Garson's Farm was what it said on the rides list, but then again, there were two rides lists; one declaring the annual Church Ride (For which Carolyn had turned up prepared) and one saying the short ride would be up Telegraph Track. In fact, the Church Ride (which requires the permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dalai Lama) is next week. Despite Nigel's absence, in Carolyn, Steve W and me we had three leaders and while Carolyn went to the Telegraph Track, Steve led nine of us out to Garson's Farm.
It was in-between weather; too warm, especially when the sun poked through, to wear a waterproof but yet there was a mist of drizzle in the air.
Steve has been exercising on Zwift, cycling circles in the sea according to Strava, and he was pumped up a bit, because he set off at a cracking pace. There are few hills through Chessington, Claygate and Esher and we had an able tail gunner (Stuart); we marked corners and Steve waited at the main junctions. There was no-one who could not keep up (the two who might have found it hard were on electric bikes), though we got strung out once or twice because of traffic lights and I suspected that one or two would have preferred something gentler than a smart B Group pace.
The weather was dubious enough that there were plenty of free tables at the Garson's Farm tea and cake emporium. There I discovered that Paul B was running out of battery on the electric bike he is still getting used to and I offered to take a leaf out of the A Group's modus operandi and lead an elite group home, leaving slow coaches Steve, Alison, Stuart, Paul G and Justine to their own leisurely enjoyment.
So Paul B and Ken and Sharon and I went home through Weston Green (where the others cheekily overtook us) and Surbiton to Worcester Park, where we split up between the Suttoners and the Cheamers.
Overall a good ride; thanks, Steve.
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