Kew Gardens to Windsor Loop

This morning it took me a little longer to get up as I had stayed up to watch some of the opening ceremony, before my eyes felt so heavy I could watch no more. What I saw I enjoyed and I made a mental note to dip in now and then to watch various sports.

The meeting point was outside Kew Gardens at 10:00. With my car parked I put the front wheel of my bike back on, pumped the tyres and got myself ready for the off. Dr John arrived more or less when I did and making my way to the official meeting point, some 100 metres away I saw that almost everyone was there. David - our ride leader, Anne, Chris, Zoom Zoom, Rob, George and friend and Jack.

Poor David was still suffering from laryngitis and was hardly able to talk. Anne stepped in to provide a set of brief instructions and not too long after 10:00 we were off.

The weather was glorious and I had thought it best to apply some sun cream before leaving just in case. It was in this lovely weather that we soon reached the outskirts of the rather lovely Osterley Park and its rather magnificent house.

Regrouping

I cannot be sure for certain but I think the last time I was here was at an Evans Cycles sportive  about a year ago. I recall that the weather wasn't too wonderful then and I was glad today was better.

Dr John had deliberated long and hard about to wear a newly purchased pair of bib shorts. The bib short can take some getting used to. I myself can only say that I thought I looked pretty good in them much to the horror of Mrs Orange and the Orangettes. For a bit of a lark I paraded around the house in them and threatened to go out in public wearing them - and I mean just them.

Thankfully, Dr John took my advice and decided to wear them and I suspect they were a success. Certainly in the summer months I can see myself wearing them all the time - when cycling that it!

Osterley Park in the distance

Osterley House which was started in 1762 was designed by the architect Robert Adam and was set in acres upon acres of countryside in its day. Much of the surrounding land is long gone and now housing, shops and industrial estates but what remains is still one of the largest open spaces in west London.

Not a bad pad

This particular ride was a big bike only ride. All participants have Brompton bicycles but as many of us are new devotees to all things big wheeled, small wheels were not appropriate on this occasion. Of course I took my Condor with me and I am starting to get to know this bike very well.

The ever smiling Chris

At one point we stopped to regroup and saw a sign for 'Rodney Meadow.' Of all the things you could call a meadow! It just didn't seem right.

Really?

There were quite a few cyclists  about and one rider in a family group had a small dog sitting quite happily in a rear basket. As I cycled past, if a dog could speak it might have said, 'lovely morning for it!'

Dog in basket

We arrived at Windsor after passing through Eton - some might say the most pretentious location in the South East - in very good time. We took refuge outside 'Olivia Cafe' where good cakes, panini and coffee could be purchased.

Not having a Brompton to fold and quite literally have by my side - or knowing me under the table I sat at - I had to prop my beloved Condor up against a post. I can tell you I watched that bike light a hawk and eyed with immense suspicion anyone who I regarded coming too close to it. Luckily I didn't have to launch myself screaming like a banshee at any would be thief!

Halfway refreshment stop

Windsor

With refreshments over with we cycled up the main street with good views of the famous castle itself. We didn't get too far as a few riders needed to powder their noses.

The castle

Windsor Castle was built in the 11th Century after the Norman invasion of 1066. Since Henry I it has been used by all monarchs and holds the record for being the longest-occupied palace in Europe.

The Castle also contains St George's Chapel which is the site of burial for several royal internments. These include Henry VIII, Charles I and George III to name but a few.

Some participants took pictures of the castle as did tourists out in force. Some participants took pictures of their bicycles and some tourists took pictures of a Rapha-clad man taking a picture of his bicycle.

Heritage...and the castle isn't bad either

Soon we were off again and arrived at Windsor Great Park. We were informed that riders could only enter in groups of no more than six. Obligingly we went off in two groups.

Windsor Great Park

Windsor Great Park does live up to its name. It is vast. covering just over 20 square miles. For centuries it was the private hunting ground of the castle and back in the mid 1200's extended over an area that was even larger than its current incarnation!

The uber stylish Zoom Zoom

At the Long Walk we stopped to take some more photos - always an important part of any decent ride. The Long Walk is just over two and a half miles and the castle can just about be seen in the distance.

The Long Walk

Looking in the opposite direction you can see Snow Hill, upon which a statue of King George III is depicted as a Roman Emperor. I asked David to pose for me and my only regret is not having brought my big camera!

Statue of George III

Moving on we progressed through the vast expanse of the park and encountered a few deer who seems oblivious to the the many walkers and bikers taking photos.

Deer

At Windsor Polo Club we stopped for another photo opportunity and it looked as if preparations were well under way for a polo match later that afternoon. Passing the many polo ponies that were lined up and getting ready, I thought to myself that in the unlikely event I were to ever need a polo pony, I would need one a great deal bigger! An English Bray came to mind.

Windsor Polo Club

With the afternoon sun still happily shining we arrived at Bushy Park just after passing Hampton Court Palace. Soon thereafter Richmond arrived and not long after that Kew Gardens. Saying our goodbyes we headed our separate ways, happy in the knowledge that we had cycled just over 50 miles.

