A Group 18th August

Blue skies and bright sunshine as I set out this morning, so no need for a jacket. But, unsettlingly, it had clouded over by the time I reached Caterham. Fingers crossed - too late by then, anyway.

Seven of us set off a bit after eleven: Dave, Grant, Jeff, John, Ray, Tony and me. Grant turned back on Roffes Lane - I don't know why - so we were a handy six as we traversed the top of the North Downs on War Coppice Road before swooping down to Caterham past Caterham School and the Caterham Seven factory. Crossing the A22 we headed up past Woldingham School on the bridleway, actually a well-surfaced private road, past cornfields back up to the edge of the Downs. Here was the main challenge of the day - Gangers Hill - which is quite an elegant way up to the Ridge. There is a short steep section of about 15% with the rest being much easier, winding pleasantly through trees to the top. Jeff went ahead to get photos then the 'A' Team stormed the hill.

Once on the Ridge the pace picked up, past Chalk Pit Lane, that we last came up in the snow, past the iconic White Lane, course for the Bec Hill Climb (10 October this year), through pretty Tatsfield decked with flowers, past roadworks on Ship Hill and a brief sprint to the top. We all got the right gear for that one - we weren't always so good along the undulating crest.

Crossing the A233 - imaginatively called 'Main Road' we saw giant puffball mushrooms growing in the hedge on Grays Road. We didn't stop to pick them, though had Vic been with us we might have. A brief photo stop at Bombers Lane and then we were at the 'Tally Ho' - table ready for us, good food and friendly service.

After lunch John turned for home - he needed to be early to get ready for this evening's Prom. The rest of us set off along Brasted Lane to Brasted Hill - steeply down - where we got the best speed of the day at 38 mph. A quick right turn before it really flattened out took us on to the Pilgrims Way and the nature of the route - and the riding - began to change. The morning had been about hills, big and little, the afternoon was about steady pace in rolling country. With a few hills thrown in for variety, of course.

The bottom of Titsey Hill gave us another burst of speed, and once we had passed under the A25 at Oxted we hit our pace again, rolling at about 20 mph for five or six miles until Tilburstow Hill gave us something to think about. We stopped in the car-park at the top, both for views over the Weald and for an extended Dr Bike session where we demonstrated, at least to our own satisfaction, that if the bike trade would only listen to us then better products would be the certain result.

The sun was out but maybe not for long, and cake was calling, so we set out briskly through Bletchingly, up the bottom part of White Hill Lane and then another burst of speed - 31 mph - across Spring Bottom Lane. Ten minutes later we were at Fanny's - cake and home made lemonade for me, tea and cakes for Dave and Jeff and the road home for Tony and Ray. Tony wanted to make sure that Ray didn't go too fast on his new Boardman.

39.4 miles elevenses to tea, rolling average 13.4 mph, 2711 feet of ascent and 106 watts. A strong team, and a privilege to ride with them.

Mark