13 Nov - A Group Ride After AGM

It was about 12.30 before we got away from Hersham so a direct-ish route to lunch was required. We headed west towards Whiteley Village but due to tales of over-zealous security we passed the entrance and turned left at the roundabout onto Seven Hills Road. Soon we turned left again onto Convent Lane - a road new to many, me included! This brought us to Cobham and familiar territory.

Plough Lane was surprisingly dry considering the rain recently, so progress was swift through to Ockham and Ripley and The Jovial Sailor for lunch.

The pub has had new owners and a refurbishment this year and was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday. But fourteen of us were seated together at a big table and served promptly. It was barely an hour before we were ready for the obligatory photo outside. Mark risked life and limb in the middle of the Portsmouth Road for this -

From here we headed south-east on the lanes to Sussex Farm where we took the concrete track across the fields to Jury Farm. The sun was shining, there was plenty of wildlife and it was a pleasure to get away from the traffic.

After skirting West Horsley we headed north through Effingham Junction and Cobham to tea at Giro in Esher.

Thanks to Ged for back-marking, and to all who joined me for a good ride on a great autumn day.


(After lunch I was experiencing some pulsing from the front brake under braking which didn't feel quite right. I stopped just after Cobham to investigate but couldn't see anything obviously wrong. It got worse on the way home so when there I put the bike on the workstand for a better look. The rim was bulging on one side with a two inch long split on the braking surface. Looks like I was lucky to make it home. That's the first rim I've ever worn out - and it had only done 18,000 miles!)