It's like you've been watching my history Bothwell - I've been looking at the same thing (including this thread) in the same area.
I used to ride with Twickenham CC but stopped when I moved house as the commute to get to the early weekend rides was just too far (ironic considing the distance of the rides I'd be willing to do)...
I don't think the 'too far' is that ironic, really - if you've got to ride 20 miles just to get to the start point, you've got to get up much earlier than the people who live more locally. It's not so much the distance, it's that for a ride starting at 8am you've got to get up at about 5 unless you cane it to the start point and knacker yourself before the ride begins. I'd prefer to be reasonably fresh for the main ride so that I can enjoy it.
I don't think the 'too far' is that ironic, really - if you've got to ride 20 miles just to get to the start point, you've got to get up much earlier than the people who live more locally. It's not so much the distance, it's that for a ride starting at 8am you've got to get up at about 5 unless you cane it to the start point and knacker yourself before the ride begins. I'd prefer to be reasonably fresh for the main ride so that I can enjoy it.