Report for A Group - 4th February

Many thanks to Dave V and Gill H for the birthday cake at Cobham.

As I write this in the gloom of Thursday the steady rain is once again falling over Surrey and I'm thankful that we had such a wonderful day yesterday. The sunshine brought out 19 riders and another two who joined us for the first few miles.

Frances' group was first away:

The sun was shining which made for a very pleasant spin. My group of 10 (no takers to split group) set off after a democratic vote to avoid Bookham Common due to its muddy conditions. Dave B who is recovering from an injury left us near Effingham and we continued up Critten and  over Whitedown thru the large puddle to Holmbury St Mary and then via Ockley, Capel and Newdigate to The Plough at Leigh for lunch. We arrived promptly at 12.50.

The return was a straightforward 13 miles to Ashtead via Punchbowl Lane and Leatherhead where Hans and Fiona said goodbye .  We cut through the town again to avoid any muddy sections. Finally at 3pm we arrived at LJs Brew & Bites in Barnett Wood Lane.  A new stop for the group. 

I had a commitment so said goodbye to my good spirited group. Many thanks to Steve for backmarking throughout and everyone for making my job easy at a steady pace😁

------- 

My group totalled 11 to start including Geoffrey Shields whose email had clearly taken a 2 day galactic tour and arrived at 2332 on Wednesday! The others were Sue C, Sue F, Gina, Jennie and David, Dave E, Dave W, Neil W and Simon. Jennie volunteered to back mark and Simon kindly volunteered to split the group. We also (based on Steve D's report) avoided Bookham Common.

 Geoffrey stayed with us to Effingham but sadly decided that Critten Lane might be too much of a challenge and that he would enjoy a solo ride.  Ranmore gave us an even larger flood than when I recce'd the ride after much heavier rain than Tuesday but we all traversed it without incident.

 Onwards down Whitedown and another flood in Raikes Lane and the monster pothole that I saw on my recce now sporting a very battered red cone. We continued to regroup as far as Forest Green where with better conditions ahead we agreed to meet at lunch. This worked well with Simon's group arriving just as we finished ordering. Dave W headed for home.

The afternoon was uneventful though Thorncroft Lane was a bit wet and muddy. Dave E, Gina and Sue C headed home. The rest of us arrived at the cafe (https://www.ljsbrewandbites.co.uk/ )  just as the earlier group were finishing and the new venue got a thumbs up. About a dozen of us in total must have stopped which was a win, win for both us and the new cafe venture. Other groups take note - though unfortunately not the Beginners because they close at 1pm on Saturdays. 

It was a great day to be out in excellent company. My thanks to Frances as sublead, Simon for splitting the group and Jennie for back marking.  

 

 

Report for B Group - 4th February

Cobham - Ashtead - Old Moat 

First, thank you to Gill H and Dave V who kindly treated us to Tea, Coffee and Cake for our Elevenses at the British Legion. Their celebration had originally been scheduled for 7th January but our rides were cancelled then due to too much ice on the roads. Happy Birthdays Dave and Gill.

Paul had kindly mapped out the route and decided on The Woodman as our Lunch venue. So we're sorry that neither he nor Maggie got to enjoy the fruits of his planning.

I left Cobham with our third group, Dawn, Anne, Ian and Martina, keeping in mind that we were to intercept Terry on the outskirts of Dorking at the Ashcombe Road roundabout. I made an early navigational blunder in Bookham Common, deciding unintentionally to take two long sides of a triangle of muddy paths instead of the more obvious prescribed one. Those of us on eBikes were very mindful that High Barn Lane is a serious challenge. For Ian (not on his eBike today) this was the most serious ride he had attempted recently and for Dawn, riding the Dream, which doesn't have very low gears, this was enough hard work for one day and they turned right at the top to coast down Crocknorth Road to easier terrain. Ian headed for home and Dawn turned up at The Woodman to join the rest of us for lunch. Our small remaining team zoomed along Ranmore Common and down Ranmore Road to meet Terry who had been waiting quite a while for us because we were quite behind schedule.

The hills aren't quite as alive as usual with the sound of music in Little Switzerland, at this time of year, but with the absence of rain or cold it was pleasant and scenic enough.

Mercifully the staff at The Woodman didn't seem at all discombobulated by our tardy arrival and we were warmly welcomed and plied with drinks and comestibles. When we left I was asked if we had paid a deposit for our booking. We hadn't but on the previous occasion (2022) when I led a ride to The Woodman I did pay a deposit. But this time, having pre-ordered food for a dozen or so people they had possibly not felt that a deposit would be necessary. The large room which had been allocated for us all was superb.

