In this week's mail we've got a report and pictures from today's ride,
a sneek preview of the brand new Beddington Park rides website and a
trailer for next week's ride.

===

RIDE REPORT

RETURN TO MUGSWELL 20/05/07

14 riders met up at the library to do a re-run of last month's well
received ride to Mugswell but with one big change - there was no way
we could go back to the Well House pub after they left us waiting 2hrs
for food. But before we got too far, there was important business to
attand to. The new Saturday afternoon rides from Beddington Park have
their own website and we needed a new photo for the header. After a
meander alongside the Wandle river we detoured to the park and did a
couple of run throughs to try and get the right picture. Once that was
in the bag we moved off on the scenic route through the parks and past
the Carshalton lavender fields to the rural Telegraph Track at Little
Woodcote, just outside Carshalton.

The garden centre at Woodcote Green was very busy but the cafe was
quiet enough to get breakfast or cakes (depending on your preference!)
in good time. We then followed the side streets up to the Webb Estate
village green and paused for a go on the solitary seesaw. I'm not sure
if it's the original seesaw but Webb laid out the village green in
1904 with a seesaw and also added a whipping post and stocks. The
stocks are still there. More info: http://tinyurl.com/ythpf5

A neat cut-through on bridleways brings you to Woodmansterne and it's
fabulous village sign designed by local schoolchildren and carved into
the fallen cedar tree. As we neared Banstead, an idea dawned - we
should try the Mint pub instead of going past the Well House to try
the couple of unknown pubs that lie beyond. This was a stroke of
genius. We pretty much filled the pub garden and although reasonably
busy inside, our food came out very fast and was of excellent quality.
Reasonably priced too. That's the difference having a proper chef in a
working kitchen makes. We'll use this pub more often.

Those that had done the ride before knew what lay in store after lunch
- a fast descent! Speeds of 37mph were reported. But a descent can
only mean one thing and the climb back out had a few walking. However,
within a mile, you're shooting back downhill again and past the Well
House to the offroads tracks of Banstead Downs where two wheelers
fared well but the recumbent trike struggled.

A puncture delayed the next descent down Ebbisham Lane. However, a
surprise awaited us at the bottom - a huge patch of sticky mud that
wasn't there before. Fortunately, the leader spotted a gap through the
undergrowth into an adjoining field which enabled us to bypass it (and
get stung to death by nettles instead). A tricky ascent of Epsom Downs
saw a few more walking for the 100 yard incline but we flew down the
other side for a stop at the Downs Kiosk, overlooking the build up for
the forthcoming Oaks & Derby horse races.

The original ride had gone to Nonsuch Park but as we were behind
schedule and had stopped on the Downs, we bypassed the park and tried
the London Cycle Network roads south of Sutton for a change. They're a
bit hillier than our usual route but eventually brought us out at
Carshalton ponds where the group started to disperse.

About 35 miles, out for 8.5hrs. See the pix on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157600234943681
or
http://tinyurl.com/2alfue

===

The Beddington Park Summer Saturday afternoon rides are taking shape.
The website will launch in the week but you can have a sneek preview
by going to:

http://www.beddingtonparkcyclerides.com

The picture at the top will be changed for one we took today. In fact,
by the time you look, it might already have changed!

The website was made by PHC rider Claudia. If anybody needs anything
designing, let me know and I'll put you in touch. I think it's a
fantastic design.

===

Next week the ride is on Bank Holiday Monday. We'll be heading to
Downe and trying the Jail House pub. It's a hilly ride but mostly on
tarmac. Meet at the library at 9:30am

If anyone is out riding on the Sunday, drop a mail to the list if you
want any company. Central London CTC have a ride from Purley station
meeting at 9:30 and lunching at the Ramblers Rest that we passed on
today's ride. Or, you could take part in the final Little Green Ride
before it goes quarterly. They meet at 9:49 at Finsbury Park (by
mainline -WAGN- ticket office) for the 10:11 train to
Knebworth/Stevenage. For more information on this ride contact Sue,
phone 020 7729 5409 (not before 11am on Saturday). To date, there have
been over 400 Little Green Rides into the Hertfordshire countryside so
this is the end of an era.

See you all soon

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189

http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk