Rides for Explorers - Sunday 10th January 2010

Switzerland in Surrey - Box Hill.

Sorry this ride cancelled - too much ice around.

Meet at 10.30 on Twickenham Riverside (by eel pie bridge)

Richmond's traditional post-Xmas ride. Back roads / off-road to Mickleham then up the 'Alpine' ziz-zag (not really that steep). Pub lunch at the top, then mostly downhill ride home. Bring lights.



Route

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

RCC Rides for Everyone : Saturday January 16th

Bushy Park and the Thames

Meet 10.30 at the New "pheasantry" Visitors Centre Bushy Park.

After a glance at the newly restored Water Gardens, we join the Thames at Hampton Court, cycle along the tow-path to Teddington Lock and back via Cobblers Walk. Probable coffee stop. Nine miles and flat.

The rainy start to the day put most people off but two of us set out. The Water Gardens were locked because of dangerous ice (surely melted !) but we had a dry ride past Hampton Court and investigated the cycle facilities on the Hampton Wick side of the bridge. ( poor signage , intrusive kerb and gate.) Topic of conversation - 12th century Sicily , as you do.

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

Cancelled - Rides for Explorers - Sunday 1st November

This Ride has been cancelled and will take place next year

Burnham Beeches

Meet Richmond Station before 10.45 am

Description: We buy return tickets to Windsor, but get off at Staines to circle past Pinewood Studios and quiet Fulmer, enjoying the autumnal display of Burnham Beeches from traffic-free roads. We avoid the worst of Slough to pick up return train at Windsor.

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

Route

Rides for Everyone - Saturday, October 17, 2009

Coffee at the Palace

Meet : Mortlake Green (lower end) at 10.45am
Description: We ride up the Thames to Putney Bridge, then cross to visit Fulham Palace, former home of Bishops of London, with its romantic gardens. Here we stop for coffee. Back through Barnes passing the Wildfowl Trust site. About 8 miles, flat.
A respectable contingent of seven took part and all had an enjoyable ride despite the grey skies.
Sorry no photos - forgot camera.


Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Wandle Wander

Meet : Richmond, Little Green (by library) by 10.45am.

We head down the Thames to Wandsworth then follow the River Wandle upstream using the Sustrans Wandle Trail with extensive off road (but smooth) sections. The riverside has echoes of constitutional and artistic history that we can contemplate over lunch before cutting back home via Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. (passing a snuff mill and a gateway from Merton Priory relocated to the old centre of Merton - which is nowhere near Merton High Street !)

Wow record showing - 11 heads on 10 bikes. A bright and not-breezy day made for pleasant cycling and Merton Abbey Mills afforded a range of lunch opportunities.

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

Rides for Everybody Saturday, September 19th : Richmond to Bush Park

Meet: Richmond, Little Green, by Library at 10.30am

Description: From Richmond to Teddington and back avoiding most of the traffic. A new visitors centre should be open for coffee but we may have to view the restored 18th century water gardens over the fence as the opening is delayed. 11 miles but flattish.

In the event four of us did the ride of whom 3 had come from/through Teddington. We did need to view the Water Gardens over the fence (Opening 1st October) but Susan had a fund of information on the Upper Lodge complex. The visitors centre had excellent coffee (eventually) and a clear demonstration of where NOT to site cycle stands (hidden behind a wall!)

Route

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

RCC Rides Sunday, September 6th

Chobham Common

Meet : Twickenham Riverside - by Eel Pie Bridge at 10.30am

Description: After practically kidnapping a couple on a tandem eight of us headed out along the Thames to Chertsey and then up through the woods to a pub lunch at Chobham. After lunch we cycled past heather and gorse covered heathland back down to Chertsey Bridge and another Thames side ride to Laleham and finally back into Twickenham down the Crane.
Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Twickenham-to-Chobham

Sunday 2nd August South of Guildford

Time: 10.45am Richmond Little Green
Description: We cycle through Ham to Surbiton to catch the 11.30 to Guildford. Cycle routes link to the Downs Link railway path which we take as far as Cranleigh (poss lunch at garden centre) before returning via the scenic Surrey Hills.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Guildford-Loop

Six of us turned up and just made the train. (note - allow more time for holdups). Guildford traffic is scary but we were soon on an abandoned railway through quiet woodland. Nottcuts GC provided lunch (seemed popular with cyclists) then we followed Surrey Cycle Way signs through the folds (presumably meaning hills) with an afternoon drinks break at Dunsfold overlooking cricket. More hills led to a satisfying downhill to the Guildford Rd. Weather perfect and very little traffic on most of the roads. (inclined to do some more rides from Guildford next year - any comments ?)

