Report for A Group - 22 November

It was a dry but cloudy day for a hilly ride for 19 'A' Groupers from the Fairfield Centre in Leatherhead.

Dave F’s Report:

My group (Frances, Dave V, Pete B, Richard and Geoff kindly subbing for Andy C who was off with a cold) were first away, roughly on schedule. No mean feat given the numbers assembled in the day centre with similar departure times.

It was an easy ride to put my hand up to sub lead, as I was very familiar with most of the route. Clive had promised a generous helping of hills and it certainly delivered on that. After ascending to Headley via Ashtead we then had a swift descent of Boxhill, waving furiously at numerous B group riders who were ascending it and spread out from the top of Boxhill to the Westhumble approach where we then had the challenge of Ranmore Common Road which we had not ascended for some time. Because of the road closure through Westhumble it was attracting slightly more frustrated motorists than normal. A couple of us experienced some uncomfortably close passes. 

Clive’s morning route had quite a sting in its tail before lunch. It involved cycling down Hogden Lane and then doubling back up High Barn Lane before the traditional decent of Critten. After consulting with my group following feedback from some who had joined the Recce on Monday regarding the poor road surface conditions we opted to skip that short sharp dog - leg. Of course, we were all hugely disappointed as we would have loved those extra 10% ascents just before lunch!

We were the first to arrive at the Running Horses that I had not visited for many years. And pleasantly surprised I was as well. We fortunately managed to get our orders in just before a large group and finally found our designated seating area in a cunningly concealed back room. The sandwich choices included the option of “ a handful of chips” at a more reasonable supplement than many we visit. After a comfortable 60-minute break we were again first away.

At lunch, Frances had already bade us farewell to take her own route home, it was time the rest of us to visit Headly for the second time and onwards and upwards via Hurst Lane to Walton. Several of us were very complementary of Clive’s unusual route to Tattenham corner. Epsom Lane South and Preston Lane were both a first for me before familiar route to a busy Moat House where we were the first of the As or Bs to arrive around 3 pm.

My thanks to my sub group for a very enjoyable ride and to Clive for arranging an unusual but very suitable winter ride. Not sunny, but at least dry and reasonably mild.

Clive's Report:

My group was last off and was made up of: Fiona, Peter S, Hans, Dave B, Neil W and Mike R. The morning route was a loop from the Fairfield Centre in Leatherhead and back to Leatherhead for lunch at The Running Horse.

We set off in the direction of Ashtead, over the footbridge across the M25 and a few minutes later came across David J’s group fixing a puncture in Parker’s Lane. It was bad luck to get a puncture so soon after setting off but they seemed to have it under control, so we left them to it and continued through Ashtead and up to Headley via Farm Lane/Walton Rd. and then to the top of Box Hill.

As we descended Box Hill at speed, we came across the Bs toiling their way up it, en route to Woodmansterne for lunch. But it wasn’t long before we were also toiling away up Ranmore Common Road.

A controversial part of my route was a section that goes down Hogden Lane, from Ranmore Common Road, and then back up, on High Barn. I had received some feedback about the road surface here but I thought it was ok when I recce’d it the previous week. My group was prepared to give it a go so I decided to go down there anyway and I think everyone appreciated the extra hill!

When we arrived at The Running Horse, Dave F’s group was already there and had placed their orders. But a large group of people had got in there between Dave's group and mine, so our food was slow to arrive. I don't think the other two groups had that problem. Apart from that, the staff were friendly, the food was good, and very reasonably priced in this nice traditional pub.

Coming outside after the cosiness of the pub, the day seemed to have become rather grey and cold. So it was a good thing we had a long gradual climb out of Leatherhead up to Tyrells Wood to concentrate on and warm us up. Then, at Headley, we crossed over our path from the morning, and headed up Hurst Lane towards Walton-on-the-Hill and Tadworth. Then to Tattenham Corner, past the racecourse and we arrived at the Old Moat garden centre for tea just after 3pm, where it was a pleasure to bump in to the Bs again.

David J also led a group made up of: Jennie, Patrick, Sue C, Dave E, and Alan I.

Thanks to Dave F and David J for sub leading and to my group for an excellent day out.