A Group, 29 December 2010

Molesey - Stoke d'Abernon - Fetcham

A Ride 29th December

There was quite a number of us departed from East Mosely Centre on a short ride to The Plough Stoke D'Abernon. After a few stops on the way when a few became detached due to traffic lights getting in the way (the lights couldn't cope with the number) and slight deviations by yours truly experimenting with the route, afterall we had time on our hands.

I had cried off on the notion that the Scarlett Arms at Walliswood would have been more in keeping with the 'A' team, so my apologies to those who like to keep fit year round.

We, I think, had a pleasant and orderly lunch and after much discussion and sometimes debate departed, 10 or more of us going via the Elizabeth Foundation on Woodlands Road to Leatherhead to let our food go down and give time for wife Beryl to receive us with further food and drink to warm the cockles of the heart. There were some that needed to get home to beat the lights and no doubt be rewarded, I hope, by a warm rest after the efforts during this time of the year.

A happy and fit new year to you all.

Ray

A Group 29th December

Pete's prediction for my spike tyres turned out to be true - the snow and ice has all gone. So a mild but damp day for Ray's ride - the last of the year. A modest and steady mileage to the Plough at Stoke d'Abernon for lunch, then back to Ray's house for tea and cakes.

Mark

More Revellers from "A" Group

Firstly well done Cliff, Les & Simon for making it out yesterday. Bob Starey will be pleased that you are keeping attendance up at his favourite pub chain! To add to the seasonal spirit the collage depicts some more of last weeks Xmas lunch bunch at the "Cricketers" plus one wild domesticated cat trying to escape the snow appropriately named Daisy.

A Group Xmas Lunch

Some of the revellers having a good time.

A Group Dec 15th

A jolly party goer at lunch!

A short ride to a long lunch. Out of Leatherhead through Fetcham to Stoke D’Abernon where a group of “short cutters” turned right up Blundel Lane. The rest of us continued via Tilt Road and Leigh Hill Road to Sandy Lane. Then across the A244 to Heath Road and back to Epsom. A convivial lunch at the Cricketers followed taking rather longer than anticipated given the inadequate staffing levels at the pub following the change of ownership. I checked the Stonegate pubs website and I quote from it… “What makes us different? The common thread across all our pubs and bars is our dedication and commitment to serve our customers better than they are served elsewhere.” Well you could have fooled me. I have left appropriate feedback making it clear that my target is not the staff who struggled through on the day but the management who peddle this rubbish and then understaff their pubs.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas

Brian Greenwood

A Group Christmas Lunch

A short ride and a long lunch today, each impeccably organised by Brian. 11.9 miles at 11.9 mph - spooky, eh?

Not the time to worry about calories.

Mark

A Mini-Group 8 December 2010

Dorking - Ifield - Reigate

Today, Dorking seemed a lot further away than usual. The really tough bit was the totter from front door to the A217. At St Martin's, a hardy band from far and wide (well done Gill, Irene, Pam, Vic) was already making serious inroads into the tea and sausage-rolls. Come decision time, the vote went heavily in favour of following Terry to the Royal Oak, Brockham. With only two sympathy votes, I lost my deposit.

The troika of Mark, John B and me therefore set off up Dene St. en route for Ifield. Keeping very much to the busier roads, where snow and ice had mostly been dispersed by traffic, we made steady progress. Where snow had thawed, the resulting wet surfaces were treated with caution. Has anybody got a foolproof way to recognise black ice - before you hit it?

We passed our fall-back options at Newdigate and Rusper, to arrive safe and perhaps a little over-heated by too many layers, at our destination, the Gate at Ifield. Here we cooled off and enjoyed good food, beer and conversation. Our return was to have been via Charlwood, but caution suggested that we mostly retrace our earlier route, as revealed by Mark's unfailing Garmin, before heading for Reigate.

Keen to return before the roads froze over, we forewent the comfort of afternoon tea and cake to part at Reigate, Mark to follow the A25 while John and I crested Reigate Hill before parting company. First time on two wheels for ten days and 41 miles in the legs.

Let's hope this snow and ice soon disappear!

Jeff

A Group 8th December

Jeff led a very select A Group from Dorking to Reigate, with lunch at The Gate, Ifield. 24.18 miles, carefully chosen to minimise the very evident risks of the ice and snow. Despite the conditions we managed a steady rolling average of 12 mph and burned 1,083 calories.

Should be enough for the pie - steak and stilton - just the job on a cold day.

