A Group 4th February

Fourteen of us left Cobham, which, taking into account a couple of apologies and a couple more skiing, is a big group for a hard ride at this time of year.  Away at eleven sharp we headed off across Fetcham Common in bits and pieces of wet snow, which was pretty much all we saw all day.  It was cold, and the temperature dropped slowly as the day went on, but it never got below freezing so no ice.

Bagden Hill from the easy side was our first.  There had been some snow there yesterday but it had all melted, so a swift and easy passage to the first real climb, Ranmore.  This had also been snowy yesterday but was now completely clear, so up we went in fine style

Over the top and down to Dorking, where road works made for a pleasant and traffic free passage through the town centre.  Then Coldharbour, which is a surprisingly long hill (or at least I thought so), before enlisting the aid of gravity to swoop down to Ockley.  There's method in my madness - the point was to get to the very bottom of Leith Hill so that we could say that we had ascended Surrey's highest road properly.  Everyone acknowledged that we had indeed done so, and some pointed out that we could have avoided quite a bit of climbing if we had only crossed by the landslip.  Well, up to a point, Lord Copper ....

Over the top and down to the Abinger Hatch, where they were expecting us, but not quite so many.  No problem, and we were quickly seated and fed.  A good chat in the warm, then back out to tick off a couple more hills.

Sheephouse was the first, a novelty for some, and arguably the steepest hill in Surrey.  We went nicely up this, with several noticing the genuine steep hill effect of the front wheel lifting as you climbed.  This is obviously the beginning of a potentially tricky situation, but everyone managed it well.  We all stopped at the top to puff and blow for a bit.

Only Whitedown left, so the day was almost over, and as we looped round past the pub there was some enthusiasm to go back in.  But sterner counsel prevailed and we did Whitedown in good style.  We were a bit unlucky with the traffic, as there were several cars both ascending and descending, but they were considerate enough and we were soon flying down the North side.  Across Ranmore Common in the sunshine, back down the hairpin and tea and cakes at Pilgrim Cycles.

32.9 miles elevenses to tea; 3,429 feet of ascent at a gentlemanly pace of 11 mph.  Not bad for Winter.

For those that enjoyed this ride, which is a counterpart to Simon's December ride, it is possible to do all of the hills that we rode in both of them (and a couple more) by riding the Tour of the Hills organised by West Surrey CTC.  Entry fee £8, good food included, 115kms and 2,300m of climbing.  You can win medals for doing it quickly, under five hours gets you Gold.  Now that is a hard day out ...  Full details at Audax UK - [Click HERE]

Thanks to all for participating in a great ride, special thanks to back markers and corner markers.  We did well.

Mark