A repeat run of a good ride we last did in rainy April, so it’s all been thoroughly road-tested. We’ll cut across town to Richmond Park, drop down to the river, then follow the Thames Cycle Path all the way to Weybridge.

Pub lunch at a canal-side pub after about 30 miles. The ride to lunch will be pretty pootly/easygoing as the pub has long food serving hours. In case we go particularly slowly, bring snacks to keep you going. May stop for tea on the way in a rather nice tea garden if the day is nice and folk are up for it. After lunch, if you want you can take a train back to town from Addlestone or Weybridge.

For those wanting to put more miles in, the return will be through town (though still scenic in places) so the return trip should be a bit faster. Opportunity to stop at another pub (by the river?) if people are up for it on the way back. If you want to cut the return ride short, we pass various train stations, including Walton on Thames, Hampton Court, Kingston, Raynes Park.

Good practice for my Windsor and back ride which I hope to do later in the year.

Total distance – estimated maximum of 60 miles.

We are riding along the river on the way out but the surface is reasonable – not hard off-road – and I’ll be doing it on a narrow-tyred fast city bike. You may not want to come on a full-on racer though – your choice.

Meet Cutty Sark Gardens 9:30am.

Later pick-up at Peckham Rye train station at 10:00. Wait in the ticket hall. We may be a bit late but won’t move on before 10. If you are planning to join the ride here, it may be as well to call me.

More info from Paul: 07957 209322 NO TEXTS – talk to me

Report

 Six of us at Cutty Sark Gardens and Alan joined us at Peckham Rye station so seven in all – had hoped for a few more on a fine day trip along the Thames but passable all the same. Jan (apologies if mis-spelled) had suffered a morning puncture and had promised to join us along the way.

 A complicated and slowish progress through south London and with everyone, me included, feeling pretty chilled/non-too athletic, after reaching Clapham Common we stopped for a slow coffee and ice cream.

 Back in the saddle we started to get calls from Jan wondering where we were and a new clearer meeting point was sorted.

 Into Richmond Park, down to the river, met Jan, then began the really attractive part of the ride. Gentle pootling and a bit of speeding on a surface which is at times suprisingly good.

 Somewhere just shy of Walton, Alan had a puncture. And then another immediately. And another straight away. Only one spare tube so much glueing and, on the final one, praying. By this time Tom had fallen asleep by the river, while the rest of us offered Alan a mixture of help/sympathy/guidance/and suggestions (mostly from me) that he might like to return by river (two tubes always a good idea) in between wondering whether we could gate-crash the children’s party over the fence and scoff their food before they all arrived.

 Reluctantly decided that we might not be able to get away with disguising ourselves as Southwark Cyclists (too good looking) and that Lewisham Cyclists would take the rap in the local rag, so stuck with Alan while answering concerned mobile calls from the rest of the group waiting ahead.

 Eventually, Alan’s final patch held (and somewhat surprisingly did all the way back to London) so we tootled gingerly on to lunch in Weybridge/Addlestone. Let no one ever again say that my rides are too full-on – it had taken us 6 hours to do 30 pretty much flat miles. The Pelican pub, discovered by chance amidst earlier cycle mischief, was pretty perfect (see pics) – food fairly so-so but decent beer and a perfect spot with benches right alongside a canal complete with visiting barges – and since the other side fronts on to a light industrial estate, understandably free of tourist/day-tripper hordes.

 Lunch over, we departed about, ahem, 5, and I was mightily surprised/gladdened that everyone elected to ride back rather than take the train.

 Return trip through town far faster and uneventful and we split at various points, sparing me a trip all the way back to Cutty Sark Gardens.

 Only real regret of the ride – the fondly-remembered cafe in the old lock keeper’s cottage appears to have closed.

 Thanks to everyone for coming and particularly for coming all the way back. Normal somewhat faster service (but don’t worry – we aren’t a racing club) will be resumed shortly.

 Paul