Paul
It was back to school this week and with the mock exams fast approaching we had a revision lesson on one particular aspect of the cycling syllabus; hills.
We thought it best to be honest and spell out clearly what we had planned, at the cost of some truancy. It is extraordinary the lengths to which some will go; we have photographic evidence that a handful even went to France to avoid the revision.
No matter; eighteen keen souls turned up at the British Legion in Cobham to brush up their knowledge on Ranmore and Coldharbour on the second hottest day of the year.
Fixie Dave took the first group, Tim Gibbons the third, and sandwiched in between them I rode with Pete, Sabina, Bernard, Bob and Jane .
I say two hills but there is a gradual but long climb of sorts to get over the Isle of Wight and through Bookham to the top of Chapel Lane. Serious revision began on Ranmore Common Road, where everyone overtook me and although I thought I had re-passed two near the hairpin it turned out that one of them was the tailender in Dave's group!
The big test in 32 degree heat was Coldharbour where the peace and beauty of the woods reward the effort, not to mention the ice cream shop at the top. This was an unscheduled diversion enabled by the delay to two of our group, one selflessly assisting in a puncture repair for the group in front, and another with mechanical problems. Unfortunately we were caught in flagrante by the headmaster, who sailed by with the third group in tow voicing his disapproval that we had turned a serious educational exercise into something of a school holiday.
The Ice Cold in Alex's living up to their name in Coldharbour
As we all know, the hills do not really end at Coldharbour; there is plenty of up and down afterwards, Leith Hill Road being a particular test for unfit thighs. From there, though, it is a joyful doddle to scoot down to Abinger Hammer, cocking a snook as we passed the Abinger Hatch, where we had been made to feel so unwelcome on the recce last week, and lunching instead at the Compasses at Gomshall. Almost all the morning had been in the shade.
The mystery was, we got there before the headmaster; it turned out he had taken his group for a history lesson in a churchyard. They got another one in the afternoon, too, which began with what some people who had taken literally the promise of a flat afternoon, thought was a hill (Hackhurst Lane). With the sun now fierce but to the South and West, we had more shade for much of our ride along off-road route 22, but our stop for refreshments at The Old Clunker was welcome.
From there is was home; tired but allegedly fitter. As we span up boring old A24 to Leatherhead and Ashtead I was secretly so glad that my fellow leaders had persuaded me not to go up Little Switzerland and climb to Banstead for our route home. School Captain Pete, though, did just that.
Thanks to Fixie and Tim for the leading and to everyone for the company.
Dave
Our group of Casblancas managed to get away at near enough to 10.45am,
We rolled along looking forward to the elevations that Paul had lined up for us, The hill up to Ranmore was the first to test our legs and Lungs, It came to pass that we had the second group snapping at our heels, as we puffed our way upwards.
The roads towards Leith Hill seemed to not constitute much of a challenge, the challenge came when we reached Coldharbour Lane. 🙁😰🚲, at noon. We all decided to ascend at our own pace 😀, It must have been because we all needed to inhale plenty of air.
To stop the second group snapping at our heels (as they did on Ranmore) Stephen volunteered to get a puncture on the ascent, so that the 2nd group would kindly stop and help him.
We made it to the Compasses Inn in Gomshall at 1.15pm. The times of arrival of the next two groups were 10 minutes apart, so all must have been doing a similar pace.
The food was good at the Compass Inn, served in good time, with friendly staff.
The surprise for me was Coldharbour Lane using gears, I was expecting it to be a whole lot easier, but only about 18% easier. I guess gears, like earthquakes, are not all there cracked up to be.
Thank you Paul for the B-plus ride, getting us all ready for the transition to the A groups.
The Old Clunker cafe in Dorking proved to be a good afternoon stop.
Thanks to all the cyclists for their company.
Tim
Mad dogs, Englishmen and CTC Wayfarers go out in the midday sun. Despite soaring temperatures nearly twenty determined B group cyclists braved the heat and turned out for today’s ride.
Alyson, Isabel, Anne, Mick and Grant joined me as we set out across Bookham Common and up Chapel Lane for a gentle prelude of what was to come. There was some initial hesitation at the foot of Ranmore Common Road which turned into relief once we had climbed up to St Barnabas church.
Consolation was soon forthcoming as we descend effortlessly down to Dorking and then onto Coldharbour Lane. It must be at least four years since we last attempted this accent so perhaps it was time to give it another go. Quite undeterred the group proceeded with gusty enthusiasm and they all gradually overtook me. I soon found myself in the position of back marker rather than leader.
We were surprised as we rode past Paul’s group enjoying an ice cream outside ‘The Plough’. Perhaps an early reward for their earlier endeavours.
I couldn’t resist calling at Christ Church churchyard to visit the grave of Marian and Caja Hemar. Marian was a Polish poet and writer who fled to Britain during WW2 and later married Caja, a Danish actress who is probably best known for her only role in films - holding the torch aloft at the start of Columbia Pictures films.
Heading on past Leith Hill and Abinger Common we turned onto the main road to our lunchtime destination at ‘The Compasses’ at Gomshall. We all enjoyed an alfresco lunch and a well deserved rest in their extensive beer garden.
The African Queens and Wilberforce
Our afternoon ride was mostly off road following part of the Abinger Roughs nature trail. We passed the Samuel Wilberforce monument where on 19 July 1873 ‘Soapy Sam’ the bishop of Winchester had a fatal accident. His family erected this granite memorial on the spot where he fell.
On to Dorking we joined our fellow cyclists at the ‘Old Clunker Cafe’ for an early tea and a welcome break. Suitably refreshed we all headed home after a challenging but rewarding day on two wheels. Thanks to everyone involved for making the day a resounding success.
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