The day started well for what was destined to be a long ride to Wimbledon with a clear sky and a light breeze. This was reflected in the turnout for both Sunday rides with nine people setting off on the long ride; Liliane Rausch, Iain Macdonald, Bernie Green, Jamie Watts, Jim Swan, Cliff Jones, Alan Potter, and John Owen. Steve Ayres from the West Middx CTC was also with us as far as the first stop at Richmond. We headed off on the back roads parallel with the Uxbridge Road and briefly along the canal to reach Southall. At this point Bernie had stopped and was checking his wheels. We'd already been told about a minor problem with the spokes but Bernie thought it was too risky to continue from such an early point in the ride and he thought it best to return home. It was ironic that only ten minutes earlier we'd cycled right past Bernie's house and he thought the wheel had been running OK. And so we continued towards Osterley Park, going underneath the busy A4 road and then across Syon Park to reach the Thames. The number of (mainly slow) walkers was less than expected so we cycled along the riverside to reach the Tide Tables Cafe in Richmond for 11's. Sitting outside looking at the Thames and watching the boats go past. We said goodbye to Steve as we started the second stage of the ride, continuing along the Thames path as far as Ham House. A ride around the outer path of the garden took us to the edge of Richmond Park and it was then along the cycle paths and main roads to see one of London's finest parks. Liliane commented how great the park was for us and the loads of other cyclists we saw in such a short time. Leaving the park from the Roehampton Gate we went past the very large and distinctive council flats, through Putney Heath, underneath the busy A3, and onto Wimbledon Common. There were several comments about looking for The Wombles and at least one person hummed the theme tune... The middle Sunday in the tennis at Wimbledon would normally be a rest day but this year there were games being played so the area had more people and cars than we'd expected. We first went through Wimbledon Park to see where the overnight queues have their tents, and then went around the edge of the ground to see some of the courts and hear the outer games being played. The ride was running late by this stage and as it was approaching 2:30pm we cycled quickly towards New Malden to take the lunch break at the Wetherspoons pub 'The Watchman'. Alan suggested sitting near the entrance and some of us were regularly checking through the windows to avoid a repeat of the bike theft we experienced last year in Westminster. A swift pint (two pints for Cliff) and we were off for the final leg of the journey to return to Uxbridge. We crossed the Thames at Kingston and headed into Hampton Court Park and cycled towards Hampton Court Palace. Stopping at the end of The Long Water, a few people had to cycle closer and take a long shot of the palace with their smartphones. Cutting across the golf course and around the palace, we were then heading across the very large and green Bushy Park. Soon riding alongside the River Crane and across Hounslow Heath, we said goodbye to Liliane and Iain. After going through Lake Farm Country Park and onto Stockley Park the suggestion of a quick pint in the Wetherspoons pub seemed too tempting to miss on such a warm and pleasant evening (Cliff having his third cider of the ride). Leaving Stockley Park the four remaining riders then started to go their separate ways on the way back to Uxbridge and the ride finally ended at 6:45pm and a distance of 90km (56m). It had been a late finish but as it was a very nice day it would have been a shame to finish earlier and it looked like the overall opinion was a very good (and long) ride.