16 hardy souls applied for my Ride. Some had read all the information
on the ride invitation.
My warnings about bringing a spare energy bar initially appeared
good advice at 10:20 as we helped ourselves to instant coffee / coffee on an
otherwise empty table, but no sooner had I eaten one when generous plates full
of goodies were brought out to us. A terrific effort from the Caterham team. It
was also fun to share a garden table and banter with some early bird B group
riders.
Unfortunately, the promised lovely scenic views were obliterated
by overcast skies and the threat of drizzle. Some of the N21 cycleway unsurfaced
sections were not bone dry with some puddles to be circumnavigated. However,
the promised generous helping of hills before lunch had not been washed away.
Many thanks to Steve D and Mark G for responding enthusiastically
to my pleas for assistance and particularly for completing a Recce, despite the
location, for the benefit of their groups.
My 11mph target pace group ( Sue C, Gina, Keith and Nigel) set
off promptly at 10:45.
After getting chilly heading down the Hill to the A22
roundabout a short sharp ascent of 18% Succombs Hill soon warmed us up. We
bravely battled the brisk wind, light drizzle, ascents and descents together as
we followed the roller coaster route around some gorgeous and less visited
extremes of our available day trip territory. No back marker required. Marks
group overtook us along The Ridge as I had hoped and before the decent of
Gangers Hill and single file N21 section. Spirits were sill high as I explained
that the toughest but last big climb was still to come.
We stopped for a breather and admired what was left of the view from Gravelly Hill. Sue C kindly took a picture to celebrate the achievement. ( She didn't share the selfie version). Our decent towards lunch on a variety of surfaces was at a slow controlled pace and was enjoyed by some but certainly not all (irrespective of subgroup). By the collective thought process of the latter, your ride leader was duly punished as the puncture fairy paid me a visit at the M25 underpass. Only 1 mile to lunch! Fortunately, the second group then came into view so my group were able to follow Steve and wait in a nice warm pub while I changed tubes.
After lunch and the departure of Marks group, the remainder
of us formed a super group for the promised 19 flatish miles to Leatherhead.
Some were so disappointed that the afternoon did not include any proper hills
that they elected to go off in search of some more on the way home (via Hilltop or
Markedge Lanes). The remainder enjoyed the stop and view of Spynes Mere and the
N21 scenic route into Redhill before a more familiar and much brisker blast back
to Leatherhead. After a short burst of rain at Dorking, the act of stopping to
don waterproofs led it to stop and by Leatherhead there were even sunny spells.
4 of us enjoyed a cuppa and cake at Lucio’s which was not only still open when
others were not but also good quality and value.
Steve D led the moderate paced group 10 minutes after mine and has this to say.
"My group with John B, Neil C, Steve W and Janice as back
marker set off at 10.55 from Caterham DC after being pampered with cakes and
hot drinks from the welcoming staff. After the fast descent of Burntwood Hill
and the short stiff climb up Succomb's Hill we got a foretaste of the ride to
come. I was grateful for Dave F's voluminous notes and our recce as I knew the
tricky parts.
We were slow up the hills and the head wind and watery,
misty rain made for colder conditions than you expect from late May. Dave W
joined us here and as we ground our way up to the 200 metre summit of Nore Hill
we were chased by the fast group led by Mark on the cycle path, who seemed very
happy with the ride. Must have been the prospect of the off road!
As we passed Titsey Hill the traffic got less busy which was
less concerning, and we concentrated on getting the miles in.
Lovely sweeping vistas of Kent opened up but were spoilt by
the grey swirl of drizzly air. The off road was charming woodland, but the view
from Gravelly Hill was again limited by the weather. We found Dave F with the
first group as he was mending a flat front tyre, at Green Lane. We merged with
the first group and carried on to lunch. Here Dave W left us for home. His
comment on WhatsApp 'Many thanks Dave F and Steve D for today's devious and
dastardly, not to mention devilish, dalliance with the darker depths of the
North Downs'.
I was cold at the pub and so sat with a blanket over my
knees, much to the amusement of Janice. However, despite the drizzle I wasn't
damp or wet so it must have been low cloud rather than rain. Neil W was outside
mending a puncture.
We decided to merge the two groups after lunch and while
some made their way home, six of us carried on to Lucio's in Leatherhead using
the off road 21 cycle route to Redhill.
Thanks Dave F for all your hard work planning this route. I
feel it would have been stunning with full sunshine. Another memorable cycle
route to be tackled again. Thanks to Janice for diligently back marking and
negotiating some of the trickier off road sections with no support. "
Mark G led the fastest group planned to depart at 11:05 and
reports as follows.
"Five of us away from Caterham, after being made very welcome
by Angela and her colleagues. We set off pretty briskly and met Steve’s
group on Slines Hill. A bit blowy over the top, but the wind turned to a
tailwind as we headed East. Down Hogtrough to the Pilgrims Way, by which
time we were heading West, of course, but that’s just the nature of things…
Climbing up to Gravelly Hill Neil was troubled by a slow
puncture, which nagged on for the rest of the day, despite a solid attempt to
fix it at lunchtime.
A quick gravelly descent and then a couple of road miles to
the pub where, for the second time in the day, we were made very welcome.
A good lunch, good beer and a cup of coffee and we were back on the road again.
We stopped at Spynes Mere to look at the birds, some
inconclusive discussion as to whether we could see swallows, or swifts, or
(minority opinion) house martens. Swallows got the vote, on the basis
that ‘one swallow does not a summer make’. It wasn’t summer, so it must
be a swallow.
More cycleway, not too wet, and a surprise entry to Redhill by the back
door. Back lanes to Reigate where Neil left us to take his puncture to a
train
Ged turned off at Dorking to take a train and save his legs
for Sunday. He’s riding the London 100 - all the best, Ged.
Which left Hans, Dave and me to ride to Leatherhead. We didn’t
stop for tea, as we all still had a bit to go to get home.
Good ride, good pub and good company. That’s why we do
it."
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