Rose had ridden to a charity coffee morning at The Swan Pub in Clewer (Windsor) last month, and since it's a regular monthly Friday event, she decided to offer to lead a ride there today, starting in Ascot.
But she advertised it as a "Guided" Ride and not a Breeze Ride on the Lets Ride website. (this means that men can also join the ride). Caroline signed up, but no one else did. So I decided to join Rose to support her, as still plenty of spaces. I invited my regular Friday ladies to also sign up. (They are all registered with Breeze). So, Louise, Martina and Lynne were free today.
Then yesterday I was checking on who was riding with Champ Hazel on Friday, and realised that she had cancelled it, since noone had signed up. (very unusual). So I sent her the link to Rose's ride, and Hazel joined us too! Which was great, since I rarely see her.
The forecast was for early rain, but to be passing through by 8.30... which it did. Phew. 4 of us went in my van to park at Locks Ride Recreation Ground, just 2.5 miles from Ascot Racecourse. A new building has appeared since I last parked there. Louise went to check it out, and since it was open, used the loo too. There were only 2 cars in the car park, and 2 ladies were in a class with Sheepskin rugs.😂 Not sure what kind of class that was.😏
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| Locks Ride Rec ground car park. Very posh since my last time. |
Route link screen shot at end.
We soon joined Sandy Lane to drop down to Ascot Racecourse, to liase with Rose, Caroline and Hazel at 9.45.
A loop of the racecourse, and then we left to cross straight over the High Street, and into the quiet St Georges Lane. This is where St Georges School is, and very impressive. We passed the main entrance and on a downhill, almost back ourselves, we passed the back of the school. I shouted "stopping, pls pass" for a quick photo, which they all did, apart from Caroline, who braked too quickly and fell off. She has just got clip in peddles this week, and still getting used to them. Her first fall, but thankfully on to a grass verge so she was fine. Sorry Caroline.
We were in South Ascot, and not far from where Rose lives, so she was almost back to the start. We wiggled our way through Sunninghill to Sunningdale on some pretty quiet roads with impressive properties. And care homes! We had a few pointed out by Rose. We took a quick detour into Sunningdale Park Road, to see this impressive Audley Club building. Martina had been to a wedding here years ago.
Down through Sunningdale, and after just a couple of hundred yards on London Road, we are into the Great Park at the Mill Road entrance. (I normally approach from the other end of Mill Road).
Such a pity that we are no longer allowed to cycle through the deer park (since Covid grrrr), but Rose took us a loop on Dukes Lane, to enjoy a view of Windsor Castle.
We waited at the traffic lights to cross the A332, and crossed to join the narrower cycle path. We were a little bunched together, and without a clear view of the path ahead, I only spotted a large log at the last second, and couldn't avoid it. My tyre hit it , and I was off....fortunately landing in grass. With a van watching at the traffic lights, I lept up, and felt rather stupid. I had to empty by brake lever which was full of mud from the soft grass! But otherwise fine. (OR at least I thought so, until now home I struggled to get my socks off, and deep breathing is now painful! Just a muscle strain I expect)
As some of the ladies went inside, I noticed Hazel checking her phone, and she asked what time I thought we would be back to the start? Turned out she was playing tennis this afternoon. Right then. lets go Rose! Rose tried to shave a few minutes off the intended route by wiggling through a different way until soon back on track to climb up back into the Great Park. Watch out for that log I shouted!! 😖😖😖
Rose, Hazel and Caroline left us at the top of Watersplash Lane to get Hazel back to her car asap. The rest of us retraced out route through the Racecourse tunnel, up Sandy Lane, and enjoyed a final whizz on a very slight downhill on Locks Ride back to the start . (Improved from 9.6 mph to 9.8mph 😂)
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| Sky looking a bit threatening as we enter the racecourse, but the sun was due out any minute now. |
A loop of the racecourse, and then we left to cross straight over the High Street, and into the quiet St Georges Lane. This is where St Georges School is, and very impressive. We passed the main entrance and on a downhill, almost back ourselves, we passed the back of the school. I shouted "stopping, pls pass" for a quick photo, which they all did, apart from Caroline, who braked too quickly and fell off. She has just got clip in peddles this week, and still getting used to them. Her first fall, but thankfully on to a grass verge so she was fine. Sorry Caroline.
