MITCHAM LOOP - 9th July

As I left home for the library this morning, I was wondering if we're
wasting our time continuing to do the Mitcham Loop family ride. After
all, it's rare that any families turn up unless we are doing it as part
of a special occasion or have had a feature in the local press. And how
many times do regular riders want to go along the same route? I was
still in two minds when three CTC regulars and a teenager were amongst
the 10 grouped outside the library. Only 9 coming on the ride though. I
decided to add an extra loop in and agreed the additional mileage with
everyone before we started.

So, instead of stopping off at Beddington Park cafe or Honeywood after
rattling along the stony traffic-free path by the sewage farm, we
continued in drizzling rain to the cafe at the garden centre on the
site of the former Croydon lido. Once the skies had cleared, we looped
back to Beddington Park, past Croydon Airport and picked up the Wandle
Trail to Merton Abbey Mills.

A child was riding a small petrol-driven quad bike in Ravensbury Park.
Because of this, the park is now gated for cyclists at either end, even
though this particular machine would easily fit underneath. I asked the
watching parent if he was aware that it was illegal to use them in the
park and that's why it now has barriers. Clearly he did know and I got
some abuse for my efforts. Quite why the police can't solve simple
matters like this is beyond me. There have now been two high level
meetings about removing the barriers but both times the police said it
was too hard for them to respond to calls about illegal vehicle use in
the park.

Normally we stop at the cafe in Merton Abbey Mills but this time we
took riverside seats and had a pub meal at the William Morris. It's a
touch pricey but the setting is nicer. It's not far back to Pollards
Hill so we lingered over lunch and then used the Myrna Close path back
to Figges Marsh and, for additional value, I took us over Mitcham
Common past 7 Islands Pond instead of riding down Tamworth Lane before
heading back to the library.

18 miles, out for 7 hours. One person on a PHC loan bike.

See the pix on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157594193008848
or
http://tinyurl.com/gvgsu

Next week's Sunday ride has two starting points. Quicker riders should
come to the library for a 9am depart to Epsom. Those wanting a more
leisurely pace should catch the 09:28 from Mitcham Jct (check it is
still running!) to get to Epsom for 10:11. Or, you can make your own
way to Epsom station. From here, we'll use the Surrey Cycleway roads at
normal PHC pace to Brockham where we'll find the Central London CTC
cyclists and the annual Victorian Fair. Expect the village to be busy
so a picnic on the green could be ideal. There'll probably be some food
stalls and definitely a good cake stall which opens at 2pm (we're not
leaving before that!).

http://www.brockhamvillage.co.uk/village_events/events_village/
village_fair.htm

Cheers
Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189