A Group 9th May

With the forecast reporting dismal weather almost non stop for the last month it was quite a surprise to find that it was merely scotch mist when with some trepidation I arrived at the Leatherhead Day Centre to lead the ride. As reported by Mike M - he advised me of the road work beyond Box Hill. This was a disapointment for me as in my recce on Monday there were no problems and finding the Zig Zag to the top of the hill was a perfect surface with humps removed but with the surface thereon to Pebblecombe my planned route untouched.

With a revised route in mind we (approx 16 of us) left Leatherhead in the direction of Dorking only to be split into two parties when I found I was leading too fast on arriving at the entry to the cycle path to Givons Grove. My intention was to be able to continue on the path beyond Givons Grove without negotiating the dangerous R'about there. Although on waiting on the other side of Young St to reassemble we appeared to have lost some when shortly turning off the cycle path for the climb to Norbury Park. When we stopped to enjoy the view before descending to West Humble we numbered 11 but on arriving at WH, Jeff T was waiting for us he having taken a different route. From WH we crossed the A24 using the tunnel continuing on to the Olympic route revised avoiding 9 circuits of the Zig Zag, our route being via Little Switzerland and eventually on the planned route descending Pebblecombe thereon to Betchworth (fame of the film 4 weddings and a funeral- at the church) and to the Seven Stars pub at Dawes Green.

It was a very quiet lunch - not surprising - either because the weather forecast or the prices had put people off.

We returned still in dryish weather and with a following wind quite fast via Brockham until unfortunately Pete had a tumble in Pixham Lane on mud where more roadwork was in progress. He was quite shaken but am glad to say nothing like as bad as Cavendish in Monday's Giro D'Italia Sprint when he was brought down.

There were 10 of us at Annie's for 3's after which we parted company for our homes hoping that the wet weather forecast would hold off.

Ray