A group ride to the Christmas Lunch on 11th December.

Sorry this invitation is earlier than usual but I am away for the next week.

On Wednesday 11th December we will be riding from Claygate to our Christmas Lunch at The Angel Inn, Thames Ditton.

The Day Centre is not available so we can choose from any of the cafes in The Parade (the road leading to the station).

We will be leaving just before 11am and riding down through Fetcham to Bookham. This will all be on-road. If it doesn't rain too much before then we will return across Bookham Common but the option of staying on the road and returning through Effingham is always there. 

From Cobham it is a straight line all the way to The Angel. But not just any straight line but the route of the old coach road from London to Portsmouth. After the railway arrived, and took away the stagecoach traffic, it was the cyclists that revived the fortunes of the pubs along the route.

At the end of the 19th century the "Ripley Road" between London and The Anchor in Ripley was a world-famous cycling road. In 1889 a group of high-profile American cycle tourists, including journalists and politicians, came to see this famous route. At least 100 British cyclists rode with them from London, another 100 met up with them at The Angel, and there were 500 by the time they got to The Anchor!

So as you cycle towards your Christmas lunch you can think of all those who have passed that way before you, raced high-wheelers over the Fairmile, struggled up the hills with tired legs, and called at The Angel for a recuperative pint.

The route is the one we used in 2021 and is about 20 miles.

I know some may be going straight to the pub, or have arranged chauffeurs, to maximise drinking opportunities. But if you want to join me on the ride please email me by Monday evening, 9th December. Another willing volunteer to lead a small group would be most welcome.

I will then sort out the groups, finalise starting times to get you to lunch by 12.30, and email you details and a gpx file.