Archive by Author
Rides for Everyone – Saturday 19th May
January 4, 2012 by Paul Luton, under Events, Rides, Rides For Everyone.
Palaces of West London
Meet Richmond Little Green by theatre at 10.00am.
We Cross the Thames and pass through the grounds of Sion House before heading up the Grand Union Canal to Norwood Green. A country lane takes us into the wide spaces of Osterley Park where we enjoy coffee in the stables before passing the mansion on the way home. About 10 miles, quiet with some slopes. Should be back around 12 ish. 
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Richmond Entries for Cycling Facility of the Month ?
December 3, 2011 by Paul Luton, under Campaign.
A nice clear logo to show where cyclists should ride
(Staines Rd Twickenham)
Textured paving and sign clearly show the end of shared use of footway. Just turn right to move to carriageway — over the fence !
(Sixth Cross Rd Twickenham.)
Fortunately there’s a convenient warning painted on the ground in case you don’t see the car before you hit it head on!
(Church Road, Richmond)
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Community and Police Partnership meeting report
November 30, 2011 by Paul Luton, under Security.
A few items of cycling interest.
Bike Theft. – the police reported 506 bikes stolen (from street ?) and 683 “non-residential burglaries (mainly bikes stolen from sheds) for the year so far. The latter is a 7% increase. I did ask whether this usually unlocked sheds – apparently not always. Expensive bikes are being targeted. One decoy bike was stolen and quickly taken to Westminster. The Borough Commander – CSI Chalk who is himself a regular cyclist – will send on more details and I will add them here.
Sgt Boulton of Richmond Park Safer Parks Team told me that they had a problem with cyclists not wanting to mar their lightweight bikes with a lock and then leaving them outside a cafe. They will tag bikes on request.
Usual complaints from an individual about cyclists on the footway in Broad Street , Teddington. Why on earth would anyone do that when congestion traffic-calms the road pretty effectively ?
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Residential Cycle Parking
October 17, 2011 by Paul Luton, under All Posts.
We discussed the problem for cyclists living in flats. Lambeth seem to have solved it.
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Surrey Cycle Guides – available again.
October 8, 2011 by Paul Luton, under Rides.
Anyone who has joined our southerly rides will have benefited from these excellent maps. They are now available again (but at a modest price rather than free, but still good value) from main Surrey libraries.
See this website.
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Rides for Explorers 2nd October
October 2, 2011 by Paul Luton, under All Posts.
Through Woods and Fields to Bookham
Meet Twickenham Riverside by Eel Pie bridge 10.15. We head south crossing Littleworth Common, and Esher Common to Cobham and then a path across open fields and wooded Bookham Common.
After a pub lunch we return taking in Oxshott Heath and Princes Coverts.
About 35 miles avoiding main roads and using fairly smooth tracks – most bikes should cope.
Eight explorers started off , including two from the Netherlands – the fame of RCC rides is spreading – showing that any bike (including Dutch uprights with no gears and a satchel hanging from the handlebars) is suitable for our rides!
A bit of a hold-up over lunch but enjoying the sun in a Surrey beer-garden is not too stressful and we were back in the borough by 3.30 after a Golden Afternoon.
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Bikes and the Police
September 28, 2011 by Paul Luton, under All Posts.
How not to lock your bike!
At the Police Community Consultation meeting last night it was pointed out that the theft of bicycles now added up to 20% of thefts. There is a possibility that cheap shed-alarms might be made available.
The Metropolitan Police are consulting about public priorities and readers of this site might well want to put their views:
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Rides for Everyone – Saturday 17th September – Sandycombe Lodge
September 17, 2011 by Paul Luton, under All Posts.
Open House London Ride – Art and Society by the Thames.
Meet on Twickenham Riverside , by eel-pie bridge at 10.00. We cycle down the Thames past Orleans and Marble Hill to visit Sandycombe Lodge Designed for his own use by Britain’s greatest artist JMW Turner. We continue over Richmond Bridge to Petersham and Ham House: built in 1610 for a courtier of James 1st , sumptuously decorated by a close friend of Charles 1st and enlarged for a chief minister of Charles 2nd. We have time only for a look at the outside and a coffee but if anyone wants to drop out here the house is open free today from 12 and there is lots to see. We return to Twickenham over Teddington Footbridge.
Only 6 miles cycling but allowing for visits will take about 2 hours.
In the event Just four of us turned up (the closure of local rail lines cannot have helped). We were given an extensive tour of Sandycombe Lodge 
before making our way across Petersham meadows – the gates of which are cycle-possible rather than cycle-friendly and the surface rather worse. The paths around Ham House were well used by cyclists of all ages and by the time we had finished our coffees the house was open so we had a brief look round. (PL being a NT guide)
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London Sky Ride 2011
September 4, 2011 by Paul Luton, under Events, Feeder Rides, Rides.
This year’s London Sky Ride takes place on Sunday 4 September. It’s a great opportunity for all the family to cycle on traffic free streets in central London. Kelly Brook recently launched the event with London Mayor Boris Johnson, here’s a video of the launch.
As in previous years, Richmond Cycling Campaign will be leading feeder rides from Little Green next to the big green in Richmond, opposite Richmond Library – Map Link. These rides will link into the main ride in central London. Last year we ran two feeder rides with nearly 200 riders in total, it was quite a sight! This year we shall again have two feeder rides – one at 9.30am and a second at 10.30am. We shall also lead a ride back to Richmond so you won’t be left behind in central London!
Below we see the 9.30 ride ready to leave Richmond Green
A good time was had by all – despite some rain in the middle of the day.
As well as the main London event, this year there were two local London Skyrides in Hillington (31 July) and Barking and Dagenham (21 August).
Find out more info on the main Sky Ride website.
