Here's this week's news & reports:

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RIDE REPORT
The Tide's End 10/02/08

The good weather we're currently enjoying attracted a healthy 21
riders to the library with another waiting en-route. Whilst it's great
to see so many people out, high numbers on a ride can often mean plans
need adapting. Today, I decided to skip the picturesque Ravensbury
Park and Morden Hall Park section in favour of a direct route to the
morning stop at Merton Abbey Mills. I figured this gave us a fighting
chance of getting to the pub at midday before the crowds starting
arriving. Fortunately, the direct route for cyclists involves a
traffic-free path over Figges Marsh and the pleasant path along the
old railway line, now called Myrna Close Nature Reserve.

Another study of the map enabled us to choose the most direct route to
Kingston. The less we turn, the less likely we are to lose anyone. We
cut through the New Maldon golf course and used London Cycle Network's
quiet streets route into Kingston where I opted to join the traffic on
the main road for a couple of hundred yards. There's an interesting
network of cycle routes in Kingston but poorly signed. As always, I
got a bit confused but finally crossed the bridge and into Bushy Park,
the 2nd largest of the Royal Parks and a first for a PHC ride. It was
busy with walkers and cyclists, the central Chestnut Avenue jammed up
with cars as we sailed through and out of one of the gates near
Teddington.

Luckily no punctures so far. I'd been keeping an eye on the time and
food was now being served. Time to head direct to the pub. A
pre-arranged rendezvous with a Time Out photographer found the snapper
waiting for us, lying in the road to get a good shot! The Tides End
Cottage looks deceptively small but wasn't very busy and would easily
have accommodated all of us. Some opted for the beer garden of the pub
next door whilst a breakaway group, not content with the food choice
of 3 different roasts or a veggie mushroom wellington, rode off to a
deli back in the High Street and came back later with glowing reports.

After lunch, we posed for a few more pics for the Time Out
photographer. The final image will be used to illustrate the Health &
Fitness page which often lists our rides, although curiously we're the
only cycling leisure rides group in London that ever get featured. I'm
hoping they might do a feature one day on the myriad cycle groups that
ride in the Capital at the weekend.

We used a new cut-through in Ham by following Sustran's National Cycle
Route 4, all the way into Richmond Park, which is of course, the
largest of London's Royal Parks. Two green parakeets were spotted in a
tree and the resident deer were entertaining Sunday strollers,
allowing them very close access. Once again, hundreds of cyclists out
and about enjoying the views and the weather.

Wimbledon Common have let the lower half of the cycle track on
Gravelly Hill get into quite a bad muddy state. We headed for the
Windmill Cafe which was very busy. Some felt they hadn't made enough
use of the day and sauntered off towards Morden Hall. The remainder
were rewarded on departure with a sight I have been waiting for all my
life - a Womble on Wimbledon Common! And of course, being a Green
lifestyle originator, he couldn't resist a go on one of our bicycles.

Riders started to disperse with those returning to Pollards Hill doing
27 miles, out for 7hrs. See the pix on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157603882183626
or
http://tinyurl.com/ywsxjr

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FLICKR TIP

If you're in any of our 3000+ photos, you can download a copy for
yourself by clicking the "All Sizes" link above the picture and then
choosing "Original". The file size will depend on who took the photo.
Those who email pix to me often reduce the file size so my computer
doesn't crash when they arrive. Pictures taken on the club camera go
up at full resolution and can easily be printed at 10" x 8".

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SOME LONDON CYCLING NEWS

Ken Livingstone has announced plans for 12 cycling "motorways" as part
of a half a billion pound investment programme, one of which will lead
from Clapham into Central London. Apparently, according to the
Guardian, "The routes are based on a 12-month study of the most
popular roads already used by cyclists and will have continuous, wide
cycle lanes, dedicated junctions and clear signs."

Croydon is also earmarked for a "special cycle network" which might
help to push through the proposed tramside path that could make our
journey towards South Norwood Country Park slightly more pleasant.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,2254962,00.html

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NEXT WEEK

We're catching the train to East Grinstead where we'll be following
the route of the Bluebell steam railway using parallel lanes. It's
reasonably hilly terrain, although trains aren't noted for their
ability to go up steep slopes. If you're unsure of whether it's the
right ride for you, click the link below and to go "Show" - "Elevation
Profile" which will give you a graph of the hills:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bluebell-Railway

If you need a point of reference, try the same exercise on the
virtually flat Mitcham Loop ride:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Mitcham-Loop

We'll be taking advantage of the Group Save offer where 4 travel for
the price of 2. You need to be at the station on time to take
advantage of this. A pocketful of coins will assist in reimbursing the
person who buys the tickets. Expect to pay between £3.80 and £4.50
depending on numbers, as we always split the cost evenly amongst those
there on time. If you want to get on the train at Clapham Jct, let me
know. I already have on taker for this option so if 4 people do this,
you'll get the best deal on tickets. It's the same train so leave us
some room!

Be outside the CEX shop at East Croydon at 9:25. Slightly later lunch
than normal so be prepared. Those with cars should meet us off the
10:20 train at East Grinstead and be ready for an instant departure.

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189

http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk