I promised hills, and I hope I didn't disappoint. Despite the warnings, and the freezing weather, there were fifteen in the A group peloton as it rolled out of Hersham, on a grand tour of other elevenses stops: Cobham passed in a trice, and then - well actually we didn't pass The Vineries: that was only me when I made a wrong turn on my recce, and mistakenly ended up at the top of White Down before realising. Instead we went along The Drift to reach West Horsley, taking it cautiously as Ken reported loads of ice there earlier in the week. It was all gone off the road, leaving a lot of slush in the hedge, which didn't trouble us much but served as a warning for the rest of the ride. In fact we didn't really encounter any ice on the road, although there was plenty evident in ditches and ruts just off the road.
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| View from Holmbury Hill |
On Shere Road we encountered a chevron which someone had carelessly left there on the map, right in the middle of the road, but continued to the top and down Combe Lane, through Shere and up Hook Lane to reach Peaslake. "Welcome to the Surrey Hills" the sign said, but some of us felt we'd been in them for some time and were by now quite warm despite the temperature. From Peaslake we ascended Radnor Road to admire the extensive view, but somehow we mist it (geddit??).
Continuing down and around Holmbury Hill it was getting towards 1pm and we had some way to go. Another climb up Pasture Wood Road took us up to Abinger Common and thence to the welcoming Abinger Hatch, where Ray was waiting for us. We were all served promptly, including Mark who took advantage of the Burns Night menu to have haggis.
It was still misty outside and nobody was in a particular hurry to leave, so Geoff did a photo of "blokes inside a pub" for a change, and then we set off for one of the shortest rides to tea, which involved White Down and Effingham Vineries. 22.6 miles and 1900 feet of ascent to lunch, 5.8 miles and 500 feet to tea. We started with fifteen, Mike left to pursue his own route on his mountain bike, gained Ray, and ended with fifteen. Thank you to Geoff who kept impeccable control to ensure we didn't lose the back end in the ice.
It was still misty outside and nobody was in a particular hurry to leave, so Geoff did a photo of "blokes inside a pub" for a change, and then we set off for one of the shortest rides to tea, which involved White Down and Effingham Vineries. 22.6 miles and 1900 feet of ascent to lunch, 5.8 miles and 500 feet to tea. We started with fifteen, Mike left to pursue his own route on his mountain bike, gained Ray, and ended with fifteen. Thank you to Geoff who kept impeccable control to ensure we didn't lose the back end in the ice.
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