Easy Riders - October 5th 2011

Easy riders - 5th October

It was drizzling first thing at home (Effingham), but by 10 o'clock it had stopped and the sun was trying to break through, so I got ready and set off for the short ride to Cobham. Fuzz was ready to lead what he said would be his last as a leader of an Easy Rider run. So it was that we set off, about a dozen of us, and after a dramatic U-turn in Cobham High Street, headed along Hogshill Lane towards Fairmile Common. From there he took us, by guesswork and clever map-reading, across Esher and Arbrook Commons. This was a ride through lovely wooded country, the ground littered with sweet chestnuts, and just the job for those like myself, who like a bit of off-road, a very "interesting" Fuzz-ride. We hardly touched a metalled road between Cobham and our lunch stop at The Swan Inn on the edge of Claygate. The service was prompt and the food tasty, and it was pleasantly warm enough to lunch in the open air.

After lunch a bit more bridle-path cycling until we reached Esher and then we were into the traffic of Emberbrook , Molesey and finally Hampton Court where we quickly made for a cafe that everyone but myself had been to before, what was it? "5 on the Bridge"? something like that, anyway the staff seemed to recognise the Easy Riders, the coffee was good Fuzz's tea a bit aneamic until an extra tea-bag was added, and the cake looked good. After that we all went our separate ways home. Thanks Fuzz, amost enjoyable ride.

Mike Withers

Author: Lisa

Pete Mitchell

Author: Tony

Pete Mitchell's Funeral

At least 200 cyclists met at the undertakers.

We then followed a funeral car to the crematorium at Leatherhead with the hearse bringing up the rear. The cyclists were led by members of the Phoenix Club.
There were so many at the crematorium that not everyone could get in. The crematorium manager read several touching tributes to Pete, two of which were from his children.

Afterwards we stood around for a while in the sunshine.

Then on to Horton Park Golf Club where despite the sadness of the occasion most people were in the mood to be grateful for his life.

Author: Bernard Brindley

2 Comments:

mike morley 07 October 2011 at 21:18 BST

Well done Bernard a good selection of pictures!

Lisa 07 October 2011 at 23:19 BST

Thanks, Bernard.

It was all a bit overwhelming on the day, so I am glad that other people have taken pictures and video as a record of something so special.

B Ride 5th October 2011

Cobham – Abinger Common – Leatherhead

The ride was programmed to be 25 miles – 11 before lunch (with stops at the top of each hill) and 14 afterwards with lunch at The Abinger Hatch and so it was. Chinese whispers however were the downfall of one starter who returned to the RBL for a lost possession (not communicated to the leader!) and who then went towards Abinger Hammer. A gentle ride through Downside and across Bookham Common took us to Effingham and on to Hogden Lane for the first hill. Here Cliff found the going tough and Terry did an excellent job of sheparding. We proceeded on via Ranmore Common Road, over White Down and up on to Abinger Common for lunch. Terry arrived shortly afterwards and said that Cliff had decided to go home via Dorking and let the train take the strain (I spoke to Cliff later in the day at home - he had got back and was feeling OK). After lunch we continued south round the bottom of Leith Hill to Coldharbour. It was on this section one of our number complained his gears weren’t working properly. The piece of string which came out was about 2 foot long – no wonder his gears were temperamental! After Coldharbour it was down to Dorking, past Denbies to Annie’s in Leatherhead for tea. 23 started, there were 22 for lunch and 15 took tea. Like the numbers the weather declined during the day and by the end there was a distinct autumn chill in the air.

Peter T

Author: Peter T

B Group 5th October

Map of today's ride plotted by Tim. Click on the image to enlarge.

Author: Mark G

B Group - 5th October

Another way of seeing B Group's ride over White Down and Leith Hill with colour coding to illustrate the altitude along the route, using the "Google Terrain" option on the GPSVisualizer web site

Author: Tim C

'All the way to Alfriston, from Chichester to Alfriston ...'

The Chichester bit isn't right, nor, for that matter is the Alfriston part. But Ms Farjeon wouldn't have got on half as well with 'East Meon to Polegate', so I've gilded the lily a bit. Anyway, you get the drift - I've taken advantage of the dry conditions to ride the South Downs Way, and a jolly good ride it has been.

I set off from East Meon because it's easily accessible by train from Sutton - change at Guildford and ride from Petersfield. It's also a good place to start because it's here that the path rises up to the top of the Downs, and the real journey begins. Conditions were good, and the surface was mostly dry, but it was surprising that there were still some puddles in the sticky chalk marl in places. This is no route for a wet day.

Monday was an absolute stunner - the last day of our 'Barbecue Autumn' - with great views and warm sunshine all the way. I took lunch at the 'Ship' in South Harting, where they promised locally sourced food and a warm welcome, delivering handsomely on both. Tea was at the Boathouse, Amberley - a table by the river for home made apple pie in the sunshine. The overnight stop was in Arundel, with an easy choice of hotel - the Norfolk Arms, which is the only hotel recommended by my 1899 CTC Handbook. I did ask about the service offered in 1899 to wash and store your bicycle for 6d (2.5p, for youngsters), but apparently it's no longer available - but I could put my bike in the boilerhouse for nothing. So that was OK. Maggie came down for supper, and we ate well - me dressed in the clean clothes she had brought.

An early start this morning, as Maggie had to get back to work and I was happy to be on my way. Very prettily up on to the Downs, with the pace increasing as lunchtime neared (no elevenses). I'd had to descend to South Harting on Monday, and today was no different - I went down to the Bull in Ditchling where I ate well. It also meant going back up Ditchling Beacon, but there you are. If I have one criticism of the South Downs Way it is that there is nothing to eat at the top of the hill - take it with you, or ride down.

Today's route consisted of climbing a set of downs, rattling along the top, a whizz downhill and then repeat. Good fun, and not bad views sometimes, but generally hazy weather cheered up by occasional bursts of sunshine. A sunny run over Firle at the end of the afternoon, but shadowy as I descended to Alfriston. I rode across the river and started towards the Wilmington Long Man, but it was evident even to me that it was beginning to get dark - a quarter to six. This off road stuff is interesting enough, but it's not quick. Tarmac was the solution, and I put the hammer down for Polegate and a train home. I caught the 1804 and Maggie picked me up at East Croydon just after seven.

Not a bad little adventure. 96.7 miles, 11,901 feet of climbing and a very slow average speed. My Genesis Croix de Fer did well - it was in its element, really - no punctures, no problems.

Mark

Author: Mark G