MITCHAM LOOP 04/02/07

We're often out for the majority of the day on our rides so it's nice
to have a half-day local ride. It also gives cyclists from further
afield the chance to come down and see the area and still get back at
a sensible time. No new faces today though. We started with 5 and
almost instantly bumped into another 2 as soon as we set off. 2 more
on the way so we all agreed to meet up at Merton Abbey Mills.

Just for a change, we were doing the ride in reverse. Out over Figges
Marsh and along Myrna Close nature reserve which pops you out at Abbey
Mills. The live band were just setting up, stallholders were fixing
their displays and customers were starting to arrive. After a quick
coffee, we set off through Morden Hall Park towards Ravensbury Park.
Instead of negotiating the barriers, we rode past the mill and used
the wide open access in Wandle Road. There's a lot of work going on at
the moment with a new jetty at the pond being build and a tarmac path
half laid but the best surprise was a missing fence panel on the
second set of barriers so we didn't need to dismount.

Instead of using the normal vehicle access to Poulter Park (it's great
how the Wandle Trail just links park after park!), we went through the
daft swirly barrier and along the footpath that runs the length of The
Hub, home of Tooting and Mitcham United. This comes out on the same
river path and in winter, you've got wide open views of the river.

A tree had fallen in the storm the other week and still hasn't been
removed from the path that leads from Goat Rd. We had to duck
underneath it. It doesn't take long to get to Carshalton and we mused
over which pub to try. The Fox & Hounds got the vote and it turned out
ok. Cheap n cheerful pub grub and tables outside that we locked the
bikes to.

The return through Beddington Park doesn't take too long and so the
group rode to the top of Pollards Hill to check the view. Yes - there
really is a hill here! On a clear day, you can see Windsor Castle.

Out for 4.5hrs, 15 miles. See the pix on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157594517414997
or
http://tinyurl.com/24tlz6

===

Next week is a new version of the Epsom Explorer ride. There's a new
morning stop, a new route out and a swift return via Nonsuch Park and
their excellent cake selection. 9:30 departure from the library.

We've also added a joint ride with the Anerley Bicycle Club. They
first started riding the lanes south of Croydon 126 years ago. We'll
train-assist to get over the North Downs and meet them at their
mid-morning stop and then ride together to lunch at pretty Outwood.
The PHC ride will head back to the station but the Anerley riders will
stay in the saddle all the way back and, of course, anyone is welcome
to join them. It's a tough ride by PHC standards with a long climb on
the way out of Outwood but it'll still be at the same pace. Add March
18th to your diary for that one.

Last week, I mentioned sanoodi.com as a good place to post cycle
routes. Today I was sent a link by a PHC member to a ride posted on
bikely.com which I think is a better site. Search for 'Croydon' and
you'll find the Dulwich Paragon's weekly ride out into the lanes. I'll
try to get some of ours up on there. If anyone has any good routes,
please post them and share them. Here's Steve's route:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Morden-to-Claygate

Cheers
Mark
PHC Co-ordinator