Thursday, May 07, 2015

B Ride 06 May

Cobham - Chipstead – Leatherhead

What a day! The weather forecast implied we would be blown off our bikes and then drowned. Well we weren’t. Yes it was gusty and there were some sharp showers but we survived.

It was good fortune that I had decided to go east so the wind was behind the 11 of us who made it to the start line (I know Tim turned back – mechanical? - before reaching Cobham and we left a few in the RBL savouring their coffees). We were joined by Tina on her first ride with us.

We started with a straight forward run across Bookham Common, the back roads to Leatherhead through Fetcham and on to Ashtead and Epsom before we rode up Chalk Lane on to the Downs where the gusts were behind us. After Tattenham Corner we went up Merland Rise and Epsom Lane South to Tadworth, crossed the A217, down to the roundabout and along Chipstead Lane to the Well House Inn.

No dramas on the food front but we were joined by a VIP – Jeff! He arrived in style in his son’s Ferrari which prompted a few to go outside and have a look. He was looking exceptionally well.

After a convivial lunch with him we left to continue going east, down Castle Hill, west towards Kingsdown, over the A217, up Epsom Lane South (again – but this time without the lorry reversing up it in front of us) and through Walton on the Hill.

I had already decided against the Box Hill descent so Terry (who had been our excellent TEC) took the remaining 5 of us down Headley Lane to Juniper Hall. We made our way to Leatherhead for tea. I got more wet crossing the road outside Wetherspoons than I had all day on the bike!

So about 30 miles in total ( I still haven’t got my Edge working to my satisfaction yet so no maps and stats). We survived!

Peter T
 
 

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