Saturday offered a weather window perfect for
cycling for those who believed the forecast and ignored the early morning
rain. We had a good crowd at Nonsuch
(the usual suspects) and Nigel led the long ride out like a German railway
train, rolling slowly away at the precise time with no whistles, no
announcement. Fifteen others spotted the
manoeuvre and followed on a ride which was destined for Brockett’s Farm and we took the
familiar route through Ewell and the industrial estate in North Epsom, and up
the hill behind Epsom Hospital to Ashtead .
Showing decisive leadership (Nigel says), because a
couple of the group were coming slowly up the hills, he adjusted our
destination. It might also have had
something to do with someone telling him that there was a pleasant coffee stop in Leatherhead, familiar to Tim and the B Group but unsullied as yet by a visit from Beginners. So our destination became Charlie &
Ginger, in Leatherhead. Nigel was rewarded for his initiative
by some light hearted complaints and by the sign on the pavement blowing over
in the stiffening breeze and damaging his front hub.
We broke with tradition after the break by taking a more circuitous route home, past Leatherhead Station and over Ashtead Common the long way round, passing as many dog walkers as possible and taking Roger's lead up a track which offered a long, slow incline rather than the short,
steep hill on the north easterly route. We circumnavigated two
roundabouts, twice, so those delayed at the lights could catch up in our search
for a flatter, more traffic-free experience and, because the ride was less
ambitious than some long rides in recent weeks, returned to Nonsuch within the advertised time limits, though obviously not in time for a coffee at the Pantry, since so to do
would require a very short ride.
It was a pleasant afternoon out; thank you, Nigel.
