A Group Ride - Dorking - Horley - 26 July

Neil Reports. When I published the invitation for the ride the weather forecast was not good, and I was surprised by the sudden rush of entries. But I shouldn't have worried. Come the day the sun shone and I decided we should record the event with a photograph of the whole group on Cotmandene. Getting us all there together had a few hiccups but once I had taken the register Janice volunteered to take the photo - an early entry for the photo competition?

                        

Steve led away the first group and here is his report - I was leading the first group off which comprised Janice, Patrick, Neil W, Andy H and Ged. The route was familiar at first, through Stonebridge out of Dorking and then Newdigate, Capel and a quiet way in between Faygate and Rusper. Then Wimlands Lane leading to Kilnwood Lane, almost an off road track which was cycle route 228. This then joined the Crawley Greenway south of Ifield West which proved a very neat way of circumventing Gatwick Airport to Charlwood, where we went west through Hookwood to our lunch stop at Horley.

                        

Wetherspoons didn't disappoint and we left for our tea stop at Brockham. Another interesting road winding through the new housing estate north of Meath Green, courtesy of the new cycle track, followed by more quiet ways south of Reigate east to Brockham.

Thanks to my companions to trust my navigation from gpx and for their company. Many thanks to Neil for what seems to be a simple route, but it includes some excellent links to roads well known to us, in order to produce a very neat, quiet, cycle ride bypassing busy roads. A brilliant, inventive plot.



I followed on with Sue C, Peter S, Richard, Clive, Andy C and Dave W at a relaxed pace but still arrived at lunch around one o'clock. After lunch we warmed up the legs with the mighty climb to Horley station before returning to the flatlands towards Reigate. When we arrived at Brockham the first group were just leaving and the cafe was quite busy so we decided to split up. Some stayed, some headed for the Coach Road and others towards Leatherhead and home.

Dave V lead the final group.

My group comprised Sue F, Keith, Dave F and Mark. Unfortunately David and Jennie Jackson suffered a puncture and were unable to join us.

We all enjoyed the lanes less ridden, including the Kilnwood Lane to Ifield Mill route, unknown to most. Even the Gatwick perimeter road was enhanced by a helpful touch of tailwind.

Lunch at Horley ‘spoons was swiftly served, despite the warnings of a 25-minute wait, and good quality too. There seemed to be a reluctance to leave, so it was 2.15 before we were all assembled with bikes pointing in the right direction for a novel exit to Horley. The return was an interesting combination of Avenue Verte, with a tour of new housing developments, eventually finding Meath Green lane and more familiar roads to Brockham.

We were 3.15 in Brockham, too late to get to Leatherhead for a relaxed tea at Amici, so Dave F, Sue & I opted for a Reading Room tea, where we found Andy C, sole survivor of Neil’s group, and a pleasant half hour chat before the hint of rain drove us homewards.

Mark and Keith had left us at Brockham, Sue and Andy C returned via Leatherhead, while Dave F, perhaps sensing that the day had been too easy, opted for Little Switzerland, dragging me along too. We avoided the rain, hopefully everyone else did too.

Many thanks to Mark for back marking, and to everyone else for their company.



Finally, thanks to everyone for a memorable day out, Steve for leading, and to Dave V for leading and publishing the report for me while I swan of to the Isle of Wight. See you in a couple of weeks.