A Group 19th August

Next Wednesday's ride is train assisted, starting at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford.  We will take a loop out to the West, taking in some pretty countryside and passing over the old A3 and the Hindhead Tunnels.  Lunch at the Merry Harriers, Hambledon that Paul took us to a couple of weeks ago, and tea at the Vineries, Effingham, if we are in time - otherwise Leatherhead.

There are a couple of stretches of gravel path - a mile or so, in total - and several hills.  I have ridden the route on 25mm slicks, so your race bike will be fine.

Please be ready for a prompt start at 1100, to get the best out of the day.

Mark

'A' Group Ride - 12 August 2015

There was a pretty decent turnout for today's ride, with it being a holiday period.

Fifteen riders set out from Redhill for a flattish and not particularly fast ride to Colgate, between Horsham and Crawley, on what was a perfect Summer's day for cycling, - just warm enough and dry.
We welcomed new rider Charles to our party.

We took a bit of a loop through South Nutfield, then skirted Horley to Meath Green and Hookwood. After that, we passed Charlwood, Russ Hill and Rusper, before descending to Faygate, before the pull up to our lunch stop, the Dragon. This was previously one of our occasional watering holes, which, following a lengthy closure, re-opened two months ago. It boasts a good, sensibly priced menu, and has a decent garden, which we didn't use this time, having a reserved table inside, This was probably just as well, as it helped Jeff avoid any more attacks from marauding wasps.

Suitably refreshed, we headed North back via Newdigate, where Colin overshot the runway, missing a turning and becoming detached from the peloton. Geoff kindly embarked on a one man search party, and both rejoined us without too much delay later at Denbies. Here, our request for a group discount was granted, to our collective deep joy.

Thanks are due to Colin as back marker, and to Simon for the ride data.

Rob

Easy Riders elevenses on Aug 26th

The Easy Riders have changes their elevenses venue for the 26th and it will be at the Bradbury Centre, Kingston. 

A/B at Weybridge as advertised.

A group 12 August: Map & Profile

A Group - The Glorious Twelfth

Redhill - Colgate - Denbies

Rob's valedictory ride as leader of the 'A's

Rob looks benignly down on his flock, the last he will lead for a while, as he takes a well-earned sabbatical from the privileged position of Ride Leader. Well may he smile. This does of course mean that there is now a vacancy for a leader of the 'A' group - perhaps from within this group below. Who knows?

".......send not to know

for whom the bell tolls,

It tolls for thee."

The First XV after lunch

We all send Rob our grateful thanks for his sterling services as Ride Leader. and look forward to his taking up the reins once more in the not too distant future.

Easy Riders - 12th August

Elleray Hall, Teddington - Marquise of Granby, Scilly Isles - YMCA, Kingston tow path.

What a beautiful day it turned out to be.  18 left Elleray hall for lunch at the Marquise of Granby.  We went through Bushy Park to Hampton, along Lower Hampton and Sunbury Road to Walton Bridge,on through Walton to Rydens Road to Molesey , Esher Road and Ember Lane to the Scilly Isles where Fuzz and Frank where waiting for us. Very nice pub and service was good.  We returned via Western Green Road, St Leonards and the cycle way to Kingston where 8 continued on the tow path to the YMCA for Tea.

It was lovely seeing Mark today after his operation for a stent, he had hoped to meet us for lunch but didn’t make it (but hope all is well Mark)

Thank you one and all for a good day and thank you Lizzie & Lynda for being Tale end Charlies. 

Irene

B Group - 12th August

A select group of eight riders who had already made the hilly journey to Redhill set off in good weather to cycle eastwards, almost into Kent. One of the riders had cleverly spotted that we might well be headed back for the hills around Chipstead before the day was out.

The first few miles were a series of climbs out of Redhill in the direction of Oxted and then southwards towards our lunch stop at the Greyhound in Lingfield.

Well done to the peloton for keeping together and therefore making Tony (our corner marker) and Tim (our back marker) almost redundant. It was a potentially tricky loop round the countryside with some 18 crossroads, T junctions or other route turns before lunch.