Rides for Everybody Saturday, August 15th River Crane Ride

Time: 10.45am Strawberry Hill Station - west side
We ride down the Thames past eighteenth century Twickenham riverfront to Richmond, then up the River Crane to Crane Park Nature Reserve, haunt of water voles and kingfishers. A flat 9 mile ride with coffee break

With a total of 11 of us this was the best attendance for some time. (so amazed that I forgot to take photos)

RCC Rides for Everyone : Saturday July 18th

Ham House, Richmond Park and Teddington Lock

Time : 10.30 am
Place : Richmond Green by Library

After riding out along the River to Ham House we cut inland to Richmond Park and then back to the river for Coffee at the Hawker/YMCA Centre before returning down river to Richmond.
About 9 miles with gentle slopes.

RCC Rides : Sunday July 5th

Surrey Countryside and Bookham Common

Time: 10.30 am

Place : Twickenham Riverside

Six of us headed out via Esher to Cobham where we switched to tracks through farmland across the Mole and wooded Bookham Common. After a pub lunch and dodging a brief shower we circled back modifying the planned ride with a "purple" track across Oxshott Heath and returned via Claygate and Kingston. ( noting a 20mph limit road with self enforcement limited to a few humped crossings )

Route

RCC Rides for Everyone : Saturday, June 20th

The Surrey Thames

Meet at 10.30 : Bushy Park - Fountain Car Park.

Across Hampton Court Bridge, we take the towpath up as far as Walton Leisure Centre for coffee before returning the same way. There is always lots to see on the river. 8 miles and flat.

(optional extension to view the results of recent renovation in Bushy Park)

RCC Rides : Sunday June 7th

The Chilterns and Maharajah's Well.

Meet Richmond Station by 10.15 to catch the 10.29 to Reading.

We follow NCR4 on back roads out of town and up into the hills. At Stoke Row there is a exotic wellhead marking the gift of the Maharajah of Benares. After a pub lunch we continue down into Wallingford and back along the Thames using a quiet track for most of the way.

Despite a dire weather forecast nine of us made our way to Reading. We enjoyed a sunny ride through beechwoods to the Black Horse - the pub that time forgot - and enjoyed freshly prepared baguettes with our beer in the garden. After a thrilling descent we made our way along the foot of the hills past fields of white poppies. A red kite gave an aerobatic display. After pretty Goring we slogged along a bit of main road but then turned off to prettier Whitchurch and a bridlepath which got us back to Reading just as the rain started.

About 35 miles.

Route

RCC Rides for Everyone : Saturday, May 16th

Stately Houses of West London

Time: 10.25am
Place: Twickenham rail station forecourt
Description: We take a back-street route through St Margaret's to reach the Thames, then cut through the park of Syon House. The Grand Union Canal towpath takes us to Osterley Park where we have a coffee break before following the Duke of Northumberland's River back to Twickenham . About 11 miles and flat .

Nine of us braved the cloudy skies. The threatened rain did not appear and we enjoyed good spells of sunshine.

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

RCC Rides : Sunday, May 3rd

Spring Wildflowers in the Surrey Hills

Time: 10.30am
Place: Twickenham riverside by Eel Pie Bridge
Description: We cycle through Kingston and Tolworth before cutting across Horton Country Park and Ashstead Common to Leatherhead and the Mole Gap. Past Box Hill Station, a steep climb takes us to Norbury Park – run by Surrey Wildlife Trust and looking like an Alpine meadow. Lunch at Bocketts farm. 36 miles, tracks a bit rough in places.

