18 riders set off in three groups on this loop from Leatherhead to Horley for lunch and back to Leatherhead for tea. Unfortunately, we had one of the few overcast and drizzly days over the recent couple of weeks or so, but it wasn’t too bad and the Surrey countryside still looked lovely, even in the gloom. I had planned for a couple of off-road sections, but I abandoned these on the day due to the gloomy weather and so we stayed on the tarmac. Maybe another time (although Dave F's group commendably did the second off-road section).
Three of us stopped for tea at Ginger & Charlies in Leatherhead where we met up with a few of Andy’s group.
Here is Andy’s report:
Arriving at Leatherhead for our ride today, the weather though overcast was dry and with the forecast predicting cloud clearing and dry weather, we set off. My group consisted of myself, Janice, Patrick, Mike R, Hans and Peter S with Frances deciding we would be holding her back and jumped ship to another group. Well, it didn't take too long before the drizzle started but I resisted donning my rain jacket until it got a bit heavier and colder. We made good progress on mainly familiar roads with a few new ones (to me) thrown in. We eventually rolled into Horley and parked our bikes outside the Jack Fairman locked to a tree since some cycle racks seemed to have disappeared. Food and drinks were swiftly ordered and delivered once the fishing boats had been out to catch some giant fish for Patrick and Mike.
The rain had stopped but it was still cold as we went to depart. Mike had to take our picture as I'd managed to jam the zip on my rain jacket. We resumed our journey home with the occasional tailwind along many familiar roads. We did seem to be on the end of some pretty desperate driving but survived unscathed although apparently, Janice had a bit of a slide along the A24 cycle path. Myself, Janice and Peter decided not to stop for tea and made our way home. Thanks to Clive for the routes and Peter for making sure we all made it home.
Here is Dave F’s report:
Having volunteered to sub lead the slower group I reached out to B group to ask if anyone wanted a slightly longer ride at a slightly brisker B group pace. Bob P and Fixie joined regulars Sue C, Jennie and I for this option. My initial group of seven lost 2 at the start line with perfectly legitimate apologies. Given the weather, we did a hybrid of Clive's on and offroad alternative routes. Some familiar territory (including part of my route to Caterham 11s) was relatively new to others and much appreciated by the group.
All was going well aside from the inevitable uphill puffs and pants until Outwood. We stopped to re-inflate a "slow" on Sue's rear tyre which seemed to have done enough to get us the six miles to lunch with perhaps another top-up after a few miles. We resumed cautiously for a while and the plan seemed to be holding up. We then met a very tempting good steep freshly surface decent. I stopped on the flat shortly after to re-group but after a brief wait was greeted by Bob. Fixie and Jennie were helping Sue so no need to double back . Phew!
However, some time later a phone call determined that there had been problems initially getting the tyre off and now getting it back on again so could we return, which we did. At 12.8% it was the steepest of the day but we duly arrived to share our various tyre tools. Jennie's "tyre glider" was actually working quite well but stuck on the last bit. The tools Bob and I use both required the rim/ tyre seal on both sides of the tyre to be broken, which it wasn.t. So Jennie persevered with a generous portion of her lip balm to lubricate the last bit which finally did the trick! Hurray, but it transpired it had taken 45 minutes.
Despite some disparaging glances from the lady whose drive we had borrowed, the time had actually flown by thanks to some good banter to keep spirits up. Unsurprisingly there were no other bikes at 'Spoons when we arrived.
Clive's route back via Lonesome Lane was again a crowd pleaser but we opted out of Tilehurst and Punchbowl lanes by taking the coach road from Brockham. We hit Leatherhead in time to enjoy refreshments at the excellent Lucios.
Thanks to Clive for the route and my thoroughly patient and entertaining sub-group for a fun day out on our bikes, despite the chilly gloom.
Finally from me, thanks to:
• Andy H and Dave F for sub-leading
• My group of Frances, Dave E, Dave V, Dave W, Ged and Steve D
• Dave V and Dave W for back marking my group
Author: Clive J
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