I had
publicised the ride as similar to the one I led on 30 August 2023 but with reduced
miles of off-road and still with a good
few hills, particularly before lunch. I had
also reached out to regular B group participants by promising a more leisurely
11-12mph subgroup. Similar offers previously had successfully attracted some
new faces willing to give it try. (Some older hands may remember pre COVID days
when participants decided which group to join at 11s depending on where both
were heading for and back to. This was seldom advertised in advance.) The Good
Intent once more asked for pre-ordering but were happy to wait for these until
midday Tuesday. I was also aware that
quite a few Wayfarers were otherwise occupied and or recovering from a Dieppe
Raid. So, I was very relieved to attract 11 participants and especially Steve D
for bravely stepping up to sub lead at short notice. The majority opted for moderate
or leisurely paces. So, the 3 pace option
originally offered became 2.
“My Leisurely group
(Gina C, Gill H, Christina B, Chris H and Simon L) undeterred by the gentle
drizzle, were first away on schedule. The familiar long gentle grind to East Horseley
was followed by the first hills via Chalk Lane, for a change, and Green Dene before
disappearing smartly onto the North Down trail to Newlands Corner where we paused for a
comfort break. It appeared at one stage that some cyclist (I assumed to be the
moderate group) were emerging from the NDT, so we delayed departure for a few
minutes to let them through. But as it seemed it was not them after all, we
cracked on to the further joys of the seldom visited but wonderfully scenic Pewley
Down. Unfortunately, the views this year were obscured by the drizzle so not
photogenic, unlike August 2023 reproduced below
Gosh we were
young!
It was then all tarmac until lunch. A quick zoom down Warwick’s Bench, skirted around Guildford crem., the taxing Farncombe hill ascent, Charterhouse School (The Genesis of
Genesis) and a few more lightly trafficked undulating lanes to Puttenham.
My recce had established that the final ascent to Puttenham I used in August 2023 (Suffield
Lane between the Puttenham Common 2 ponds) was a fully closed road, including
peds and cyclists. I was not prepared to risk a potential bridleway diversion
through the common without a chance to recce it and the alternative I did on
Saturday added 4 miles. So, the advertised route was cut by 2 mile and the
shorter diversion, which I had only recced on Google Maps Streetview, was rather
pleasant.
We arrived at
lunch only slightly behind schedule at around 13:10. Steve’s survivors (explained
in his report below) arrived shortly after, just as we were taking our drink
into the garden. Lunch was (as previous visits) generously portioned and served
efficiently. It felt strange after the last few days to enjoy feeling slightly
chilly in the pub garden. So, with the increasingly warming sunshine ahead, our groups departed, suitably refreshed after a
relaxing 50 minute stop.
We continued
along more familiar routes back to Cobham. The tactic of ascending the very
busy ascent of Puttenham hill to the Hogs Back on the footway rather than the
carriageway worked well. With most vehicles blocking the carriageway to turn
right, our re-joining the carriageway under the bridge was a doddle. We were still not done with
off-road and enjoyed a short section of the Christmas Pie trail. Many thanks to
Simon for acting as volunteer back marker despite and to Steve for bravely sub
leading without the benefit of a Recce
Spot the
difference competition.
Car and care free
Steve D reports
as follows. “I was leading the moderate group of Simon W, Dave B, Neil W and
Peter S. We set off from Cobham at 10.55 as planned and rode at an average to
slow pace up the inclines, because my ETA for The Good Intent was 12.50. We
made reasonable time to East Horsley, but then at the bottom of Chalk Lane
Peter suffered a puncture. His tubeless tyres had sealed a nasty half inch
slash across the tyre, but it was still leaking sealant. Peter tried to plug
the hole, which was difficult, but eventually succeeded. Putting more air into
the tyre proved problematic as the sealant could not withstand the extra
pressure. So reluctantly, but probably sensibly, Peter decided to make his way
home from Sheepleas car park. Peter reckoned it might have been a discarded
Vape canister!
We carried on
to the off-road section on the Eastern section of the North Downs Way. Halfway
along Neil noticed his rear tyre was slowly deflating. We put some more air in
and carried on to Newlands Corner, where Neil took out his rear inner tube to
find the leak. However, strangely, we could find no puncture hole and the inner
tube seemed to retain air well. Neil put in a new inner tube, and we carried on
off road to the entrance to Guildford Lane, where Neil found his rear tyre was
slowly deflating as before. Mystery! Neil decided to take the train home
from Guildford at that point. So, Dave, Simon and I tried to make up a bit of
time lost and also to keep warm. After the drizzly rain in the morning, it was
now very cold for summer jackets.
.It was a
relief to arrive at The Good Intent where the sandwiches didn't disappoint.
Dave B hadn't ordered lunch and went for cheese and pickle, but they had run out
of pickle and made up for it with more cheese in slabs inside the bread. It
came with a salad bowl and a pile of crisps, which was fresh and satisfying. We
left the pub at 2 pm and wound our way back through Wanborough and the
Christmas Pie trail and then Jacobs Well through to Old Woking. From there it
was a fast pace via Send, Ripley and Ockham back to Cobham and Gail's cafe at
3.27 pm. Simon had to push on, but Dave and I had a cup of tea and a cake and
were shortly joined by Dave F and his group. By now the sun was glorious and
not too hot. The perfect end to a lovely day out. Thanks Dave F for a super
route and thanks to my fellow riders for their company.
It is worth
pointing out that the punctures were not the result of off-road riding as they
appeared to result from tarmac or other causes yet to be found.”
PS: The
landlady very graciously declined an offer of compensation for the unclaimed pre-orders. The
Good Intent remains a deservedly popular lunch stop.
Neil W was last
seen searching for new rim tape.
