Tour of Britain weekend 21/22 September 2013

Epsom Downs Racecourse.The (new) grandstand was open to all.

Team buses arrive

Alex Dowsett signs on

Wiggo queues to sign the stage map to be later auctioned for charity

Cav heads back to the team bus after signing on

Riders ready for the off

Team buses leave the start

Opposite Tower of London (outside Wetherspoons ,The Liberty Bounds)

Andreas Schillinger from Germany

Federico Canuti (Italy) & Juraj Sagan (Slovenia)

10 laps and a breakaway quickly forms

The Liberty Bounds (football free zone,with two screens broadcasting the the race)

Last lap and Helene keen to get some action on her mob

The "Cheese Grater" left and the "Walkie Talkie" right nearing completion

Last Lap video

Tour of Britain Epsom Downs Grand Depart

Steve Gordon inspecting the Sky Team  bikes at the Gra nd Stand Epsom Downs. See also KPRC blog for more!

Sunday September 15 2013

Five became nine at Newlands Corner after the shortest route from Cobham (past The Hautboy, over Hunger Hill and down West Clandon).

The dire weather forecast sent four packing. And I took no chances by dropping down to the Silent Pool before veering towards Bramley. The only significant climb was that out of Thorncombe Street to discover more road spending, the descent into Godalming (more or less complete).

Prompt service at The Jack Phillips saw us heading for home(!) just after one; thoughts of Capel teas banished for at least two weeks. After Farncombe, we split; three heading for the A25 and two for the A3.
A downpour before Ripley saw me donning a cape; naturally it stopped before we crossed the aerodrome. After a final split in Cobham, it was dry roads until I reached the royal borough (meaning the Met Office forecast was spot on).

55 miles door to door; plenty of cyclists about - disturbing most passed me with ease.

Sunday, 15 September

Newland's Corner to  Godalming

 The Famous Five (4 + 1 behind the lens) at the Jack Phillips, Godalming.
Graham authoritatively informed us that Jack Phillips was the radio operator on the Titanic. Not still transmitting, but his legacy lives on through Wetherspoons.

I leave it to others to identify the pressure group picketing Wetherspoons. At first I thought that it was the Salvation Army, then Morris Men, then I took the Fifth Amendment.

Tour of Britain live feed coverage

ITV 4 are taking a live broadcast each day.

http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/tv/coverage.php#.UjYLNFeP1h9

In addition,this website:

 http://www.frombar.com/

gives British Eurosport's live feed (with audio) for those who are frustrated with ITV's frequent ad breaks.
Click on the "cycling" tab.
There are occasional "pop-ups" but just look for the small "x" in the right hand corner and these can be removed quickly.

Sunday 8th September 2013

Four of us rode a favourite lane (Lonesome) to a favourite cafe (Waitrose Horley).
Free drinks all round?....................well not quite but the message is get a MyWaitrose card.

http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/mywaitrose/splash_page14.html.html


I overshot a turning on the way to Tandridge so a fairly ok stretch of roughstuff was included on the way to lunch.
We lost Jeff on the way but we were all reunited at The Barley Mow together with the rare sight of Bob at a location beyond 11's.
After a flatish ride in the morning,the delight of Chalkpit Lane lay in front of us on the way to tea at Farleigh.
I suffered a rear tyre puncture at the top so we sent Ian on his way along the main road.
Tea was taken in cramped conditions in the church hall courtesy of the cool and wet conditions outside.



51 miles.
Mostly cool and wet,particularily around lunchtime when we avoided a beefy shower.

Sunday, 1 September

Cranleigh - Balls X - Dorking

Sunday September 1 2013

Richard doesn't; I couldn't leave a blog page empty so here's a precis.

Eight rendezvoused in Cranleigh, each with a tale to tell. For Bob, it was the Downslink from Guildford. The rest had to find ways round, under and through the wire cage which separates Ewhurst from Cranleigh (google Bookhurst Road for more). With prior knowledge I played safe and came the lumpy way via Coombe Bottom and Farley Green. For the benefit of the Runs Secretary, £2.20 buys you a paper cup of tea plus DIY toast!

