A Group ride to Puttenham - July 29

First of all my thanks to Simon, Dave Vine, Patrick and Janice for doing the reccy ride with me and giving me valuable tips for my first ride lead. 

Wayfarers A riders arrived early at Weybridge enthused by the great weather and maybe by the prospect of a scenic route without monster hills for once.  We love big hills but there’s strain and  pain with the pleasure of them. The Weybridge park planting looked lavish In the sunshine adding to our sense of well being.  

It was good to have John Bassett and Keith Rook back. Keith was hesitant about my planned 15mph (moderate not fast) pace, but decided it should be ok, and it was.

The morning section to Puttenham was all on road. The B318..A319 road surface was notably poor going out west. After Fairoaks airport with the left turn to Philpot Lane we were in idyllic rural cycling territory. Next Sandpit Hall Lane on to Chobham, then from the north of Woking how good was it to ride with those great views on such a smooth road surface?! After Pirbright was a section lined with spectacular Scotts pines. Then we switched left onto minor lanes at Ash. A residence that we formerly a railway station still has the Ash Green railway sign. From a bridge over the disused railway we saw an appealing trail – it’s the Christmas Pie Trail.  We viewed the Surrey Hills brewery, found out they are licensed for Friday and Saturday nights and they put on some entertainment,  “start with a jug of beer and settle in” was their advice.

 

The Surrey Hills emblem is a high point on the Hogs Back, nearby are great views to the south-west.  

Onto Seale and to my favourite part of the ride, the beautiful Puttenham Lane ‘valley’, a long fast all down hill section, with a few rises to keep the downhill going further. Then approaching Puttenham the hop vines reminded us a proper local beer at the Good Intent is in order.  The pub, the staff, food service were tops. When I got to the outside table with my Hog Star lager I wondered how long the wait would be – there was my food on the table already!

The second part of the ride had a moderate climb up Down Lane, then we took the NCR22 flat chalk track. From there we had the best views to the South Downs 30 miles away. 

To the north, Guildford Cathedral, probably the ugliest in the country, the blocks of concrete which are Woking centre, Wembley Arch (133 metres high, 26 miles away). 

And Docklands (Canary Wharf Tower 235 metres, 30 miles away), some said they spotted Blackpool Tower.

Driving through Guildford in a car is a bad experience, by bike it was easy.  Then some more speed for the lanes to Cobham to enjoy the Medicine Garden one last time. 

Patrick led a group for the first time. One of his group said it was like a stage of the Tour de France. , I last saw him as we left the Medicine Garden, he was heading south for more miles. No report from him. Is he back yet?  

Simon writes.. 

Our small but perfectly-formed group set off first at 10.20: despite being labelled the slow group, we made good time along fairly quiet roads - Ottershaw, Chobham, Brookwood - to Tongham, where we enjoyed a lengthy tour of the brewery.  It was good to have John back out with us again after some bike problems on his last ride.  Up onto the Hogs Back for a photo stop by the Surrey Hills sign, and over the other side to Seale and Puttenham, arriving much earlier than expected.  We were just starting our second pint when the second group arrived.

Lunch was excellent, with perfect weather for cycling or lazing around in the pub garden.  Much later, later "fast" groups turned up and it was time for us to go.    A quick tour of the Watts Gallery, all part of Neil's very well planned and enjoyable route, and then up so-called Down Lane to the top of the Hogs Back again.  We stopped to enjoy some lovely views south and north, pointing out the landmarks to a couple of walkers who were passing: Woking, Wembley, the city, the Eiffel Tower, Blackpool Tower, and so on.  Visibility was excellent.   Then it was through Guildford with a short diversion to visit the Castle, looking floral and beautiful, before the run home to the Medicine Garden on it's last day before closing..    We were just pipped to the post by Patrick's group, but we felt we had done well for a slow group.   A great day out.

Dave Vine sent me his appreciations for  a well planned and executed ride and writes ..

Everyone in my group returned with enthusiastic praise, especially as you organised a good pub and near perfect weather too.

I should mention that Mike Barrett was back marking but left us in Pirbright to make his own way home. He was suffering from hamstring strain so didn't want to do the whole ride. Geoff Gregory then back-marked for the rest of the day. Thanks both.

We had a brief stop at the fire engine, mainly to take on water, and a fly-by tour of the brewery, arriving at Puttenham about 20min ahead of schedule.

After a leisurely lunch we stopped to admire the South Downs view where my group were relieved to learn that you had not planned to continue offroad across the ploughed field. Admiring the northward view we discovered the memorial to the Cornish rebel march on London in 1497, see photo attached. Apparently there was a skirmish there before the Cornish force went on to be defeated at the Battle of Depford Bridge. I bet you didn't know that before today.

The panorama north, with Guildford Cathedral and Woking town centre just right of it.

Seemingly Patrick's group were less interested in history and overtook us at this point, but thankfully didn't eat all the cakes before we got to the Medicine Garden.

PS.  Patrick writes...

The happy quintet, aka Janice, Fiona, Hans, Dave B and moi, set off post-caffeine fix at 10.58 according to the Weybridge church clock. This was my first ride to lead but I was in the formidable company of well-seasoned CTC members so I had nothing to worry about. We established a "sporty" pace in order to "get to the fire" in good time :)

Lovely rolling through the lanes just after Fairoaks international airport. Tubeless tyre needed some TLC down Poyle lane but we were soon on our merry way. Arrived at the Good Intent public house  circa 12.24. Lunch was served promptly and enjoyed by all. The question was raised: to go to tubeless or not to go tubeless? (please do not send your answers on a postcard). 

Post lunch section also went well and we briefly stopped on the Hogs Back forest trail to take in the glorious views towards Woking and London. Hans thought he could see his house and we politely laughed. Safely got to the Medicine Garden for what would be our last coffee there before they transform themselves into a spa. Pleasant banter over tea and coconut flapjacks re Staples Lane x 64, democracy, non verbal communication, Japanese culture, and the perks of Australian twins, not necessarily in that order. All in all a jolly good day was had with great company and thanks to Dave B for back-marking and it would be most rude not to acknowledge Hans for contributing towards thought-provoking conversation. Merci.

~ Neil Warland