A Group 14th April

Pictures by Jeff

From Cheam to Shining Sea

A grey morning at Cheam crossroads, but not cold, and a sizeable gang of Wayfarers waited eagerly for the start - Seasiders, Hostellers and Wednesday Riders. Sun was promised for later and there was general expectation of a good day.

At 0900 on the dot the Seaside Peleton set off towards Ewell and began the climb over Epsom Downs towards Walton on the Hill. As arranged, Luc was waiting at Mere pond and we swept down Pebblecombe Hill, on to Brockham, Tanners Hill Lane and Henfold Lakes. Two surprises awaited us - the cafe is smartly and comfortably refurbished, and it was packed. A lot of people were ready for a Spring Ride.

So, to a cacophany of whistles, all of them loud, the Coast Group formed up. Sixteen of us left Henfold: Andrew, Bob, Frank, Graham, Jeff, John, Luc, Maggie, Mike, Mike M, Paul, Rob, Robin, Steph, Toni and me. On our way at 1045 we set off at a brisk pace along roads initially familiar through Newdigate, Rusper and Faygate. Tower Road was our first real hill, not a big one, but taken at speed it provided the peak five minutes output of the day at 224 watts. Mike M dropped back a bit - he is still building fitness after his accident and his mountain bike limited his speed, so the group settled at fifteen where it remained until lunch.

Past the Hammer Ponds, Warninglid and Wineham, with the countryside becoming less familiar to most, we began to get glimpses of the South Downs. But we were going round them, not over, and after a short stop at Blackstone for Robin to replace the batteries in his GPS we went on at pace through Small Dole heading for Upper Beeding, wanting to put the busy section of the A 2037 behind us as soon as possible.

Here we jinked over the River Adur by a footbridge and exchanged the A283 and its lorries for the pleasant Coombes Lane with views of Lancing College. Back over the Adur to the cycle path, mostly well surfaced, through Ropemaker Quay and there was the Bridge Inn, Shoreham, where lunch awaited.

Imogen, the landlady, had promised us a table in the garden if sunny, but indoors if not, and, sadly, there was our table in the middle of the dining room. The forecast sun hadn't arrived. We were cheerfully and promptly served, perhaps a little erratically in some cases, and all ate well to fuel themselves for the next half. And, blow me, just as we were finishing here came Mike M - a really heroic effort.

The implication of covering twelve miles in every hour for eight hours was now clear to all, and Robin, Steph and Mike M elected to start out with the group but to set themselves a slightly slower pace. They would follow the same route and might see us at the stops.

So, with a short delay while the Maintenance Team fixed Paul's puncture (funny how often they happen over lunch) it was back on the road - or at least the pavement - as we walked over the Adur footbridge for a run along Beach Road and a glimpse of the sea. No takers for paddling, and we were soon battling the North East wind past the airport. It brought some benefit, though, as it blew the clouds away, and before we got to Coombes we were bathed in Spring sunshine which remained with us for the rest of the ride. Coming round the corner past Botolphs it was a nice surprise to see the Hostel Group heading towards us on their outward journey. Waves, hellos and then on our way.

Due to a muddle at road works traffic lights in Steyning we lost Paul. It's still not clear exactly how this happened, and the general assumption at the next regrouping stop that he had taken up with Robin, Steph and Mike M was later revealed to be wrong. But he's a capable chap and made his own way to Wetherspoons in Leatherhead and was in at the finish.

The next fifteen miles were hard graft. Good roads, generally flat but not without hills, and into the teeth of the North Easter. I was worried that we would fail to make Hilliers Garden Centre before it closed, and by the time we passed though Monks Gate the peleton was a little ragged and more than ready for its tea. My bag of sweeties wasn't going to do the trick if they were shut. We were just in the nick of time - they had put the cakes away, but got them out again for us and we ate, drank and drew breath. Less than twenty miles to the finish and moving into familiar territory, which always seems a bit easier.

Coming out of Hilliers we had the heartbreaking experience of seeing Robin, Steph and Mike M arrive. The cafe had closed behind us and there was no cake for them. There was no help for it and we pressed on. The pace seemed higher, tho' the telemetry shows that it wasn't, but the next few miles got short shrift in any case. By the time we got to Newdigate people were making plans for their homeward journeys: Rob was going back to Dorking, Jeff was going via Reigate, Andrew, Bob and Maggie and Frank were all making their separate ways.

So it was a pleasant few miles in the evening sunshine along the easy run into Leatherhead where Graham, John, Luc, Mike, Paul, Toni and I enjoyed a welcome drink and digested the ride. Just as we were leaving, here came Robin. He had left Steph at the edge of Leatherhead on her way home and had come in for his supper. So John and I stayed and chatted with him while he ate and then it was off home.

The stats are pretty much as planned - 93.8 miles Cheam to Leatherhead, moving average 12.2 mph, 82 watts (which is solid but a little down on one of our shorter, faster rides) and 4,459 calories. Everyone achieved the goals that they had set themselves for what was a pretty tough day. Home to home mileages were more than 100 miles for most - Frank was, I think, top at 121 miles door to door.

Not bad for pensioners ...

Mark