B group ride report for 10th Dec Dorking-Pyrford-Garson's Farm

We were fortunate to have a rare sunny day for our ride from Dorking  last Wednesday. The clouds in Gill's pic dissipated mid morning! Numbers weren’t high and one rider had to bow out at elevenses but I shall leave it Gill to tell that story…

My trusty subs in the form of Gill H and Karl cover the ride well so I will say no more other than to offer thanks and a big well done to Karl on his first sub-lead which he executed with aplomb!

Karl first:

I was a little apprehensive on the day, as this was my first time leading a ride — well, sub-leading to be exact, as it was Sue’s ride and she had asked me to sub-lead. Not many enrolled, and as a result my group comprised only four riders, including me, all of them experienced. That was a relief.

John, Keith, Mick and I left St Martin’s Centre in Dorking at 10:30. With only four of us, I saw little point in appointing a back marker, as it would be easy to see if I had lost one of our number with a quick glance over my shoulder.

A little outside Dorking we entered Denbies and ascended through the vineyards up to Ranmore Common. The ascent was relatively steep and, after only about twenty minutes out of Dorking and twenty minutes of good effort, we could look down on the town and see the church steeple close to our point of departure — a magnificent view.

At the top of the hill we shortly passed St Barnabas’ Church and then joined Ranmore Common Road for an undulating ride of a couple of miles. For the time of year, we could not have asked for better conditions: the sun was shining, the temperature was mild, and the road was practically empty.

The route took us down Critten Lane from Ranmore Common, but that day a “road closed” sign had been erected across it. We took our chances, however, and found the cause of the closure to be some felled trees, which we could bypass relatively easily — no need to alter the route.

We then had a long, undulating descent through Effingham followed by a flat run through Ockham and Ripley. The only complication was the cycle path around the junction with the A3, which was under construction, with road cones to negotiate and awkward ramps. After another couple of miles of cycling through the low-lying marshy area around Pyrford, past a wonderful view of Newark Priory with large numbers of geese, we arrived at our lunch stop.

After a satisfying lunch at Pyrford Golf Club, we were off again for a relatively flat ride back through Ripley and on to Esher. Keith decided to break off from the group immediately, as our afternoon route didn’t suit him. Likewise with John in Cobham, so it was only Mick and I who completed the full planned route and finished at Garsons Farm.

A great ride! Thank you, Sue, for the route and the opportunity to sub-lead. Thank you to Mick, John and Keith for your good company.

PS. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos! I must remember to do that next time I lead.

Gill H:

With a sunny day promised and a good route planned the day was looking good. However, as I set off the phone pinged with the shocking picture of Chris’s bloodied face along with the statement ‘hit off by car, will still try to make it’. Make it he did to Dorking, amazingly, but no further was the considered opinion of us all and the nurse who was fortuitously on site at the St Martin’s Christian Centre. While the extremely helpful staff, with the assistance of Diane, packed Chris off to Epsom Hospital the rest of us got on our ways. So pleased Chris that no serious damage was done. 

Sue had planned a lovely route out of Dorking up into the hills behind Denbies. Despite a few dark clouds the view was as dramatic as ever. Apologies to my group that I forgot to take any group photos but I did manage one of my bike and the view from the top.

An undulating route took us through Critten Lane, (where some workman seemed to have  unnecessarily blocked off the road to clear a few twigs!!) via Effingham, Ockham, Ripley, on relatively quiet lanes, and on to the refitted and very pleasant Pyrford Lake Golf Club for lunch. 

Well fed and rested we retraced the route back to Ripley and then through Ockham, Cobham and on to Garsons Farm where 8 of us regrouped for tea.  According to my Garmin, 1286 ft total of ascent over 27 miles. 

Thanks to my group of Lorraine, Martin and Tim G as back marker and sorry Chris you weren’t able to be with us.

Many thanks to my both my sub-leaders, all other group members and backmarkers. And well done to Steph who noticed that she had a puncture at elevenses, sorted it herself and then managed to catch us up at lunch - surely that woman is superhuman? 

Sue F