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| Back of St George School, which is built on quite a slope. |
We were in South Ascot, and not far from where Rose lives, so she was almost back to the start. We wiggled our way through Sunninghill to Sunningdale on some pretty quiet roads with impressive properties. And care homes! We had a few pointed out by Rose. We took a quick detour into Sunningdale Park Road, to see this impressive Audley Club building. Martina had been to a wedding here years ago.
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| Audley club. A posh restaurant, and leisure facility NOW, but had many wealthy owners, and sold to the Crown in 1950. Then became a Civil Service college. Some important govt business also done here with regards to UK/Irish agreements under Ted Heath. |
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| Rose telling us about the history of Sunningdale Park. No access was allowed. Since 2022, there is now a SANG car park. I've never heard of SANG! (Suitable alternative Natural Greenspace) So now you can make use of the open spaces. |
Down through Sunningdale, and after just a couple of hundred yards on London Road, we are into the Great Park at the Mill Road entrance. (I normally approach from the other end of Mill Road).
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| A beautiful daffodil display as we climb the rise up to Smiths Polo Lawns, |
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| The other side also pretty , with a little stream running down. (the ladies up ahead on the hill) |
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| Smiths Polo Lawns, and a beautiful day now. |
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| I told them NOT to just line up.... so some are deliberately hiding. 😎 |
Such a pity that we are no longer allowed to cycle through the deer park (since Covid grrrr), but Rose took us a loop on Dukes Lane, to enjoy a view of Windsor Castle.
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| Castle in the far distance. |
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| Castle viewing point And now its all downhill to leave the park as we cross the A332 |
We waited at the traffic lights to cross the A332, and crossed to join the narrower cycle path. We were a little bunched together, and without a clear view of the path ahead, I only spotted a large log at the last second, and couldn't avoid it. My tyre hit it , and I was off....fortunately landing in grass. With a van watching at the traffic lights, I lept up, and felt rather stupid. I had to empty by brake lever which was full of mud from the soft grass! But otherwise fine. (OR at least I thought so, until now home I struggled to get my socks off, and deep breathing is now painful! Just a muscle strain I expect)
We continued all downhill into Windsor, using the tunnel under the A308 as I have done many times before. BUT some new local knowledge from Rose today, who pointed out the entrance to a community green which the terrace houses surrounding it all share. Its a tiny entrance, which she pointed out as we passed.
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| Garden Cottages Community Green, shared by residents of 3 roads whose houses all back onto the space. |
We arrived at 11.30 to an empty looking garden space at The Swan, but were able to all use the empty bike rack. But inside was a different story! The tables all full of small groups enjoying coffee and cake. Rose has phoned a couple of days ago to warn the owners that we would be arriving as a group of 25 cyclists!! Rosie from Maidenhead had spread the word to Rachael and her Amersham ladies, so what a great turnout. They arrived just a few minutes after us, having started out just 7 miles at Taplow, along the Jubilee River path. A puncture and another technical had held them up slightly.
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| Lynne and Martin enjoying the sunshine at The Swan garden space |
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| Hazel, Lousie and Caroline |
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| Our leader today who did a great job of leading the ride, preparing us for the road ahead. Well done Rose. |
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| It suddenly got busy! |
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| 3 leaders on this table, Rachel, Jules and Rosie with a couple of their regular riders. |
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| And a mix from Amersham and Maidenhead groups. |
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| This lady then appeared and thanked us all for coming to support the charity and told us that they were very keen to have any old sleeping bags that anyone might have. |
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| And a group photo taken by the charity lady, on Rachel's phone. |
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| A very quick look at the building almost next to the pub. This entrance to St Andrew the Apostle Chruch, the OLDEST building in Windsor, and pre dates the castle. |
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| nipping into the churchyard. |
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| Cedar Shingle Spire. |
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| the original church around 1100's. |
As some of the ladies went inside, I noticed Hazel checking her phone, and she asked what time I thought we would be back to the start? Turned out she was playing tennis this afternoon. Right then. lets go Rose! Rose tried to shave a few minutes off the intended route by wiggling through a different way until soon back on track to climb up back into the Great Park. Watch out for that log I shouted!! 😖😖😖
A lovely ride back through the park on a different route to Watersplash Lane exit, where the road was closed. We were allowed to squeeze through by walking it.
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| Main road closed for repair at the entrance to Watersplash Lane. |
Well done to Rose, and Rosie for organising. Perfect weather for our ride, thankfully, since a bit busy to have fitted us all indoors in the pub! Nice to see everyone.