Elmbridge Cycle Club – Monthly Group Bike Ride from Weybridge

The weather forecast for Sunday is pretty rotten so no ride this month. The next ride will be on Sunday 8th March. But read on…

Cycle Touring in Switzerland
We are currently planning a trip to Switzerland to ride from the source of the River Rhine to Lake Constance in Germany.

If you are interested in joining us then please let me know.

The trip will be towards the end of June (provisionally 21st June to 28th June). We will start in Andermatt at the source of the Rhine River and will follow it (mostly downhill) until it reaches Lake Constance. This will be about 5 days of cycling with one or two rest days or optional side excursions to Liechtenstein, St Gall and/or Friedrichshafen. Beyond Lake Constance there is another option to continue for 3 or 4 more days to Basel.

Typical distances will be between 30km and 60km per day.

Travel logistics have not been finalised yet, but a flight into Basel or Zurich seems the most likely plan at the moment.

We meet outside the Hand & Spear pub near Weybridge Station, and the route will be about 35 kilometers on a mix of main and quieter roads.

We will head out towards Hersham and Molesey before crossing Bushey Park as we aim for Strawberry Hill. From there we pick up the path through Crane Park until we reach the A316. Here we turn for home, taking the series of connecting paths that run parallel to the 316. In Sunbury we head for Walton Bridge and then the secret cyclepath back into Weybridge by about 1pm.

The full route map is here: https://www.strava.com/routes/22855011

After the ride we will retire to the Jolly Farmer for a festive lunch. If you have not-booked you are still welcome to come on the ride but you might not get any lunch.

The ride will be on a mix of quiet and busier roads and a few bits of cycle path. The total distance will be about 35km, which is around 20 miles.

If you want to come on the ride, you can just turn up.

The ride will start by going through Addlestone before heading towards Virginia Water. From there we cross Windsor Great Park into Windsor. We’ll have lunch here or in Eton. After this we’ll pick up a bit of the Jubilee River cycle path as we head back to Datchett. Then on to Staines where we will pick up the Thames Towpath to Chertsey and finally back to Weybridge.

The full route map is here: https://www.strava.com/routes/21560247

The ride will be on a mix of roads and good quality cycle paths. The total distance will be about 50km, which is around 30 miles.
If you want to come on the ride, you can just turn up.

We meet outside the Hand & Spear pub near Weybridge Station, and the route will be about 45 kilometers on a mix of roads and a few paths with lunch at a Cafe in Great Bookham.

Our route will take us through Byfleet, Wisley and Effingham before a long but gentle climb up to Ranmore Common. Passing Ranmore Church we drop down until we reach Chapel Hill which is short but sharp. We will stop for lunch at a Cafe in Great Bookham and then head back via Bookham Common and Downside.

The full route map is here: https://www.strava.com/routes/20896286

The ride will be on a mix of roads and a few paths. The total distance will be about 45km, which is around 27 miles.
If you want to come on the ride, you can just turn up

We meet outside the Hand & Spear pub near Weybridge Station, and the route will be about 65 kilometers on a mix of roads and a few paths with lunch at Westhumble and an optional loop taking in Box Hill.

We will set off down Brooklands Road and then Byfleet Road towards Cobham. Passing through Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon we will aim for Leatherhead. From there to Mickelham where stronger cyclists can put in a loop of Box Hill and Headley before joining the rest of the group at a pub in Westhumble for lunch.

After lunch we scoot up Chapel Hill and head towards Ripley via Bookham and Effingham. From Ripley we will head towards West Byfleet where we will pick up the canal towpath to get back to Weybridge.

The full route map is here: https://www.strava.com/routes/20030112

The ride will be on a mix of roads and a few paths. The total distance will be about 65km, which is around 40 miles.
If you want to come on the ride, you can just turn up

We meet outside the Hand & Spear pub near Weybridge Station, and the route will be about 45 kilometers on a mix of quieter roads and cycle tracks with lunch at Polesden Lacey.

We will set off down Brooklands Road and Redhill Road, crossing under the A3 into Pointers Lane. From there we proceed to Downside and across Bookham Common. We then climb up through Effingham to Ranmore Common. From there it’s a fun downhill followed by Chapel Hill by which time you will be ready for lunch at the National Trust cafe at Polesden Lacey.

