Our ride from Dorking will take us south towards Rusper via Henfold and Newdigate then back to Westhumble via Parkgate and Brockham.
Lunch is at 'The Stepping Stones'.
There is no planned afternoon ride but those who wish might like to head back for tea at 'The Old Moat' or 'Horton Cafe'.
Please reply by Monday evening to be included on the ride list.
Email - timgibbons1@virginmedia.com
WhatsApp - 07756961505
Look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.
TimG.
Author: Tim Gibbons
I was unable to lead this ride, although I was responsible (or was it guilty) for the route and lunch stop at the newly reopened Seven Stars in Ripley. And Ged who gallantly stepped in as organiser also had to drop out at the last moment. So the scene was set for three sub-leaders to take over the ride, and most successfully too.
Two sub-leaders had not recced the route before, and for Peter Suchy (who had recced) this was his first ride lead. Conditions were potentially icy, with temperatures just above zero. Despite this we had 20 riders start from Hersham.
Neil Crocker was first off; his report is below.
After a couple of last-minute adjustments I ended up leading away the first group of eight - Paula, Sue F, Sue C, Mark, Richard, Steve D and Andy C.
For the next few miles the roads alternated between long sections with dry
lines and others where water had flowed across the road and frozen overnight.
When we reached West Horsley we considered heading straight to East Clandon to cut out the higher ground but agreed we would ride up Shere Road and see what the conditions were like. Luckily the conditions were much better than we had feared and the descent of Staple Lane was ice-free. On reaching the Portsmouth Road we rode straight to Ripley and on to The Seven Stars.
After a good lunch we ventured back out into the cold. The sky was blue, the sun was shining and no more ice was encountered. It was like a different day, but there now was a nagging headwind. We saw a group of the B riders heading in the opposite direction, all with smiles on their faces. (Maybe they had a tailwind.)
Through Pyrford, West Byfleet, Addlestone and Weybridge we reached Walton Bridge where the water was very high and fast flowing. Here we parted ways as everyone was keen to make the most of the daylight.
Thanks all my group for a memorable day out.
Peter Suchy led the second group on his inaugural lead, including Clive, Gill H, Brian, David & Jennie and Dave E, later joined by Janice.
They successfully got beyond Cobham, but encountered significant ice across the road on Ockham Lane beyond the Black Swan. After Peter fell on black ice, bruising his hip, and witnessing a skidding van, the group decided that it would be too risky to venture further onto higher ground and decided to abandon the ride, heading for safer roads towards Leatherhead. A prudent decision as you don’t stand a chance riding across the black stuff.
Many thanks Peter. Hopefully we will be seeing much more of your leadership skills.
Dave Bartholomew led the third group.
We had a lovely sunny but bitterly cold day for our ride from Horsham, following Dave V’s route to Ripley and Walton. My group was originally 7 but was down to 4 when we left due to various re-jigging of leaders and riders, and I had the pleasure of the company of Mike, Neil W and Patrick. With a small group we were able to keep up a steady pace and caught up with the 2 earlier groups either side of the crossing over the M25 towards Martyrs Green. We found the roads to be Ok, with small patches of ice in the more shaded sections, and the occasional bit of black ice here and there. The road up Sheepleas was surprisingly clean and dry, but we took the descent in the middle, and soon after, Staple Lane, very carefully, and we reached lunch in good time around 12.30.
The re-furbished Seven Stars pub was extremely efficient and our lunch orders were on the table very promptly …. much cheaper than the previous incarnation too!! A much better experience than I remember our last visit being.
A short afternoon ride had us in Walton less than an hour after leaving lunch. The Riverhouse Barn cafe was packed when we arrived so my small but select group decided to ride on and have a cuppa at home!!
Finally many thanks from me to Ged for last-minute organisation and to all the sub-leaders especially first-timer Peter Suchy. My apologies for not being able to be there with you. It wasn’t the easiest day to be out, and I was well pleased that everyone made it home without serious incident.
Author: Dave Vine
With a frosty start and a maximum of 5C forecast it was not a day for the faint-hearted, but seven turned out at North Cheam. We arrived, somewhat numbed, at the new Hersham elevenses venue, the Bean on the Green - a very welcome haven of warmth and refreshment - where our numbers swelled to 11: John and Sandy Bayliss, Anne and John Connaughton, Ken Day, Jane Gunningham, Tony Hopkins, Terry Lowe, Bernard Power, Ray Wren and myself.
The plan was to choose a lunch stop on the return loop eastwards. Crossing Walton Bridge we were presented with a dramatic yet disturbing vista of the Thames in flood - the right-bank footpath was submerged and, on the opposite bank, front gardens and the ground area of the boatyard had disappeared from sight. Several fields had been transformed into lakes on our route towards Lower Sunbury. It all made a big impression, though this, of course, would have been on a small scale compared with the devastating situation upriver.
Having detoured from the riverside road onto the track avoiding the centre of Sunbury, we turned south on Harfield Road and had the full benefit, albeit briefly, of a following wind and blazing sun (slight exaggeration!). Our lunch stop was the Jolly Coopers in Hampton which continues to maintain a very good standard of freshly prepared meals.
The temperature had dropped by the time we set out on our different routes home. The lower path on Barge Walk was mainly under water but levels may have been dropping gradually. There was evidence of the damage caused by last week's high winds at Raynes Park sports ground where an outsized gazebo had been uprooted and blown 30 or 40yds to the edge of the bowling green.
~ Frank
Author: Tim C
All about cycle access to Wisley runway on the forum
Author: Neil W.
Simon L 09 January 2024 at 22:56 GMT
No change from the C&M exploration on 31 December 23 then: https://cheamandmorden.blogspot.com/2023/12/ride-report-sunday-31-january-2023.html (ignore the title - it was 31 December!).
Steph 10 January 2024 at 23:05 GMT
Please remember that until the new bridge opens there is no cycle access from Wisley to Ockham unless you re prepared to carry your bike down the scaffold steps which I think are intended to allow pedestrian visitors to Wisley to access the Guildford busstop.
Neil W. 11 January 2024 at 14:26 GMT
No change from C&M exploration of 31 Dec, but more information here.
Access via the Ripley end was entirely closed until fairly recently.
We found the scaffold stairs access ok.
If you ride from Cobham then along Elm Lane, and don't want to cross the bridge, there is a larger cycle path down the A3 to the Ripley roundabout.. the old cycle path is still as bumpy as ever, and had a large fallen tree blocking it. The new temporary cycleway is part of the A3 road sectioned off with a continuous heavy duty barrier.
This is Steph's route for her ride from Hersham to Woking:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45263734
Remember that we are meeting at The Bean on the Green, not at the Day Centre. The start point of the route shows the precise location of the café, in Pleasant Place.
~ Tim
Author: Tim C
Hersham day-centre is temporarily closed so Wednesday’s ride will start from Costa, Burwood Rd, opposite the green. We will be going to Ripley, 23 miles to lunch, one big hill (Sheepleas/Shere Rd) and all on-road. Lunch is booked at the Seven Stars, Newark Road, now refurbished and under new ownership.
Return is 10 flat miles to tea at Walton Riverhouse Barn or Wilde Brunch (but beware the latter’s erratic opening hours) hopefully close enough to home for everyone.
Please book your place by emailing me, d.vine207@btinternet.com by Monday evening.
We have one Sub-leader but if anyone else would like to volunteer to navigate by gpx please let me know.
I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.
Author: Dave Vine
If you wish to ride from Hersham "Bean on the Green" (daycentre closed) on Wed please email/text me. The ride will go to Wetherspoons Woking along quietest routes but no towpath. Returning to Cafe Barbara Stoke D'Ab direct via Ripley for anyone wishing to stop for tea. Hersham is relatively close for most so departures will be 10.30, 10.40, 10.50. Thanks Steph. 07909774234
Author: Steph