Report for A Group 14th February

24 riders signed up for this ride from Weybridge. Two cancelled and one suffered a bicycle malfunction en route to elevenses. So, 21 riders made it to Café Verditer in Weybridge, where the sudden influx of brightly dressed customers was handled very well.

The weather was very mild, almost warm. There were even a couple of pairs of shorts on display! Most of us encountered some rain on the way to Weybridge, but thereafter the day was more or less dry, if a bit grey and cloudy. 

Clive’s group was off first:

We were the so called fast group comprised of: Frances, Patrick, Steve D, Richard B, Neil W and Hans. We progressed through Addlestone, Ottershaw and then to Chobham Common where we paused on the curiously named Steep Hill to remove some layers. I was overheating, probably from the effort of trying to stay clear of the so called medium paced group led by Dave W who caught us up at this point while we were removing some layers. They were very kind and didn’t hurt our feelings by overtaking and so we continued on the route in the original order.

When we turned off the London Road, in Sunningdale, to head towards Windsor Great Park we parted ways with Frances, who was not able to join us for lunch today. 

Although the route had already taken us along some quiet lanes and roads it was still very agreeable to be in the park which felt peaceful and still.

[Hans, Richard, Patrick, Neil, Steve and Prince Albert]

After leaving the tranquility of the park we had an exhilarating free wheel down Crimp Hill, and were soon in Datchet and at the Royal Stag for lunch. Lunch was delivered very speedily indeed. After ordering at the bar you would be hard pressed to get back to the table before the waitress beat you to it with your food. 

The were also some Valentines Day instructions for us on the wall although, as Simon pointed out, we only followed the first two.

Due to the speedy service at the pub we were away in less than an hour to resume the route towards Shepperton. The afternoon ride was a contrast to the morning ride – more urban than the leafy lanes of the morning, definitely less pretty as we cycled through Horton and Stanwell Moor where we took the path across the Staines Reservoir.

As we left the reservoir path we encountered Simon and Pete from Dave W’s group who had opted to go around the reservoir instead of across it. A good decision. On reflection I don’t think the reservoir path was worth the effort of getting the bikes through the tricky gates. Perhaps if the Sun had been shining it would have been different.

From here it was just a few miles to tea at the Ferry Café in Shepperton where we were shortly joined by Dave W’s group.

Thanks to my group for joining the ride and to Hans for back marking. 

Thanks to Dave W for sub leading and special thanks to Sue F for stepping in to be the last minute substitute sub-leader for the third group which it seems had a ride packed with incident.

Dave W’s group was off next and here is his report:

My group comprising Simon, Pete B, Sue C, Ged, Fiona, Andy, Brian and Dave E set off promptly from Weybridge and cruised round Clive's thoughtfully-curated (as they say these days) route. At one point we came across the first group, breathless and exhausted, paused part way up a very unchallenging climb! I know it can be demoralising to be passed by another group, so we did the right and noble thing and waited behind them, giving them a few minutes start. We also took care to linger over a photo stop in Windsor Great Park to make doubly-sure they didn't trouble us again!

We reached the Royal Stag well before 1.00 pm but then hid round a corner for a bit before going into the pub, just to make sure the same group thought they had a good gap on us!

The pub proved to be a well-chosen lunch venue, definitely one to be re-visited! It was difficult to tear ourselves away and head back out into the increasing gloom, but it was character-building! I overshot the awkward kissing gate at the entrance to the causeway between the Staines reservoirs but, sadly, Ged noticed my 'error' and there was no choice but to turn back and follow Clive's fiendish route! Spies tell me that the first group were, once again, only a short distance ahead of us at this point. We lingered a bit trying to spot landmarks through the murk, but eventually set off for the final few miles to tea.

We were indeed fortunate to have an incident-free ride - things do go wrong on group rides and can prove a challenge to any ride leader! Anyway, thanks to Clive for organising it all very efficiently, to the weather for not raining too much after elevenses, to the rest of the group for their company and for not suffering any 'incidents', and to Fiona for tirelessly back-marking all day!

The third group off was led by Sue F:

The gods of mechanicals and punctures were not looking favourably on the 10:44 group. I discovered a flat tyre upon getting my bike out of the garage that morning, Peter our group leader had Di2 malfunction so had to bail and there was more to come.

Having had to use my slower gravel bike for the ride due to the aforementioned flat, it felt a good move ( in the absence of Peter) to offer to lead and control the group speed!

So off we went, our group of 5, me, Daves F and V, Paula and Gill. Clive’s interesting route was a little more undulating than I anticipated however we chugged along heading west then turning north east and to lunch in Datchet.

Shortly before Sunningdale, Gill was the first recipient of a puncture. Very annoying for her as she had just had a full service and new sealant in her tubeless tyres. Much faffing later we couldn’t seal the hole and Gill decided to abandon and summon Graham for a lift home.

A nice stretch followed through Windsor Great Park, down Crimp Hill and we arrived in Datchet for an excellent late lunch.

We didn’t dally too long, wanting to get ahead of the possible rain. We had an  interesting view of Heathrow from Clive’s off-road section between the Staines reservoirs and  saw 2 red kites thanks to Dave F ‘s bird-spotting skills.

Dave F then suffered a derailleur malfunction and was down to cycling in his small cog and the grand finale of the day was Paula’s puncture as we crossed the busy A308 . Despite the best efforts of our Daves the tyre could not be levered off and poor Paula faced a one hour forty-five minute walk home!

I think I can say that between mechanicals we had a good day out - thanks to Clive for his inventive route, Dave V for back-marking and all others for their excellent company.

The Route