Report for A Group Nov 2

The clocks have gone back and the Indian summer of the last few weeks has been blown away but we were blessed with what will certainly have been one of the better days this week, even if very blustery after lunch. 

Twenty two signed up and Steve Duffin was first away:

I set off with Frances, Patrick, Steve W and back marker Dave B at 10.45 am from Cobham. As I failed to take the turn to Bookham Common and led my group in a u turn we met up with Neil C who had been delayed. The track across the common had been inspected by Brian on his way from Ashtead and he had given the thumbs up, despite heavy rain the night before. Sure enough the hard packed gravel was firm, with no major puddles to negotiate. We made good progress until Calvet Road uphill to Combe Lane. Then followed the descent to Shere where we were joined by Neil W who had caught is up. Then we tackled the long ascent through to Barhatch Lane and Winterfold. The roads were very quiet and we enjoyed the long descent down to Shamley Green. The sandwiches at the Grantley Arms were epic and the soup like a Pea and Mint smoothie. Food for warriors!

After lunch we all appreciated the quiet Chinthurst Lane plotted by Brian, missing out the busy B2128 into Guildford and then the equally quiet East Shalford Lane sneaking around the back of the town centre. Even the A25 had a cycle lane keeping us well away from cars. Very soon we were in familiar roads back to Cobham.

No rain was forecast and we didn't encounter any. Neither did we have any punctures. A lovely route through autumnal woodland, a great pub choice and quiet roads. Thanks to Brian and thanks to Dave Bartholomew for back marking. Thanks too for everyone in my group having a good ride.

 

                                                             No-one went hungry!

 

 

I left next with David Ellis, Gill, Paula, Janice, Hans and Simon. After the wild night on Tuesday I was somewhat concerned about road conditions but apart from an overhanging branch after Shere it was all uneventful though unlike Steve we had more traffic on Hound House Road than ideal. We stopped on the top of Winterfold by the deep cleft of Jelleys Hollow and the locals ( a driver and two riders) took the opportunity to block the road having a good chinwag.

 

From here we had the unusual experience of descending Shophouse Lane, with some care, before clearer roads on to Wonersh where David left us here to head home.

 

The sky had darkened after lunch but the rain held off. One final hill up to Warwicks Bench in Guildford and then an easy run back to Cobham though the wind assistance was a bit intermittent.

My thanks to Janice for back marking, Steve and Dave F for subleading and to Geoff Gregory who would have sub-led if he had not been knocked off his bike after the recce on Friday.

 

 Dave's report;

On Friday afternoon I was relaxing on the substitutes bench as my brave  team-mates were performing heroically on their Recce.

Unfortunately after they thought it was all over, Geoff was subject to a very late illegal tackle by a one of the opposition and had to leave the field of play for treatment. As the ref. was unsighted, and there was no VAR, the opponent luckily got away without a yellow card. I therefore answered the skipper's call and duly warmed up to join his team on Wednesday. We were the last attack away and my team of 7 was joined by the club Chairman, who was keen to see how we were performing.

 

We paused along Bookham Road to wave at Gerald the Giraffe, who had returned to one of his preferred feeding grounds, before braving Bookhham Common.

 

That was surprisingly in better condition than some of the subsequent roads, and we braced ourselves for the ascent of the first of several Surrey Hills. Despite my best efforts, I was soon in the wake of our trio of e-assisted team mates making it look effortless. After a careful descent of Coombe Lane, Keith bravely took a puncture for the team while negotiating the Shere lanes. With a bit of assistance from a trainer with a wet sponge, he was fortunately able to continue, but strangely decided he was going to try to keep up with the e-trio on the  ascent of the evil Houndhouse Hill. A noble effort! The traverse of Barhatch Lane was a particular highlight with the autumn colours starting to show themselves. The route did not fall off the Barhatch cliff, but took sharp right to traverse the bonus hill of Winterfold lane. We then enjoyed  a looping leisurely few miles whilst losing our potential energy avoiding mishaps with traffic and dodgy road conditions.

We arrived at the Grantley Arms and parked our bikes in the covered rear garden just as a short downpour started. The landlord apologised that he had already given away the 8 seater tables to the earlier smaller sub groups, so we gathered around a six seater with our Chairman and Sue kindly volunteering to perch on barstools. Sub leaders curse duly struck as despite being one of the first to order, I was last to be served. The delay was apparently due to another late substitution. The pea soup had run out but my carrot and ginger was extremely warming. A few of us failed to complete this carbo-loading challenge.

A short ride back with hopefully a tail wind beckoned and we were off, a while after the other groups, to also get to Cobham before the forecast rain.

Brian's circumnavigation of Guildford High  Street was a novelty for most of our group, but being Guildford it was inevitably a bit lumpy.It was then a short battle against the traffic lights, poorly maintained cycle lanes  and the elements along familiar routes. We waved goodbye to Keith and Sue, escaping via Leatherhead, at the Black Swan and were just in time to meet up with some of Brian's group for a most welcome hot drink and snack. Many thanks to Brian for an ingenious winter route, to Jennie for backmarking (with permission to exclude hills) and the weather gods for the most forgiving day of the week.