Report for B Group ride on 5th November

Cobham RBL to The Parrot in Forest Green, Leatherhead for Tea

Major thanks to Alan and Bernard for leading our two teams, and to everyone for being willing to come out on such a challenging ride to enjoy the countryside and the Autumn scenery. Thankyou to Steph and Carolyn who buttonholed me at lunch to request that we do a similar ride again in the Spring. Perhaps that will be an opportunity to include the off-road excursion over Blackheath.

~ Tim

Alan writes:

A total of six riders joined “Team 1” for a challenging and enjoyable ride between Cobham and Leatherhead stopping in Forest Green for lunch. 

On a beautiful route passing through quiet country lanes, peaceful wooded areas, and picturesque Surrey villages, the ride also offered spectacular views of the Surrey countryside with some exhilarating descents - and a few hills. A great opportunity to enjoy the changing autumn colours. The perfect route for a cool and bright autumn day. 

The early (and flatter) part of our ride took us to West Horsley via Martyr’s Green and Ockham; and we rode at a steady and enjoyable pace in a group before the hillier sections of the route. After crossing the busy Epsom Road, we rode upwards on the hilly and undulating Shere Road before turning right and completing the steady climb up among the trees to the top of Coombe Lane. We then rode the steep descent towards Shere and on to Albury. 

Our original route had planned to ride from Albury to Farley Green via Blackheath Lane. This was a beautiful ride along a quiet, narrow lane with superb views of the open countryside leading to track and tree-lined clearing. Unfortunately, the previous weeks weather had ruled this out. 

Instead, we rode up to Farley Green via Brook Hill, taking a break at the village pond - and display of Halloween pumpkins - before riding on towards Row Lane and along Winterfold Heath Road. This was arguably the most picturesque part of the ride through quiet woodland with an impressive and beautiful range of autumn colours along the tree-lined roads. Occasionally, the trees formed canopies or tunnels across the road which added to the experience.  

We rode on to Jelley’s Hollow, where we unexpectedly met one of the A-Group of riders who were coming the other way. After a brief chat, and a quick breather we took a photograph of the group and then rode through Winterfold Wood and Ewhurst to the Parrot Pub at Forest Green for Lunch.

Team 1 at the top of Jelleys Hollow

The Parrot Pub was a great venue for lunch. It was a well organised pub with a good atmosphere and good food. Staff had reserved a large table for both groups of riders which provided a welcome chance to relax and discuss the morning ride over lunch and a drink. The fish and chips looked good!  

After lunch, we rode the most challenging part of the route - a steep climb up Leith Hill Lane and Abinger Road towards the beautiful village of Coldharbour. We then rode along Logmore Lane to Westcott, stopping at White Cottage (built in 1640) on the way to enjoy the view towards Wotton and Ranmore Common.

Scenery in Logmore Lane

White Cottage (1640) in Logmore Lane

We then rode to Dorking and along the cycle path past Denbies to Leatherhead for Tea at the Charlie and Ginger Coffee Shop. After a tea and a chat we all went our separate ways. 

Many thanks to Carolyn, Steph, John, Bob and Terry for making the ride such a great day out, and to Bob for being back-marker. Thanks also to Tim for planning and organising a great route. A strenuous but satisfying ride for us all. Worth repeating!

~ Alan


Bernard writes:

The Route 

The ‘Commission’ for ‘The Route’ comes cold, devoid of any form or substance.  It’s a request to produce something, a route along which some people can cycle and hopefully gain some enjoyment.  The request is taken up by a spirited soul with an artist’s vision.  You can imagine in renaissance times a young Michelangelo studying a block of marble, contemplating how to produce a thing of eternal beauty for the pleasure of others.  Similarly, our route creators survey with a very sharp eye and severe sensitivity their block of material, a block of empty air upon a plinth of country.  On this occasion that block of air was over the Surrey Hills.

 

The first great hammer blow was belted hard straight down just above the roof of the British Legion in Cobham.  That was then followed with frenetic chiselling of a line to Ockham and beyond.  There was sweat on the brow but ‘The Route’ was taking shape, of upward and downward curves.  We the riders of course were the chisels and (like Henry Moore’s iron tools) our limbs cut through the air and heated and burned.  The chiselling went on to the point of rebellion, on the cusp of snapping.

