This week we have a report on today's cold and wet excursion to Downe
and trailers for the Beddington Park rides and our two PHC rides next
weekend.

RIDE REPORT
THE OLD JAIL 28/07/05

I'm no fan of rides in the rain but despite recent downpours, it was
dry when 6 of us set off from the library to try and perfect the route
to Downe, one of many rural picturesque villages the other side of
Biggin Hill. We've learnt a lot since our 3rd proper ride in 2005 when
we failed to get to Downe because I'd chosen a bad route and we found
23 people too many to cope with. Since then we've had a couple more
attempts but this time it dawned on me that if we do it in reverse, it
gives us over 4 miles of downhill on the way back and just two steep
short hills to climb back up.

The first part is unavoidably urban until we reach South Norwood
Country Park, a green oasis on the Croydon borders. The toilets were
open which is a blessing. Then it's back to quiet suburban streets as
we follows Sustrans Waterlink Way route as it winds towards Gatwick
and ultimately, Eastbourne. It's a steady climb through Shirley then
we cut off towards Spring Park and stopped on top of Wood Lodge Lane
hill where there's a great view of Wickham Court in the distance.

First stop was the concealed cafe at Sparrows Den. I was worried they
might be shut but we arrived just as it was being opened. The dry
morning of course proved to be a false dawn and the drizzle started.
We rode as little of Layhams Rd as possible which kept us out of the
way of the New Addington boy racers in their souped up Escorts and cut
through Coney Hall Rec and out into the lanes.

We were making good time so we stopped in Downe village to see the
Charles Darwin sundial on the church and then pulled up outside Down
House which is where he wrote Origin Of The Species. It looked pretty
busy inside but we carried on through the pretty hamlets of Luxted and
Single Street towards our lunch stop.

The Old Jail is quite a nice pub. It also has a lovely garden but it
wasn't exactly the weather for sitting outside. The bar food menu is
reasonable but it seems we were lucky to get a table as most were
reserved. Good job we'd arrived early at midday.

As we left, the rain started. We used the flat tarmac bridleway
shortcut to avoid dropping steeply down Berrys Hill for 100 yards
only to instantly climb straight back up. The lanes around here are
great but the weather was spoiling it. Eventually we were at the
highest point in Greater London near Botley Hill where we started the
2 mile descent of Beddlestead Lane. What should have been a pleasure
proved to be an ordeal with the rain stinging our faces and the cold
cutting straight through us.

Hesiers Hill is a tough climb that defeated some of us but it's quite
short and before long we had another 2 mile descent down Featherbed
Lane. The off-road cycle track proved the best way up Gravel Hill but
instead of swooping all the way down the other side into Croydon, we
stopped at the Pond Tea Rooms at Coombe Wood. I was hoping we could
sit the rain out, especially as I'd emptied water out of my shoes and
my socks were soaked and drying by the heater but it wasn't going to
let up. Instead, we went back out into heavy rain and really felt the
cold biting as we completed the descent in Croydon where we split up
to make our own ways home.

Out for 7hrs, 30 miles. See some pix from today on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157600277007999
or
http://tinyurl.com/26k78n

===

Next Saturday is the start of the Beddington Park Beginners Rides.
Come down to the park cafe at 1:30pm and enjoy an afternoon ride
instead of being out for a full day. Don't be put off by the word
Beginners. We need experienced cyclists too as you'll be able to offer
advice to those just getting back on their bikes or even trying
leisure rides for the first time. There's a few people on our email
list that don't think they're quite ready for a full day ride but are
looking forwards to these. I think they're going to be a big success
judging by the feedback we've had.

We won't be publishing the routes in advance but there are 7 rides
worked out that take full advantage of all the quiet roads and traffic
free routes from the park. As with all PHC rides, we'll be visiting a
cafe for coffee and cakes before returning back to the park. Some
you'll know but at least one will be new to PHC. That's the beauty of
doing these rides in partnership with the CTC - they know all the
routes and cafes in the area like the back of their hand.

The fully functional website is at:
http://www.beddingtonparkcyclerides.com

===

Next week there are two PHC rides. Competing with the start of the
Beddington Park rides is Robert's social ride out to Epsom Downs to
see the Oaks. There's no charge for being on the Downs themselves so
it's possible to see the race and soak up the atmosphere without
having to sit in the grandstand. There's no avoiding a couple of hills
on the way out but at least it's downhill on the way back. Meet at the
library at 9:30am on Saturday.

Sunday's ride is a re-run of last summer's outing to Eel Pie Island,
the esoteric ait in the middle of the Thames at Twickenham, home to
boat builders and musicians and the site of the former Eel Pie Hotel
where the stars of the 60s such as the Stones, Pink Floyd and The Who
played. We'll probably use Hammerton's ferry again so bring a pound
coin for the crossing (actually, I've no idea how much it is but it
won't be much). It's a largely flat ride but there are hills around
Wimbledon and Richmond. 9:30am at the library.

Full details of all the rides are on http://www.pollardshillcyclits.org.uk

Cheers
Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189