I have the honour to be a leader to a traditional destination of Horsted Keynes and The Green Man pub which will be serving drinks and food served outside. Ged Lawrenson and David Vine have stepped in to lead separate groups of up to six each. The first route will be from Cheam to Tesco at Hookwood some 19.6 miles and 1114 ft of ascent, via Tadworth and Epsom Downs, Walton on the Hill and down Pebble Hill to Betchworth and then south through Leigh. We really need to be at Tesco around 9.30am which means an early 8am start from North Cheam ( Location-see Wednesday Rides- Midweek Wayfarers). This means that the first group can leave at 10.30am (or before) comfortably to allow for queuing for coffee and toilets.
The second leg from Hookwood to Horsted Keynes is 19.9 miles and 1160ft of ascent. This is a particularly pretty route, half of which is off road on hard compacted track. The leaders did a reconnoitre ride on Friday and the paths were sound with only a few puddles after all the rain. We follow a route round Gatwick airport, through Crawley and then onto the Worth Way stopping short before East Grinstead and going straight south to Horsted Keynes through quiet countryside. At HK there are benches ouside the pub and a large green area across the road so we can spread out. There are toilets at the west of the green, by a bus stop. These toilets are a credit to the locals with accomodation for up to two people at a time and Wallgate hand washing facilities. It might be an idea to take a wad of your favourite loo paper with you to help the facilities stay stocked up.
The last leg is a yomp straight north mainly on fast B roads 27.9 miles and 2014 ft of ascent. On leaving Horsted we travel NW to West Hoathly and on to Turners Hill. Then through Copthorne Village to Smallfield (where there are a few shops) and on to South Nutfield, then Merstham, Chipstead and finally Banstead, where Pistaccio Cafe in Lady Neville Recreation Ground is serving hot and cold drinks, ice cream and cake, but no toilets. There is access via the car park entrance to Waitrose, but I am told the toilets are locked and will need to be opened by a supervisor. Along the route there is a lot of greenery for a comfort break if necessary, but you will need to signal the leader.
To summarise, this is a ride which will take time to complete, made more so by isolation rules and possible queues. If you would like to attend the ride I need to know 1) if you want to be led from N.Cheam at 8am and 2) if you would like the .GPX files of the 3 routes. My email address is: steve_duffin@yahoo.co.uk. I shall email you back individually showing the group you are in and your leader with mobile number, which you should enter into your phone. Your start times from Hookwood will be shown with the group you are in. I will attach route files if requested. Please let me know by Monday evening, when I will be replying with your group allocations so you know you are booked in.
Just to remind you we all need to keep to our allocated groups 2 metres apart, but when riding 10 metres apart to allow for cars to overtake easily. Please refresh your memory of the lock down guidlines. Weather forecast looks sunny with 20 degrees and a mild S Westerly breeze.
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