Terry left the pub to ride home and our remaining tiny team rode the rest of the short course through Epsom Common to The Old Moat but didn't stop for Tea.

Thank you Tim G and Dave C for sub-leading and to everybody else who kept an eye on people at the back to ensure that nobody got lost or completely worn out.

~ Tim C

The route, as planned:

____________________

Dave writes:

First of all we must thank Paul J for providing us with today's route! That being Cobham-Ashstead-Old Moat.

Our middling group consisted of six eager cyclists.

The start of the ride was delayed for us for a short while, due to our leader struggling with the recalcitrant devices needed to navigate the route.
We were blessed with Sunshine 🌞 for today's ride, which is always good for morale.

We traversed five miles before a deflationary problem occurred.

But it didn't turn out so bad, since the recipient magnanimously bought us drinks at lunch 👏😃

The steering on the leader's Bike become stiff, at the junction of High Barn Lane (so we were unable use that road to take us up to the top of Ranmore).

So it was onwards and upwards to Ranmore; riding along the top was pleasant, giving us a break from ascending which didn't last that long 🫤 since a few more miles took us to Little Switzerland. Once again we were in ascent mode which is always good for the appetite (thanks Paul). 

With the hardest part of the ride over, we made it to the Splendid Woodman Pub in Ashtead. 
 
Two thirds of our group headed onwards to the Old Moat, and one third of us partook of refreshments within.

Thanks to all who took part today 👏

~ Dave

____________________
 

Tim G writes:

We must all have done something good in a previous life to deserve such a fine day for today’s ride. The days in between have been so dreary lately ! 
 
Seven of us set out in time to enjoy clear skies and sunshine as we headed out towards Bookham Common. We sadly lost our back marker at an early stage as a result of a ‘technical navigation’ hitch but they later caught up once we had got to the top of High Barn Road. Our group was then thankfully reunited. 
 
A glide across Ranmore Common and near freewheel descent into Dorking soon found us at Westhumble where we had a photo opportunity. Clear and sunny skies prevailed and we steadily climbed up ‘Little Switzerland’ and on to Headley. An olympic effort amidst near alpine scenery. We all then enjoyed an effortless descent into Ashford. 
 
The ‘Woodman’ proved to be a great success where everyone was suitably fed and watered in an area that had been especially set aside for our exclusive use. Perhaps the sight of so much unflattering Lycra on public display might well have upset the locals ! Nevertheless all three groups enjoyed a relaxed lunch suitably detached from the surrounding clientele. 
 
The short afternoon ride terminated at ‘The Old Moat’ garden centre where three of us enjoyed a tea stop and entertaining debrief to round off today’s events. Thanks to everyone who made our ride a success and contributed to an enjoyable day out.  A good day had by all !
 
~ Tim G 

Volunteers wanted to judge annual competition for most exciting ride

Please, I need three or four volunteers to judge this year's competition

Simple job.  I e-mail you a shortlist of ten eligible ride reports and you read them and pick your top three in order and e-mail me back.  I tot up the marks and find the winner.

The announcement of the winner will be made, and the cup awarded, at the Annual Lunch.

If you can help, please let me know at 

Paulandrewjames1949@yahoo.co.uk

 

Change of AGM date and Hon Sec announcement

Due to various holiday commitments the committee have decided to move the 2025/26 AGM to Wednesday 29 April 2026 when it is expected that more members will be able to attend. The meeting will be held again at Long Ditton Village Hall which hosted us very well last year and proved a popular venue. More details nearer the time but please put the revised date in your diaries as I am sure you are eager to attend!

Hon Secretary Sadly our hard-working Hon Secretary of the last 5 years, Dave F will be standing down at this year’s AGM: although we are flush with funds from an increase in subs there wasn’t enough in the kitty to bribe him to stay on so we are looking for a volunteer to fill his very big shoes. The role of Hon Secretary is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the running of our club and applications which should be made to me by midnight on Sunday 22nd March 2026, for this role. This could be your JFK moment!

Dave has kindly agreed to handover / assist / mentor his successor for their first full year cycle of duties so there will be plenty of support available.

A full description of the role can be found here

Secretary's toolkit | Cycling UK

Chair and Hon Treasurer Richard Bailey and myself will be standing for re-election as Treasurer and Chair respectively at the AGM. Any new applicant will be required to be nominated and seconded by two unrelated (to the applicant or each other) club members. Existing officers standing for re-election will be deemed to be nominated and seconded if there are no further applicants for that role by midnight on 22nd March 2026 but will still be subject to a re-election vote at the AGM.

