A Group, 2 March

Cobham RBL to Prezzo, Cheam

With Cheam barely 9 miles distant as the crow flies and the starting pistol sounding at 11.15am, today's route had to be somewhat circuitous to fill 105 minutes of cycling endeavour. Perhaps for what it lacked in distance it could compensate in altitude. We followed the B Group as far as the Tilt, where they left Stoke Rd. The sun seemed to take some time to warm our reptilian blood, but haemoglobin gradually began to flow a bit more freely as we aimed for Leatherhead. Ray had a spill, when clothing and chainwheel had a tiff and brought him to an involuntary halt; but he remounted to continue, despite some probable toothmarks to his leg.

We circled Leatherhead and began a steady climb up Reigate Road past Tyrell's Wood, to enjoy part of the KPRC hill climb, before taking the cycle link up Tumber Street and Slough Lane. Right beside Headley Forge that is no more took us to Langley Vale, the Grandstand, Nork, the mad mile, Burdon Lane and destination Prezzo. With 10 minutes in hand before 1pm, the cycle park in Prezzo garden was already pretty full. With the A group peloton safely docked, I headed off. What happened next I leave to others to relate.

Jeff