Six riders met at Nonsuch; Adam Domaingue, Dave Rapson, Sean Slammon, Dave Clarke, Bill Kent and myself leading. The weather was cold, but bright and the temperature was hovering at -3°C.
Soon after starting off, before we left the park Dave Rapson suffered a mechanical with his gear change. He aborted his ride to head for the cycle shop and learn about the mysterious internal workings of SRAM’s hub-gear mechanism, which hopefully isn’t too expensive.
The merry quintet headed out through Horton Country Park and Ashtead Common. On cycling across the lower half of the common we encountered flat, waterlogged grass which was now a grassy ice rink. Just as we were about to leave the opposite edge of the common there was a clatter behind me and Dave Clarke and Bill Kent had discovered the friction co-efficiency of ice. Both were on the floor laughing so no harm done.
We also discovered at this point from a polite young lady who was something or other to do with Ashtead Common, that we’re not allowed to cycle across that route, cause it’s not a ‘Concessionary Route’ for cyclists, whatever that is? It’s Ashtead Common, so ‘Common land’ it is! Alas there always seems to be some local group trying to take away cycling rights over common land.
We cycled through the now foggy, quiet back streets of Ashtead, then through the back doubles of Leatherhead to Clarke’s Cafe and the welcome warmth of the venue. Suitable hot beverages and food were ordered with some alacrity and enjoyed to the full along with plenty of the usual banter.
A request from Dave Clarke for the shortest way back was voted for unanimously, probably due to the temperature and the cold, numb feet! So back through the usual Burbs of Leatherhead, over and under the junction of the M25 and through the west side of Epsom Common to Horton Country Park.
20 miles for me, a little more for those heading home to Sutton and Carshalton.