THE ALL NEW EPSOM EXPLORER 11/02/07

We had an interesting start to today. A representative from the Kate
Evans Casting Agency came down to photograph us as we've been asked to
appear in the forthcoming TfL TV advert for the Tour de France. 16
people at the start but three had other committments and had just come
to have their picture taken. We'll know next week who has been chosen
to feature in the ad.

The fallen tree is still across the Wandle Trail but that was our only
barrier on the way to Carshalton as we've found ways to avoid the rest
of them. A new route through Carshalton Park and Stanley Park provided
a pleasant way to climb up to the Telegraph Track and onto the Oaks
Track. A couple of hundred yards along busy Woodmansterne Lane takes
you to the large, independent and award winning Woodcote Green garden
centre where we bumped into the Central London CTC one star riders in
the cafe.

A pleasant run through the 'Millionaires Row' of The Drive took us
steadily upwards to William Webb's 'model' village. Now a private
estate, it has giant mansions on either side of the road up to the
village green with it's quaint post office. Those who have done the
Croydon Cycle Quest will also know that it was formerly a temperance
inn.

The tarmac track through the Woodcote Park golf course pops you out in
the heart of Clock House, a world away from the riches of the past
couple of miles. The Hatch Lane bridleway was slightly muddy but it's
a good way to get to Woodmansterne village where we stopped the admire
the village sign carved from a fallen cedar tree and bumped into the
CTC riders again.

The road leading away from here is also called Woodmansterne Lane but
this is a rural road with great views of central London glimpsed
through the trees. It leads to Banstead where a nifty shortcut through
a park brings you to a crossroads on the A240 and the road down to
Tattenham Corner. With only a mile to go, the heavens opened and
drenched us! It spoilt the great view as you round the corner near the
railway station and the Downs open up before you. The view became
secondary to getting inside the pub and out of the rain.

Whilst we dried off and ate lunch, the skies cleared and that turned
out to be the only real rain of the day. Epsom Downs is criss-crossed
with rights of way and we chose to ride adjacent to the horse racing
track towards the Rubbing House pub and then straight down Chalk Lane,
a nice quick descent that sure beats coming up it the other way.

We used a series of urban bridleways to get us to Nonsuch Park. Our
back marker took a tumble on the slippy mud but generally we'd got off
pretty lightly considering the amount of recent rain. Nonsuch was busy
with cyclists, mostly families. We stopped off for coffee and cake at
the Mansion House. As the threat of rain had subsided, we took time to
weave through back streets to Sutton and onto Carshalton using a
different route back to the one we came out on.

28 miles, out for 6.5hrs. See the pix on flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157594529969749
or
http://tinyurl.com/2ee8mc

===

For those not on the PHC list or who were unavailable this morning,
you can still be considered for the Tour de France TV advert if you
send me a clear head and shoulders photo along with your contact
details. The shoot is on Saturday 10th March between 7am and 11am and
you'll get to ride through Central London on closed roads with a
police escort. The only criteria is that you wear a helmet and don't
wear any yellow. The production company are paying £90 cash to each
person selected to take part. You'll be joining riders from Central
London CTC and the Addiscombe Cycling Club in a storyline that
involves tailing an actor as he leaves his house to cycle to work.

Today we passed the site of Nonsuch Palace, one of Henry VIII's former
palaces. Next week is part 2 of our trilogy of Henry's houses and
takes us to Hampton Court. The following week is a great ride along
some new routes to Eltham Palace. Both leave the library at 9:30am and
there are more details on the website.

Merton Cycle Quest is back from the printers. There are copies in
Pollards Hill library and Mikes Bikes in Morden. There should be
copies in all Merton libraries by the end of next week. Let me know if
you can distribute any, especially into bike shops anywhere in London
or Surrey. The website should be up and running very soon. You've got
until June to complete the questions and send (or email) the answers
in. It's a much easier route than the 50 mile Croydon one we launched
last summer so I'm hoping to get over 100 entries when we do the prize
draw. Brief overview: you ride around a set route and answer 10 easy
questions at the different 'Quest Points'. They're not difficult,
they're just to prove you were there. We're riding the route on March
11th if you fancy it.

That's all the news for now....

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189
http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk