10 riders left Warlingham Green car park (hopefully no one was waiting at Warlingham Station as one rider spotted Adrian’s typo in the weekly update email) on a gorgeous Saturday morning with two new faces Luke and Tom.
Within 200 yards the shouts of “puncture” were heard from behind! Phil S slicing a tyre as we headed out of the car park having to call it a day.
We headed out towards Farleigh and across Farleigh golf course. I push on ahead to take some snaps of the team descending Frith wood and to my surprise the first two to pass were Gilly and Mat! Two late arrivals following our tyre tracks with the help of a few dog walkers we had passed on the way.
We continued along Featherbed lane to the climb that took us to Fairchild’s School; this climb is tough at the best of times but loose stones and boulders the size of marbles!! caused most to give up the fight with only 3 riders from the 11 making it to the top! mentioning no names….….Jason, Gill and Me!! Opps slipped out!!
We passed through Jewels wood and then down the long 2 mile stretch of Furze Bottom, the climb up the last quarter was broken up with two very attractive horse riders (You don’t see that very often) but some were grateful for the rest.
The climb up Chicken run towards Keston ponds was witness by two impressed pensioners out for a morning stroll and the jump at the end of the bomb hole took a few riders by surprise.
Fiona’s pantry was Oasis for one of our newcomers Tom, who was testing his fitness level but was determined to complete the ride after the refuel.
After our refuel we headed back down Chicken Run and then Bogy lane. After passing through High Elms Golf Course we bumped into a Horse dressed as a Great Dane on the bridleway to Cudham Lane. Brutus I think his name was! He was a lively but friendly stallion and waiting to take anyone out who dared pass him down the decent to Cudham lane! I asked the owner/rider if he could put the horse on the lead so we could pass without the next winner of the grand national chasing us down!!
At Cudham Lane James had picked up not one but two punctures, one at the front and one at the rear. The Redhill pit team consisting of Graham, Mat and Luke stepped up and began the tube change and repair as James stood and watched like a true F1 champ!!!
it was at this point Jason noticed Sandra's tyres were on the wrong way round!! she insisted i mentioned this in my report and blamed Marcus for trying to slow her down!
Within a half a mile up the road James’s rear tyre had lost all its air again (Mat’s tyre) and a second repair was underway but this time James was getting his hands dirty!
Time was rolling on and we had no chance on getting back to Warlingham before 2pm (or even 3pm) so we pressed on through Foxberry Wood, Newyears wood and then through Cudham.
The climb up Newbarn lane loved by many rodies took us into Cheery Lodge golf course and then up to Ashen Shaw.
At Tatsfield we said goodbye to Sandra and Fran and continued across Sheppards Shaw. Mat showed us how to ride the steep ascent of Beddlestead lane over taking Jason and I at high speeds half way up. At the top and with the ride becoming the longest club ride in history (time not mileage) we decided to cut across Chelsham on the road and head down to Warlingham via Limpsfield road with the usual optional finish in the Horse Shoe!
26.5 miles covered and 2050ft climbing, well done to Tom and Luke on their first ride with the club, I know that Tom was down to paint his bathroom that afternoon but I’m sure he was pulling back on some of the climbs so he got back too late to paint!
Sorry Phil you had to cut your ride so short, thanks to Graham for back marking at the start and Mat taking over at the end, Thanks to Jason for swatting that annoying wasp while trying to enjoy a pint! Sorry you got stung on the cheek in process!
Colin