Saturday Gang go Hilly; 25 April

 

Report by Steve W

One beginners long ride, a couple of weeks ago, I asked whether anyone fancied doing the Hilly 50, you know, that annual ride for charity, where we ride up several of Surrey’s finest hills because they’re there and not just to get to a nice coffee stop? Once I’d dragged everyone back out from behind the benches and trees they’d run to, to hide behind, I found I’d got 5 very willing volunteers.

So, six of us got to Rykas around 9.45 on Saturday to sign on, 3 by train, Peter from some family duties, not too far away and Stuart and I cycled from Nonsuch Mansion.

                                 Steve, Peter, Justine, Stuart, Paul and Rob – ready for uppage

We’d signed up for Dave Vine’s expedition but because of a very good turn out, Dave suggested we ride separately, to avoid an unwieldy group size. Oh no, I thought I could do a bit of following today, for a change lol. Undeterred, off we set at 10.05 sharp for the first challenge of the day.

Unfortunately I forgot to recommend taking the almost hairpin, near the top of Ranmore Common Road, as wide as possible (if no cars) to avoid the nasty incline increase on the inside. This caused a couple of the gang, on not properly warmed up legs, to stall. We regrouped and recouped at Denbies back gate and the second group replaced us as we resumed pedalling.

Next came the first weeeeeeeeh moment of the day, down Ranmore Road, to Dorking and on to the start of Coldharbour Lane (which used to go to Brixton, when I was a kid but seems to have been moved and pointed up). Everyone found this fun and we spent a few moments laughing about it at the beginning of Logmore Lane.

Hahahaha

After the interesting surface features of Logmore and a nip of adrenaline on the A25, the scent of tea was beginning to be sensed in the air, when a tyre incursion by sharp and leak producing object occurred, in Hollow lane, not far from the Pasturewood Rd turn. Paul was instantly on the case, with well-practised efficiency (I keep trying to persuade him to get something tougher than the GP5000 S TRs but he has a need for speed).

The second group passed while the plug injection procedure was in progress, we got a few hellos but no offers of help, I guess because of our aura of cool competence.

                                                         Competent flatness alleviation

After a few more undulations we reached the King’s Head tea stop, where the second group were in various stages of being served and it looked a bit busy, so we back tracked to Heartwork’s, which was relatively quiet and new to the rest of the group.

Undulating onwards, passing through Shere without stopping at any of its excellent eating places (shocked emoji, sad emoji) and a jink across the A25 lined us up for Combe Lane. This is another climb with a sharpish left turn on it, best taken wide if possible, that not everyone was aware of but I definitely didn’t hear any swearing behind me.

At the top we went into The Pitch, in West Hanger car park for a bonus tea stop.

Bonus tea stop – not sure what Peter said

We proceeded to proceed along Combe lane, with its nicely wooded edges and clumps of (probably invasive) bluebells. “Is this it, now, until Box Hill?” A voice enquired. I had to say that there was one more gravity realisation experience before then. And in what seemed like no time at all, we turned into Crocknorth road.

Regrouping at the top, as had been our practice all day, we performed the Saturday gang Haka and headed for Ranmore. All present confirmed that the Common Road is more fun going down than coming up.

And so to the Col De Box. There was definitely a sense of foreboding as we approached it but I think the consensus at the top was that it wasn’t as bad as expected, probably due to the nastier stuff that preceded it!

We signed out, grabbed further refreshment from the cafe and chatted with the other riders still around, until it was time to go. A little debate ensued, then everyone decided to ride home. Peter went down the hill and the rest of us turned right. Justine and Paul went their own way and myself, Rob and Stuart aimed for Headley, a bit more climbing but one last nice  weeeeeeeeh down the other side.

All in all a great day, great route and great beginners effort – a much bigger funload (it’s still not work!) than the usual Saturday ride.

