he did too! We headed pretty much south to reach the south coast (one or two quite busy roads here) at which point we turned west to follow the coast. Lunch was taken at the pub in Brightstone, after which we had the climbs up on to Tennyson Down to contend with. We then enjoyed a break at Freshwater Bay whilst about three of us dealt with punctures acquired on the Down. The cycle path to Yarmouth followed, after which we headed back into the deep countryside bound for Cowes. Some of the gang continued straight back to Fishbourne, it being relatively late by now; those planning on staying for a bite this side of the water lingered for a spot of tea before taking the chain ferry and riding the last few miles back to Fishbourne where we enjoyed a meal at the pub by the ferry terminal.

Here’s the route we took: http://connect.garmin.com/course/6491608

Good to see the ladies taking an interest in puncture repairs whilst the men just watch!

Newtown Old Town Hall (National Trust). Where’s the town?

Tennyson Down coming up!

Guildford-Windsor-Henley

By John Child on 2 June, 2014 / Blog posts

Peter Hackman writes…..

Chris, Sonny, John, Peter, Julian, Clive and Peter ventured to the Theatre Chocolate Shop in Windsor. Unable to resist the temptation of yet more chocolate 4 of us braved the rigours of The Chilterns to try the sister cafe in Henley.

Is it possible to overdose on chocolate?

5 New Ride Leaders Qualify in Spring 2014

By John Child on 29 May, 2014 / Blog posts

Louise Gagnon writes…

You probably recall seeing the picture of three grinning “brand new” ride leaders in an earlier blog article dated 10 Apr 14 (in case you’ve missed it, I have re-inserted the picture below). Well, we are proud to welcome in our ranks two more who have recently qualified: Chris Williamson and Laurie Mutch.

Both come to us already well experienced in leading/monitoring group rides. Chris ride leads every Sunday with the Dorking Cycling Club while Laurie has long earned his spurs as a Marshall with the annual biggest bike race in the world (35,000 entries in 2013), the Cape Argus in Cape Town, South Africa. Their new role as ride leaders became official when our the Club Secretary Nick Davison wrote to them recently: ” I confirm that you have been registered with the CTC as a Ride Leader for CTC West Surrey. May I thank you once again for taking on this role, the importance of which cannot be over-emphasised”.

Well done gentlemen! (And apologies to Chris as we could not replicate the bright sun and 24 C of the earlier pics).

Closed roads don’t deter the Sunday Riders!

By John Child on 26 May, 2014 / Blog posts

Peter Hackman writes….

Six of us rode to Hook from Farnham for coffee and thence a big loop to Sherfield on Loddon in the hope of meeting up with the South Berks CTC riders. However due to a delayed departure from Farnham, a closed canal bridge to negotiate, a puncture and an encounter with a mole we didn’t arrive at Sherfield Garden Centre until 2:30, by which time the South Berks must have left.

The closed bridge entailed man/woman handling the bikes over barriers, across ditches and along pipes and wooden planks to avoid a detour! Having successfully struggled to replace Heidi’s tyre after a puncture we encounterd a mole trying to eat a worm by the roadside quite oblivious to passing cars. Eventually John encouraged it back onto the verge with the aid of his pump.

Our route took us past the Roman walls at Silchester and we made a side excursion to see the amphitheatre.

I won’t go into the details of the “Plate of Chips” incident at Sherfield Garden Centre. Just ask Clive, Martin, Heidi, Chris or me sometime.

Link to route: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2706714