A Group Ride Report 22 April - Leatherhead to Warnham

It was a beautiful Spring Day for a bike ride along the country lanes of Surrey and West Sussex, down to Warnham for lunch at The Sussex Oak. Bluebells, Spring sunshine, a 700 year old church, a duck pond and village pub. Not much more to be said really. But here are some photos to prove it:

Thank you to Dave and Brian for sub-leading. Thanks also to Mike for back marking and to the rest of my group for the company. Sorry for covering you all in sealant.

Dave’s Report

Our group (Andy C, Jennie, Dave W, Francis, Ged and Guy) set off on familiar roads, until I went off piste and took them up to Abinger Common. We wondered why Brian's group who passed us on Ranmore had managed to get back in front at Forrest Green. After that it was plain sailing down a bumpy Weare St. to the pub in Warnham.

Dave W and Ged left us there, and we set off for tea at the Reading Room, Brockham. Thanks to Dave W for back marking on the way out and Jennie on the way back.

Brian’s Report

My group of seven were Sue C, Sue F, Gill H, Gina, Neil W and Dave F. We were overtaken by Clive's group just before the Ranmore cross roads and then by Dave E's group while we stopped just after. That wasn't the last we saw of Dave's group though as they appeared behind us (!) at Forest Green and we saw them again briefly after Weare Street.

The pub did well with all three groups there together and we were on our way again withing an hour. 

It was a lovely day to be riding but the wind was cold and the dappled shade in the lanes made it difficult to read the road surface ahead. Parts of Weare Street were particularly challenging. The afternoon ride was uneventful but the wind seemed colder and stronger. It was good to be over the top at Rusper but Clive had routed us via Charlwood so there was still Norwood Hill to conquer before it was mostly downhill to Brockham.

My thanks to Clive for an interesting variation on previous routes to Warnham, to my group for their company and to Dave F for back marking.

Here’s the route: