I had to miss it this year. What happened? Has anyone written, or is anyone writing, a summary for the magazine? I’ve received an email from Dane saying that the deadline is extended to about 6 December.
Some of us had lunch at the Blacknest golf club café “The Nest” recently and were made very welcome. They are keen to encourage cyclists.
Small groups are welcome; larger groups please call 01420 22888 beforehand. The manager offered 10% discount for West Surrey CTC members and would be happy to discuss special menus for group bookings. Though he didn’t mention it, it might be tactful for cleated riders to use the side entrance, as people in spiked golf shoes are asked to do.
More information and menus at: http://www.blacknestgolf.co.uk/dining
What a relief it was a Guildford start. De-icing the chickens’ drinker and getting all those extra layers on meant that even an 8:30 depart to get to the start was a bit of a challenge. And you might not have noticed it but there was a huge amount of tectonic activity during the night. The distance between West Horsley and Guildford had grown by, well, miles and seemingly more than when than when the wind is a howling south westerly to be battled against. Though I can report that by the time of the return leg at the end of the day the tectonic plates had returned to their normal position.
However I did make it to Guildford Station on the dot of nine and was the first to arrive. And it was freezing. Even the guys manning the barriers took pity on me. Eventually Peter arrived and disappeared inside – no doubt to keep warm; Chris and finally Clive made it. “Was there ice on the way in?” “Yes.” “OK we will go a different route.” Whatever, the only thing on my mind was the piping hot soup I was going to have when we made the lunch stop – well the stop after coffee which is long after most people have lunch – at Hector’s Boathouse. So no Leith Hill or alternative climb to warm me up. Instead a gently rolling route via Cranleigh, Ewhurst and Rowhook.
As it does my mind started wandering. Now I had read and re-checked the rides list a couple of times and it had sort of registered that we were going to Horsham, but I started thinking about which cake I was going to have at Tanners Farm, Newdigate and suddenly realised that we weren’t going there. This was quite a shock – the cakes are better at Tanners Farm. And Clive wants routes for the next quarter. Easy…Cake to Cake please Clive, with the 2nd stop – I just can’t call it the lunch stop when Peter is leading it so perhaps let’s call the early tea stop instead – within striking distance of Guildford or Godalming; 50 miles to home is just too far when it gets dark at the time of the early tea stop.
And where were the bright blue skies and winter sunshine? They appeared briefly just as we were coming into Horsham but it was only a brief appearance. We arrived early at Horsham – just a few moments after Don. With my chair strategically placed over the warm air vent and a hot cup of tea the bits which needed thawing thawed out. Only to refreeze the instant we stepped outside.
Leaving Horsham early we looped South and North and East and West and possibly a few other directions as well. Somewhere we passed lots of cars and cyclists coming from, going to, warming up on rollers for an event – can’t remember where it was – relevant bits of the brain had shut down. At the turning just before Dunsfold we were given the choice, left or right. I chose left as we had done the Dunsfold route a gazillion times this year – sorry Chris – I needed a change, so we did Vann Lane backwards (Enal Nnav?). Alright South to North. I don’t think I have ever done it that way and it always surprises me how different a road is depending on which way you go along it.
We made Hector’s at 2pm – early tea time? Twoses? (Always had elevenses with my Grandma). And he was in a good mood and the soup was piping hot and brilliant – Thank you. I unfroze.
Godalming to Guildford was taken at great pace. “You didn’t hang around did you?” said Peter. “No, but I have warmed up,” was my reply. We parted company and with a full panoply of surveying tools I checked the precise location of the tectonic plates.
For the record, no punctures, a temperature range of -0.5 to 5 degrees Celsius and a new name – FADERS – Frozen All Day Endurance Riders
Eurostar has now backed down over its controversial plans to make cyclists box up their bikes thanks to our ‘Zero Stars for Eurostar’ campaign. In a resounding victory for CTC and you, our supporters, Eurostar’s Head of EU Public Affairs Pierre Delalande emailed us at 6pm on Friday (13 November) to say: “You will be pleased to know that we are not intending to go ahead with the requirement for all bikes to be carried in boxes and will accept fully-mounted bikes.”
We galvanised support from leading politicians on both sides of the Channel. The UK’s All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group criticised the move as did the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.
London’s Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan and CTC’s Head of Communications and Campaigns David Murray discussed the issue in a special meeting with Mary Walsh, Eurostar’s Director of Communications, at City Hall three days ago.