Invitation to A Group ride 4th Feb

Our route to lunch will take us from Cobham over Whitedown to Holmbury St Mary and then via Ockley, Capel and Newdigate to The Plough at Leigh for lunch. 24 miles. No preorder required. 

Menu for info 

The return is a straightforward 13 miles to Ashtead via Punchbowl Lane and Leatherhead  (no Little Switzerland climb! 😊) . Tea will be at LJs Brew & Bites in Barnett Wood Lane. 

Please email me by 5pm on Monday to book your place.

Invitation to a B Group ride on 4th February

You are cordially invited to join our ride from Cobham to Ashtead where we will dine at The Woodman in Barnett Wood Lane.

This pub is a very popular and hectic place so they have asked us to pre-order our lunches. Please make your selection from their vast menu and let me know what you've chosen.

For those of you who are fearing that a ride from Cobham to Ashtead must be a very brief and flat affair, devoid of any undulations I need to inform you that this route was planned by Paul James. There will therefore be two mountains before lunch which will include some steep and technically challenging sections in High Barn Lane, one of those hills we all love. And our brakes will need to be in sound working order, especially for the Ranmore Road descent into Dorking where there is some risk of becoming airborne if we go too fast.

This is Paul's route: 

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53791975

Your highly experienced leaders will be John A and Tim G, and I will lead a third team. Start times are expected to be 10:30, 10:40 and 10:50.

For parking ride towards the rear car park then lock your bikes at the back of the pub in a courtyard between the pub and the garden dining area. Take care not to block access to the rear door from the car park.

We are going to be sitting at tables in a large room allocated to us so that the staff will be able to find us.

Please confirm that you will be coming and advise me what you'd like for lunch. I need this by lunchtime on Monday please.

~ Tim C 

Report for B Group - 28th January

Thank goodness the sun was shining after the recent wet weather, for our ride from Banstead Community Centre to the Surrey Oaks pub in Newdigate. 17 riders signed up for an interesting ride with a few hills thrown in! There were 3 groups - reports from Tim G and Pete B below.
Steph was my back marker, and we were joined by Paul J, Martina, Fixie Dave, and Alan C. I had always wondered what was down Hogspudding Lane so we rode an interesting 4 mile loop around there (lovely and quiet but lots of pot holes). The food and service in the pub was excellent! Great to have Diane and Terry join us there for lunch.

~ Julie

Tim G writes:

The weather forecast over the last few days had been so dreary we were all so thankful for the promise of a dry, fine and sunny day. The facilities at the Banstead Community Center are proving to be increasingly popular and a welcome 11’s venue despite the inevitable climb to get there.

Our initial group of five set out on time and made our way over to Tattenham Corner to pick up our sixth member and then carry on for the rest of the morning ride. Some were feeling a little sedentary, perhaps after a spell of inactivity, but the ‘up and down’ nature of the route soon re-energised their spirits.  Encouraged by some welcome winter sunshine we passed through Walton-on-the-Hill, Headley, down Pebblehill Road, Betchworth then on along familiar country lanes to Parkgate. An interesting off-road loop around Chidworth was new to most of us with a surface that was surprisingly good for a winter ride.

Our afternoon ride included another interesting section through Strood Green. Another new diversion for most of us. With a final climb up Punchbowl Lane we were soon on our way along the cycle path towards Leatherhead. The river Mole was in full flow and we were taken by surprise by a flooded section of the path. Cautiously we sailed through without getting our feet wet.  Most of the group peeled off at Leatherhead but the remaining ‘old retainers’ (gasping for refreshment) headed up to ‘Lucio’s Cafe’ where we were soon joined by other A and B group cyclists seeking similar teatime sanctuary and refuge.

Thanks to everyone who made today’s ride a success. To Julie for planning the route and TimC for his ever dutiful back marking. A good day had by all ! 

~ Tim G

Team Tim G, minus Brenda

Pete writes: 

I was down to take 5 riders out, but that changed to 6 after Karen a ‘C’ group rider requested to join me. How could I resist I thought !! I followed the route as far as Tadworth (my home) and that’s where my Garmin went horribly wrong and we ended up going up a couple of lovely quiet roads where we viewed an old WW2 air raid shelter and an old water tower. Then it was on to Headley and down Pebble Hill Road which was exceptionally quiet. From then on my Garmin behaved itself and we arrived at The Surrey Oaks for a lovely lunch. Thank you all for your company and well done Karen for joining us. 

~ Pete B