A Group 30th January

Today's ride was a bit of a leg-stretcher after a prolonged spell of poor conditions. The 'Two Tables' ride would take in the viewpoints on Reigate Hill and Box Hill, with some quick and easy miles in between. The weather obliged, with sunshine and mild temperatures, and we all had a pretty good day, but in rather different ways.

A dozen of us set off from Redhill, past the windmill on Wray Common and then up Wray Lane to our first objective, the viewpoint at the top of Reigate Hill. Very good views from here, and Fixie Mike peeled off as he had only come to elevenses to pick up a trophy for engraving. Not a bad little climb on a fixie, though.

For the rest of us it was fast down Gatton Bottom, along Rockshaw Road and Spring Bottom Lane to the bottom of White Hill. Jeff was obviously disappointed at the 'Road Closed' signs on White Hill, but no-one else seemed too bothered and we rolled down to Bletchingly at a good pace. Just the other side of Bletchingly Ray had a puncture, and a couple of miles further on Hans had one too. We stopped for a puncture break and Dave went back to help Ray. It was just as well that he did, as Ray had discovered two unhelpful things in beginning to sort himself out. The first was that the puncture was a substantial split in the tube, and the second was that the little box in his bag wasn't a puncture outfit, it was a first aid kit. Sometimes an Aspirin isn't enough...

Anyway, the resourceful Ray had made himself known to the landlord of the Prince of Wales, who had very kindly offered to drive to Redhill to buy him a tube. The arrival of Dave made this unnecessary, but, puncture fixed, they decided that the least they could do was to have their lunch at the Prince of Wales.

The rest of us rolled on to the Jack Fairman in Horley, where reasonably priced food and drink was cheerfully provided in the customary Wetherspoons style.

Off again in the sunshine after lunch, to another little contretemps on Horse Hill. Here Colin and John were inexplicably separated from the group, so we were becoming a pretty select band, heading for Box Hill.

We soon became even more select, as Pete and Simon decided that Box Hill might be a hill too far at this point in the season, and that the flat road to Annies was the one for them.

So five of us got to the second table on Box Hill, which is a pretty high attrition rate. But, twenty minutes later, riding up a windy Leatherhead High Street to Annies, we were pleased to see familiar bikes outside and familiar faces inside, already tucking in to their teas. Dave and Ray were there, as were Pete, Simon and Colin. Only John was missing, presumed to have gone straight home.

Chatting it all over it was pretty clear that although the ascenders of Box Hill were jolly pleased with themselves, those who had avoided it by various stratagems were no less pleased.

So that's a good start to the season - and maybe the beginning of Spring. Daffodils almost out on Bunce Common lane, and a profusion of snowdrops.

Stats are 39.6 miles elevenses to tea, 2,672 feet of ascent, maximum speed 44.8 mph and 1,774 calories.

Mark