The day began with our chair, Dave Vine, making a speech to express our thanks to the volunteers at the Royal British Legion for making tea and coffee for us on our regular monthly visits to our home base at Cobham.
Dave presented each of them with a gift of chocolates, as has been our custom for many years. Here are photos of two of the volunteers, David and Noreen.
This was my first ride as the main leader, and I chose a route over the Surrey Hills I know so well. Thanks to Tim C for help with the route planning and for suggesting the Dukes Head for lunch. I can’t claim to be a RidewithGPS expert yet, but I’m getting there.
Also thanks to my sub-leaders, Sue Foster and John Austin.
The ride began with an easy few miles on the flat to Effingham, before our first climb of the day, a long ascent up Critten Lane to Ranmore Common, through some lovely woodland. We continued along Ranmore Common before turning down Ranmore Common Road, one of the Hilly Fifty Climbs, which everyone was pleased to be going down rather than up! After a short stop to admire Westhumble station and look at Pilgrim Cycles, we crossed London Road and continued to Juniper Hall where we turned right onto Headley Lane to begin the climb up the ‘Little Switzerland’, a delightful landscape. Sadly we passed Arwyn at this point who had to pull out after failing to fix a puncture. My group mislaid Fixie at the top, but we managed to regroup at our pub stop. This required another climb up Hurst Lane to Walton-on-the-Hill, a small and attractive village with no less than seven pubs nearby. We were made to feel very welcome by the staff of the Dukes Head with a very efficient service from the kitchen. Tim C particularly enjoyed his steak and ale pie!
After lunch we retraced our route back through Walton to Ebbisham Lane, a welcome descent towards Epsom Downs, but with a terrible surface near the bottom, real mountain bike conditions. After crossing a gallop we continued to cross the race track and passed the Rubbing House to continue down Chalk Lane, a surprisingly rural area so close to Epsom. We continued via Epsom Common to The Old Moat for afternoon tea, and it was still light! Here’s a map of the route.
A few words from Sue.
Relatively new to the world of sub leading I was pleased to have some old hands in the form of the Tims in my 10:45 group. They were called into action at an early stage as I inadvertedly turned into Plough lane on autopilot and had to back track the party onto the prescribed route. A good chance to check whether everyone was awake, including me!
Martin’s super route up onto the North Downs, down to Westhumble and on to lunch at Tadworth by way of Lodgebottom and Hurst Roads provided plenty of climbing to keep us warm and build up an appetite for lunch. We had the company of Ian, a long standing member of the Wayfarers, until Walton on the Hill where he headed for home but promised that he would join us for a full outing soon.
An excellent lunch fortified us for the rigours of Ebbisham Lane, part of the route that I had catastrophised into something akin to crossing the Andes by bike. But no, Martin was right, just a few potholes, loose gravel and sand which we all successfully navigated without any difficulty. The sun was out when we reached the race course so time for a quick photo before whizzing off to tea at the Old Moat.
A really enjoyable day out and my thanks to all group members for their good company and patience.
And few words from John,
Having said ‘thank you’ to our new RBL hosts who make us so very welcome each month, the early riders set off in bright sunshine at 10.30. We had a very pleasant ride through the Surrey Hills , ascending the North Downs twice and made our way to lunch in Tadworth.
One rider had a double puncture and had to make his way to a nearby station and the remaining seven split into several smaller groups after lunch to make their own way home. The peloton was down to two riders by the time it reached the north corner of Epsom Downs with no one actually making it to the tea stop.
A splendid day out.
Martin G
A few photos.
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