Julian writes…. (with photos by Mark Waters)
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With good intention I don the lycra to ride over to the AGM in Godalming but have to clear some of the leaves and other garden rubbish before I set off. And as I get the bike out it starts to rain – hard. I don’t fancy sitting in wet clothes for hours as ther AGM works its way through the packed agenda. Change of plan, change of clothes and get the car out.
“Oh you’re the one who writes the blogs.” “Yes, and you’re…….ah yes – the webmaster.” So let me ask, please can you put a counter on the blog pages so I can see if anyone reads my ramblings other than those with whom I ride and who make comment on the next ride.
“Oh you are the SAD-R(?) who writes the blogs.” “Yes Bob,” but I am too polite to ask you what you meant. Sad rider who has too much time on his hands after a ride to imagine a crazy world and write about it? Perhaps – but what did you say and what did you mean?
Humpffffff.
Under grey skies and into the face of a strong wind I set out for the Sunday ride from Godalming and amazingly arrive on time. The Captain is there, “You didn’t write any blogs so I did not know what was going on whilst I was away.” The chief photographer is there, “If I take the pictures will you write the blog?” Hey, when I get home I have to sell hello to anyone who is home, answer the question did I have a good ride, have some rego drink, ring my parents – which I have done every weekend since university – drink a cup of tea, check the key stats on the cycle computer, clean myself up, put the chickens to bed, clean the bike – nope that just gets put on the to do list – eat dinner – roast if you want to know and how can you have a roast dinner and not open a bottle of wine. Put feet up, chat to daughter who is away at university and she wants me to get a piece of computer kit sorted out for her, and then find time to write. Oh and it helps if I have some inspiration.
Humpfffff is all I can say.
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Clive fails to appear on time. At least it is mild and I am not freezing cold. Peter decides to ring him – as Clive is unlikely to be expecting him to be on the ride. He will meet us at the traffic lights. Multiple punctures en route over. When we finally met up way, way past the official 9:10 start time six of us head of for Milland.
Grey skies, mild conditions, leaves still on trees and with fading colours, slippery patches on the road. An autumn ride if ever there was one. I bought the luxo-cruiser just for this purpose – to extend the riding season beyond the summer months. Last time out was on the grin machine and we had fun…… well, possibly too much and we got carried away. The grin machine knew it was its last outing and it just wanted to play. Together we rode off the front of the group and started chasing balloons. We did not hear the cries of turn left – we did not even see the junction – we were just flying and having fun. Then realisation struck, no-one was following me. Back up, find the turning, ring Clive and say not to worry – I’ll meet them at the lunch stop. But the group was delayed by a puncture. I caught up with them in minutes. Sorry.
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And today – two more punctures on the way to coffee. What’s the collective noun for punctures? We thought an aggravation was a likely candidate. Don and Paul were waiting at Milland, identifiable by a fixie, the most shock pair of working trousers you have ever seen and a pair of walking boots. Don, you need a new pair of trousers if you want to be seen in polite company! You did have the grace to acknowledge they were terrible.
The cake at the Milland village shop is very good but the sight of lyrca clad men seems to have an effect on the ladies who serve. I was given a pot of tea, cake and “oh yes, I’ll get you a fork.” “Thank you but can I have some milk and a cup please.” “Oh sorry here you go.” “Thank you can I have a cup as well please.”
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The journey to Kirdford was notable by the absence of Paul who said that he would make his own way at his own pace. We weren’t going fast, honest and we had had done all the bunny hops pre-coffee. And the chief photographer trying to get pictures of more than backsides of riders. Attractive buildings – shall we stop? Telephone box and post box (by the way, where is that blue post box that we occasionally pass and why is it blue?) – that would make a good picture surely? No – not enough light. Two young women on horseback – perfect. “I like to have something interesting in the background.”
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“Hey chaps I have a slow puncture.” We sent Mark on ahead to get to Kirdford before his air expired whilst we waited for our backmarker. But when we got to Kirdford – no Mark. 5 minutes spent trying to find him only to discover he had set off for Plaistow before lunch. 30 minutes later Paul turns up. “Where have you been, the South Coast?”
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Discussion over lunch was animated but I was keen to get going so as not to have the cycle the A246 in the fading gloom with everyone piling out of Guildford. Fat chance – the goodbyes and thank yous and see you next weeks to the Haslemere lot turned into ….. well I don’t know… two of us wanted to get going so we went. At Dunsfold we reformed and shortly after I bade farewell to the Godalming group before speeding off for Hascombe Hill, Bramley, Guildford and the 246. Home at least half an hour later than hoped. 70miles, 3,300 ft of ascent and they still want a blog!
For further information on this 80km / 50 mile route click on this link.
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