It was a sunny and crisp morning today. Crisp enough to freeze your extremities off if you didn't look after them. A perfect day for ... going to a museum, arranging your stamp collection - anything indoors! As I went through Bushy Park, dressed like the Michelin man, the sun was glinting off the frosted grass, making miniature rainbows and I began to change my mind.
Paul was due to lead today and had planned a nice ride, but was unwell, so I stole his plans and led the ride. Eleven of us left Dorking (well twelve, but Mike Morley was doing a portion of the Hilly 50 en route to lunch). It was cold - very cold. But Paul had thought of that. He sent us up Box Hill as a starter: by the top we were plenty warm enough to stand around admiring the superb view.
Mogador was only four miles away as the crow flies, but our route was not planned by the crow. So we went carefully down Pebble Hill to Betchworth, along Trumpets Hill Road, skirting the south of Reigate and up Pendleton Road towards Redhill. Plenty of ice in the gutters but the roads were clear and dry, thankfully.
From Redhill we went the scenic route through Gatton Park before ascending to Fanny's Farm, now in the clutches of the valuation office. Plain sailing to Mogador from there - so we thought. Most of us turned into Babylon Lane for the shortcut, passing a tractor cutting hedges. It was a bad omen. A couple minutes later Brian punctured and pulled a thorn out of his tyre. But by this time the advance party were already at the Sportsman - a lovely, popular pub in the middle of nowhere. The architect of our ride, Paul, was already there, but riding in a big noisy metal thing with four wheels.
 |
| Mugswell |
 |
| Mogador |
Lunch was served quickly and appreciated by all. Afterwards we went on a short detour to admire the view from Colley Hill just to the south before setting out on the short ride to Banstead. Around the winding lanes of Mugswell, and another puncture, this time for Charles. We found the offending article (another thorn) quickly, but it was very difficult to remove from the tyre. Eventually Brian removed it with his teeth - and you should have seen the size of it! At least 1cm long. By the fourth re-telling it had grown to nearly a foot in length.
 |
| Mordor |
Then it really was plain sailing, well a grind up White Hill, along the ridge above the Chip Valley (?) before heading down to Chipstead, and via Woodmansterne to Banstead, where we were pleased to see the Bs, and even more pleased to see they had left us some cake. Clear skies all day for a great day's cycling: 30.5 miles and 2440 feet of ascent from elevenses to tea. Thank you to Brian for back marking and dental services, and thanks also to Paul for the inspiration: get well soon!
Mogador was only four miles away as the crow flies, but our route was not planned by the crow. So we went carefully down Pebble Hill to Betchworth, along Trumpets Hill Road, skirting the south of Reigate and up Pendleton Road towards Redhill. Plenty of ice in the gutters but the roads were clear and dry, thankfully. 
No comments:
Post a Comment