B Ride Report 2nd October - Cobham to Leatherhead via West Horsley

Francis aka “no rain today” led the first group out (wearing shorts and a light top) from Cobham to West Clandon on wet and muddy lanes.

My intended route from there was to Newlands Corner and Drove road to Staple Lane car park. In the dry, it’s a scenic off-road pleasure but after heavy rains, it’s more like a Louisiana swamp! Being sensible, I changed the route with my sub-leaders to instead take us up Staple Lane with the reward of a long Green Dene downhill passing groups of A riders heading uphill.

It was then a short ride to West Horsley and our Thai lunch stop at the Barley Mow. We were feeling rather smug that we had made it in dry weather.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tasty dishes, served promptly which enabled us to exit just as the 3^rd group of riders arrived. It was then that we noticed big black clouds hoovering up ahead waiting for our arrival. And rain it did, heavy rain pelted us for being too smug earlier on. Luckily Steph being my guardian angel, lent me a jacket to keep dry.

Carolyn bide us adieu at Effingham while the rest of us climbed up to Ranmore Common and an exhilarating 28 mph controlled descent down Chapel Lane and a leisurely ride into Leatherhead and tea. Thanks to my lovely group of John, Carolyn, Keith, Karl and back-marker Steff.

Lastly, my thanks to Mick and FixieDave for their patience during our recce and for their superb co-leading of their groups. A really enjoyable day's ride.

Dave’s continues with his ‘middling’ report….

Cycling out from Cobham once again, following a reshuffle, whereby a prestigious cyclist was seconded from our group, to the elite first group, since a couple of riders had dropped out

Our middle sextet group consisted of Sabina, Bernard, Paul, Tony, Tim, & myself. Thanks Paul for joining us at short notice.

The ride followed along well and at noon, we reached the top of Staple Lane. The Hill itself never seems to wear down, despite all the cyclists who traverse it. It only seems to wear us down!

After which mainly downhill roads took us to our lunch venue at the Barley Mow, in West Horsley.

 

Once more into the breach after lunch, the route took us along to the much enjoyed High Barn Lane and Hogden Lane.

We couldn't quite make the suggested afternoon sustenance stop. This was probably due to the extra 100 metres at the start of the ride! So it was Charlie & Gingers for us, with their cycle parking area.

Thanks Francis for the route & organizing. Thanks to Tim our experienced back-marker/leader and finally thanks to our happy group.

Last but not least, Mick concludes with …..

Arwyn, Ian W, Anne W, Colin G, Pat, Grant and I were a little tardy getting away from Cobham, the difficulties of finding a Post Office to congregate outside :-) The ride was pleasant, we just had to be careful to avoid the large puddle.

At the top of Staple Lane I made the mistake of turning right (blame the Sat. Nav.) where I was faced by a steep downhill, the team mutinied and waited for me to recognise my error. No more problems and onto the Barley Mow in West Horsley for lunch.

Lunch was good and served quickly. The first group set off in the rain but we lunched through it then off to the steep climb up Hogden Lane onto Ranmore Common followed by plain sailing into Leatherhead for tea.