We then headed off in a north-west direction to our tea venue at Fanny’s Farm. Other cyclists may wish to note the sad news that Fanny’s Farm will be closing for good next month.

In light of the weather the day before and the day afterwards we were a very fortunate group to be out in the splendid countryside on a fine August day.

John Austin


Map and photos for John's ride to Lingfield (17.2 miles) then up some more hills to Tea at Fanny's Farm (13.9 miles).

Vespula germanica strikes again

On Sunday's ride a group of us crossed the A24, Eastbourne Road, never a pleasant experience. On this occasion, however, it was more perilous than usual. When half way across, a particularly aggressive specimen of vespula germanica (you will know what I am talking about) settled inside the strap of my cycling crash helmet and, in an offensively arrogant and relaxed way, knowing that I could not defend myself, proceeded to inject its venom into my cheek. By the time that I had crossed, the deed was done and the miscreant fled.

At lunch, from my companions there was sympathy none. 'Not worth a photo' said the Secretary; 'I can't see anything'. Such is the sadistic mind-set of the serious cyclist. The medical opinion? 'You look healthy enough to me; in fact better than usual. Next please.' When recently stung in the foot, I spared our tender, wayfaring readers the shock of a photographic record. 'This time, however, I feel that the truth, however indelicate,  should be revealed.  In the light of this evidence, you will understand the reason for my somewhat reluctant absence from forthcoming rides.The camera never lies.

Jeff

Easy Riders - 5th August

I counted 18 from North Cheam to Cobham.  After 11s, we were 13 who wanted to come on the ride.  We left Cobham and headed over to Esher, via West End Road.  Esher Green to Hampton Court, then followed the tow path to Kingston.  Through the market place and back roads to Berrylands and on towards Woodies at Old Malden.  On our way, we saw Ray, who decided to join us for lunch.  Once we were all there and ordered, Fuzz came in.  So, by then we were 15.  We met Ron and Doreen already there and eaten.  After lunch, we were 4 going to tea.  I took the right turning at the Plough in Worcester Park to take us alongside the by-pass to Ruxley Lane.  Through the cycle way into Ewell Court tearoom.  We were joined by Sonia for tea .  

Lynda.   

'A' Group Ride - 12 August 2015

Next Wednesday's ride from Redhill will be to the Dragon, Colgate for lunch, via Charlwood and Rusper. Flat for the most part, so eyeballs can remain safely in their sockets. 38 miles from elevenses to tea, probably at Denbies.

Rob

A Group 5 August

Cobham - Wood Street - Annies

The Midweek Wanderers
I wonder where Frank is taking us.

B Group - 5th August

24 riders left Cobham for the Mint public house in Banstead. David Vines' gear cable snapped and he turned back with David Aylett.

The ride took us up to Polsden Lacy and down to West Humble; we then re-traced the Prudental climb up Box Hill, then on to Chipstead. David Aylett then met up with us at The Mint.

The food was good but it took far too long for the 18 of us to get served. The rain held off and as we were running late we took a quicker route via Ewell to the tea stop at Squires in Long Ditton.

28 miles in all.

Thanks to John and Terry for back marking

Regards
Tony

Maps showing Tony's route from Cobham to The Mint in Banstead (19.8 miles) then to Tea at Squires in Long Ditton (8.55 miles), a jolly good ride.

A Group 5th August

Frank led a dozen of us on a pleasant meander through North West Surrey today.  37.4 miles from elevenses at Cobham to tea at Annie's, Leatherhead, with lunch being taken at the Royal Oak, Wood Street - a pleasant, old-fashioned pub.

A good ride in good company.

Mark

Midweek Wayfarers CTC: Pru-Ride 100 London-Surrey

Good write-up Mike. Like you I found some of the registration a bit tedious, but enlivened by travelling back from Excel by bike on Emirates (cable car), Thames Clipper from North Greenwich to the London Eye, and train from Waterloo. Very scenic!
Also held-up by the fatality on Leith Hill, so after a fast start my time went to pot. Still a lovely warm and sunny day for a hundred-miler

B Group ride - tomorrow, 5th August

Please note Tony's advice for tomorrow:

"This ride will include some off roading and a 1.30 pm lunch stop but a short ride to the afternoon tea stop at Long Ditton.

