Another packed weekly report.....

===

RIDE REPORT
VIKING COASTAL TRAIL 09/06/07

An amazing 33 people, 20 of whom were female (including one American
on holiday in England!), descended on Birchington-On-Sea for a trip
around the 28 mile Viking Coastal Trail route. We did the ride last
year but struggled for somewhere decent at lunch so we changed the
starting point to give us more opportunities. It also meant that the
ride immediately headed off along the fantastic coastal routes towards
Margate.

The weather couldn't have been better although a slight shower caught
some of those pedalling to the stations in the morning. We had 3
meeting points and each of those groups arranged their own Group Save
tickets which averaged out just under £15 each instead of the full
price of £26. Spreading out along the train ensured there were no
problems (technically trains carry just 4 bikes) Luckily the guard was
also a cyclist whose 9 year old daughter had been bulling him to take
her round the Viking Coastal Trail. Several others met the train at
Birchington-On-Sea.

33 is a lot of people to have on a ride but we're very skilled now at
handling that many people. Our rides are always mixed ability and
we're always able to accomodate the person who is doing the ride as a
personal challenge to see if they can make it. There's especially no
rush when the scenery is as good as this.

First stop was at a seafront cafe on top of the cliffs in Margate.
Then it's more coastal riding towards Ramsgate. Broadstairs clearly
thinks of itself as a cut above either Ramsgate or Margate, especially
with its Dickens connections (the route goes straight past 'Bleak
House'). Its sandy beach was pretty busy with a few hardy people in
the sea. Lunch was in Ramsgate and although most went for fish n
chips, the growing queue meant some went next door to the bistro or to
a pub further down the road. A couple ventured into the sea for a
swim.

After Pegwell bay's full sized replica Viking ship, the route heads
inland towards Minster Abbey (founded 670AD) and Manston airfield.
It's dramatically beautiful countryside and still offers stretches of
traffic-free cycling. Eventually you pop out at Minnis Bay.

Everybody made it round, no punctures or mechanical mishaps. We'll go
back whilst the weather's still nice and add in one of the advertised
loops that go past various churches. Stay tuned for the date.

Out for 7hrs plus train travel. 28 miles. See some pix on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157600331037157
or
http://tinyurl.com/ywfztj

Flickr Tip: You can now leave comments for each set of pictures. If
you enjoyed the ride or wished you had come on it because it looked
good, leave a comment.

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RIDE REPORT
MERTON CYCLE QUEST 10/06/07

11 people ventured out around the Merton Cycle Quest route today. As
part of a grant we were awarded last year, PHC produced a printed
leaflet of a circular cycle route around the borough. Along the way
are 10 'Quest' points where you stop and look for the answer to the
question on the leaflet. It's not hard to find the answer but it
proves you were there. We've got around 40 completed entries back so
far although lots of people just enjoy the ride without bothering to
participate.

From Pollards Hill, it's a trip up the Wandle Trail to get to the
first Quest point in Wimbledon Park. One young family didn't make it
this far but generally this is a good ride for beginners. After the
park, Merton's highlights start to come in quick succession. The
famous tennis stadium is right outside and the hidden delights of the
Buddhist temple are just up the hill.

Wimbledon Common is always busy. There's a Quest point at the Windmill
and then it's onto Cannizaro Park using the Common's cycle tracks. Our
Quest point there is just inside the gate but it's a fantastic park
that always deserves further inspection. However, lunch at the Crooked
Billet was calling.

The 2nd half of the ride picks up the Wandle Trail again. We use these
routes all the time but they still remain fantastic oasis' of green in
the middle of suburbia. For a vast majority of the ride you could
easily be in the countryside yet you're never more than a couple of
miles from Mitcham.

We'll probably retire this ride for a while now. There are family
rides every week from Beddington Park so there's still plenty of
opportunities for those returning to cycling or getting on a bike for
the first time to try riding with a group. Our day rides are proving
very popular so we'll just follow the demand for the time being. But
if you want to try it on your own, pick up a leaflet on ride or look
for it in your local library.