Beddington Parkers to the best cheese scone ever; Saturday 18 April

Saturday was a pleasant Spring day in Beddington Park.  We had walked it in the morning and there met Sue Sowden, who for years has given cycling lessons to adults to improve their confidence and fit them for the London roads, and she said she had two learners who were ready to move on to CTC Beginners.  We chatted to them both and they seemed keen enough to come back at 2-o-clock.  Then there was Katie, who cycles to work in StThomas' every day but her first outing with the club a couple of months back was keeping up with the fast Nonsuch group and she decided she had to get fitter.  She had contacted Maggie and said she might come, so we had high hopes of welcoming an unprecedented three new riders from Beddington Park.

In the event, neither Sama nor Rekha turned up but Katie was there and said she was happy to come along on a ride which would be gentler than the Saturday fast group.  We would have taken the other two to M.E.D at Merton Abbey but with Katie we felt we could go to Elmers End, where the good coffee awaits the other side of a busy multi-lane road junction, unsuitable for those nervous on the roads.

Maggie was fit enough to cycle the mile down to the Pavilion and then go straight home and off went the rest of us; Sharon, Katie and me on leg power and Ken, Roger and Anna battery assisted.  Waddon, Central Croydon, past the Croydon Stadium and across South Norwood Country Park.  Coffee and the five star cheese scone at Branching Out, back through Shirley Oaks and Addiscombe. 

 Ashburton Playing Fields

Thanks everyone for the company and we hope to see you again Katie.

Hilly 50 April 25th Don't miss it!

 The date for the Hilly 50k fast approaches - Saturday 25th April starting from Ryka’s, Dorking. Sign on from 9.00am. Finish at the top of Box Hill.

This year we have revised the route to include friendlier hills, scenic descents, and fewer potholes. I’m sure everyone will find it a significant challenge, but hopefully the new route will attract a wider group of riders who might not normally attempt such a ride.

For full details see our Hilly 50 web page.

If you are not familiar with the route, or nervous of the hills I plan to organise a sensibly paced group ride, including a mid-ride coffee stop at Kings Head Shop on Pitland St, Holmbury St Mary. Please let me know if you are interested (d.vine207@btinternet.com).

As in previous years we ask riders to support St Raphael’s Hospice. Donations of £10 (or more if you prefer) via our JustGiving page to this most deserving cause.

All day Saturday Ride, 11 April 2026

April is festooned with classic cycle races, not least the Paris-Roubaix, a crackpot of spitting cobbles, equivalent to running the 800 metres bare foot over burning coals.  Not on the pro calendar... yet... surely only a matter of time, comes the Leigh Challenge.  This is a little known (very little... in fact not known at all) one day tour into the burning furnace of the Surrey Hills. It attracts riders from all corners of the... (globe?... no...) all corners of... no... better said within a few miles of Leatherhead, perhaps... anyway riders who have been on holiday somewhere, anywhere, or not, who knows.  In any event, whatever holidays we had been or were going on we all lined up for the photo shoot.  All of us with killer instincts, ready to devour any opponent who so much sniffled in our direction.  Bernard Hinault, ‘The Badger’, snarling as always, Eddy Merckx, ‘The Cannibal’ smiling with sadistic intent and Luis Ocaña with a fixed straight line stare ready to tear away never to be seen again. 

 

“How’s your write up coming along?  You’re a little late with it” Sabina called over to me as I sat typing away, one finger at a time, cigarette hanging from mouth, in a dark corner of a rundown café in the backstreets of Paris.  “Non, Je ne regrette rien” sang a lonely heartbroken soul in deep guttural French barely rasping the smoke laden atmosphere.  Think of a black and white photo, creased and torn at the edges, of a pensive Jean-Paul Sartre and you will have a pretty accurate picture of the scene.  “I hope you’re not getting carried away and letting your imagination run away with you... remember it’s a cycling club and people will want to know how the ride went and some information about the route!”  “Yes Yes...!” I replied.  The artist’s genius is forever pierced by the trifles of everyday mundane life.  But there’s a kernel of truth in what she says... a bit of info’ about what actually happened wouldn’t hurt and would act as a backdrop to the thrust of this piece and so here goes; we started off at the café in Nonsuch with a couple joining us at The Old Moat (Dawn and Carolyn).  Altogether there were about 20 or so riders (the record books will have the exact number... who has those, I don’t know).  It was cold and grey and we were all wondering if we had made the right choice in coming out when we could have remained warmly tucked in bed.  There were one or two hills (Church Lane and Trumpets Hill Road) to ratchet up our appetites in time for our arrival at The Plough (no pre-ordering required) in Leigh.  By then the sun was out and we were all in good spirits.  Back on our bikes, one last mighty climb up Tilehurst Lane and then the long flat straight into Leatherhead.  The weather held for us and those of us who had not peeled off home enjoyed coffee and cake at Charlie and Ginger.  A final run back to Nonsuch and the ride was done.  Just as well since the morning nip in the air had returned.  And now back to the ‘real’ report... 