Mark

A Group, 24 November

Teddington - Horsell - Ockham

Welcome to Peter Tiller
River Ash near Shepperton Studios, Littleton

A Group Nov 24th

It was a bright winter's day as I rode the short three miles to the start where about twenty were keen to dog my every step. Seeking out unfamiliar ways we entered Bushy Park beside NPL and departed into leafy Hampton via a carelessly unpadlocked gate. There was no time for General Ray as the Hanworth spiral and BP Sunbury were amongst the day's targets. The Black Dog saw us across the A308 to a Shepperton ford photoshoot. After Chertsey's level crossing we turned off up the hill past the hospital zigzagging through autumnal colours to the Plough at Horsell. As we arrived, John B and Ray appeared having been left at the start!

Luckily we arrived earlier as service took the best part of an hour with eventually Ray having to be separated from an half-eaten baguette. Back we went along the Basingstoke Canal to West Byfleet then the lanes past the Anchor to Ockham Bites for the farewell repast. At times we'd been a very long line but somehow the elastic never snapped - apart from Wisley Gardens sprint! Only 44 miles and home in the light (just).
from Graham

A Group 24th November

A cold day for Graham's ride from Teddington to the Plough at Horsell, with tea at Ockham Bites. 26.21 miles at a moving average of 11.7 mph and 1,174 calories.

Mark

A Group, 17 November

Claygate - Horton - Walton

Many thanks to Grant, who led us at a spanking pace from Claygate to Horton, on a route that often often spurned the soft option of firm tarmac, without sinking us up to the axles in mud! The rain held off till early evening.

Jeff

A Group, 10 November

Sunninghill/dale and Shepperton
Welcome to Tony

At the Nag's Head and Watson's

After Tuesday’ deluge, it was sunshine, blue skies and a crisp nip in the air for Wednesday. The Greeno Centre was stretching its seams, as were one or two nameless others! We welcomed two newcomers, Peter from Esher and Tony from Brentford, Peter opting to try out the B group on his first outing and Tony going for the A group.

Ed was officer i/c A platoon and soon had us yomping beside the Thames at Chertsey, before making a courtesy call on Pam J (otherwise engaged) at Egham. We crossed the A30 for a path across the water meadows of Runnymede to Windsor Road. A left turn at the roundabout before Old Windsor caused some confusion among those anticipating the leader’s intent, when we turned our back on sea level to exercise our lungs up Priest Hill.

Next stop Savill Garden, where a quick spurt along Wicks Lane to turn smartly right into the garden car park was enough to sever head from tail. With the two parts reunited by the marvels of modern science and a lot of shouting, it was a spin along Rhododendron Ride beside the gunnera, now cut down in the shape of little tepees, to protect the growth buds from frost damage. Then the maze of Windsor Park, about which I cannot comment; I just follow the leader’s wheel.

On leaving the park, a strategic change of plan led us not into temptation or Fifield but to Sunninghill/dale and the Royal Oak, where our numbers proved too great for single handed Emma. We therefore split, with a second foraging party seeking out the Nag’s Head, where we were greeted with a warm fire and reasonably priced food.

Warmed, fed and watered we reassembled at the Royal Oak. Vic took command for the afternoon and led us via Sunningdale, across Chobham Common and beside the M3 to Chertsey. Here we gleefully passed the massed ranks of the B group, en route to Shepperton, a warm welcome and polystyrene tea at Watson’s Bakery. It was then each man and woman for him/herself in a futile race with lighting-up time.

Many thanks Ed and Vic for an enjoyable November ride.

Jeff

A Group 10th November

Another bright Autumn day for Ed's ride to Windsor Great Park, with lunch at Sunningdale and tea at Shepperton. 28.02 miles elevenses to tea, rolling average 12.7 mph and 1255 calories.

Lights on on the way home.

Mark

A Group, 3 November

Betchworth and Banstead

Left or right?

The Dolphin and Pistachios

A Group 3rd November - The Autumn Canter

It was fairly sunny at Cobham, with a good turn-out of Wayfarers. Tea was courtesy of John Hammond, to celebrate his 94th birthday - Happy Birthday, John. A strong 'A' Group was ready to do battle with the Downs - Dave, John, Mike M, Neil, Pete B, Ray, Simon, Toni, Vic, Will and I set off South at about 1115. We played ourselves in gently at first, taking lanes across Downside Common and Bookham Common and through Great Bookham before climbing slowly and steadily up Chapel Lane. Speeding down towards West Humble there was no need to signal what came next - everyone assumed that we would be going over Ranmore Common, and we did.

