Sunday, 16 March 2014

Hookwood - Staplefield - Tanhouse Farm

 After lunch at the Jolly Tanners, Staplefield

Andy's new mean machine

The day started in bright but cool sunshine with a period of quiet contemplation beside the pond at Walton-on-the Hill. The gnarled old hands were joined by a young lady, Geraldine, keen to try out the C&M. After a swoop down Pebble Hill our route was benign and pretty direct, via Betchworth, Leigh and Norwood Hill to Hookwood Tesco, where others awaited our arrival. On departure, our contingent was reduced by four, including Geraldine, who had decided that a mountain bike + knobbly tyres might be rather hard work. However, one lady was replaced by another, Helen, who would ride her 'new' Scott under the guidance of TFB Simon. As we kitted up to leave, great was our shock to see Andy preparing to mount a bright red, stripped down mean machine - 650c wheels, no panniers or mudguards, and unbelievably good value bought from Decathlon. An epiphany. Can this really be Andy?

Outside Worth Abbey

Cruising down Grouse Rd

Our destination had been changed from the rather cyclist hostile Wheatsheaf at Ashfold Crossways to the cycle-friendly Jolly Tanners at Staplefield. Part of our route would mirror some of Wednesday's ride to Balcombe. We passed quickly through Horley to Copthorne and not quite so quickly up Turners Hill. At the top we paused to realign, as best we could, the rear wheel of Helen's Scott. Our advice: Get Evans to inspect and service. Then onwards, with no more hills, along the B2110, past Worth Abbey on our left. The photos were disappointing. At Brantridge Lane a long downhill took us past Wings Museum into Staplefield and the Jolly Tanners.

Lilian

Simon keeping an eye on Helen

With good food and beer (Sussex Gold), we dined in sunshine, while Simon tinkered with the tension of Helen's pedals. As we gathered ourselves for the off, an enthusiastic lady in the garden took possession of the leader's camera and captured a full complement for posterity. Our return was halted within a few hundred yards for a bit more fettling of Helen's pedal tension, then off again via Slaugham to pass Ashfold Crossways and along Hammerpond Road and Grouse Road to Colgate and Faygate, where the TFBs branched off with Helen to head for Gatwick, while the rest continued on via Rusper to the now extended Tanhouse Farm tea shop, where cars occupied the field formerly full of gambolling lambs. We were joined by Chris D, who unfortunately had missed the warning on the blog and gone to the Wheatsheaf for lunch.

With the sun still shining, we returned together to Dorking, where we parted. Those with some way still to go may have been overtaken by dusk before reaching home. For me it was a round trip of 60 miles, on what may have been the warmest ride of the year.

Jeff