The Shoreham Century

Northern Section

Southern Section

Summer's here, so can the Shoreham Century be far behind?  Or maybe it's the other way round.  Anyway, next Wednesday is the Wayfarers' Century Ride, unique amongst Centuries in that mileage is calculated by honesty box.

Old Hands will know the score; for new members, this is how it works.  If you start the ride from the Wayfarers' traditional meeting place at North Cheam and end at Leatherhead you will have ridden 92 miles.  If you add on the mileage that gets you to Cheam, and the mileage that gets you home, you will likely have done 100 miles or more.  The longest we have had was 123 miles total, many do over 100.

So it's a nice personal challenge.  But you don't have to do 100 miles.  You can do far less and still have a good day out.  From elevenses at Henfold to the finish at Leatherhead is 74 miles.  If you start and finish at Dorking Station you'll take a good few miles off that.  Or if you hitch a lift on a train from tea at Horsham you're looking at around fifty.  Or enjoy your lunch at the seaside and take the (flat) cycle path to Brighton Station.  You get the drift ...

The led ride starts at Henfold Lakes promptly at 1045.  There will be a back marker and corner markers and no-one will get dropped.  It's a pleasant and not hilly ride mainly on quiet roads to the Bridge Inn, Shoreham, where we will take lunch at about 1315, on the terrace overlooking the river if it's sunny.

The ride back is less formal.  There will be a led ride, but in the past the group has divided at lunch, some wanting to be home sooner, some for trains and some wanting to set their own pace.  The led ride will take tea at the Pavilions, Horsham - not the greatest tea stop, but handy for the station and it stays open late, which is important for some.  There's a new wiggle in the route from Horsham, to avoid the busy hill on the Rusper Road, but then the usual way back to Leatherhead.  Rehydration, and supper if you want it, at Wetherspoons.  We should be there about 1800.

So, get your sunscreen on and be ready for a sunny start at Henfold - 1045.  See you there!

Mark