It's a busy old week this week. Have a read through if you're going on
the Viking Coastal Trail ride next week. There's some important
information that you'll need.

===

RIDE REPORT
EPSOM DERBY 02/06/07

5 riders went out to experience the greatest flat race in the horse
racing calendar. As it's on the Downs at Epsom, there are loads of
places you can watch the race for free. A huge funfair sits across
from the Downs Kiosk and there's a carnival atmosphere inside the
track around The Hill.

The route out took in Oaks Park, former home of the Earl of Derby
which is where the race gets it's name from. The Oaks race was the day
before.

Everyone did their own thing whilst at the races and regrouped for a
quick downhill ride home.

Thanks to Robert for leading & suggesting this ride. There are some pix here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157600304785877
or
http://tinyurl.com/2qh5lr

===

RIDE REPORT
EEL PIE ISLAND 03/06/07

Today started with a bang - literally. 3 wheels exploded within
minutes of each other, before we'd even set off. One was old and worn
and should have been replaced years ago but the other two were on a
brand new, unridden Specialized Globe. A call to Putney Cycles
suggested the bikes had been recalled but there's nothing on the
Specialized website. Two new tubes seemed to do the trick.

That put us about half an hour behind, so the 20 of us set off just
after 10am. Fortunately, there's a quick way to Wimbledon Park, our
first stop. It's the old favourite of using the Myrna Close nature
reserve to cut through to Colliers Wood and then straight up the
Wandle Trail. The nettles need cutting back but we just about escaped
getting stung.

A short but tough climb took us up to Tibbets Corner, the giant A3
roundabout, where we cut through to the very rural and hidden
Telegraph Road with it's recently refurbished pub, now touting itself
as a Country Pub In London - a very fair assessment.

We lost a couple just before Richmond Park due to a loose crank.
They'd planned to visit the bike hire in the park and see if they had
the correct tools. We took the Tamsin Trail around the perimeter as it
masks the climb to Richmond Hill quite well. Hundreds of people were
out on their bikes in the beautifully sunny weather. At the top of the
hill we split into two groups; those that wanted to go on the
Hammertons ferry across the river and those that were going to ride
over Richmond bridge and meet us.

The ferryman is always really good with bikes. We squashed 12 on. It's
a quid to cross and nothing for the bikes. We tangled a pedal through
some spokes which hampered our exit. Removing the wheel soon solved
it.

Eel Pie island is the home of boat builders, musicians and artists.
It's traffic-free and can only be reached by a pedestrian bridge. In
the 60s, the hotel played host to the Rolling Stones, The Who and
Fleetwood Mac. One of our riders was a regular but the hotel has long
since burnt down. The island doesn't have anywhere to eat or drink so
we split into two groups again. Only 2 fancied the Barmy Arms pub on
the riverside so the rest of us flowed into the old Magic Carpet cafe,
now called Arthurs On The Water.

It's a modern building in a playground with a Lebanese flavour to the
menu. Unfortunately, it was staffed by only one person who wasn't
expecting such a large number to turn up. She struggled to cope with
our order until one rider went over to help her prepare the food!
After an hour, we'd all got pretty much what we'd ordered although the
Baba Ganoush had definitely fermented, an concept seemingly lost on
our stressed server.

Teddington Lock got us south of the river once more. It was absolutely
teeming with cyclists, all the way along the Thames Path to Kingston.
It was starting to feel like Copenhagen and with a few more converted
to the joys of cycling, those areas will soon resemble Amsterdam on
sunny Sundays.

We always get lost in the middle of Kingston but a rider with local
knowledge easily got us to David Mach's Tumbling Telephones sculpture
(proper title "Out of Order") on the Old London Rd. We were behind
schedule so a quick bit on the main roads got us to the LCN route that
goes over Malden golf course and under the A3 to Raynes Park. We then
crossed over to the pretty John Innes conservation area on the way to
Merton Abbey Mills.

A live band, Buffalo Bill's Blues Revue, had cranked the volume up so
much that conversation was impossible. Whilst it's great that bands
get booked to play there, they really need to consider the type of
show they are playing and reduce the volume to a level where
conversations can continue if poor Primal Scream cover versions aren't
your particular cup of tea. We pretty much sat at the cafe in forced
silence.

As always on the return, the group had started to disperse so the
remainder went back to Pollards Hill using the same route as the
morning.

Out for 8hrs, 27 miles. See the pix on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157600304947287
or
http://tinyurl.com/294h9p

===

MECHANICS

I'm going to add a link soon to our site with details of local
mechanics that we know. The first one to go up will be Tony who has a
website at http://www.pedalmedic.co.uk . Tony looks after my bike if
it's something I can't fix so he's highly recommended.

Most of you will have met Mark who backmarks a lot of our rides and he
is also a qualified mechanic. Ask him if you want your bike serviced
next time you see him on a ride. He doesn't have email.

The great advantage here is that they'll come to you, at a time that
suits. You'll also get a better job done at a fairer price that
someone like Evans would charge.

===

BEDDINGTON PARK

We had 19 out on the first ride on Saturday. Most were PHC or CTC
regulars looking for a shorter ride but we did get a few beginners and
kids along. A puncture after 120 yards was a bad start and a few bikes
had problems once they got going but we still managed to have a nice
break at Morden Hall and get back before 5pm.

We meet at 1:30pm every summer Saturday at the cafe in the park. The
rides are leisurely and paced for all. Next week we'll be meeting our
sister group from Nonsuch Park at the cafe inside Woodcote Green
nurseries. And then it's on to Carshalton Carnival afterwards for
those without homes to go to!

Come along if you're looking for shorter afternoon rides. We'd love to see you!

===

CROYDON BIKE WEEK

This year's website has gone live at http://www.croydonbikeweek.co.uk

There are loads of rides for all sorts of abilities, including the PHC
rides were are running during that period. But if we're too slow, try
the link to Croydon CTC who cover 90 miles on their summer rides!

===

PAVEMENT CYCLING

There was talk today of harassment from the police when using the
pavement in a responsible and considerate way to avoid busy junctions.
Whilst that fear is easily eliminated with cycle training to National
Standards or just reading Cyclecraft by John Franklin, it actually
goes against the advice issued to the police. This was recently posted
to the Wandsworth LCC group:


When Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for 'pavement cycling' were
introduced, the-then Home Office Minister Paul Boateng issued a letter
stating to the police that:

"The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible
cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of
traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing
so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement,
acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young
people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use
of police discretion is required."

Howard Peel has noted that almost identical guidance has since been
issued by The Home Office with regard to the use of FPNs by 'Community
Support Officers' and wardens. (From John Crozier of The Home Office,
reference T5080/4, 23 February 2004) stating:

"CSO's and accredited persons will be accountable in the same way as
police officers. They will be under the direction and control of the
chief officer, supervised on a daily basis by the local community beat
officer and will be subject to the same police complaints system. The
Government have included provision in the Anti Social Behaviour Bill
to enable CSOs and accredited persons to stop those cycling
irresponsibly on the pavement in order to issue a fixed penalty
notice. I should stress that the issue is about inconsiderate cycling
on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible
cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of
the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing
so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used
with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to
anyone under the age of 16."


My suggestion is to print this out and stick it in your pocket to
remind any anti-cycling PC Plods next time one oversteps the mark. But
I'd strongly recommend lessons too. Some boroughs such as Merton even
offer free lessons but most are subsidised. Private lessons are
available from CTUK or ask Mark, our regular backmarker as he's a
working instructor as well as a mechanic.

===

VIKING COASTAL TRAIL

Next week's Saturday ride is the eagerly anticipated trip to the
Viking Coastal Trail. There are two designated stations to meet at:

Streatham Common at 8am (outside the ticket office, not the new
entrance on the bridge)
East Croydon at 8:15am (outside the CEX shop)

We're going to try and save money using Group Save. This is a walk up
and buy offer for groups of 4 or more. The deal is four tickets for
the price of two. You just need to buy all the tickets in one go and
specify that you'd like the Group Save offer. It doesn't work if 16
people stand at the ticket office trying to pay separately!

It may be more effective for some people to use their Travelcards or
Freedom Passes to get to Victoria and do a Group Save there.
Communication on the morning is the key to this. Could those who are
planning on going, please send me their mobile numbers and which
station they are going to be at and I'll try to piece it together.
DON'T BE LATE or you'll be buying your own full price ticket!! We have
to catch the 9:03 from Victoria and buying the tickets takes time,
especially at East Croydon where you can't use a ticket machine and
have to queue up. Try to have a selection of change with you to assist
the person who buys the ticket.

Full price is £24.60. If we have a multiple of 4, you'll be travelling
for £12.30 each. A group of 5, the worst combination, would be paying
the top price of £14.76 each (a Group Save plus one full price divided
by all 5 travellers)

Steve, the ride leader, will meet you at Birchington On Sea. I'll give
his number to those that mail me.

On the return, be sure to spread out along the train and not block the
passageways. You won't all fit in the cycle compartment but bikes can
go in the vestibules if you watch which side the doors are opening at
stations (normally on the left but not always). If not, expect to be
split over two trains. You'll not be back til late so lights are
recommended for getting home from the station.

===

NEXT WEEK

As well as Saturday's ride, there's another chance to ride the 17 mile
Merton Cycle Quest and enter the competition. Meet at 10:30am at the
library, an hour later than usual as the ride is shorter.

And don't forget Beddington Park if you're not at the seaside. 1:30pm
at the cafe.

Cheers
Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189