B Ride Report 15th July from Claygate

Francis starts with …..

22 riders opted to join the ride from Claygate with most enjoying coffee and a chat at the Parade & Albany, made even more enjoyable with Paula dropping in.

With the continuous very hot weather in recent weeks, I decided to incorporate over 6 miles off-road through shady paths through forest and commons on the morning route. Thank you to Tim C for his many hints and tips on my morning and afternoon off-road sections.

My first group (Stephen H, Tim G, Sabina, Bernard, Peter Bts and Jane F) left on time towards the start of the off-road section on Common Lane at Claygate Common, from where we snaked our way through to New Road. Parts were rather loose gravel and sand but nothing too haphazard.

Soon we reached the gate to the Crown Estate’s Prince’s Coverts. A little interesting bit of history courtesy of Wikipedia – “Prince's Coverts is named after Prince (later King) Leopold I of Belgium, who lived at Claremont Park, Esher 1 mile (1.6 km) north-west, which remains linked by a bridleway across Arbrook Common and Farm which has two white-painted metal coal tax posts. The Claremont Estate was purchased for him in 1816. He later acquired nearby common land which became a shooting estate. This area became known as Prince's Coverts. Following his death, the estate was repurchased by the Crown since which it has been managed by the Crown Estate.”

Soon we were crossing into Ashtead Common following the shady paths up and around the Common, exiting by Ashtead station. The rest of the route was all on road heading through Leatherhead, Effingham and West Horsley and our lunch stop, the Barley Mow and a warm Thai welcome.

After a delicious lunch, we departed for the short trip to the Old Moat garden café, Horton Lane for tea, as the temperature started climbing.

Rather than the usual route towards Blundell Lane, we headed instead towards the quieter Water Lane and Littleheath Lane and off-road through Oxshott Heath, a pleasant experience. In no time at all, half my group arrived at the tea stop with the other half heading home.

My thanks to Tim C for his support on my route, my subbies Steph and Tim C and my back marker Peter and later on, Bernard. An enjoyable day out with the usual great company.

Steph continues with ….. 

I managed to ride the 8 miles from home in good time, arriving for Elevenses 9.45. It was nice relaxing and chatting with others before my group set off in perfect weather. Jennie proved her worth as backmarker correcting the approach to Princes Covert. The route was skillfully put together to avoid the obvious and take us down the unexpected. Lots of shade and the ups seem balanced by the downs. I particularly liked Water Lane in the afternoon, not often used but more direct than heading for Esher or Blundells Lane.

Great company (Julie B, Christina, Grant, Keith, Karl and Jennie J).Perfect weather.

 

Tim C ends with …..

Shortly after leaving home, I found that my freshly inflated front tyre was going soft. After some problems using my mini-pump I succeeded in rendering the bike roadworthy. With tubeless tyres in this situation what usually does the trick is going for a ride which redistributes the goo inside the tyres. And although I felt a bit anxious about it during the ride down to Claygate I didn’t have to pump it up again during the day.

In view of the difficulty I might experience whilst leading, Francis suggested that I ask Mick to swap with Grant. So Mick kindly joined our third team, ready to lead with his Beeline if I had any more issues. And Grant joined Team Steph.

So with our sporty little team, Mick, Ray, Dawn, Diane, Martina, Anne and Ian, I departed from Parade and Albany soon after 11. I hope that everyone shared my sentiment that the nicest aspect of the morning ride was the succession of serene and shady paths through much of our favourite woodland. Beyond the trees there was very little climbing to challenge us.

After Ashtead Common, Diane led us though a suburban shortcut which brought us neatly onto the cycleway alongside Barnett Wood Lane, then safely around to the turn down onto the path leading to Leatherhead Station.

Our team hadn’t hurried through the morning at all but arrived at around a quarter after 1 pm. At The Barley Mow many of us chose our dishes from the Thai Menu, green and red curries, Pad Thai and so it says, ‘Drunken Noodles’, etc.

After lunch Dawn left us to visit her grand-daughter in Effingham and Ray peeled off for home soon after we had left. As she had planned to do, Diane caught a train home after lunch. Martina said goodbye at Martyr’s Green. Ian kindly invited Mick, Anne and I to afternoon tea with himself and Sonia. Mick decided to press on to the Old Moat to reunite with Francis and the two earlier groups, leaving just Anne and I to succumb to Ian’s kind offer of tea on the terrace.

Anne hadn’t been around to join our ride from New Haw on 27th May when on the afternoon leg we all turned off Sandy Lane to skirt around Fairmile Common, ride through Esher Common then Arbrook Common on the way to Claygate. So on the home run yesterday we took that very scenic route.

Thanks to everyone in the team for your good company, and especially to Ray as back marker, and to Mick for being ready to pretend to be me if I suffered an unfixable flat tyre.