This week's news & updates...

===

RIDE REPORT
The O2 Dome 07/10/07

Our rides along the Waterlink Way are always popular and that's no
surprise. Although the route stretches all the way from Greenwich to
Eastbourne (hence Waterlink name - the Thames to the Channel), the
part heading north from from South Norwood Country Park cleverly links
a series of parks and riverside paths, making for a very pleasant,
flat ride. 19 turned up to enjoy today's outing.

There's nowhere sensible for a morning stop on the actual route as the
Ladywell Fields cafe is unreliable so we rode slightly uphill to the
cafe at Beckenham Place Park. It's cheap and cheerful and overlooks a
golf course. Plus the advantage of riding uphill is the fast descent
back onto the route.

Greenwich was overrun with cyclists. It was the Greenwich & Bexley
hospice charity ride to Erith and back. Lots of inexperienced riders
out and about meant we had to take additional care on the narrow parts
of the Thames Path. But on the plus side, the naval college had
allowed the charity cyclists to pass through their grounds. Maybe now
they've seen how harmless it is, perhaps they'll open the grounds up
on a permanent basis

The pub already had another 10 bookings for lunch so we decided to go
straight there. The Pilot, an 1801 Fullers pub and the adjacent
cottages are in a very isolated spot south of the Dome, saved from
demolition when the rest of the area was flattened. Food was a touch
expensive for what you get but they coped fairly well with such a
large influx.

After lunch we rode up to the Dome and despite there being no obvious
signs, we were asked to dismount on the approach by a security guard.
We then walked our bikes right up the entrance and leant them against
a barrier so we could have a look around inside. The security guard
caught up with us and said we couldn't leave them there. I'd had
endless discussion on email with the O2's Customer Services dept about
the lack of provision for cycle parking and had been told we could
park by the front door. It took the arrival of the Operations Manager
for the matter to be resolved.

Once allowed inside, everyone took a good look around, some taking
advantage of the chill-out areas and the ice cream shop. When we
re-assembled outside, the Operations Manager came over and canvassed
opinion about the place, which was mostly positive. He then ran
through the plans for the future. It all sounded very good although
obviously we all felt the some sensible cycle parking wouldn't go
amiss.

On the way back, as we passed Catford Bridge station, it transpired
that some hadn't seen the incredible footage from earlier in the week
of a cyclist riding off the platform onto the tracks, narrowly missing
treading on the live rail as he avoids a speeding train which runs
over his bike and then he stupidly walks back over the tracks.
Needless to say, police are keen to talk to him. Have a look:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1286848,00.html?f=rss

To vary the cafe stops, we rode up to Crystal Palace Park before those
returning to Pollards Hill completed the climb to the top of Anerley
Hill for the downhill run all the way back.

Out for 7.5hrs, 32 miles. See the pix on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157602309210107
or
http://tinyurl.com/29cmjy

===

SADDLES

We often notice that people have their saddles at the wrong height.
It's really inefficient to have your saddle too low but many do. As
Bikefitting.com says: "The adjustment of the saddle serves to enable
the muscles to work optimally in the longitudinal reach. As there is
only one optimal longitudinal reach, there is only one optimal saddle
height." However, their po-faced mathematical approach is of little
comfort to the average rider so try likeable American eccentric
Sheldon Brown's take on it:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

The easiest starting point is to place your heel on the pedals at "6
o'clock" and with your hips level and your foot parallel to the
ground, your leg should be fully extended. As you (hopefully) cycle
with the ball of your foot on the pedal, this setting is the closest
you can get to the correct bend in your knee without having to go
through complex scientific calculations. Ignore anyone who tells you
that your leg should have the slight bend when your heel is on the
pedal - it's a common misconception amongst London instructors, mostly
because it is erroneously taught by CTUK.

===

FUTURE RIDES

As it takes a while to update our website, here's the list of rides
that we have lined up:

14th Oct: Twickenham's Fine Ales. A nice run through Wimbledon &
Richmond to sample the award winning beers from Twickenham's new micro
brewery. Sunday roast is £6.95. Led by Jim B.

21st Oct: Cafe Chocolate. A new route out to Walton-on-the-Hill with a
cake stop at Nonsuch Park. Nearby pubs have expensive food but sell
alcohol. Cafe Chocolate mixes nice food with top-notch choccies. Led
by Ian

28th Oct: Ghosts & Ghouls. It's Halloween again!! Join us for a slow
ride around Mitcham & Carshalton with ghostly tales recounted by the
inimitable Mark W. Note this is a 10:30am start.

4th Nov: TBC. Anyone want to lead a ride to Godstone Vineyard???

11th Nov: TBC. John B will be leading this one. Route still to be decided.

18th Nov: The Old Jail. If past attempts are anything to go by, it
will be raining today. But if it's not, this hilly ride is a great
outing. Fortunately, most of the hills go down as the uphill ones are
short, steep and easily walked. Mark W at the front on this one.

25th Nov: Grab a train (or ride) to Cheam to join Lynda and Central
London CTC on a ride that will feature lots of parks, open spaces and
cycle paths. And cakes. Times can be confirmed nearer the time.

December volunteers should make themselves know now. Need leaders on
the 2nd, 9th (to the annual cyclists Xmas dinner at the White Cross in
Richmond or break the mould and do our own?) & 16th.

6th January is possibly our last joint CTC ride as they are changing
the rules on who can ride with them. Once you've clocked up 3 rides,
you need to join CTC. That doesn't fit with our open arms, free to all
policy. We'll be doing a train-assisted short ride around the
beautifully rural Yew Tree Way.

9:30 at the library for Jim's ride next week......

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189