Annual A Group Ride from Hookwood to Horsted Keynes, 17th July.

On the day when Stage 17 of the Tour de France climbed 2,850m in the Alps, our more modest climbs to Horsted Keynes and back to Banstead totalled a mere 893m - less than a third of the superhuman pro. riders. Still, at the end of the last three domestic climbs of the day - Coopers Hill Road and Church Hill into Nutfield, Markedge Lane, and Park Road into the finish line in Banstead our legs felt they had done quite enough.

Despite the promise of a rare warm and sunny July day, the As could only muster 11 riders for our annual ride to Horsted Keynes. By tradition this is to meet with cyclists now belonging to a breakaway group of East Sussex CTC. Dave B and Fiona arrived for elevenses at Hookwood just as we were leaving, but were up for only a half-a-day's ride - with excuses of more pressing engagements.

Janice led-off first, and remarked as follows:-

I was first to arrive at Hookwood Tesco but was soon joined by Ged and others who had met at North Cheam and maybe en route.

After coffee and a snack in the upstairs café Andy C, Andy H, Patrick, Neil W and myself set off for Horsted Keynes. I was glad to have reccie’d the route as it made leading through the cycle lanes around Gatwick so much easier. We made the traditional stop under the flight path and admired the cable that is there to switch off the electricity to the train line in the event of a plane coming in too low.

Soon after that we picked up the Worth Way which had a few mud patches but not too bad bearing in mind the last couple of days of rain. The long descent of Chilling St just before lunch was much appreciated by all (if not the following short sharp climb). Chilling St was nicely downhill with beautiful scenery and especially enjoyable on a dry and sunny day.

We were 1st to arrive at the pub in Horsted Keynes but were soon joined by half a dozen (ex)Sussex CTC cyclists and we shared our lunch table with them.

One topic discussed was the Dieppe raid which many of them had completed in the past. We talked about the route from Lewes to Newhaven and they recommended a route which went via Kingston and then a C road this avoiding the horribly busy A26 at the end. That might be worth looking into if we cycle there next year.

The return journey after lunch was hillier, particularly notable was the 1.7 mile climb to Bletchingley. After that we only had Markedge Lane and the ascent into Banstead to occupy our thoughts.

At Banstead Andy H headed for home and the rest of us had some very nice cakes and coffees from Café Italia before we did likewise.

Thanks to Ged for organising the day. It was a lovely route in one of the better days of this summer. Thanks also for the good company of my group and Andy C for back marking.

Lunch at the Green Man.

Self-timer composition.

The group's resident photographer, Andy C, took this photo via his camera self-timer, carefully positioning himself under the Winged Wheel and hanging flower basket as the seconds on his camera shutter wound-down.

The second group of six.

After lunch my group arrived in Banstead before 4.30pm, searching in vain at Cafe Chai and Cafe Italia for Janice's group. (I suspect they'd been-and-gone, arriving much earlier thanks to their superior climbing abilities). However, Steve D and Steve W, Dave Vine and myself enjoyed a well-earned tea at the Italian Edibles cafe.

Many thanks to Dave V for expertly backmarking my group, and to Janice for leading the pacey first group, especially through all the tricky twists and turns around Gatwick airport.