CTC SW London - Beginners: Ride report - All Day Ride to Ripley Saturday 10th June

A lovely group of 26 new and regular riders signed up for the ride, with one more joining us on the day. Thanks to everyone for being prompt and also for promptly providing your food pre-orders, what a well-behaved group! I was very fortunate to have Arwyn and Madeleine sub-leading, as they both took great care to get everyone safely to lunch on time and it seems everyone had a good time in their groups, with plenty of banter and friendships formed / deepened.

Arwyn's group went first and he writes:

No matter how well you plan, tubes, tyres and wheels get in the way. So with all the earnestness to arrive at Nonsuch Park with plenty of time to mingle and meet the team, Arwyn's tyre decided to come off the wheel's rim so a return to home was required for a change of bike arriving with two minutes to spare. So a quick introduction to Paul and Maggie J, Debbie S, Maggie G, Nikki C, Carloyn, Mariann and Mags. That makes nine. So at the first junction debrief as we leave the gravel path at Nonsuch to meet the traffic on the A road we were ten, welcome to new member Katie B and now we have the team.

Now the team was ready to enjoy the most glorious sunshine with a forecast of 30 degrees. Wow, two days ago the forecast was for thunderstorms.

The plan .... choose a back marker with bright colours, Debbie S had come suitably prepared and accepted the role gracefully. Diane P was the head poncho designing on Komoot the maze of backroads avoiding busy main roads as much as possible throughout the ride. So, under the railway bridge we go through Worcester Park, Tolworth and Chessington safely to where the route looped around towards the green of Claygate.

At times the team can be lost without knowing it. A bit of improvisation at Claygate and a slight detour to get back on the Komoot route. Keep calm, chat and ride.

The team enjoyed the Sandown/Esher gravel shortcut over the river Mole to Hersham avoiding the busy dual carriageway connecting Esher to Hersham. So our first photo stop of three was taken by a friendly walker with the backdrop of the majestic River Mole which had amazingly meandered 50 miles from Sussex, past Box Hill to greet us.

Following the backroads of Walton on Thames, as we approach the bridge we keep to the pavement cycle path which swung down around and under the sparklingly clean new bridge and on our right white watercrafts, swans, Canadian geese, much appreciated by our Purley resident cyclist. Being the first group, the shaded table at the Wilde Brunch cafe was commandeered, coffee drunk, and water bottles refilled. At this stage the suggested 8 to 10 mph was met and the team happy with the pace. And the second of three team photos taken as we saddled up ready for the off.

At Weybridge, the team worked as a team. Mags' wheel came away from the frame, emergency communication required by Debbie S backmarker, Carolyn retreating to give assistance and Paul J taking the split group to a shaded spot in Addlestone. With the wheel refitted and the team reassembled continued on the average 10 mph. But ....... the Chinese whispers came with a request to pick up the pace as the team felt they were bunching.

On reaching the Seven Stars pub, the increased pace had been noticed so now a lunch stop was so welcomed. However the lunch delivery didn't live up to the number of stars in the pub's name. Maybe the salmon took longer to catch than anticipated.

The next part of the ride to Send and beyond was hillier, greener bringing additional pollen in the air to affect some. At Downside the gravel path through the fields provided photo stop number three. Thumbs up by the team, grateful to be cycling, in the sun and together.

At Stoke D'Abernon , the team split, saying goodbyes to Paul and Maggie J, stopping for a cold drink . Then there were 8. Next Mags peeling off to the train station at Leatherhead leaving 7, Debbie S and Maggie G peeled off down to 5. Nikki C and Katie knowing they were close to their homes left 3. Mariann said she had passed this way last week and was getting her body and thoughts together for the hill. How happy she was when we took the footpath from Stoneleigh Park Road avoiding the incline.

Two riders Carolyn and Arwyn arrived at Nonsuch at 1650 just in time for a blackcurrant calippo (ice lolly). What more could one want at the end of 43.5 miles, 6 and half hours at 10.0 mph. Carolyn's response was a Pimms. Despite three wheel/tyre incidents all's well that ends well. And it ended well.

My group was away next:

I won't describe the route again as Arwyn has captured it perfectly, but he should take some credit for the back routes after coffee and for suggesting to find the quieter roads into Walton and home from Stoke D'Abernon, which I took onboard. We didn't rush away from the Park, and as we left Tony offered to back-mark for me, which was much appreciated. We followed the route at a steady pace, the traffic being a bit lighter around Chessington, and caught up with the first group at Esher. So we stood in the shade for a short while and chatted before continuing on to coffee. We also stopped for a bridge photo!

Lilian, Neil, Lorraine, Alyson, Karen, Alice, Karl and Tony crossing the River Mole

After refreshments the route became more enjoyable as we got onto the country lanes. We caught up with the first group once more near Walton Bridge due to Mags' wheel issue, so paused again to enjoy the River Wey this time:

Beside the Wey, near the lock

Service at The Seven Stars was a little slow given that they knew we were coming, but was apparently down to a shortage of available serving staff that day. The food seemed to be enjoyed by all and the sunny garden was appreciated. I was just relieved that all 3 groups made it there in good time as they shut at 3pm.

Leaving The Seven Stars

Once everyone was ready, we set off in the homeward direction following the usual routes out of Ripley and through to Cafe Barbera at Stoke D'Abernon, where we met Paul and Maggie enjoying a break from the heat. Some of us also enjoyed Lilian's walnut cake but don't tell the Cafe! Maddie's group arrived not long after us, and my memory is now a little muddled by the heat but I think my group all left for Leatherhead together.

I made a couple of little diversions on the way home to try to get us into a bit more shade, our numbers dwindling (by design, no-one was lost!) with quite a few peeling off at Stoneleigh and so just myself and Lilian re-entering Nonsuch Park. I checked for any riders still at the Mansion House but didn't see anyone so continued home.

Thanks all for a lovely day out in such hot weather.

Madeleine's group included Ed who departed after coffee, and was back-marked by Alan who had been waiting in the wings in case required for sub-leading duty. Here is a small selection of the many photos taken on Saturday!