Here's this week's news & updates....

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RIDE REPORT
New Route To Chislehurst 27/09/09

Whilst some central London groups were reporting low numbers on their
first post-SkyRide outing, we had a healthy 25 out on this beautifully
warm Autumn day. It's a very urban route to Chislehurst, whichever way
you go but we tempered that by mostly using the old London Cycle
Network routes along quiet backstreets.

Our first port of call was Peckham Rye Common's cafe. A direct route
would involve going over a big hill so we circumnavigated by crossing
Streatham High Road near the Odeon cinema, slipped through Tulse Hill
without having to use the gyratory and cut through Dulwich Park.

We LCN'ed to Catford Bridge and then headed to Excalibur, the largest
prefab estate in Europe and currently under threat from Lewisham
council who want to tear it down. As we bypassed Bromley, I decided to
cut the route short a little and head straight down to the pub before
it got too busy for lunch.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) the pub
has gone very upmarket since our last visit with no main meals below a
tenner. A few braved it but a large contingency decamped to the caves
next door where a slap up meal comes with change from a fiver at the
basic cafe in the entrance lobby. A couple took the guided tour of
part of the 22 mile caves system which have a great story, housing up
to 15,000 in the Blitz and hosting concerts by the likes of Jimi
Hendrix.

One of Bromley's defining features is it's lack of tarmacked roads. Up
to 200 remain as cart tracks, including Kinnaird Road which we used on
the way so it was good to see that Crab Hill has now been surfaced,
giving us a clear run into the woods at Beckenham Place Park which are
also sporting upgraded paths. A broken chain just outside the park on
a junction of two stony tracks gave us an extra break whilst it was
fixed.

We dipped under the railway at New Beckenham and carried on to an
afternoon ice cream break at Cystal Palace Park before the long
freewheel back to the library.

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

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157622470963754
or
http://tinyurl.com/phc078

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HERNE HILL VELODROME

Despite a higher level of interest, only 5 of us made the early
morning trip to London's last remaining 1948 Olympic venue. A mix up
at Eastfields with riders waiting invisibly behind a hedge and not at
the station entrance meant they had to make their own way up. We
gathered with about 20 others for the induction session.

It's gone up a pound but at £4, it's still one of the best bargains in
London as it includes the hire of a track bike. The major difference
between track bikes and road bikes is that they don't have brakes.
Instead, you used the fixed wheel to slow and stop. You'd imagine that
the trainers might school you in this but instead they simply send you
on your way to see how everybody copes.

After they've established that you can all start and stop the bike,
you get a quick lesson in track riding before you do a few laps in a
group with a trainer, taking it in turns to ride at the front and then
swooping up the banked corners to drop back in at the rear. The pace
is kept fairly sensible and it's certainly not a race. We were all
judged to be good enough to stay on for the training session (just
another £2) but after about 10 laps, we'd all pretty much had enough.

It was good to see the track so busy with about 20 juniors on mini
track bikes, more kids riding around cones off the track and about 50
taking part in the training session on top of the 25 or so who did the
induction. You don't need to book and the track will stay open until
the weather turns as it can't be used in the wet. I recommend
everybody gives it a go. And, if you go next week, they also have a
cycle jumble!

http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com

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SOUTH LONDON INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED CYCLISTS

The first session was a sell-out although we did end up with a couple
of no-shows for various reasons. I think the format was judged to be a
success, with roadcraft as the most popular subject.

The next session will be next Saturday 3rd October at 2pm. If you want
to come, please email me (before Weds if poss) by hitting return to
this email. We'll concentrate almost exclusively on roadcraft. Once
you have the correct skills, you'll be able to control the majority of
the traffic around you, making your journey far more pleasant and
ensuring you stay safe. It's knowledge well worth knowing!

What is it? A 2.5hrs social event with an intense exchange of
information designed to increase your ability on the bike. There's no
classrooms, no hi-viz tabards, no rules on helmets but an awful lot of
information which comes at you thick and fast. Then we'll go out on
the bikes for a bit and have a go. Cost = £10.