Only six of us enjoyed this ride, one on a fixer (ouch). Temperature just right and clear views. The grasslands will be better later in the year though. Bocketts Farm good for filled baked potatoes and Mars Bar Cake.


Route

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

RCC Rides for Everyone : Saturday, April 18, 2009

Morning Coffee at the Palace.

Time: 10.45am
Place: Mortlake Green, lower end
Description:We ride down the Thames to Putney Bridge then cross to visit Fulham Palace, former home of Bishops of London, with its romantic gardens. Here we stop for coffee. Back through Barnes passing the Wildfowl Trust site. About 8 miles, flat.
But we didn't! Susan turned up to lead and Paul to back-mark but no other riders. We cycled home through the park.

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

5th April RCC Ride to Windsor - New River and Great Park

Date: Sunday, April 05, 2009
Time: 10.00am
Place: Richmond Station
Description: Taking 10.11 train to Windsor from Richmond, the 11 riders crossed to Eton and followed the cycle path along the landscaped flood relief channel before joining NCR 4 to cross the Thames at Dorney. After pub lunch at Fifield, we entered Windsor Great Park at Blacknest Gate and cycled alongside the lake past the cascade and ruins from Leptis Magna. (Lybia). The rather busy path took us to Saville Gardens for tea and traffic-free roads led us back to Windsor. A red kite swooped low overhead assessing our fitness - exhausted cyclists forming a major part of their diet.

Route

Contact: Paul Luton
Telephone: 020 8977 4016
Email: paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

RCC Rides for Everyone Saturday 21st March

River Crane to Bedfont Lakes

Time: 10.30am
Place: Bushy Park by Upper Lodge on the park road to Hampton Hill
Description:We ride up the River Crane path then cut across through Feltham Air Park to where an innovative new park and nature reserve has been created from gravel workings. Back through Hanworth Park and quiet back roads. About 11 miles flat with a coffee break. Ten riders enjoyed the sunshine - and an entertaining way of crossing the A316.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/To-Bedfont-Lakes

RCC Ride Sunday 1st March

Olympic Site Exploration
Twelve of us braved the morning mists of Richmond Green at 9.30 on a Sunday morning and set off via Chiswick, picking up a 13th member , to the stuccoed terraces of North Kensington, and Georgian Bloomsbury. Descending the social scale to Bethal Green we reached Victoria Park and a greenway, along the top of a sewer, that gave us a good view of the growing Stadium. After lunch in a well hidden cafe those who had elected to cycle back made our way via the mile End Park Green Bridge through the City and West End to Hyde Park and so home.

Richmond Rides for Everyone Saturday 21st February

A short flat riverside ride taking us from Mortlake down to Hammersmith and back up along the Mall.
Nine of us assembled and after a visit to the Tomb of Sir Richard Burton, made in the style of an Arabian tent, and perhaps an extended coffee break we shortened the ride by cutting across Chiswick Bridge and down the new cycle ramp back to the towpath and Mortlake.

Route

Date Saturday 21st February
Meeting : Mortlake Green lower side.
Time 10:45 am
Contact Paul Luton 02089774016 / paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk

Richmond Rides Sunday 1st February

The ruins of Ankerwyke Priory, where King John stayed before signing Magna Carta, are now surrounded by damp woodland studded with snowdrops. We cycle out up the Thames have a brief expedition on foot (change of footwear recommended) then back to the 21st century with lunch in a local pub and a ride home through the slightly strange area cut off by Heathrow.

Six intrepid cyclists set out from Twickenham. The sky brightened as we cycled along the Thames past Laleham and we didn't need walking boots to reach the snowdrops around the 2500 year old Ankerwyke Yew. At lunch at the Perseverance we were joined by another member and then set off home into an icy blast. "Character building" said Sue. At least we got back before the serious snow.

Date: Sunday 1st February 2009
Meeting Point:Twickenham Station
Meeting Time: 10:30
Contact: Paul Luton (02089774016 paul@pluton.eclipse.co.uk)

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Snowdrop-Ride