Report for B Group - 4th February

Cobham - Ashtead - Old Moat 

First, thank you to Gill H and Dave V who kindly treated us to Tea, Coffee and Cake for our Elevenses at the British Legion. Their celebration had originally been scheduled for 7th January but our rides were cancelled then due to too much ice on the roads. Happy Birthdays Dave and Gill.

Paul had kindly mapped out the route and decided on The Woodman as our Lunch venue. So we're sorry that neither he nor Maggie got to enjoy the fruits of his planning.

I left Cobham with our third group, Dawn, Anne, Ian and Martina, keeping in mind that we were to intercept Terry on the outskirts of Dorking at the Ashcombe Road roundabout. I made an early navigational blunder in Bookham Common, deciding unintentionally to take two long sides of a triangle of muddy paths instead of the more obvious prescribed one. Those of us on eBikes were very mindful that High Barn Lane is a serious challenge. For Ian (not on his eBike today) this was the most serious ride he had attempted recently and for Dawn, riding the Dream, which doesn't have very low gears, this was enough hard work for one day and they turned right at the top to coast down Crocknorth Road to easier terrain. Ian headed for home and Dawn turned up at The Woodman to join the rest of us for lunch. Our small remaining team zoomed along Ranmore Common and down Ranmore Road to meet Terry who had been waiting quite a while for us because we were quite behind schedule.

The hills aren't quite as alive as usual with the sound of music in Little Switzerland, at this time of year, but with the absence of rain or cold it was pleasant and scenic enough.

Mercifully the staff at The Woodman didn't seem at all discombobulated by our tardy arrival and we were warmly welcomed and plied with drinks and comestibles. When we left I was asked if we had paid a deposit for our booking. We hadn't but on the previous occasion (2022) when I led a ride to The Woodman I did pay a deposit. But this time, having pre-ordered food for a dozen or so people they had possibly not felt that a deposit would be necessary. The large room which had been allocated for us all was superb.

Terry left the pub to ride home and our remaining tiny team rode the rest of the short course through Epsom Common to The Old Moat but didn't stop for Tea.

Thank you Tim G and Dave C for sub-leading and to everybody else who kept an eye on people at the back to ensure that nobody got lost or completely worn out.

~ Tim C

The route, as planned:

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Dave writes:

First of all we must thank Paul J for providing us with today's route! That being Cobham-Ashstead-Old Moat.

Our middling group consisted of six eager cyclists.

The start of the ride was delayed for us for a short while, due to our leader struggling with the recalcitrant devices needed to navigate the route.
We were blessed with Sunshine 🌞 for today's ride, which is always good for morale.

We traversed five miles before a deflationary problem occurred.

But it didn't turn out so bad, since the recipient magnanimously bought us drinks at lunch 👏😃

The steering on the leader's Bike become stiff, at the junction of High Barn Lane (so we were unable use that road to take us up to the top of Ranmore).

So it was onwards and upwards to Ranmore; riding along the top was pleasant, giving us a break from ascending which didn't last that long 🫤 since a few more miles took us to Little Switzerland. Once again we were in ascent mode which is always good for the appetite (thanks Paul). 

With the hardest part of the ride over, we made it to the Splendid Woodman Pub in Ashtead. 
 
Two thirds of our group headed onwards to the Old Moat, and one third of us partook of refreshments within.

Thanks to all who took part today 👏

~ Dave

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Tim G writes:

We must all have done something good in a previous life to deserve such a fine day for today’s ride. The days in between have been so dreary lately ! 
 
Seven of us set out in time to enjoy clear skies and sunshine as we headed out towards Bookham Common. We sadly lost our back marker at an early stage as a result of a ‘technical navigation’ hitch but they later caught up once we had got to the top of High Barn Road. Our group was then thankfully reunited. 
 
A glide across Ranmore Common and near freewheel descent into Dorking soon found us at Westhumble where we had a photo opportunity. Clear and sunny skies prevailed and we steadily climbed up ‘Little Switzerland’ and on to Headley. An olympic effort amidst near alpine scenery. We all then enjoyed an effortless descent into Ashford. 
 
The ‘Woodman’ proved to be a great success where everyone was suitably fed and watered in an area that had been especially set aside for our exclusive use. Perhaps the sight of so much unflattering Lycra on public display might well have upset the locals ! Nevertheless all three groups enjoyed a relaxed lunch suitably detached from the surrounding clientele. 
 
The short afternoon ride terminated at ‘The Old Moat’ garden centre where three of us enjoyed a tea stop and entertaining debrief to round off today’s events. Thanks to everyone who made our ride a success and contributed to an enjoyable day out.  A good day had by all !
 
~ Tim G