 

And then he went, without warning... Ocaña shot off recklessly with no thought of what lay ahead... pursued by hired assassins, Merckx and Hinault and behind them the pack of hyenas, known in polite circles as the peloton, baying for blood.  At the foot of the first climb this group of three had broken the peloton’s chains... wrought iron, forged in the cycle furnaces of France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Ireland, England and others where uncontrolled flames lashed and spat the steel of which now cut into the muscles and sinews of every limb on every rider.  Then, suddenly... “You’d better submit your report or people will have forgotten the ride!”  This was pressure, the pressure every writer comes up against... the dreaded deadline.  It tore at my soul but reality had struck hard.  A deep cutting gash of a wound.  I had to tear myself away from the road to literary greatness and get the report on the blog.  Then I heard his whisper in my ear, Hemingway, “There will always be a blank page waiting”.  He was right and he should know.  A quick read over and the report was on the blog.  No one would ever know who won this year’s Leigh Classic but a local upcoming reporter, Norman Mailer, informed me that they were still racing... it was not over... those greats of yesteryear are still out there, riding, racing, hurting... their spirits live on forever. 

 

_________________________ 

 

I hope everyone had a great and enjoyable ride. 

 

My fellow cyclists were; Sue B, Lorraine, Karen, Anne C, John C, Ken J, Lillian, Dawn, Karl, Carolyn B, Paul, Justine, Jackie, Sharon, Robert, Colin L, Rob, Stuart and Sabina. 

 

_________________________ 

           

All of us at the start, barring Dawn and Carolyn who joined us The Old Moat

 

Sorry, wrong photo!

Proof that Dawn and Carolyn joined us! Trumpets Hill Lane.

 

 

Notice of the AGM for CTC South West London

The AGM for CTC South West London will commence at 11:00 on Wednesday 29 April in the Long Ditton Village Hall (Upper Hall)

Long Ditton Village Hall, 2 Ewell Road, Long Ditton, KT6 5LE

N.B. This location marked below proved popular from a show of hands in favour at the last AGM and was therefore retained for this year. An exhibition of photos from this year’s annual competition will be available to view before and after the AGM. Ride leaders please allow a short time for this before heading off afterwards

 Signing in sheets will be circulated once you are sitting down. The AGM Agenda, 25/26 Annual Report, Treasurer's Report and Minutes of the 2025 AGM, will be available to read download or print at home in advance online via links. Unlike previous years, other than 30 A4 copies of the agenda, no other paper copies will be provided. Please take the time and trouble to do so as this will help the meeting run smoothly and get us all back on our bikes quicker. 😀

We have to vacate the Hall and return it “as found” by 13:00. No rubbish please. (Many hands made light work of this last year, thank you.)

There is no official bike parking but there are plenty of sturdy railings around the building within sight of the meeting room windows and, less securely, the park over the road.  Security however cannot be guaranteed, so please feel free to use your more secure locks and ideally please “double up” with someone in your subgroup to both save bike parking space and increase security.👍.

Please send any apologies via my dlferrett@hotmail.com rather than any subgroup WhatsApp’s.

 NB:  Links to read/download the AGM documents will be posted on the Wayfarers Blog 2 week before the AGM.:

Posted 13/04/2026