I had a call from Tom Bogdanovitz from the London Cycling Campaign last
week to tell me that PHC & the Love Yr Bike events had been shortlisted
for the LCC annual awards. That information was strictly confidential.
I went along tonight to their AGM and was thrilled to discover that we
had won the Best Community Cycling Initiative for 2006!

Tom tells me the competition was very strong this year with over 30
quality entries. I submitted a self-nomination for the Love Yr Bike
event at Commonside in February and Jill had lobbied Richard Evans from
Merton Cyclists to nominate me and PHC. The judges chose to roll these
nominations into one and our certificate reads 'Mark Dawson & Pollards
Hill Cyclists' and it's for PHC & Love Yr Bike. Jenny Jones from the
London Assembly presented the certificate in front of a packed room at
City Hall near Tower Bridge.

It's a shame Suzanne wasn't around as Love Yr Bike was her idea
although we worked on it together. But hopefully you'll all share in
the limelight as every person on the PHC list is part of the reason why
we've been so successful. I think I'll take the certificate to
Commonside / New Horizons and see if they will display it there.

I wasn't required to give a speech but if I had, I was tempted to be
humorous and paraphrase the Arctic Monkey's Brit Awards speech and say
'Call 999 - Barry Mason's been robbed!' as his very successful
Southwark Cyclists cycle training project for women in Peckham was on
the shortlist. We did well to top that.

===

Sunday's ride is a 10:30 start at the library for the Mitcham Loop.
Always different, the route will depend on the state of the ground but
expect to see Mitcham Common, the Wandle Trail, Morden Hall and Merton
Abbey Mills. You may also see Carshalton Ponds, Bedzed or maybe Mitcham
Garden Village. Led by Jill.

Some reports from previous rides are below. I've been away so no time
to post them up prior to this!

===

The Ship at Mortlake 19/11/06

Nine cyclists, keen to take advantage of some Autumn sunshine left
Pollards Hill bound for Mortlake, via The Wandle Trail to Wandsworth
and then along the Thames Path to The Ship pub at Mortlake.

From the outset, Mitcham Common presented us with a problem – far too
much mud had been churned up by contractors, so we could not easily
enter from Commonside. On we went to Willow Lane via Cedars Road – a
less muddy option!! The leader overlooked the entry point to the Wandle
trail just to the West of Goat Lane – indeed, there was a bit of
confusion all round, but eventually sense prevailed and we soon turned
around to make our way in a northerly direction towards Morden Park,
fighting all the usual barrier impediments that the trail presents

We took straw poll as to where to take refreshment, as we were not that
keen on the places by the Thames at Wandsworth. Not only can they be
rather expensive, but most of them were closed, or so it appeared .The
leader thought he knew better and suggested a spin over Putney Bridge
to a couple of cafes there, but one was closed and the other too busy.
We therefore decided to press on for an early lunch. The Thames path
was extremely busy – almost annoyingly so – and was also quite wet and
muddy in parts. People always seem to want to walk five or six abreast
– and that’s apart from their dogs!!! Quite liked the path just near
The Ship where you actually get to cycle through about 4 inches of
actual Thames Water – and its free!!

The pub was in a great position but unfortunately, was suffering from
poor management – i.e. – there was none!! The menu had about three
items on it (all microwaved!), which seemed a poor show for a Sunday
(one of the busiest lunchtimes?). Had the "manager" come down from
upstairs (where he was doing his paperwork) he might have got an
earful!! The place is a potential money spinner – but surely in a
"people business" their wishes can’t be met unless there is interface
with someone who actually cares! A glum local said the new manager did
not acknowledge the regulars for about two months after he joined!!
Perhaps he was trying to get rid of them……..

We departed at 13:40 hrs and made our way to Richmond Park and thence
to a flooded Tibbets Corner underpass – but we avoided the water by
cycling in part on the raised pavement section. After Princes Way we
continued towards Wimbledon Park, ignoring the sign to Southfields –
that is except for two of our colleagues who ended up helping a fair
maiden ( a cycling one !) find her route map-wise to Putney Heath. They
were not missed by the rest of us for a few hundred meters as we were
descending sharply to Wimbledon Park. It was only when we got there
that we realised some of our flock were missing and, even after a
search, the 'birds' had flown, so to speak!! The leader subsequently
investigated via email, to learn that they had indeed taken a first
left to Southfields instead of the option of continuing straight to the
Park (via another sharp left turn at the bottom of Princes Way). Its
far too risky being waylaid by damsels!!

On the way back to Merton Abbey Mills we saw some Sustrans volunteers
clearing some parts of the Wandle Trail near to Plough Lane. We noticed
them by the 2 large flags they had fixed, advertising their presence.

Some four of us went to The Mills, where tea was taken, the rest having
peeled off.

Total mileage approx 23miles – out for 6 hours.
Report by John

===

Kenley to Farthing Down Cycle Quest ride 12/11/06

Four of us set out from the Wattenden Arms pub, which is a stones throw
from Kenley aerodrome. The overnight rain had cleared away so it was
good weather for a ride.

The first half of the ride is very hilly with a fast descent down to
Reedham station then a long climb back up to the same height to
Farthing down which is the next ridge to the west.

After a rest to admire the views from the car park at the top of
Farthing down we ambled along to Chaldon church and spent some time
inside looking at this lovely ancient chuch

We then took a small diversion to cycle pass Tollsworth Manor, The
bridle path at the end of the lane, which had been dry & firm on Friday
was wet and slippery today after the rain so we returned to the road
after a mile or so, and were then at Kenley aerodrome in no time, for a
quick lap of the aerodrome, which is just over 1 mile a circuit. With a
stop to watch the air cadets launch their gliders.

English Heritage describe the airfield as being the most complete
fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have
survived, making it a battlefield site of particular national
significance. It is also a great place for children to learn to ride
their bikes in the safety of this open space.

Report by Tony. Pix going up soon.

===