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Typecast after a couple of blogs… Saturday/Sunday 14th/15th Nov

By Julian Allen on 16 November, 2015 / Blog posts

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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Guildford Travel Club

By Paul Gillingham on 14 November, 2015 / latest news

Fellow West Surrey cyclists might be interested in the coming Guildford Travel Club meeting:-

CYCLING TO THE ASHES: by Oli Broom, who recounts a cycle journey that took him 412 days and 16,000 miles through 23 countries from London to Brisbane, all for the love of cricket.

Date: 15 December 2015, doors open 7.30pm, illustrated talk starts at 8pm & finishes at 10pm. Complimentary refreshments during interval.

Where: Onslow Village Hall, The Square, Wilderness Road, Guildford GU2 7QR.

Entrance fee for non-members: £7.00

ICE cards and Club Clothing

By John Murdoch on 11 November, 2015 / latest news

ICE cards

It appears that some people are having difficulty ordering these cards for free. The important thing is to choose the Mini Tags, and then also select West Surrey CTC as your club; the link is

https://www.onelifeid.com/page/custom_team_ids

which is the second link shown on the instructions at the end of the e-mail I sent to all ride groups. You then insert the discount code, and it should then show that there is nothing to pay. If anyone continues to have problems, please e-mail me.

Club Clothing

The new order has now been placed; delivery is expected in just over 3 weeks.

Once I have taken delivery, I will e-mail individually all those who have ordered clothing, advising:-

– the actual cost of all products ordered by you

– the total cost to pay

– how to make payment; preferably by direct bank transfer to the West Surrey account. I will provide those bank details in the individual e-mails

– how you can collect or have your order delivered. I hope to bring all the orders to at least one coffee stop for the Midweek Wayfarers in December, as well as on New Year’s Day (a meet for all groups). Otherwise, we will have to make other arrangemenst e.g. collect from me in Camberley if prearranged.

John Murdoch

Mountain biking Saturday 7th November

By William Lowries on 10 November, 2015 / Blog posts

My usual Saturday MTB ride became a mudfest at the weekend. We went along the Christmas pie trail, which is kind of sloppy muddy after any rain, so it was very sloppy. Just around Normandy, the bridlepath has been closed because Thames Water are doing something or other to the mains, meaning a longer and even more muddy detour. At Tongham we turned left, up to the Hog’s back, down towards Sands & back via Puttenham Common. Forget spending money on mudpacks etc, just go mountain biking on a wet day!

Sunday Ride on 8th November with the All Day Sunday Riders

By Mark Waters on 9 November, 2015 / Blog posts

You’d think that after six weeks cycling in hilly Italy with a full touring load, I might just be fit and prepared for a good old thrash around the lanes of Surrey and Sussex. Well, you’d be wrong! I very nearly got off my bike and walked up the final hill I was so pooped! What is it about cycling that suggests that one almost seems to need to train specifically for individual disciplines. OK, so I’m not on the same bike, so my gears are nowhere near as low, plus I’ve actually not ridden my bike since getting back a fortnight ago, but really…. I thought a day out on the bike without luggage and on a lighter bike would be a walk in the park. It wasn’t!

But it was still great fun, helped by being in the best company, although our ranks were somewhat meagre – a mere four! It’s not surprising really when you see what the weather was like – and the photos have been enhanced! It was grey and damp and deeply autumnal and, to be honest, really rather lovely. Of course, the fact that it was warm made the day good for me, because I am not a lover of the cold. Warm, damp autumn days are very special and this was one of the best!

Clive’s knowledge of the local road network means that he’s usually able to come up with something new, and todays route to Midhurst was certainly that. I’d never before gone up the road from Thursley to reach the track round Devil’s PUnchbowl to reach Hindhead. And the roads south, passing through Hammer, Lynchmere, Redford and Woolbeding to Midhurst was pretty much all new to me too.

We partook of coffee and cake at the Cafe Verdi in Midhurst before making our way eastwards to RSPB Pulborough Brooks for further refreshments before our return home via Fittleworth and Plaistow.

Thanks to Clive for another good ride / route, to Nick and John for their company too, and finally to Heidi who shamed me into coming out on this ride and then didn’t turn out herself. There will be words spoken….

Detailed info on the route may be found by clicking here but here are the main stats with a map of the route:

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