The return will be via Fetcham, Stoke D’Abernon and Cobham.

The full route map is here: https://www.strava.com/routes/18815521

The ride will be on a mix of quieter roads and cycle tracks. The total distance will be about 45km, which is around 28 miles.
If you want to come on the ride, you can just turn up. If you have questions, or need to contact me on the day, my phone number is 079 3032 0241. You should put this number into your phone in case you need it during the ride.

There will be no ride in June. Our next ride will therefore be on Sunday 14th July.

The Martian Race
Many of you will already know that I am helping to organise the Lions Martian Race this year. It is a 5k, 10k and 21k race through the woodlands and heaths of Horsell Common on Sunday 30th June. It is a great event and all proceeds will go to local charities including Woking and Sam Beare Hospices.

We are currently seeking volunteers to help with marshalling and other activities on the day. If you would to help with this very worth cause then please send an email to me at racedirector@martianrace.org. We would really appreciate as much help as we can get.

Starting from the Hand & Spear at Weybridge Station at 10am on Sunday the Egg Hunt will take you on a tour of the area looking for eggs. In teams of two or three cyclists, and using a map and a clue sheet you will have 3 hours to find as many answers as possible.

You can ride in a team of two or three. Don’t worry if you don’t already have a buddy to ride with, you can be paired up with someone suitable at the start. There will be no fixed route, but expect to cycle around 20 miles or so.

The start will be at the usual place, outside the Hand and Spear pub near Weybridge Station at 10am. You will finish by 1pm at the Station Pub in West Byfleet. There may well be prizes for a good performance.

If you want to come, just turn up.

We meet outside the Hand & Spear pub near Weybridge Station, and the route will be about 40 kilometers on a mix of main and quieter roads.

We will set off down Brooklands Road and Redhill Road, crossing under the A3 and over the M25 into Old Lane. From there we head for East Horsley and then uphill along Greene Dene until we get to the top of the North Downs. Then it’s downhill on Staple Lane to East Clandon and then back through Ripley and West Byfleet.

Lunch will be at East Clandon or Ripley depending on the overall pace of the group.

The full route map is here: www.strava.com/routes/17571988

The ride will be on a mix of quiet and busier roads. The total distance will be about 40km, which is around 25 miles.

If you want to come on the ride, you can just turn up.

We will head out towards Hersham and Molesey before crossing Bushey Park as we aim for Strawberry Hill. From there we pick up the path through Crane Park until we reach the A316. Here we turn for home, taking the series of connecting paths that run parallel to the 316. In Sunbury we head for Walton Bridge and then the secret cyclepath back into Weybridge by about 1pm.

For those that have booked, we will finish at the Jolly Farmer for a festive lunch.

We will head out through Brooklands Park then pick up the Basingstoke Canal all the way into Woking where we will meet up with the Woking lot at 2pm. Sandra will then lead us to Virginia Water and on to Windsor Great Park where there will be a detour to see the Acers which should be in fine colours at this time of year. It’s anybody’s guess what the route back will be.

The ride will be on a mix of quiet and busier roads and a few bits of cycle path. The total distance will be about 35km, which is around 20 miles.

Outbound route through Virginia Water to Windsor Great Park. From there towards Egham and Staines where picked up the riverside towpath back to Weybridge via Chertsey Bridge. Lunch at a pub in Egham or Staines.

Outbound route through Virginia Water and Windsor Great Park and then past White Waltham airfield, over Knowl Hill and down into Henley.

The return leg via Remenham, Hurley, Maidenhead, Bray and Eton, expected back in Weybridge around 5 or 6pm.

Starting from Weybridge head south along Redhill Road and then towards Downside Cobham. After crossing Bookham Common circle back through Effingham, East Horsley and Ripley until we reach the River Wey near Newark Priory. Stop here for a picnic. There are no facilities here so cyclysits need to bring everything you need. For anyone adventurous enough there’s a chance to paddle or swim in the river.

After a leisurely picnic break head back through Pyrford and Wisley where pick up the canal path back to Byfleet and finally Weybridge. The route is on a mainly quiet roads and cycle paths. The total distance will be about 35km, which is around 20 miles.