Ride Report - 'B' Group 24 June 2020

I am indebted to John Austin, Terry Lowe, and Tony Hooker for kindly agreeing to lead sub-groups (John's Jets, Terry's Tornados and Tony's Thunderbolts) on this ride and to Tim Court for acting as ultimate back marker.

My own group, Dave's Dynamos, was due off first at 10.30 am, and I was very pleased that everyone was ready to set off on time.   Tim Gibbons kindly volunteered to be our back stop just in case, but, in fact, we kept together very well, in a properly spaced out sort of way, and n'er a corner needing marking on the whole ride.  It was a shortish and quite well-shaded route to lunch with just a few ups, and I thought we kept up a pretty steady pace, and kept stops to a minimum, keeping to the allotted hour and a half, so I was just a little irritated when John's Jets rolled up to lunch at Horsell scarcely ten minutes after us!    Then, to add to the humiliation, Terry's Tornados pitched up well before my group were ready to leave.  But of Tony's Thunderbolts I saw not a trace after elevenses, and I began to wonder if that had been a mirage!

Everyone who wanted it had managed to find a bit of shade over lunch, but the heat hit hard as Dave's Dynamos set off on a (thankfully) shorter, uneventful ride back to Walton.   We arrived well before 2.00 pm but had barely cleared the queue for soft drinks and ice cream before the second and third groups once again rolled in right behind us  (I suspect they cut the corners), but it all was good fun, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed their ride, the sunshine, and the pleasant company.   It was great to be back on something approaching a normal club ride again, and thanks to everyone for your support.

Author: David W

3 Comments:

Tony 24 June 2020 at 21:27 BST

Great day out and very well planned.

Ged Lawrenson 25 June 2020 at 05:46 BST

Well played David! Your planned group departures and arrivals seem to work like clockwork. New cycling jerseys for the teams next week?

Tim C 25 June 2020 at 10:28 BST

Very nice route with nice long stretches of shade and a few roads I'd never knowingly cycled on before. The Village Hall is an ideal picnic spot on a sunny day. Thanks Dave.

B Group - 24th June, a couple of photos and a map

Our leader with new B Group rider Dudley Hubbard

Author: Tim C

Update - 'B' Group Ride Weds 24 June 2020

Thanks to everyone who has requested a place on the ride.  Confirmations and details have now been sent out to everyone concerned.   There remain three spare places only (departing 11.10 am and 11.30 am).   If you are interested in taking one of theses spaces up, please do not e-mail me (as I will not see your request or be able to respond), but turn up at Walton Bridge elevenses tomorrow and see Tim Court, Terry Lowe, or Tony Hooker.   Once these places have gone the ride will be at full capacity.

Author: David W

Henfold Lake Good News

Tim and I went for a Father's Day bike ride this morning. We intended to go to Tanhouse but there are no seats available for the takeaway and no toilet use. In fact I have heard that Tanhouse are to ban cyclists from coming! Can anyone verify?
We decided to to go to Henfold instead. On the way out we past solo Jake going home!
The lovely man served us with two large Cappuccino's and two bacon sarnies for £11. Although the benches were roped off we were allowed to sit and eat outside. Not allowed into cafe. Even more important the toilet is open to cyclists only!

So good news all round for rides leaders and MWW etc.

Author: mike morley

Some sad news ...

Bronte's café in Cobham will not be reopening; Amanda has decided not to renew her lease.

Sad times

~ Tim

Author: Tim C

Yes Lisa, Tim, Jeff it works

All I need to do now is get a short cut Icon on my screen saver. Not yet managed to work that out?

Author: mike morley

A Group ride from Walton on 24 June

The A Group ride on 24 June will be from Walton via Ripley (toilets!!) to Blackheath Cricket Ground (lunch) and return via Merrow ( toilet open at the Park & Ride) and Ockham to the Medicine Garden at Cobham ( café and toilets). There will be a section off-road – see below.

We will be riding in groups of maximum 6 to comply with government regulations. Pre-booking your place is essential, and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please email me at briangreenwood@yahoo.co.uk to reserve your place, and by Monday 15 June at the latest.

There are at least two sub-leaders to share the leading, and so it should be possible to accommodate up to 18 riders.

Riders should come with a packed lunch and hand-sanitizer and should also follow Wayfarer instructions for safe and legal riding in groups, which can be found here

Our proposed route can be seen and downloaded here

 

We will meet near the café by Walton Bridge (on Walton Lane at Cowey Sale). The toilets are open. Details for A and B groups will be provided on Monday. Grid reference TQ093664.

Lunch will be at Blackheath Cricket ground where there is plenty of space and seats. Adequate country-style facilities but beware of surrounding footpaths to the east!!

The weather is forecast to be warm and sunny.

Offroad: from Farley Heath to Green Lane. About 200m of hard track to cottages and then 500m of bridlepath. Fairly level, mostly earth path. On this morning’s recce we had to walk round one wet stretch of about 20m but rode the rest without getting either the bikes or ourselves muddy. Not bad after all the recent rain. It is forecast to be mostly dry until Wednesday so should improve. I’ll check again on Monday.

I am looking forward to receiving your booking at briangreenwood@yahoo.co.uk

Author: Brian