Blue sky thinking

After an absence from club runs for several years, Billy Weir led six other members southwards through the Ashdown Forest to Cinder’s Café in Isfield.  The closer the café stop came, the clearer the skies appeared, with struggling clear sunlight vaguely justifying one of the motley crew’s decision to wear shorts sans anything betwixt knee and ankle.

 

The first 20km of the route hastened through Horne and Dormansland to the first bump at Hollow Lane, where Howard, Walter and Calvin showed a distinct keenness to get the climb out of the way as quickly as possible whilst Billy, Nick, Malcolm and Andy followed at a more leisurely pace.  This minor climb was a taster for the middle third of the ride, which had a decidedly lumpy bias.  The relative tranquillity of Sunday roads meant that the climb out of Forest Row using Priory Road was tackled at a pleasant conversational pace, with Redhill colours intermingling with a small group of Oxted CC riders who had decided to tackle the climb. 

 

At the top, the feed station of the Evans Sportive lurked temptingly in a car park, where no doubt sporty types would later refuel.  Our group ploughed onward, descending the rapidly drying roads to the ford at Twyford which, despite overnight rain, was relatively placid and easily crossed by a short footbridge to the side.  The short climb after the ford was the first that Nick asked “how many more hills are there” to which the reassuring answer from Billy was “this is pretty much the last one, bar some minor bumps”.  By this stage, Malcolm ventured ahead via a path more trodden rather than the novelty of Billy’s diversions.

The remaining six dashed through Horsted Keynes and Fletching, enjoying the generally downhill roads that were occasionally enlivened by rolling stretches.  By this stage, the late morning route was framed by a countryside that hinted of spring around the corner.  The crisp sunlight and cyan sky, smeared with puffs of light cloud, and the vibrant green of fields coming out of hibernation, suggested that the winter was possibly waving the white flag of surrender.

 

The group reached Cinder’s café pretty much intact, despite Walter’s crunching gear changes, and were welcomed by Malcolm who had arrived before the main group.  Tea, toast and preferred toppings (generally scrambled eggs, but some ventured into the exotic option of beans) were orders.  The exception being Walter who plumped for apple pie and custard.  Chat about satnav systems and thoughts about future rides filled the coal fire warmed air, until the jolly group ventured out into the still pleasant afternoon to retrace the route toward Fletching and then to continue on a less involved route through Ardingley and Turners Hill. 

 

The group split into three at Ardingley, with Howard and Calvin looking to dash back to the Drome and Nick plodding back at a sensible pace.  Billy, Andy and Walter decided their legs would stand up to some more miles and added a wee diversion onto their route, via Handcross and Rusper (where Walter diverted homewards) and then via the closed-to-traffic A29 to pick up the climb to Coldharbour via Anstie Lane.  Billy was the last man standing, Andy having turned off in Dorking, for a final hurrah back to Redhill via Box Hill.

 

Billy Weir

Event / Article Type
Sunday Steady 15-02-2015
Sunday Steady 15-02-2015