Our first ride from Banstead turned out to be a good day. The Community Centre was excellent and the threat of afternoon rain, which had cast an ominous cloud over the leader's peace of mind for the previous two days, had finally been revoked. In fact we gathered at Banstead in what may have been the first Wednesday sunshine of 2025.
18 riders had booked a place split into three groups.
David J set off first:
Not much to report about our groups' ride, although we started from a new venue, I had recced the route in the rain the previous Monday, by car I may add.
Brian's ingenious rote was easy to follow on the Garmin, we all kept a reasonable pace up and over the climbs, particularly on the outward part, arriving at the pub in good time.
Lunch was the usual fayre at a Weatherspoons, so it didn't take long before we were back on our bikes and on our way home. the return trip had a 'kick up' for the last 5 miles or so but even these sections were negotiated without any incidents. Some dropped off and didn't stay for afternoon tea, but three did, many thanks to Dave V for back marking and I think all of us enjoyed the ride.
From a personal view I was pleased that we had good dry day with not too much sun coming through the clouds that make seeing/riding in bright low winter sun so difficult.
I set off next with Frances, Ged, Dave W, Clive and Richard. We caught David's group at the first Coulsden lights but didn't all get through and so we only had a glimpse of them on Farthing Down and didn't catch them again until Bletchingley. Andy's group overtook us after Outwood and all three groups arrived in Horley within about 5 minutes. Dave and Ged left for home and our remaining group of four enjoyed the detour along Crutchfield Lane.
At the top of Longbottom Lane we came across Terry struggling to remove his tyre to repair a puncture. We stayed to assist and were passed by David's group. Richard and I stopped for tea joining Simon and Daves V&F at Ashtead Park.
My thanks to Clive for back marking and to David and Andy for sub leading.
Andy C led the third group:
My group consisted of Peter (backmarker), Patrick, Steve & both Neils.
The weather was calm with watery sunshine & mildish with the possible threat of rain moving up from the south coast later in the day/evening. Off last, we left Banstead through Woodmansterne to Coulsdon then up Farthing Downs where I glimpsed Brian's group in the distance. We were to stop at the WC though.
I have fond memories of stopping for tea at the "Welcome Tea Rooms" on my early rides with the C&M (joined 1982). We would sit outside in the summer enjoying the view & the cakes too. Mark wrote an interesting article in 2023 https://midweekwayfarers.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-welcome-tea-rooms.html
On nearing Outwood Windmill, all the groups merged but comfortable in my pace, I took off arriving at Horley at 12.30pm.
Jack Fairman was a racing driver (1913 - 2002) & this Wetherspoons is a Wikipedia of information about him.
The return took us up Lodgebottom Road (more commonly known as Little Switzerland) towards Headley. At the top, Terry had puntured returning from the B group lunch at the Stepping Stones & was attempting to remove his rear tyre. Under the assumption he would contact his wife to collect him & his
bike, we pressed on to tea at three (pm) - Ashtead GC where four stopped.
My thanks to Brian for the route, Peter for his work on the back &
everyone else for their company.
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