A group report RBLCobham Puttenham Cobham 2 July 2025

 

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.