Bushy Park

It is perhaps be no surprise to you when I say that I am really enjoying my Condor road bike. After completing 50 miles I knew that I could have started all over again and done another 50. I have signed up for the St Crispin's Day 100 mile night ride later this year and even though I have done this previously quite happily on a Brompton, I suspect it will be completed on my Condor road bike this time.

Another lovely ride with great company and again many thanks to David for being the ride leader and organising the ride in the first place, especially when he did not feel 100%.


Map and ride data

St Mary's Church Harefield

Early this morning with a little time on my side I decided that I would venture out on a little recce along the Grand Union Canal. I write along the Grand Union Canal but I did use quiet roads more than the canal towpath and as such covered quite few miles. After about 18 miles I had reached Harefield, a location I had previously visited by car and more specifically St Mary's Church.

St Mary's Church is Harefield's oldest building being named in the Domesday Survey of 1086. In fact much of its surrounding land was owned by the Knights Hospitallers.

Of course anyone who visits the church will soon discover the many WWI Australian servicemen buried there, so far from home. Many of these young men fought and were wounded at Gallipoli or the Western Front and subsequently died from their their injuries at the hospital established nearby.

The parents of many of the soldiers buried here were unable to attend the funerals of their loved ones and were never to see their final resting place because of the distance and expense involved.

From 1921 there has been an annual ceremony which sees children from a local school putting flowers on every grave. This is followed by a service attended by representatives from the Australian High Commission and occasionally relatives of the departed.

Among the many graves is one lady, Staff Nurse Ruby Dickinson who died of pneumonia following 

influenza. 

It really is a lovely location and well worth a visit and one cannot help to be moved by so many young lives cut short and the poor relatives who grieving from so far away. Australians are wonderful people and I have written before that I have yet to meet one I have not been able to get on with. 

With at least another 18 miles to cycle back the other way I didn't stay too long but did manage to find a cafe that was open further up the high street that sold a pretty mean espresso and almond croissant.

Again my road bike was the bicycle of choice and I was glad that I took it. The distances seem to be eaten up by this bike. I have not forgotten or neglected my beloved Brompton bicycles but my Condor road bike is just so comfy, efficient and fun in getting me from A to B, if I know I don't need to fold, it is going to be my preferred weapon of choice.

Again I put the Garmin 820 voice commands when navigating to use and found them to be faultless. I am really liking this little unit and if it can get me to where I want to go - with my sense of direction - it must be pretty good. I'll get a review out at some point for the 820.

In case you are wondering what the word recce was used for, I was testing out a few locations - this church being one of them - for a ride that I might actually lead on road bikes or Brompton's. Having the confidence to navigate has been the main reason for me not leading rides. Perhaps with the help of the 820, iPhone, paper maps and a few friends it just might happen?

Rudolf Nureyev while cycling

Until very recently when cycling on a ride of anything more than 10 miles I would wear a pair of padded cycling shorts UNDER a pair of cycling specific shorts. Things have taken quite a dramatic turn of late I can tell you!

A few weeks ago I bought a pair of dhb bib shorts and of course I wore them under a pair of shorts. I have to report that bib shorts are quite simply excellent in terms of comfort. Yes I looked like a wrestler from the 1970's but the comfort was worth it. On the bike there was little needed in the way of adjusting and the pad - or chamois - was positioned perfectly.

The worry of actually let us say powdering ones nose while out in the field, was better than I initially thought. After a few practice runs and knowing the need to avoid whiplash, I was fine.

All the time I see cyclists wearing bib shorts and a cycling jersey and that' it. No shorts over the bib shorts. This has always been something I have shunned. For my eyes I am no fan of what I have always termed, baboon bottom. The sight of a very visible pad, sorry chamois being paraded around is just too much. However, how things have changed.

On my Ride46 I decided to wear some Rapha bib shorts I had been dying to wear for some time. Combined with a pretty fine Rapha Brevet wind block jersey...well it had to happen! Just as I was leaving to go for the Ride46 I attempted to show Mrs Orange my new look. It was far too early for her and she turned away and continued her slumber. One of the Orangettes was up and simply said, 'you're wearing those?' of course referring to my bib shorts. Undeterred I carried on and no shorts would be placed over my bib shorts!

In addition to baboon bottom I have say that when I looked at my reflection in a shop window, to check I was still looking as dapper as I thought I was not 30 minutes earlier, I was struck that baboon bottom was not the only issue with Bib shorts!

As I glanced at my reflection and then looking down to confirm what I had seen, I could not help but think of the late Rudolf Nureyev in his prime. Several other names clouded my thoughts Vaslav Nijinsky and even Waynne Sleep!

On the bike the bib shorts felt great and not having shorts over them was definitely more comfortable.  I have this very a.m. been out on my Titanium Orange Brompton for an early morning 12 mile round trip, wearing just bib shorts and a jersey and felt pretty good about it. Of course things might be different if I were not cycling and had to do something such as go shopping. There is no way I would for example want to parade around in a pair of bib shorts around Costco!

No, I am a covert. It has taken a long time and a great deal of naysaying, but I will now wear my bib shorts a great deal more. Give them a go people, what's the worst that can happen!