Sunday saw 16 cyclists descend on our regular elevenses venue, Café Barbera in Stoke D'Abernon. Arrival times covered quite a time span, so in view of the large numbers and a delay on a couple of drinks orders, David kindly agreed to lead a second group out. I went ahead with Dawn, Ann, Sabina and Bernard, followed by our second half of Simon, Terry, Tony and Geoff back-marking. Keith broke away despite the carrot of a 'Spoons lunch, and Ed made his own way directly to Epsom. David's second group comprised Graham, an unfixed Fixie Dave, Steph and Andy.
I had plotted a route that would be a decent length to lunch, different to my previous routes, flat and exclude any muddy tracks, so we headed out of Stoke D'Abernon on the gravel path to Downside and then on-road through Hatchford, turning south-east at Ockham and then up the beautifully tarmac'd surface of The Drift and on to Effingham. From there we followed the quieter backroads through the Bookhams Little and Great, Fetcham and into Leatherhead, popped over the railway line at Ashtead and came into Epsom via the drier parts of the Common.
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| No muddy bikes or cyclists here |
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| Clean and shiny second group |
The Assembly Rooms was quite busy but we managed to get four tables inside near to each other, helped by Bob and Ed being there already.
After lunch I managed to convince a few to join me for another loopy loop route to Squires at Long Ditton via Old Malden and Berrylands. Tony peeled off near Surbiton leaving Steph, Simon and myself to ensure traditions were upheld and afternoon tea was taken.
Thanks everyone for coming out on a dry but very windy day, to David and Simon for sub-leading/gapping and to Geoff for back-marking.
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