Banter and joshing at the beginning of the hill, rather less to say as we progressed, but we were soon at the top in good form, and ready to see how fast we could go on the descent to Dorking. 36.7 mph, was the answer.

Through the town and out on the old Horsham Road, then up Spook Hill before turning left through the lanes to Brockham where we wanted to take a look at the bonfire. They're still working on it, but it's well developed and looks more or less ready to go.

Down Wheelers Lane to Wellhouse Lane and within fifteen minutes we were at the Dolphin. John was slightly delayed by a dropped chain at the bridge - easy enough to fix, as he said, though Andy Schleck may not agree. Ron and Doreen were there, sitting by the fire, and within a few minutes we were joined by Paul Kelly, back for his first ride after a lengthy spell of convalescence following his accident, and then by Jeff Tollerman. Jeff had collected the Arthur Jessop trophy at Cobham and had decided to take a detour via his house to put it away safely.

After lunch Vic, Pete and John made their separate ways home and the rest of us set off towards Reigate, through the tunnel, which improbably, was once the main road, and then to the second hill of the day, Wray Lane. Again, all up in good order, and Neil signed off at the top to start his journey home. The rest of us set off down Gatton Bottom - a very fast but rough stretch - and Toni showed his bike-handling skills by coming safely to a stop after a double puncture - front and rear. It was obviously going to take a few minutes to fix, so he said that we should carry on. This was kind - the light wasn't so good any more.

Up past Fanny's and down Castle Road - one way down, now, but a fierce hill-climb course in the past. Then the last hill of the day, Park Road, into Banstead, and tea and cakes in Pistachios overlooking the park - good bike parking and a friendly welcome. The outstanding advantage of Banstead, of course, is that it's downhill home for everyone.

Ray set off for home without tea, the rest of us talked about rides and riding and gradually a wild, but plausible, idea emerged. We could do the Hilly 50 as an A Group ride ... so we will, probably.

31.1 miles elevenses to tea, total ascent 2,376 feet, a rolling average of 11.6 mph and 1394 calories. Power output was 94 watts, which is pretty much smack-on the 'sustained average power of a well-trained touring cyclist' - or so the MIT says, anyway.

Mark

Wednesday's A Group Ride - Menu

Wednesday's ride will be a steady Autumn canter over the Downs - nothing too serious. Lunch will be taken at the Dolphin, Betchworth - not one of our regulars but a pleasant, old-fashioned sort of pub with a nice fire.

However, they've got the builders in doing them a new kitchen, so the menu is necessarily very limited. There's a copy above, but, as a guide, I had one of their Cornish Pasties on the recce and it kept me going nicely.

Mark

Free Wheeling Day

Leaving a damp Dorking behind us, the (mostly B) group crossed the golf course to Brockham, noting progress on the bonfire en route to Norwood Hill. Here Jeff’s (mostly A) group were awaiting us. The weather was gradually improving. After Brian pushed me off (not too literally) I thought for a moment I’d had a good run. A few seconds later Mark whistled by, stopping about 100 yards along the road ! Soon more contestants arrived and my second place seemed assured until Godfrey beat me by inches. Soon everyone had arrived and we rode on to Charlwood where we divided loyalties between two pubs and the Pine Shop. Sadly no ladies competed this year. After lunch I had to return home in order to go on holiday again, leaving Brian to lead one group to 3s and Jeff to do likewise, in grand, sunny weather. Thanks, gents.
Thanks to Ed for his handsome,unique carved trophy for the winner. Runner-up award was a (new) tube.
Terry

A Group Oct 20th

On a bright chilly morning thirteen riders left Addlestone by Green Lane,St. Peters Hospital,Stonehills,Accommodation Road,Longcross,Chobham Common,Chobham Place,Valley End,Windlesham South Ascot and Sunninghill to lunch at "The Nags Head" in Sunningdale High Street. After the lunch hour the route continued through Windsor Great Park to Smiths Lawn,past the Guards Polo Club to group photographs before the totem pole,having crossed with the "B" ride en route. From the Wheatsheaf gate we took Christchurch Road to Virginia Water,Lyne Crossing Road,Ruxbury Road,St. Annes,Chertsey,Chertsey Bridge,Shepperton and Lower Sunbury for tea at the Walled Garden by 1515,leaving room for people to get home before LUT after a bright cheerful day amid plenty of autumnal colour.
From Vic