'A' ride 14th January 2026

 

I awoke to a bright, sunny & crisp morning & set off on my usual route to Dorking's St Martins.

At the top of Lodgebottom Road, I did spot a frozen puddle but I continued downhill on what looked like a dry road to the junction of Old London Road & Headley Lane.

As I turned left, at low speed, down I went...ouch!

Black ice clearly had me fooled, & after composing myself, I gingerly carried on to meet the Wayfarers for coffee.

The complexity of the hot drinks machine had the lovely ladies behind the counter scratching their heads as it initially failed to produce any hot beverage, I opted for a good old fashioned instant!

Fifteen plus myself had signed up but by the 'off' we were down to two groups & mine was off first.

Comprising Sue, Brian, Karl, Simon & Dave B who following his injury, was attempting to regain fitness.

Heading due south, the bright low sun bathed the surrounding countryside & the quiet familiar lanes took us in a circle back to Dorking, where shortly after, Dave left us avoiding the climb to The Cock Inn at Headley.

With four layers, I was toastie by the time I got to the pub & we all joined Steve's group who were already ensconsed in area set aside for our groups.

Gina had made the trip from Tadworth too & was enjoying her butternut squash soup.

After ordering, we waited........and waited..........and waited.

One by one food orders appeared, but it was painfully slow to watch.

But the food appeared of good quality (in particular the fish goujons) & quantity & with a 20% discount January promotion applied, all in all I think folk were satisfied.

Thankfully, it was a mere 9 miles to tea at the Flying Saucer café, Bourne Hall, Ewell which I think we all agreed was out of this world!

Thank you to Simon for backmarking my group.

Thanks to Steve for leading the other group & here's his report:

It happens every year. Christmas and four weeks of changeable cold weather, traffic jams lethargy and 'comfort food'. So I was relieved to sub lead a group on my first ride of 2026. Bookham was very icy in the morning, but brilliant sunshine started the melt, on the very cold ride to Dorking. I passed the back of Leatherhead Leisure centre and the Mole river was swollen to cover the towpath. With the sunshine back lighting it was spectacularly beautiful. 

After a coffee I set off with Patrick, Hans, Guy, Clive, Andy H and Mike R. We were the second group away and I seemed to be peddling well setting a reasonable pace. The route took us south through Holmwood to Newdigate past Tanhouse Farm and then left up Partridge Lane. By now it was less cold and still dry and the sun was creating a mist as the frost melted which was eerie. We caught up with Andy's first group at Parkgate and then carried on to complete the south loop back to Dorking. From here we went up the cycle path to turn up Headley Lane to Little Switzerland and the Cock Inn. My legs refused to work any more and I struggled up White Hill to Tot Hill and then the pub. My legs were seized up, which I found weird because I had been on the Christmas eve ride and I was fine. Now I am older I need to get out twice a week or my legs don't work. Curious.

We had a good lunch at the pub, but there was only one person in the kitchen and so it took 30-40 minutes for the sandwiches and chips to arrive. When we left at 2.15 Clive joined us and we made short work of the descent to the Flying Saucer cafe at Ewell. Patrick, Guy and I stopped for tea and delicious cake! Shortly after Andy joined us with some of his group. A very enjoyable, but in my case taxing ride. Thank you Andy C for organising the ride and a pub with good food. Thanks to Hans for back marking and to all the riders who turned up on a cold frosty morning.

Photo credits - Simon & Hans