I imagined that our sculptor was pleased with the morning’s work.  The swooning undulations of the Surrey Hills had been captured and given form.  The riders, Michelangelo’s tools, now needed to be rested, allowed to cool, to replenish and to be polished... ready for the afternoon’s work. They were laid out in the Parrot Pub in Forest Green and there inspected and tended by master apprentices.  We filled our bellies, quenched our thirsts and sharpened our edges.  All looked good to our sculptor.

Immediately there was the first cracking thud of the afternoon’s labour.  A massive, penetrating, searing upwards cut following the incline of the hollow up to its highest point.  Another thunderous belt, this time downwards, earthbound.  The contour of the Hills was being carved, captured and set in that empty space where we breathe.  The final blow was made at that point in the atmosphere just above Lucio’s in Leatherhead. 

Tools had been bashed to their limit, some almost splintered... all were chipped, dented and bent out of shape.  Our sculptor was pleased with his work.   The tools would be restored with gentle care and attention... there was a week until they would be needed again and some could be rested for longer if necessary. 

Together, sculptor and riders (riders all) had produced a thing of beauty.  A carved line, forever eternal, faithful to the Hills, invisible to the naked eye but alive to the riding cyclist.  I have no doubt Barbara Hepworth would have loved the work, appreciated the delicacy of the mark.  It is there now as I write this.  You can’t see it? No, you have to ride it! 

The work: 'The Route' 

Artist:          Tim C 
Date:            5th November, 2025 

Artistic school: Esoteric with strong influences of Classicism, Realism, Romanticism, Futurism and Surrealism.

Materials:       Atoms which make up air

Tools:           Limbs which make up riders

Exhibited:       Currently in the Surrey Hills until such time as there is no Earth, thereafter somewhere in Space 

Thank you to Tim C for planning the ride and for back marking, Julie, Linda, Paul, Tim G and to Fixie Dave who led the way home for me after the official ride. 

~ Bernard

Tim writes:

As November 5th drew nearer, the weather forecast improved. With the prospect of not getting drenched this week twelve B riders signed up for our ride into the mountains. Terry and Stephen joined us too, as far as West Horsley before heading off for other commitments. Ken and Grant and numerous Nor'Westers were at Elevenses too.

Two groups were sufficient for our number. Alan and Bernard led, with Bob and myself riding as back-markers. I enjoyed taking a back seat role on this ride!

My original plan to head South from Albury, up Blackheath Lane and through the Forest, was abandoned due to the ride being too long for this time of year, despite the blue sky and sunshine which had enchanted us during the recce. Although Francis had led B Group up Shere Road just three weeks ago I opted again for this steep but scenic route to the top, then Combe Bottom to set us off in the right direction, rejoining Francis' route near Farley Green and following it to Jelleys Hollow and beyond.

Jelleys Hollow

Much can be said, some of it rude, about the rigours of such a hilly route, just slightly less severe than Francis' recent ride, but the highlight of the day was riding through the Autumn colours, feeling relieved that at least half the leaves were still clinging to their trees, despite all the heavy rain since our recce which mostly fell last Wednesday.

For a couple of years I have bypassed the idea of visiting The Parrot again but gave in when I learned on my first solo recce that a group of 20 ramblers had booked into the Bulls Head in Ewhurst for 1pm and that the staff wouldn't be able to serve us until 2pm. So The Parrot is a gastro-pub and fairly pricey but we nearly all felt that the food was of a sufficiently high standard to justify their prices and I hope that we will visit them again from time to time. It's a big pub with a good atmosphere and the buzz of many other customers. They have a huge outdoor seating area to accommodate us in Summer.

View through a clearing, just before Coldharbour

 

Christ Church at the top of Broomehall Road

This map shows the recorded rides, the original route (blue line) from Albury up to Blackheath Forest and also the excursion down Logmore Lane (green line) taken by Alan's team.

~ Tim C