A Group 7 July – Ride Report

I chose Wednesday’s destination, The Foresters at Kirdford, as somewhere we had rarely if ever visited before, and a little more distant as a way of stretching our summer riding horizons. I decided to retain out traditional Cobham start point, partly so we could meet the B's who were also there. We were rewarded by the pleasure of meeting Ken Day at the start. The challenge was to get everyone from Cobham to Kirdford for a relaxed lunch, and (in particular the later groups) back in time for the more exhausting challenge of watching England play. So it was 4 groups of 4 riders led by Mark, Steve, Neil and me, at 10 minute intervals, starting at 10.00 with the hope of getting the last group to lunch at 1.00 and back on the road at 2.00.

The weather was always going to be the wild card. But 16 of us were willing to accept the risk of rain, as well as the near certainty of an increasingly brisk headwind.

First off was Mark’s Group.

We were first off again, with pretty much the same group as last week.  Mike R went with Steve in the next group, but otherwise it was Dave, Hans, Janice and me.  The old team.

We took the same approach, too, maintaining a brisk pace and enjoying the countryside.  At Sheepleas we dropped the ebike to the back, to give better balance for climbing, and we did the same for all of the hills for the rest of the day.  This worked well.

Up through Shere, across to Little London, then Farley Green and on to Cranleigh.  There was some traffic here, but not too bad, and we rattled on to the Dunsfold turning where we dropped the pace for a bit as there was a risk that we would arrive at the pub before it opened.  Through Plaistow, where Hans realised that we were on his Chichester route, and in to the pub a few minutes before twelve.  We were expected, welcomed and promptly served with a good lunch and a pint of Ferret.  Steve’s group arrived while we were eating, and the others arrived as we were settling up.

Back on the road, with a brief halt to look at the plaque in the wall of the old vicarage.  The story, as I understand it, is that someone pushed a piece of paper under the Vicar’s door, with the homily written on it.  As night follows day, the vicar was moved to have it made in to a plaque which he mounted in the garden wall.  Nothing to do with his dislike of the pub across the road, I’m sure.  But, as Dave shrewdly pointed out, it’s just as well that the custom of making plaques out of pieces of paper pushed through your door has died out, or there would be an awful lot of plaques saying ‘parcel left at no 8’.

Back on the road, and some very pleasant countryside through Tisman’s Common, Walliswood and then the pull up Leith Hill.  A pretty zippy run down the other side, and we were in Denbies good and early.  We think we have cracked the Denbies code.  There is a take-away hatch, on the left.  Food and drink bought there can be consumed at the tables on the grass mound near the car park, or anywhere else you choose to take it.  The right hand hatch is for the waitress service tent.  You have to have a booking to sit there.

So we went inside, as last week, and were nicely served as before.  Chatting over our drinks we agreed that the small groups worked very well. You are quicker, nimbler, and have the potential to cover a lot more miles, if you want.  Today’s route was 52 miles, start to finish.  75 miles would have been perfectly possible, if we had wanted to do it.

So some good has come from the pandemic.

 

Next was Steve’s Group

We were the 2nd group away, comprising Brian, Patrick, Mike and myself. Our start time was 10.06 am.

Following familiar roads, but laced together cleverly by Dave Vine we set a fair pace. Rain threatened near Cranleigh and Brian and I donned our waterproof jackets. Of course the rain stopped instantly. We made a diversion to bypass the road closed at the A281, but that was all and arrived at The Foresters at 12.10 pm.

 

After lunch, during which Mike and Patrick consumed two pints of water and drinks each (how? without having to dive in the bushes on the way back?) we set off again at 1.10 pm. No rain and in fact the sun came out as we summited Leith Hill. We arrived at Denbies at 3.10 pm in time to see Mark leave for home. We were pleased to have averaged 14.4 mph having climbed 3124 ft as well, despite the appalling state of the Surrey roads. Thanks to my companions for their company and to Dave Vine for masterminding a super route and an excellent pub for lunch.

Then it was Neil’s turn.

I rode with Neil W, Steve W, and Dave F. We had a pleasant and incident-free ride to lunch and particularly enjoyed the quiet roads from Dunsfold to lunch. As we cycled along lanes DaveF was persuaded that a fine photo opportunity was waiting for him at the pub. So here it is, a photo of a thirsty Ferrett with a pint of Fursty Ferret Ale and a Ferret Pie!

 

More quiet roads were encountered after lunch and, after a slow climb up to Coldharbour, we stopped for tea at The Plough. Here Dave V, Sue and Gina caught us up and we chatted for a while before plummeting down to Dorking and onward to home.

Finally,

My nicely balanced group of Sue, Gina, and DaveW left dead on time at 10.30.

On the Sheepleas climb we encountered a rider on a new bike, new tyres, punctured, with a broken(?) pump. My pump certainly worked but succeeded only in blowing more latex out of the puncture. Moving on through Shere we encountered the preparations for filming an Agatha Christie period drama, complete with vintage blue Alvis and nice new greengroceries at old fashioned prices. If you see the film watch out for 4 lycra-clad riders in the background escaping up Sandy Lane.

Crossing the A281 it seemed unreasonable for Thames Water to close the whole of Dunsfold Rd for 20 metres of  trench, so we gently moved the barrier and passed through. Afterwards DaveW carefully replaced the barrier, earning smiles from the crew who were working there.

Arriving at the Foresters just before 1.00 we were immediately greeted by the cheerful staff, who served is speedily with drinks and food. All the groups were there, and the garden was a perfect location for chatting among the groups, before each in turn departed. 

DaveW left us for a successful attempt at the Kirdford to Haslemere Stn. cycle record. We three left at 2.00 on schedule, for a wind assisted return, stopping in Coldharbour around 3.30 where we met Neil's group, and tea at The Plough seemed a welcome change from the Denbies serving hatch.

Returning homewards along the A24 path the tailwind and the relaxed pace set by Neil gave plenty of time to admire the orchids along the verge north of Westhumble.

Thanks to Dave W for back-marking outward on my group, and to everyone who came on the ride and helped make it, for me at least, a very relaxing day out. Especial thanks to to Mark, Steve and Neil for co-leading. No punctures, no incidents, just great.