Sunday Ride: 3rd April 2016

Yet another different group for a Sunday ride saw myself, Ricky (back from his winter hibernation), Gina (travelling around the world), Martin (rugby season is waning), Deepak (a new boy with a bike in Anerley colours), Stuart (an old boy with shirt in Anerley colours) and Ewa (on her black widow).

The seven of us headed off to an exciting new destination at Hatchlands Park, speeding off through Coulsdon and Walton-on-the Hill before taking the quiet descent through “Little Switzerland” to Westhumble. This was of course followed by the painful grind up the 20% Chapel Lane ascent to Ranmore Common – beware of riders hurtling down the hairpin bend! We followed the Ranmore Common Rd to Staple Lane/Combe Lane junction before making the descent northwards to East Clandon. The vista as you make the gradual descent makes the pains of Ranmore Common very worthwhile. Totally open countryside facing northwest to Woking, Wisley and just beautiful.

Of course when we got to Hatchlands we hit major disappointment, not because Jeremy had shown up but because we weren’t allowed into the tea room without paying the ridiculous entrance fee. So we pedalled off to the Squires Garden Centre at Effingham to find that we were too late for the breakfast deal and too early for the coffee and cake deal. As usual, the cycling doesn’t disappoint but everything else is open to the luck of the draw.