Regards Tony

Pru-Ride 100 London-Surrey

Apologies to all who got hassle on Sunday due to 24000 riders who finished the above event, including me, along with Ged, Paul Kelly and his wife and as far as I know Paul Day though I did not see him. I met with the former at the Golden Lion King st., near the Ritz Hotel after the event for a free sandwich and soft drink provide by the UK association of Hospice movement, we were riding for St. Raphael's Cheam.
The pictures below depict some of the action and show Paul & I outside the pub with Emily from St. Raph's. Ged had already left. Getting registered is a night mare, you have to go to Excel in docklands and the whole exercise took me half a day and 55 miles riding from home to Greenwich, taking a pasta lunch at spoons, then walking through the foot tunnel, then riding to Excel where in the process I sat in Wiggo's coronation chair after signing on and getting my registration pack and free goody bag. It was relatively poor value in exchange for the £50 entry fee but then I suppose someone has to pay for the enormous organisation behind this ride and for the joy (joke - poor sods) of clogging up the roads and causing all that hassle for the motorists. In all I did 161 miles in the 2 days but unlike last year I did not ride home after the event but caught the train from London Bridge to Tadworth.
My time was quite poor, 9 hrs 40 mins  but then I made a day of it filling up at many of the food/drink stops and calling in for tea and cake at my friend Tina & Harry in Westcot, they were marooned for the day with A25 blocked. Son Tim who I did not see at all ( he started same time as me 7.20am but in a different wave - it's amazing how they do it) finished in 4 hr 38 mins and he tells me he's not fit!
Pity I did not see the ladies pro ride Saturday evening but after registering I went to London and got caught up in the family rides and could not resist a picture of the young lad in his Polka Dot top.. Will I do it again not sure. along with many hundreds I got stopped on Leith Hill due to a medical emergency. We were kept waiting for over an hour while a poor guy was airlifted out with a heart attack (later understood to have passed away). That standing around really aggravated my arthritic right ankle and gave me much gip for the rest of the event.

What was quite disappointing from CTC point of view, despite looking I saw no sign of activity or presence from our charitable club. Plenty of trade areas like Wiggle but no CTC as I could find, Sure I probably missed them but what an opportunity lost for the public good!

Free Maps

Surrey Cycle Guides nos 1-8 have been updated and are now clearer than before. They are available from libraries and, I believe, other sources. There is the same cover picture on all - the cycling statue at Denbies roundabout, AND THEY ARE FREE.

Terry

B Group 

Wednesday 29^th July

Thanks to Tim for the maps and photos and also for “escorting” Pam to lunch after her puncture even though they took the extension!

Like the A’s we weaved our way through the lanes SE of Dorking. In fact the A’s passed us while we waiting for back markers which caused confusion with one motorist who thought we were cycling 4 abreast – it was probably just the A’s passing the B’s. Toni dealt with her woman to woman – in my view the best way.

Dorking for some is quite a trek and the thought of a further 17 miles to lunch was just too much. We saw Liz and Gill outside the pub in Leigh but we declined their invitation as we were at that moment closing in on our chosen destination – The Black Horse close to Reigate Heath.

At the pub, who were very good with service and the quality of food and beer, we were joined by Tim, Pam and Ian and to my surprise Peter C and another. I think they had gone out in front and missed my left turn off-road through Beggarshouse Lane where Ed rode into a hedge but came through the experience OK.

After lunch it was back to the outskirts of Dorking via Betchworth, Brockham, across the Golf Course and Pixham Lane. Tea was taken at Annie’s (just in time).

Another good day out with the B’s.

Peter T

B Group - 29th July

Maps and photos for Peter T's ride to Reigate

 

The dotted line shows the route taken by Pam's puncture party while
the main group took a short cut through Beggarshouse Lane

29 July - A Group

Dorking - Bletchingley - Oaks Park

Who is missing?