Invitation to A group ride June 4th

 We will be meeting at Cobham and riding to Godalming for lunch at the Jack Philips Weatherspoons pub which is 22 miles and 1550 ft of ascent. The return is back to Cobham, 18 miles and 976 ft of ascent. 

I do not have ride leaders at the moment, so if you would like to lead a group please let me know. I will be doing a recce ride on Sunday to check the route before posting, however we will be going through Combe Lane (near Shere) both ways. I will split the route into two sections for clarity because some of the route is using the same road.

We have ridden the route before and the roads are familiar so leading from a gpx file should be straightforward. Please let me know if you would like to join the ride and email me by 6 pm Monday Steve D. There is no need for a lunch pre-order.

Steve D.

Author: Steve D

Ride Report - Weds 28 June 2025

 

It was a tale of two 'bike adventures' for my latest 'A' group offering from New Haw.  I proposed lunch at Greywell, followed by a a trundle through Hampshire lanes to Winchester for return by train, while Frances very kindly injected some welcome common sense and stability into proceedings by offering a more reasonable option - a ride back to Ripley after lunch at Greywell.

Given the blustery and unseasonably strong south-westerly wind which dogged us all the way to Winchester (it turned out to be a struggle through the lanes, rather than the promised trundle), I rather wished I had joined the group returning to Ripley. You make your bed of nails, and you must lie on it!   Numbers were about evenly balanced between stalwarts and pragmatists on departure from our very efficiently organised, and reasonably-priced lunch stop at the Fox and Goose.    Christina B, Dave E, Brian G, Neil W, Sue C and Clive joined me for the long haul into the wind and Dave V very kindly back-marked all the way.    Meanwhile, Frances led her group off towards home with a helpful tailwind.

I am grateful to report that we had an incident-free ride.   The only drawback with that is that it doesn't give you much to put in the ride report!   Fortunately, Neil W and Dave E have provided some excellent photos to fill the gaps which would otherwise be blank!

Time went by.   Chalk streams and thatched cottages were glimpsed through gaps in high hedgerows.   At length we arrived rather abruptly in the outskirts of Winchester.   Disaster was narrowly averted when the rest of the group prevented the leader from making a wrong turn!   I blame delirium!

We were too late for the cathedral tearooms, but still arrived at the station before 4.30 pm.   Item for the risk register should I ever be tempted to offer this little jaunt again - Risk of being lynched at the station when those who did not buy advance tickets discover the cost of a walk-on fare!   Likelihood medium.   Consequences dire.   Mitigate risk by practising sprinting and always carrying an open, single air-ticket to South America! 

 

Many thanks to all for you company, and for putting up with it all, and special thanks to Frances and Dave V

Author: David W

B Group Wednesday the 28th.

A good sign-up for the ride, and the weather was good, sunny but windy. 3 groups, with myself leading 1 group and Julie and Arwyn subleading the other 2.

New Haw is a long trek for some, so my route did a loop round to lunch at the Anchor at Great Bookham, don't know the name came from; there are no ships for miles. We/I have not used the pub in many a year; that will change as the food and service were first-class. It was great sitting in the sun in the front garden.

 

We headed directly to West Byfleet, Send, and then Tithebarns Lane to and along the concrete road, which has gotten worse in places, before joining the Ripley Lane to West Horsley and then taking East Lane to the Drift, Effingham, and onto lunch.

We were early, so hunger satisfied, we set off in groups, with some heading home from lunch and a few departing the ride along the way. About 9 or 10 made it to tea.

A lovely day on the bike with a good crowd. Thank you sub-leaders and back markers.

 Tony..

Author: Tony

B ride on Wednesday 4th June

Wednesday's B ride will be a 40 mile jaunt in the Surrey Hills from Cobham to Smithbrook Kilns via Coombe Lane, Shere and Farley Green then returning via the Downs cycle link, Newlands Corner and through the woods to enjoy a fabulous descent down staple lane to tea back in Cobham. Smithbrook would like pre-orders to make for a smooth operation so please let me know if you plan to join us along with your menu choice by Monday evening at 6pm. The menu is below. Please specify white or granary bread and any allergies.

Pibpaula@blueyonder.co.uk

Best wishes

Paula

Route to follow

Sandwiches and Wraps

Served from 12.00pm

 

Choice of white or granary bread from the local bakery, “Celebrations”.                                     

