I had planned this ride in early October when it hadn’t rained for weeks, when Muddy Lane belied its name and all the tracks were dry. Fast forward to November and the final recce last Friday revealed widespread flooding and impassible paths. So I revised the route to avoid the deepest water, which necessitated more main roads than normal.
As Wednesday approached the forecast got wetter and windier, so I was surprised to get 18 booked in for the ride. Come the day five had found more inviting alternatives, so a still creditable 13 of us set off from Hersham, in three groups fortified with warm drinks and massive slices of bread pudding.
Dave F was first away:
I put my hand up to sub lead on 30 Oct thinking that we were inevitably due some crisp bright autumnal days to enjoy. Indeed we were, but on any day except Wednesday it seems.
With a dire forecast there were several sensible withdrawals from both A and B rides, but as a volunteer sub leader I was not one of them this week. The forecast predicted a long morning of incessant light rain with strung gusty headwinds all the way to Puttenham, even wetter over lunch and an increasingly dryer pm, but minus the tailwind home. It was not wrong!
My subgroup of Daves W and E and the non-Dave Ged were in pole position on the starting grid, setting of promptly just after 10:30 with our leader expecting groups to arrive for our pre-booked lunch from 12:30. We went deliberately slightly off-piste on route to Oatlands Ave (my muscle memory route to many 11’s) which shaved a couple of hundred metres off the mileage, but thereafter the route was extremely easy to follow from .gpx on my phone, protected from the elements by my clear top but not entirely waterproof bar bag.
We made good progress as a compact peloton for the first hour through Byfleets, Old Woking and Mayford but thereafter the pace dropped a tad as the 36 mph gusts were particularly felt on the remaining long straight fairly open roads. The bright autumnal leaves in several places cheered us on, but no one felt like stopping to take pictures. We finally reached Wanborough Hill (often descended but seldom ascended) knowing that after a final effort, from there it would be a short downhill cruise to lunch. Approaching it, it doesn’t appear particularly challenging, but the gradient coupled with the rain and head wind, it felt vertical.
We opted for the leader's recommended safe controlled descent down the footpath to lunch where we were the first to park our bikes in the dry marquee and wring out our sodden gloves around 12:20ish. Unfashionably early, the bar team were not quite ready for us, but it was warm and dry and as we subsequently placed our orders the other groups arrived. The excellent food arrived almost too quickly as we anticipated that the longer we lingered, the dryer our afternoon ride might be. Dave E kindly treated us to coffee and Dave W decided to make an earlier break for it.
After peace negotiations with Dave Vs group, we agreed to join forces for an eight-person peloton on the mostly dry return leg to Cobham, where Dave V rewarded his residual followers with afternoon tea. It really should have been the other way round! A surprisingly enjoyable ride in jovial company. Many thanks Dave.
My hardy group of Sue F, Paula, Gill and Andy C were next:
On the road the rain and wind lived up to expectations and traffic levels on the A245 from Byfleet to Woking didn’t help. Just shows how important Muddy Lane is for a civilised route south and west from Byfleet. En route we were passed in West Byfleet by Neil’s group of Richard, Patrick and Neil W.
Beyond Mayford there was much less traffic, enabling us to observe the autumn colours through rain-spattered glasses. Low cloud obscured the full challenge of Wanborough Hill until tired legs registered the increasing gradient.
Lunch was well received, though more logs on the open fire might have helped get us warm and a little drier. Gill kindly treated our group to coffee which gave me enough energy to start the return climb up Puttenham Hill. We were joined by Dave’s group for the final push to Cobham. Gill and Dave E left the us at Cobham seeking direct routes home.
Tea was taken indoors at Gail’s where we observed the survivors of Neil’s group taking alfresco refreshments; hardy folk.
Andy back-marked am and Dave F did likewise pm. Photos courtesy of Dave’s F & E
Special thanks to my colleagues Neil C and Dave F on not the easiest day to sub-lead, and to everyone who came out to skirmish with the gods of rain and wind, and came through in such good humour.
No comments:
Post a Comment