Invitation to join A Group ride to Annual Lunch

Unfortunately my plan to visit the new cycling infrastructure betwwen Cobham and Wisley won't happen because the end February target date for opening has been missed.

If you would like to see a little of what we're missing you can watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1MgK9xnZok 

It shows the route from Ockham Bites over the new Cockrow bridge. The turning to the right at the top of the ramp will lead across the M25 to Pointers Road and Painshill roundabout. 

Instead there will be an 18 mile ride to lunch with one hill to improve your appetite. Janice and I will lead two moderately paced groups. The published route is all on road or tarmac paths but if conditions are suitable my group may detour slightly from the published route to go across Epsom/Ashtead Commons from Christchurch Road to The Wells. This is a well compacted path but please let me know if you are only interested in the road version - no comment needed if you are happy with either option.

Please email me by 6pm on Monday for a place.

 

Invitation to join the B Ride from Cobham to lunch in Tolworth on Wednesday 4th March

We have a straightforward 18 mile ride from our usual British Legion venue to our annual lunch location in Tolworth. Please let me know if you would like to join the ride by Monday evening. No need to send me lunch orders!!

johnaustin04@yahoo.co.uk

Hope to see you on Wednesday,

John A.  

A Group Ride Report 25 February 2026

Finally, we had some great weather on a Wednesday ride. It was long overdue. The sunshine prompted me to dig out my shorts as it did others; some were even seen riding in short sleeves later in the day.

My group at the Jack Phillips Memorial Cloister

The ride from Leatherhead included a Jack Phillips themed tour of Godalming.

Here is Brian’s report

What a contrast with last week! Having dug out some summer cycling gear, the start proved a bit cooler that I'd expected but it soon warmed up. Apparently, we were treated to the warmest February day since 2019.

My group was reduced to 5 (Sue C, Gill, Gina and Simon) with a message from Dave E that he might join us at lunch. We had a good run to Godalming and enjoyed a leisurely lunch where Dave joined us for the return. Then off to see the memorials to Jack Philips.

Brian’s Group in the Memorial Cloister

Off road cycling is meant to be relaxing but the sun has brought the crowds out to the park. Navigating multiple pushchairs, dogs and children made me happy to return to the relative sanity of the tarmac.

We closely followed Steve's group all the way back to Tithebarn Lane where some real off road along the verge was required to bypass the road closure. 

Steve punctured here and we pushed on to Cobham where we found Clive's group having tea al fresco at Gail's.

My thanks to Clive for the route and my group for a lovely ride and Simon for back marking.

…and here is Steve’s report

I set off with Dave V, Dave W, Dave B, who offered to back mark, and Janice and Neil C. The weather started overcast, but warm at 9 degrees, but as we made our way along Lower Road the sunshine appeared. The roads were dry, but with some puddles from water that hadn't drained. So it was an uneventful, pleasant ride down Combe Lane and along the A25 to Albury and then on to Chilworth. At Shalford we caught up with Brian's first group and we joined the new cycle route through Peasmarsh to Godalming, which avoided the roadworks traffic.

After some solid Wetherspoons fare we visited the memorial garden and stone memorial to 25 year old 'Jack' Philips, the wireless operator who carried on transmitting a distress signal 3 minutes before the Titanic sank, taking him with it. Such bravery and commitment is a wonder in today's world.

Jack Phillips Memorial headstone

Dave W left us to make his own way home and so we made our way up Guildford High Street and out to the A246 Epsom Road and then left towards Send on the A247 Clandon Road through West Clandon. Tithebarns Lane had roadworks where we had to dismount. 

As soon as we remounted I ran over something that punctured my front tyre. No problem, but even with the help of the others, we couldn't find a nail or object in the tyre. So new inner tube and Co2 and off we go. 100 metres onwards and front tyre is flat. Off with the wheel and same deal, but I repaired the inner tube. More Co2 and off we go. After 200 metres I noticed the inner tube has bulged out of a split in the left sidewall of the tyre, which is why we couldn't find a nail. Pretty soon the inner tube blew. This time I put some toothpaste tubing over the split and put in a new inner tube. This held nicely although I had used 2 canisters of Co2 and had to borrow one from Dave B. Not good to get a puncture, but very grateful for the assistance of Neil and Dave's B and V for help. Thank goodness it was dry and sunny as well.

The moral of the tale? Always carry 2 spare inner tubes, pump, Co2 canisters and puncture repair kit with tyre levers. We arrived at Cobham for tea and Dave V and I stopped for a drink before heading home. Thanks to Clive for organising the route and to Dave B for back marking. It was such a relief to have some dry sunny weather to help us all back into fitness after all the rain in the winter.

al fresco at Gails

Thanks to Peter S for back marking my group and the others (Mike, Hans, Patrick, Simon W and Guy) for the company.

Link to route here.

Annual Lunch: Provisional list for 4th March

If you are coming to the Annual Lunch and Prize Giving please check this list to verify that you are in the list and that I have recorded your orders from the menu correctly.

