Focus
The joy of cycling
“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”
These are the words of Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle, writing in the Scientific American in 1896, but they are surely just as true – if not more so – today.
Charles Barraball, of West Barnes Lane, took up cycling seriously only about three-and-a-half years ago. Now, as co-ordinator of the Merton Cycling Campaign, he leads twice-monthly cycle rides that set off from outside the pavilion in the Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields and heads for – who knows where?
Safety first
“We often decide on the day where to go,” says Charles, 67. “We’ve been top places like Hampton Court or Morden Hall Park – as long as it’s along roads that are safe to cycle on, and there’s somewhere to stop off for a cup of tea.”
Charles, an accredited cycling instructor, always planned to do a lot of cycling after he retired as a chartered surveyor at 65. But when he lost his wife, Pam, shortly afterwards, he had a lot more time to fill. Cycling, and the friends he made, were a great help in adjusting to the situation.
“Cyclists are really nice people,” he says. “On Wednesdays I go out for all-day rides with a group from the Cyclists’ Touring Club, or CTC. I belong to the the South-West London branch – we’re known as the Sou’westers.
“We’ll stop somewhere for elevenses, then later we make another stop – always at a pub - then around teatime we’ll find a cafe or somewhere for another break,” he says. “It’s all very sociable and enjoyable.”
The Merton Cycling Campaign has around 400 members, and is a part of the London Cycling Campaign.
Bike Week
From 13 to 21 June is Bike Week, the UK’s biggest national cycling event, with participants ranging from dedicated commuter cyclists to absolute beginners.
Organised rides, challenges and many other bike-related activities take place throughout the country.
The Merton Cycling Campaign is marking the week with a number of events, including a Sunset Ride in Richmond Park on Wednesday, 16 June, at 7.30pm, a cyclists barbecue on Friday, 18 June, and on Saturday 19 June, from 1pm to 4pm, a community cycle event in Phipps Bridge Park.
This will include free cycle training with accredited Bikeability cycling instructors, bike marking by the police and a free ‘Dr Bike’ session to have your bike checked and adjusted.
• For more details about Charles’s Family Cycle Rides on the first and third Sunday of each month (2pm from the pavilion in Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields, Motspur Park), click here, call 020 8949 0708, or call/text 07950 077445, or email charles@barraball.com.
External links:
Merton Cycling Campaign
MCC’s Sunday rides from Motspur Park
London Cycling Campaign
Cyclists’
Touring Club
CTC South-West London
Midweek Wayfarers (blogspot)
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Pedal from the park: Charles Barraball prepares to lead a cycle outing
Out for a spin: CTC ‘Sou’wester’ members cycling through Richmond Park