                                   

                                                                      

Sausage Sandwich                                                                                                                                              £7.85                            

      With warm, free-range, local pork sausages served with Red Onion chutney

      and mixed leaves

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Egg Mayo. Sandwich                                                                                                                                         £5.75                          

Made with free-range farm eggs and cress                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                     Brie, Walnut and Cranberry Sandwich      £6.85                                                            With added Bacon      £8.85

      With salad leaves                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                     

BLAT, Warm Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado and Tomato                                                                                        £8.95

       With mayonnaise

                                                                                                                                                                           

      Ham Cream Cheese and Gherkin Sandwich                                                                                                      £7.25                                 

       With mixed leaves     

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Coronation Chicken Sandwich                                                                                                                          £6.75                        

       With toasted almonds and mixed leaves

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Cajun Chicken and Pepper Wrap                                                                                                                   £8.75                         

With soured cream and lettuce   

                                                                                                                                                                             

 Fishfinger Ciabatta                                                                                                                                             £8.75                                                                                                                                              With home-made tartare sauce and salad leaves

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Warm Goats Cheese Ciabatta                                                                                                   

With red onion chutney and salad leaves                                                                                                        £8.75

 

 

 

Gratuities are at your discretion, however, for tables of 6 or more 10% will be added.

 

Author: Sue F

The Tri-Vets event

The Committee for the Tri-Vets event are looking for volunteers to assist on the day, Wednesday 18th June, at Dorking Rugby Club, in Brockham. We aim to split the work load into two shifts, morning and afternoon.

Morning shift will involve preparing the lunches for the event with teas and coffees and then partial clearing up.

Afternoon shift, will be teas and coffees, setting out the cakes etc provided by our members, then final clearing up.

Please contact me via WhatsApp (privately) or by email to d.jackson49@aol.co.uk

Also, please bake and donate, if you can, your wonderful cakes on the day. Should you be unable to get your cake to the venue, please contact me.

Many thanks.

Jennie

Author: Tim C

Minutes of the 2025 AGM

 The minutes of the 2025 AGM held on Wednesday 14 May at Long Ditton Village Hall are now available via the club Information Hub and the hyperlinks below.

Minutes of the 2025 AGM

Minutes of the 2025 AGM Appendix A (Annual and Treasurers Reports)

Thank you to all attendees, not only for attending but also for generous help in setting up and clearing away afterwards.

Following a brief poll via the club WhatsApp groups, the consensus was to rebook the same venue for Wednesday 13 May 2026. Hopefully this booking will not get lost or cancelled between now and then.

Author: Dave F

Plans for the 'A' Group Weds 28 May 2025

 There will be two groups for the A's ride from New Haw next Wednesday.    Both will follow the same, reasonably flat, outbound route (28 miles) to lunch at the Fox and Goose, Greywell (near Basingstoke).    

The first group, led by Frances, will then ride back to Ripley (27 miles from lunch), with an intermediate tea stop at The Yurt, Pirbight if required.    The  route is the same as that used on Clive's ride to/from Greywell last year (https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/162962759).

The second group, led by me, will continue from lunch at Greywell to end at Winchester (25 miles from lunch), taking pleasant country lanes right to within a mile or so of the city centre (https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/352941253).   A short detour around the quainter backstreets of the city will then lead us to tea either at Winchester Cathedral refectory (closes 4.00pm) or Wetherspoons (The Old Gaol), as preferred, or the short distance straight to the station.   Only about 700m/2,100' of height gain all the way from New Haw to Winchester.   There are plenty of fast trains back towards London.  Group Save fares may be available for three people or more travelling together.   

If you would like to join either ride, please e-mail me at cycledave23@gmail.com by 6.00 pm on Monday 26 May and state clearly your choice of destination (either Winchester or Ripley).   Include your lunch pre-order, which will be required - please see page three at https://ugc.production.linktr.ee/fa86e589-52dd-498f-acb2-1f142ee8f89a_Menus.pdf

NB - Routes above may be subject to minor changes.  Final versions will be issued with confirmation e-mails.

Author: David W

B ride, Wednesday the 28th

 You are invited to join the B ride, Wednesday the 28th, New Haw Day Centre. Lunch will be at the Anchor Pub (The Hidden Kitchen ) Great Bookham. Around 16 miles. Tea will be at the Pheasantry, Bushy Park, around 16 miles. There is a small section of off-road. Please contact me on WhatsApp direct, email or Mobile on 07770952554

 

                                       The Anchor Pub Great Bookham

Tony..

Author: Tony