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SKYRIDE

Here's some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/GoSkyride

See if you can spot yourself in the time lapse!!

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MORE LIDL BARGAINS

I think it's about time Lidl sponsored us! From Thursday, most stores
will have cycling shoes at the lower price of a tenner (stiffer soles
make for more efficient pedalling) and there will also be winter long
sleeved tops and jackets, both of which are real bargains compared to
the price you'd pay in a bike shop.

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CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN ITALY

Anne would like to recommend the company she used on a recent cycling
holiday in Italy:

http://www.italycycle.com

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NON PHC RIDES

There are 3 rides coming up that I've been asked to publicise. All are
longer and slightly quicker than our regular Sunday rides so you may
want to try them as a bit of a challenge or perhaps you just want to
stretch your legs a bit. Note that two of them are on the same day and
none of them will be replacing our regular Sunday 30 mile rides.

First up is from our friends at Bromley Cyclists, led by Steve:

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Sunday 1st November: Orpington to Whitstable (with possible extension
to Canterbury). Details: Steve.Watkin1@... or 07748 655201

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Then, on the same day, we're also invited to a Lewisham Cyclists ride
alongside the London to Brighton veteran car rally:

Sunday 1st November: Mixing It With The Cars. Roll up roll up for the
third - and even better - Lewisham Cyclists trip to Brighton with the
veteran cars - an event you may be aware of from that old favourite
wet Sunday afternoon film Genevieve:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgiv_I2TkNc&feature=related

None of the cars were made after 1905. An early start to ensure that
you'll be in the thick of this rather mad but very British event.

Meet the Lewisham feeder rides outside East Croydon railway station at
8:15am where they split into a faster and a slower group and then,
wahay, it's off on the increasingly open road with the cars. Brief
stops are planned in Crawley and Ansty for both rides.

IMPORTANT: BRING YOUR OWN FOOD - there will be no stopping for lunch.
The groups may well meet up in Brighton for a drink and bite to eat in
Brighton - the last two years, in glorious weather, we've even sat on
the beach. Here's hoping. Total distance a mere 55 miles - it's a very
direct route to Brighton. No climbing over Ditchling and you'll hardly
notice the North Downs. Official site of the event: for more details,
including the 500 plus cars you'll be sharing the road with:

http://www.lbvcr.com

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Finally, it's back to our Bromley friends for this one:

Sunday 15th November: Folkstone to Dungeness and return a round trip,
train there and back. 48 miles. Leader Charles Potter but details from
Steve Watkin as above.

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CYCLE PARKING AT RAILWAY STATIONS

Hot off the presses is this story:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6851682.ece

Waterloo, Victoria and St Pancras stations are to become cycle parking
hubs with European style services such as mechanics, bike hire and
secure storage. Note that this is a government initiative and not
Boris who is busy backtracking on his SuperHighways scheme.

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NEXT WEEK

It's the First Saturday Of The Month ride. Meet outside Pollards Hill
library for a 9:30am depart. We never really pre-plan the routes so
we'll make our minds up based on the weather, who turns up etc. What
we DO know is that we'll be utilising some great routes, showcasing
the best places to ride quietly or away from traffic. As such, these
are the best rides to try as a taster for a full day Sunday ride. Back
by 1pm

Susie's Sunday ride is the challenging Great Surrey Cycle Ride. It
starts with a hellish climb that some may walk as they near the top.
No morning stop so after we get off the train, we'll call into nearby
Rykas to use the facilities and stuff our pockets. Then it's out into
the beautiful open undulating countryside to lunch at the Punchbowl
pub. Afternoon tea at Surrey's most exclusive tearoom!

We're catching the 8:53am from Mitcham Eastfields to Boxhill and
Westhumble, arriving 9:29am. The station isn't manned and the machine
doesn't dispense Group Saves so get tickets at the other end.

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189

http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk
http://www.southlondoncyclists.org.uk