Ride Report – A Group to Horsted Keynes

Ideal weather for our annual excursion into deepest East Sussex, dry and not too hot. Nine of us had signed up, meeting at the delightful Hookwood Tesco’s, where it was a lovely surprise to see Fiona who had ridden out to say hello.

It’s a challenge to get everyone started from Hookwood in reasonable time to get them back to Banstead before the tea shops close. I elected for starting both our groups at around 10.30

Steve D who had originated the current Worth Way version of our route a few years ago had volunteered to lead one group. And here’s his account.

Having completed a recce of the route I was confident on the day. However, getting a coffee from the screen ordering devices on the first-floor cafe at Tesco proved difficult. The process involved inputting a number which I thought was the table number until Dave V showed me it was the locator beacon number and then you placed the device on the table plate where you choose to sit and the beacon sends a signal of your table number to the kitchen. Personally I would have preferred a human being who was already employed to serve the customer with their order. But I expect the next time we visit there will just be a robot.

Anyway I set off shortly after Dave V, with Patrick, Dave B and Peter S at 10.32. We were delayed at several junctions out of Gatwick on a glorious sunny day. It was about 24 degrees. Not too hot and not too cold. We caught up with Dave V's group after a mile of the Worth Way. We were making good time. The route and weather were a joy! Unlike the Sunday recce there were very few walkers and so we made good progress. The countryside enveloped us with no real landmarks past Gull Edge Pond and the Worth Way nature park. Finally we had the wonderful descent of Chilling Street into Horsted Keynes.

We arrived at The Green Man at 12.10 pm. The sandwiches and baguettes didn't disappoint. Lots of chips, a nicely dressed salad and freshly baked baguette at a reasonable price. Dave V's group appeared very shortly after we arrived and many pictures were taken in the sunshine. Fortunately too the wasps I had shared my meal with on Sunday had found their way to the pub kitchen. So the kitchen had to deal with them whilst we were relatively clear.     

My group were keen to tackle the 28 miles to Banstead and so we left at 1.10 pm. It was now hotter and we had lunch legs, so the climb out of Horsted Keynes, past the station and up Highbrook Lane was arduous. It wasn't made easier by the road being closed for tree clearance. The sign had said 'Closed except for access' and the trees to the left had already been felled and so we crossed the barrier and checked with the first digger driver that it would be OK to pass. There was no CCTV and so we carried on having been warned of huge vehicles ahead. We almost got through until a huge tractor with a trailer appeared. Fortunately we were only 4 and rode up a driveway so it could pass.

After this it was plain riding on fast tarmac up to Turners Hill and then a sharp right along Old Hollow, north to Copthorne and then Smallfield. It is surprising how, once you recognise familiar roads it is easier to pedal, because you know how far it is to your destination. So the route up to Nutfield and down to Merstham was made better, especially because of little traffic, which all seemed to be on the A25. However my legs didn't propel me up Markedge Lane as well as I wanted. It was a relief to arrive at The Lavender cafe Banstead, where ice cream and coffee were the order of the day! We arrived at 3.25 pm which was earlier than planned and I left at 4 pm for a prior engagement. (Steve also played in the summer concert at the Leatherhead Institute later that evening)

I led Andy, Guy, Neil W and Ged as back marker. Steve has described the conditions, and we made good progress. Andy had expressed an interest in the Bluebell Railway, and diligent research with the timetable small print revealed that a train would be passing, but not stopping, around our likely arrival time. So Andy left us, with camera, on a short diversion to a scenic viewpoint, while the rest of us tackled the final challenging ascent to the pub.

       

We arrived on time just before 12.30 where we met up with Steve’s group. It was disappointing that the East Sussex cycle club were not there, apparently due to a misunderstanding. But the original CTC sign was still there, proudly displayed on the wall.

     

Excellent food and friendly service at the Green Man, but soon it was time to go, with a 28 mile hilly course to complete. Highbrook Lane (the biggest climb of the day) was signed as closed ahead, but we were reassured that it would be passable because Steve’s group was ahead. Unfortunately near the very top we were blocked by the most obdurate and unhelpful tree-felling crew. So the only way forward was to return to the bottom of Highbrook and take the alternative climb up to Sharpthorne.

    

After the long and welcome descent from Turners Hill, the north wind became evident, from which there was no shelter until the Nutfield climb. Thankfully Guy pulled ahead and sheltered me from the worst, thanks Guy. Neil left us in Smallfield looking for a less hilly way home.

After Nutfield there remained “only” two more climbs (and two fast descents) before Banstead, where we arrived at 4.30 about ½ an hour later than I planned. Fortunately the lavender Café was still open, and tea and cakes did not disappoint.

Thanks to everyone who came out and made the day so special. Special thanks to Steve for leading his group, and Ged for back-marking my group, and to all who contributed photographs.

Finally, I was a little disappointed that our numbers were down on previous years. I know that some riders were away, but for next year remember that it’s a delightful route into country we rarely visit.