Hey Ho another Saturday ,another ride,this time starting from the Inn on the Pond at 9.30 prompt.
15 intrepid cylists turned out on what had begun as a windy rainy morning,by now the rain had stopped and the skies were brightening,,those stay-abeds were kicking their selves for sure.
The name North |Down Ridge is enough to strike terror into most off road roaders, but not our lot setting off with a thirst for the nearest hill,sure enough it soon came up as we headed North on the ‘21’ over the motorway straight up the hill to Spring Bottom Lane turning up the Bridleway to Willey Farm (yes the fore-fathers of Caterham were a pretty strange lot)
After the pipe opening climb the route became pretty flat along the North Downs Way passing the Fox at Coulsdon (a particularly difficult thing for me to do as this is my local)
Down Rydons Lane, over Caterham Drive and up the short sharp climb to Kenley Airfield
We spread out on the airfield for an action group photograph (courtesey of Phil Clarke,photographer exrondinaire)
A bridleway not ridden before took us down to Whyteleafe and cycling parrallel to the railway we arrived shortly afterwards at Wapses Lodge roundabout
The under road passages brought us out on Godstone Road and after a short distance we made a left turn into Tillingdown Road which took us upwards to Tillingdown Farm which is on the West side of a valley as yet un-explored by the RCC ,the valley goes south for about half a mile on a level ridge by an unmarked track doing a long,long U bend to head back North and go gently down hill on a man made surface,at this point just over half the group ,seeing the prospect of a fast downhill run, let rip despite my warning of a turn further along the way.
When I arrivesd at the turn with the six remaining riders we had lost just over half the group so I decided to push on to the tea stop,everyone knew where we were going and besides the rest were by now half a mile ahead with no mobile signal.
Going up and over the East ridge of the valley took us through Marden Hill Boxes Farm into Marden Park and on to the Woldingham posh stop.The rest caught us about twenty minutes later.u
The route back was rotine stuff going back through Marden Park,over Gravelly Hiil and down the slopes to the Inn on the Pond.
I think the distance was about twenty miles.
It was a great ride with good weather and good company.
Frank