Folks,

Sorry for the recent tardiness but here's some reports of what we've
been up to recently:

ELTHAM PALACE 25/02/07

Following a recce of the route on the Friday, the route needed to be
changed drastically to avoid getting bogged down in mud. The original
idea was to follow a small part of the Waterlink Way from South
Norwood Country Park and then pick up the Green Chain. Whilst the
former is a well established cycling route, the Green Chain is
primarily a walking route.

8 riders in total braved the weather. We revisited a neat shortcut
first shown to us on a joint ride with the Clarencourt that avoids the
dreadful surface of Barnmead Road. First stop of the day was at
Beckenham Place Park at the cafe in the old mansion house. After that,
the mud began and continued to crop up throughout the day, not helped
by the regular downpours. Many of Bromley's roads are unsurfaced and
this can also make for tough cycling.

The woodland walk on the Downham estate was less muddy. This mile long
innovative piece of town planning, keeping the ancient footpath
intact, provides a green corridor right through the middle of
suburbia. Local children have laid mosiacs into the surface.

A couple of footbridges over the railway were a mild inconvenience but
good views were soon on offer from St James walk. We bumped into
Southwark Cyclists on their explore of the Quaggy river.

Eltham Palace is a spectacular sight. Whilst only the great hall
survives from the days of Henry VIII (the rest was build 70 years
ago), the adjoining yellow timbered Lord Chancellor's houses and the
ancient tilt yard formerly used for jousting provide a good sense of
the history of the site.

Lunch at the Tudor Barn was a disaster. The chef wasn't working!! That
left bacon and sausage sandwiches on the menu.

The return used different parts of the Green Chain before peeling off
to Crystal Palace park for an afternoon stop. Most people peeled off
to make their own way home but the few returning to Pollards Hill got
to enjoy the huge downhill sweep that carries you almost back to the
library without needing to pedal.

Out for 8hrs, 28 miles and a quarter of the ride in the rain. Report
relayed by John.

===

TOUR DE FRANCE AD

At least 4 PHC riders made it to the early start for the filming of
TfL's TV advert for the forthcoming Grand Depart of the Tour de France
which is in London this year. Here's the lowdown courtesy of Ross &
Jim:

It wasn't a bad way to spend a fine Saturday. We tucked straight into
a very hearty breakfast and then waited around for a couple of hours
as seems customary at these things! We were based very near to Borough
Market, directly opposite the old hop exchange.

We were told that there would be four shoots that day and we would be
working right up to dusk! The first shoot was to take place near to
the Bank of England and consisted in riding round the area in a sort
of figure of eight!

There was a great variety of bikes, Addiscombe agreeables were in
uniform, there were lots of couriers in the pack, a few guys in suits
and a schollboy in uniform.

We were following a guy who was riding his bike. He had a yellow
jumper (not jersey!) on. The police held back the traffic on our side
of the road, but told us that that traffic would be coming from the
opposite direction, therefore no-body was to
ride on the wrong side of the road. We set off and immediately were
struggling to keep up!

At every corner there was a big bunching up of all the riders which
resulted in a lot of stop - starting. Also loads of riders were
totally ignoring what they had been told by the police and were riding
on the wrong side of the road, on pavements, through red lights and
just about everything else that gives cyclists a bad name. After about
four attempts we were told to head back to base.

The next shoot involved riding over Waterloo bridge. We were to get no
police help with this shoot. We were to set off by the side of
Somerset house and over to the Imax and back again. Riding round the
Imax is not the most enjoyable experience to say the least! How
anybody was not knocked off their bikes I don't know as over 100
cyclists cut up the vehicles going around it!

We then went back to base for a very nice and generous sized lunch plus pudding!
The third shoot involved us riding over Southwark bridge. The police
closed the bridge off whilst we did the shoot and by this time the sun
was beating down on us. We rode over the bridge a few times whilst
being filmed. They could not have picked a better day. The final shoot
involved us riding all of about thirty metres if that! It was the
final shot for the proposed advert and will show everybody following
the leader of the pack up to a library (I think).

At this moment an old lady dressed in yellow rides past the pack and
everybody will appear to start following her! It just involved a lot
of jostling about really. We were then released and told to head back
to base to collect our cash wage of £65

===

MERTON CYCLE QUEST 11/03/07

It was a fine sunny morning for sampling some of the best landmarks
that Merton has to offer. 15 riders had taken advantage of an extra
hour in bed to be at Pollards Hill Library for 10.30. There are 10
clues in the Quest and the ride set off across Figges Marsh and
alongside the Wandle, towards Wimbledon Park, to wrestle with the
first. Here, our youngest rider took up the mantle of chief clue
solver, with the help of his uncle, while the rest of the ride stopped
for tea at the basic but busy cafe near the tennis courts. Here I had
my worst fears realised, I was wearing the obligatory backmarkers
jacket - which I had expressed some disquiet about wearing beforehand,
and in the cafe the woman behind the counter asked, "are you working
today?"

Suitably replenished the ride perused the first clue, before venturing
into the hills past the famous tennis courts of Wimbledon Lawn Tennis
Club. Here we were greeted by the serene presence of the Buddist
Temple, and the riders took a look around as they got their breath
back and noted clue number 2. The next two clues were on Wimbledon
Common and Cannazaro Park respectively. By this time our young
clue-solver was well into his stride, putting the adults to shame with
his ability to grasp the obtuse nature of the questions.

After such a strenuous morning the Crooked Billet, just on from
Cannazaro Park, provided our welcome lunch stop. It was over her
portion of goats cheese in filo pastry that the leader devised her
cunning plan to check out the motivation for the day's event. We moved
directly on to clue number six - thus missing out number five to be
solved later by those who wished to finish the Quest. This took us
south of Wimbledon and within sight of the finish. Clue seven took us
to a crowded Abbey Mills. We went off road to Deen City Farm (as we
had been most of the day) hunting for clue eight.

Still venturing south we arrived at Morden Hall Park for tea (for some
of us at least), then is was on to Cannon's Leisure Centre for clue
nine. It was here that the leader demanded that the group did a lap of
the small lake in front of the old house, the group obeyed this rather
eccentric request almost without question.

After lunch the size of the group gradually began to deplete, and by
the time we got to the Windmill on Mitcham Common - the last clue - we
were down to five.

Report by Philip

===

Merton Cycle Quest leaflets are available from the libraries in
Merton. The first completed entry was dated 3 days before our official
ride. You've got until June to send your answers in and be entered in
a prize draw. I'm hoping that 100 people will complete the route.
We'll next do it as a group ride during Bike Week.

This week's ride requires an early start at 8:30 outside East Croydon
station. But it's worth the effort because it will be a lovely country
ride which we're undertaking with the Anerley Bicycle Club. They're
riding all the way so meet them at 9:30 if you won't be fazed by 50
miles over the day. Our train ride over the North Downs means we'll be
cutting 20 miles of that total. Lunch at Outwood. Full details on the
website.

We've had a ride every week since PHC began. However, there's nothing
arranged for the following week so could a willing volunteer raise
their electronic hand. I can help with the route and we've got an
excellent document detailing how to lead a ride. Anyone can volunteer.
Maybe just a simple ride up the Wandle to the Thames and along the
Thames Path. Or perhaps follow one of the signed cycle routes such a
NCN21 going to Greenwich. I'll be away so I can't do one. If there's
no takers, I'd suggest making your way to Greenwich for a 10am start
under the Cutty Sark for Southwark Cyclists Locks & Docks ride. 30
miles, lunch normally at Dagenham City Farm.

I'll update the reports on the website when I get a chance.

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189