If you haven't responded to the invitation yet please do so as soon as you can; it's not too late but it soon will be!

Please only notify me if I have omitted your name or made a mistake with your menu choice:

 

This is the menu:

Click to enlarge

Thank you

Tim C

Invitation to ride with B Group on 25th February

We are meeting in the Fairfield Centre in Leatherhead for a gently undulating ride of just 17.5 miles to The Saddlers Arms in Send. That's right, some gentle climbing in places but none of the big Surrey Mountains.

This is our route:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53736903

We don't need to pre-order. Their menu is relatively basic but includes a lot of the usual lunchtime essentials like pizza, soup of the day, baked spuds, and toasted paninis with fresh salad and other ingredients. Their chips are very good too.

After lunch we will ride another 13 miles to our Tea and Coffee stop at Parade and Albany in Claygate.

The weather should be at least 10°C warmer than it was for John's ride but some showers are possible. Please tell me by 5 p.m. on Monday if you're intending to join us.

Your leaders will be Bernard and Stephen and myself.

Look forward to seeing you all

~ Tim C

Ride Invitation - A Group 25th February

Next week's A Group ride is from the Leatherhead Fairfield Centre.

Lunch will be in Godalming and tea in Cobham.

It's about 18 miles to lunch and a little less than that back to tea. There is only one hill of note.

I have put in a request for good weather, so I hope you will be able to come along.

Please let me (clive.janes@gmail.com) know by Monday evening.

Thanks, Clive.

B Group Ride from Redhill - 18/2/26

John A writes :

Thank you everyone who joined our ride from Redhill into the Surrey countryside. We were very fortunate with the dry weather window and I hope everyone got home without getting caught in the late afternoon rain.

Especial thanks to our super subbies - Alan and Tim.

Team TG on Root Hill

Tim G writes :

Despite the bleak weather forecast and grey skies we managed to complete today’s ride without getting wet. My ride to Redhill was relatively quiet given the half term break and no school run. 

Six of us set off for an initial climb out of Redhill and were soon cycling in quiet countryside south of Nuffield. We then headed east and enjoyed an uncomplicated ride back towards Brockham. After a photo shoot on Root Hill we avoided the muddy Coach Road through Betchworth golf course by taking a detour along Punchbowl Lane. Lunch at ‘The Stepping Stones’ provided a welcome break and service was prompt and efficient. 

A shorter ride in the afternoon took us via Leatherhead and Ashtead to the ‘Old Moat’ g/c where four of us had tea and a break from what seemed to be colder outside temperatures Thanks to everyone who made today’s ride a success. Good to enjoy a February ride in dry conditions. 

Lunch at 'The Stepping Stones'.

... and Alan C writes :

On a cold, overcast morning with a biting wind to test our resolve, six riders in the second group gathered outside Redhill Methodist Church for our run out to the Old Moat Garden Centre in Epsom, with a planned lunch stop at the Stepping Stones in West Humble.

A brisk start up Redstone Hill soon had us loosening layers, and the sweeping descent down Redstone Hollow was followed by our second climb of the morning along Philanthropic Road. The two early ascents certainly did their job in warming us up. From there, the route took us away from the traffic of Redhill and towards the quieter roads around Earlswood, giving us a chance to settle into a steady rhythm.

Heading out into the countryside, we enjoyed the relative calm of lanes threading through Salfords, Dawesgreen and Brockham. Despite the persistent wind, the riding was pleasant and sociable, and the absence of rain was a welcome bonus after a week of unsettled weather.

A short detour agreed by the group proved a wise move. Rather than follow the planned route along Roothill Lane and Coach Road through Betchworth Park Golf Club — likely to be muddy after recent rain — we continued along Red Lane and Blackbrook Road before joining Punchbowl Lane. This also allowed us to avoid the busy A25 Reigate Road towards Dorking. Our group route knowledge paid dividends, keeping us on cleaner and more pleasant tarmac. After enjoying the long descent of Punchbowl Lane we rode towards Pixham Lane before cycling onto West Humble along the A24. 

Tim and Dave C paused to provide puncture assistance to a fellow cyclist on Pixham Lane. A welcome reminder of the camaraderie that exists within our group. The remainder of us cycled on to the Stepping Stones, where we regrouped for a well-earned lunch.

Refuelled and warmed up, the group split up on the return leg. Dave F made his own way home from the pub, while Dave C, Steph and Tim each took their own preferred routes back home from Leatherhead. John and Alan pressed on towards Epsom and the Old Moat Garden Centre, aiming to beat the forecast rain — which, happily, held off for the duration of the ride.

All in all, a hilly but rewarding route on some excellent quiet roads, ridden in good spirits despite the cold and windy conditions. Thanks to John, Tim, Steph, Dave F and Dave C for their company, and also to John for planning such an enjoyable route. A great ride with the miles well earned.

Redhill to Westhumble