Farningham and back – Sunday October 28

photos from January's ride
report from January's ride

 Our customary amble down the Waterlink Way before hitting the road. Some wonderful country lanes, despite the M25 never being far away. Pub lunch in Farningham. 

Some climbing on the way out, quick and pretty easy on the way back. 

Suitable for all bikes except extreme full-on racers – very short bit of mild off-road. 

Distance about 45 miles. It’s possible to return from Eynsford by train at the half way point. If you do want to do this, check that there are no engineering works and be prepared to ride at a pace (still reasonable) to allow the rest to finish at a reasonable time. 

Report and pics of last time we did this ride at: 

www.lewishamcyclists.net/images/Gallery/Eynsford/Eynsford%20rep.html 

Bring lights of course. 

Meet Cutty Sark Gardens 9:30 

Ladywell Fields 10:00 PROMPT DEPARTURE 

More info from Paul: 07957 209322 – NO TEXTS 

A Lewisham Cyclists/LCC ride

Report

Four of us at Cutty Sark Gardens - me, Vivian on her new bike, Tom, and Emma Jane - or EJ to her friends and the street posse. Katie joined us at Ladywell Fields. A bit of a fall for EJ on the spiral bridge, then we found that Vivian’s brakes were misbehaving when we got to the other side. I was wary of touching them as I’m never too confident of my mechanical skills but I managed to fix them. Result. Don’t necessarily let me near your bike though. 

Uneventful trip out to West Wickham, skies remaining grey and drizzly, which had probably put some folk off. Stopped at Christmas Tree Farm for a coffee then up to face the challenge of the Cudham 25 per cent climb, which manages to feature in lots of my rides. Even worse than usual today due to wheels spinning on wet leaves and Tom was the only one who managed to get up – congratulations – no shame on the rest of us – lots of pics on here of folks climbing up that hill. 

Took a small off-road bit near Eynsford, riding politely so as not to ditch innocent families into the stream, then off to Farningham and the Lion for lunch. The pub had been carefully chosen for its food, beer and handy-for bike-parking-back garden overlooked by dining cyclists but today it was locked. No key apparently as landlord away we were told, though we were also told some tale about rampaging St Bernards. None that we could see. I’ll try to check on this for the next ride. 

So, locked the bikes outside out of site of our table – anyone who knows me will know that this makes me kind of nervous but I suppose we are out in the country where young ruffians content themselves with scrumping apples or something. So we risked it. 

After a decent lunch returned to find them – hey – still there. A quick slurp of Aldi’s somewhat alarmingly branded Red Thunder (a Red Bull knock off – almost certainly just as good – maybe better) then off for the return trip. 

Rain persisting but it was never too bad. Tom and Katie split in Lee, I accompanied Vivien and EJ up to Blackheath and then home in the dark – but still early. Pity some of the countryside wasn’t at its best in the drizzle, but a decent ride despite my hangover and slight disorientation from riding through the night Friday/Saturday with the ACF crew and a Saturday/Sunday hangover clock change double wammy. Thanks to everyone who came – great to see see new faces – hope to see you again as Lewisham Cyclists sneer at the worst the winter can throw at us – after all it can’t be worse than the summer deluges. 

Sorry about lack of photos – my camera has packed in – thanks to Tom for filling the beach. For other pics of this route, check out the ride report for this ride in January 2007 – Eynsford. 

Paul