Here's this week's reports and stuff...

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RIDE REPORT
Bristol to Bath Railway Path 02/08/09

Our big day out! We rented a luxury coach and a van for our bikes as
it's impossible to take a large group on a train to Bristol. The trip
sold out in advance and a waiting list began to grow. Excitement began
to grow too and was only dented slightly when I sent out a stern email
to all regarding the importance of adhering to the strict timings.
Both our drivers were subject to tacograph rules and only had 15hrs to
return back to base before we were obliged to hire a second driver,
which we couldn't afford.

Fortunately, everyone was on time bar one who had train problems and
missed the trip. Early arrivals were treated to warm croissants whilst
we waited for the vehicles. The van loaded really quickly with all
bikes wrapped in blankets. We put 30 bikes on the lorry which
comfortably filled it - the Dunwich Dynamo and other rides would have
put up to 90 bikes piled high on the same vehicle. The same level of
luxury applied to the coach which had comfortable business class
seats, a fully fitted kitchen and on-board toilet. Several screens
allowed us to show a couple of cycling-related DVDs, including the
very apt Cyclists Day Out depicting a 1950s CTC outing. Free breakfast
was kindly served by Steve who took control of the kitchen.

A motorway closure threatened to throw a spanner in the works but we
still made it to Bristol in good time. The lorry travelled at a
slightly slower restricted speed but we only waited about 10 minutes
for it to arrive and bikes were unloaded very quickly. We'd parked up
at the start of the actual Bristol and Bath Railway Path which meant
we didn't have to cycle through the busy city centre and were straight
on to the traffic-free path. It's the busiest cycle path in the UK
with an average of 2750 cycle journeys per day. Some sections are so
busy that a solid white line indicates which side you need to stay on
to avoid oncoming cyclists. Locals were very vocal if any of us
strangers strayed over the line! At times, it was so busy that it felt
like a mass charity ride, even though this was just a normal sunny
summer Sunday. There's nothing to compare to these levels of use in
London.

The path is fully tarmacked and well signed. There's a slight climb
out of Bristol to Fishponds were we stopped to dispose of a rubbing
mudguard into a bush for later retrieval. A brick fish is the first
major piece of art along the trail. Not long after, you get cold and
damp through the UK's longest cycleable railway tunnel at Staple Hill
and then it's up onto the platform at the former Mangotsfield station
where enamel train tickets are sunken into the platform surface and a
cast iron art installation adorns the old station windows.

The old station at Warmley is now a cafe but we pushed on to Bitton
station where part of the old railway line has been preserved by the
Avon Valley Railway who were running rides on their steam train. We
stopped at the cafe but by this time, some riders had gone off ahead
to make the most of their day. The rest of the route drops very gently
towards Bath before it ends abruptly on Brassmill Lane. Fortunately,
the route then picks up the River Avon towpath for 2 miles into Bath
city centre.

To avoid huge waits for food, we split up into smaller groups to enjoy
Bath and find somewhere to eat, meeting up again at the main railway
station for a return journey back the way we came. The weather was
great, everyone enjoyed the trip and we'll definitely do another one,
possibly very soon if I can find a cheaper way to transport riders and
bikes.

See the pix on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157621932618912
or
http://tinyurl.com/phc065

To discuss the trip, please start a thread on the forum. It would be
good to get everybody's thoughts....

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BRISTOL TO BATH AND BEYOND

Only one rider ventured further than Bath. Here's Jim's pix from the
Avon Cycleway:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157621808537287
or
http://tinyurl.com/phc066

(apologies to those viewing prior to Tuesday evening. These are in the
wrong order and without Jim's captions. I ran out of time!)

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RIDE REPORT
First Saturday of The Month 01/08/09

Only 3 out today but we will, of course, continue these essential
rides throughout the year. Jill led a nice route into Battersea Park
and back.

Here's some pix:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157621933150222
or
http://preview.tinyurl.com/phc067

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MIDWEEK RIDES

Please put your hand up if you are interested in midweek rides over
the next 4 weeks (well, email me!). They will mostly be train-assisted
and some will be longer than an average PHC ride. Once I know who is
interested, I will mail those people as and when the various trips are
decided. No obligation to come - I just don't want to bombard 300 who
are at work with emails about rides they can't do!

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NEXT WEEK

We have an excellent Sunday riverside ride to the picturesque Thames
Court pub at Shepperton. On the way out, we'll use the quirky £2
Shepperton ferry which is summoned on the quarter of the hour by
dinging a bell. The return will use Walton bridge but come back much
the same way. The pub has the same menu as the Mint at Banstead so it
should be a great day out. The ride leaves from outside the main
entrance of Wimbledon station at 9:30am.

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189

http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk
http://www.southlondoncyclists.org.uk (use it or lose it!)