17 miles. See the pix on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157600334471763
or
http://tinyurl.com/23o7yd

===

BIRTHDAY RIDE

It's our Birthday at the end of July. As you may have noticed, I've
created a poll on our Yahoo site to see where we should go. It's here:

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/pollardshillcyclists/surveys?id=2215493

If you can't log in to Yahoo, the poll says:

Which ride would you like to do for the PHC Birthday Ride?

* The Old Jail (beer garden, rural, bit hilly but 5 miles of
downhill on the return)
* The Mint (great pub with cheap & quick food, brilliant rural
lanes, can also visit Fanny's Farm)
* A picnic in Richmond Park near Penn Ponds
* Something else? Mail Mark with ideas

You can mail me with your choice if you can't cast your vote with
Yahoo and I'll take these into account when we work out which ride to
do. You've got one week so get deciding!

===

BEDDINGTON PARK

Saturday's Beddington Park ride took 10 riders on a convoluted route
to Woodcote Green nurseries where we met up with the 20 riders from
Nonsuch Park and shared cake at the cafe. A steady climb out resulted
in a mostly downhill ride back to Carshalton where we skipped the park
to avoid the carnival and rode past the ponds back to Beddington Park.

Next week's ride goes to the Rookery cafe at Streatham Common and will
also involve a short climb resulting in a downhill return. Come and
join us for a short afternoon ride by meeting at the park cafe at
1:30pm. There's a map on the website at
http://www.beddingtonparkcyclerides.com

===

CAMPING

This years attempt to go camping will be playing safe by heading to
the Lee Valley campsite. That's a nice day ride to get there and a
couple of trains home for those not staying over. There's lots of
mountain biking opportunities in nearby Epping forest and then an easy
route home by retracing footsteps down the towpath and back along the
Waterlink Way. We'll do this in August but please register your
interest by letting me know as we'll need to book the campsite.
There's also a Youth Hostel there.

Last year's camping attempt was a disaster. The site claimed to be
sold out but nobody actually camped anyway and the person who
originated the idea didn't even come! It can only get better....

===

LONDON TO BRIGHTON

The famous charity ride takes place next Sunday. If you're one of the
40,000+ taking part and want to meet up with other PHC riders, we'll
be at the cedar tree in Woodmansterne at 9:30am. This is the cedar
tree: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/246846580_6d4eb8fd37.jpg Look
out for the recumbent trike!

Whilst we wouldn't condone just tagging along on a charity ride that
sold out months ago, it's also worth noting that you can't take your
bike on any train on this day in the entire London to Brighton region.
The charity riders all have pre-booked coaches to bring them back.
Best bet is to take a vehicle down on Saturday night and catch the
train back. Then put your bike in the car when you finish the ride.
The train ban is strictly enforced, especially at Brighton station.

===

RIDES MEETING

Anybody around Thursday night to discuss future rides? All welcome.
Mail me if you're coming and I'll send you the details of where and
when. Be especially good if anyone has free slots in their diary and
wants to lead some rides. We'll work the route out and show you what
to do. It's not as daunting as some may think!

===

NEXT WEEK

If you're not doing London to Brighton then it's our Bike Week ride
with Merton Cycling Campaign next Sunday. We'll be using quiet streets
and neat cut-throughs to get to Kingston and then down the Thames Path
to Hampton Court. The proposed pub has no beer garden and therefore
nowhere sensible to lock bikes so we just lock them to each other. If
anyone has a pub suggestion in that area that has a beer garden and
does reasonably priced food and won't freak if a large party descends
at once then please email me.

There's also an evening ride on Monday to try out the cycle path in
the new Addiscombe Railway Park. Meet 7:30pm outside the CEX shop by
East Croydon station. This ride will undoubtedly end at a pub!

Plenty of other rides are listed here: http://www.croydonbikeweek.co.uk

Cheers
Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189

http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk