Tour of the Hills 2016

Here are a few photos taken inside and outside the hall during the Tour of the Hills 115km audax, which took place yesterday, 21st August.

It would be good to receive a report on the ride from someone who rode it.

From the point of view of this scribe, who worked on the catering side, it was a great day with no accidents and lots of seemingly happy riders (once they had completed the ride – they looked a little apprehensive before the ride!). Everyone looked like they enjoyed the eats which always brings a smile to any caterer.

Well done, all, for turning a great event into a great occasion!

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The Greensand’ers

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The Catering Team

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The Greensanders Setting Off

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The Menu

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The Bicycle Icycle

Icycle 2016 (Medium)

Civilised start time for Goldalming and the promise(?) of croissant is an added bonus. Even the weather forecast had improved so no excuses – the ride is on. A warm welcome from Mark accompanied by tea and biscuits is forthcoming on arrival and some new faces – we are going to be joined by two Fleet cyclists. The regulars slowly arrive but it does take some serious prodding to get the second cuppa and to make the croissant appear requires feats of which I am barely capable at that time of Sunday morning – but I am rewarded for my efforts. Then the prodding is the other way – you lot should get going. Yes Mr Chairman – anything you say!

It should be noted that Clive is remodelling himself – he was early! Yup, I will repeat that just in case you missed it. Clive was early. Even Bob’s wife commented on it and she just came for the croissants (wise woman). Then Clive was telling our new friends that the Alderbrook Road climb was the easiest on the route. Not in my books it isn’t, it’s one of the worst. And when we got back he suggested that the two who hadn’t cycled with us had arrived back way before us. No chance – we went at a reasonable lick and only one solo cyclist overtook us and he didn’t like it when I caught up with him and overtook him on Leith Hill Road.

Who says lightening doesn’t strike twice? When we reached Rooks Hill, Steve of Fleet Cycles reported that his freehub was seriously playing up and he was very concerned. The pawls weren’t engaging properly. So he bailed out and headed for his car and home. Ann had the same problem the week before and had to bail out and get the train home from Farnham. Surrey roads taking their toll on our wheels? My front wheel bearings are beginning to make ominous noises. Anyone know if Mavic sealed hubs can be serviced easily?

The rest of the outbound journey was uneventful though bad memories at the top of Leith Hill – took it very carefully. At the control point the thought did occur to me that I should take a photograph of the notice board – actually that’s what a pair of walkers was doing – and then I would not need to go there again. But that would defeat the whole thing. The return leg was going very well too and Clive’s puncture on Thorncombe Street was amenable to a few pumpings up to get us back rather than an inner tube change. Mare Lane is a tough one – need serious gears for that one. The Sturmey Archer was not quite up that challenge but you must have amazing knees Paul to cope as well as you did.

4 hours and 5 mins after setting out we rang the doorbell only to be told we were early! Tea please and more biscuits. Only this year we did not demolish the whole tin. In fact we were almost in danger of sitting down and watching the whole of the England-Italy match in Rome in the 6 Nations. (Personally I find watching England too painful but I hear that they did very well this time).

For those of you who decided not to come because of the weather – you missed a really good ride and the weather was very kind to us. It was sunny and almost warm. It did cool down in the last hour and threaten rain but it held off and I was able to get home and wash the bike down and it still hadn’t rained.

The ride is through some of the loveliest parts of the Surrey Hills and along some roads with wonderful views which we don’t do at any other time but some of those roads do have some of the worst surfaces. But it could be glorious in summer. Mark says he is looking to extend the route to 100km. Yes please, let’s do in the summer and you will also have to find a new name for it. (Bicycle popsicle? No? Well that’s the other part of the challenge – a new name for a summer version.)

Now, if only the ride came with a complementary bike wash at the end as I still have the chain and cassette to do but my hands were so cold.

35 mile Reliability Ride ~ 12 April 2015

Spring weather doesn’t come much better than what was dished out to us today; I trust everyone who didn’t take part in this event had something equally good going on – if you didn’t, you missed a perfect cycling day.

It’s a lovely route, tried and tested over the years, with the bonus in recent years of a good café stop at Kirdford. This is the route.

35 mile Reliability Ride Route

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Hilary (to coffee) and Laurie (the whole way) for your company, particularly Laurie for your excellent pacing. The headwind home was challenging, particularly when you haven’t ridden a 50 mile ride since last year; suffering has never been so pleasurable. And I did just manage to make it up my hill without getting off – hurrah!

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The Bicycle Icycle 2014

The ride, which took place on Sunday 6 April, attracted 7 people (including the organiser and your scribe), five of whom were West Surrey riders. These were Claire Hooper, Peter Hackman, Clive Richardson, Chris Boggon and a friend of his, Andrew Grundy from Tadworth; and finally Trevor Strudwick, who used to be one of us but moved to south Wales a few years back. Trevor was here to remind himself how grotty and awful our local lanes can be; he was not to be disappointed!

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The forecast was poor and it rained gently on the morning of the ride, leading up to the start. In fact, although most wore waterproofs during the ride, what rain there was was light. The weather could best be described as mild and dank. A thick mist surrounded Leith Hill and the higher parts of the Surrey Hills. It was not the kind of day that many would have wished to ride on, which doubtless accounts for the poor turnout.

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Despite the weather having been relatively dry for ten or more days prior to the event, such little rain as had fallen during the hours prior to the ride was very much in evidence on the roads, which were in a generally dreadful condition, notably the lane which led south from Thorncombe Street. Mare Lane too was as bad as ever and it was exceptional that no fewer than four cars were passed on that lane as we rode it – three coming the other way. Another mysteriously turned round at the top and returned the way it came; was it something we said?

All completed the course and, as has become customary, we rode round together, getting to the finish at 14.25 hours, thus completing the course in a tad under five hours, a good hour later than in previous years; this despite not stopping at the shop in Peaslake or dropping down to Shere. However, two people had punctures and all waited while they were repaired.

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Many hands make light work

Despite the weather, which wasn’t really that bad, it was, as always, an enjoyable ride through superb scenery. A lengthier article will appear in the Magazine in due course.

To view the course in detail click on this link

And here’s an image of the route and gradient profile.

Snip of Route

Yours truly at the first Info Control, gathering Q&As for future years

Yours truly at the first Info Control, gathering Q&As for future years

Mare Lane summit

Mare Lane summit

Nearing Hascombe

Nearing Hascombe

Wonersh

Wonersh

Claire storming along

Claire storming along

The short sharp climb after the lake at Friday Street

The short sharp climb after the lake at Friday Street

Peter setting the pace (as usual!)

Peter setting the pace (as usual!)

South of Thorncombe Street

South of Thorncombe Street

Climbing Winterfold

Climbing Winterfold

Trevor going well

Trevor going well

All Chris needs is a Rapha top to complete 'the look'!

All Chris needs is a Rapha top to complete ‘the look’!