Refreshed six went forth down Alford Road to the A281 and thence on to Dunsfold (where Dave flatted), Plaistow, (close to) Kirdford and finally The Stag at Balls Cross. There we joined an already seated and munching Terry in the garden. Despite a motoring / steam fair in the field opposite overspilling into the pub, we were soon served with portions which would have satisfied our trencherman had he not turned back at 11s.

During lunch it became clear that only Richard and Dave were for Farncombe. So the rest sped through Kirdford and past Brewhurst Mill and Baynards to Ellen's Green; the rest should be obvious. Terry kindly offered to be mum so five became four as we headed for Dorking West. To my surprise, just beyond Leatherhead Station I got within shouting distance of the Farncombe Two. We were turning in opposite directions so their route I know not.

To keep Virgin Media happy, the route to and from B****s Cross

Sunday 25th August 2013

I was awake well before 5am and with an early start in mind,I was up and about getting ready to leave home at 8am to arrive at Dorking Leisure Centre (9am) for the last long ride of 2013.
We left the 20 or so riders of the Dorking Cycling Club on their 2nd anniversary ride and took a familiar route to Wisborough Green (elevenses) including the delightful lane south of The Haven.

According to Wikipedia:
 "The actor and actress, husband and wife James Bolam and Susan Jameson, live in the village. Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour lives on a farm just outside the village".
The cafe in the village was pricey but the quality was good and served swiftly.

The road south to Fittleworth went up a 15% incline but afforded a lovely run down the other side,probably worth the effort.
A switch back lane took us via Coldwaltham and Rackham to Amberley.
We continued the short distance to Houghton Bridge (1.15pm).
Most were attracted to the alcohol in the Bridge Inn whilst Graham and myself enjoyed the views across to the South Downs from the Riverside Tearooms.
It was a job to get going after well over an hour relaxing but we eventually did.
After West Chiltington,we made good progress north to Barns Green then north east to The Conservatory cafe in Horsham Park.
The sizable portions of cake didn't seem to slow down the majority and as in previous weeks,I was tiring around Newdigate.
I limped home with Helene keeping me company.
I clearly suffer on long rides with typically 5 hours sleep the night before.

Wet morning..........dry,warm and sunny afternoon.
Around 90 miles.

I'm now off on a train ride to Amberley to retrieve my cape which I left hanging up in the garden..........doh!

Wisborough Green

Honey and jam mixed with water

Riverside tearooms

Horsham Park

Sunday 18 August

 Lunch at the Stag & Huntsman Hambleden

18/8/2013 Hambleden Lock

The unlucky few who did not make the crossing before the gates opened.

Next Sunday's Ride(18/08)

Early birds - read no further.

Rather than relaxing in the arms of Morpheus or Nyx, you can join Janice and  I at Kingston Bridge at 0845 (prompt). We'll try to catch up with the others at Dorney Court or, failing that, at Hambleden (note spelling). I'll be taking my usual roads so there may not be time for "full english", etc.

Graham

Sunday 11 August

                                                              Tea at North Holmwood

After light rain stopped and we'd helped Brian finish his chocolate cake seven of us set off from Henfold at a fast pace thanks to Ray joining me on the front. Fortunately for us he turned off just before Rusper and we followed the popular quiet route to The Red Lyon at Slinfold via Warnham and Broadbridge Heath. Service was a bit slow but we hadn't a long way to go afterwards and it was a fine day. Chris joined us here.

The return trip was a short, not too busy stretch of A29 to Buckman Corner then back to the lanes to The Haven, Bucks Green, Ellens Green, Okewood Hill and Capel. Major panic set in at Newdeigate (it was thought North Holmwood church would stop serving teas at 1600, it was now 1535) . Graham couldn't face a second consecutive cakeless Sunday so set off determined to arrive before closing time. We all arrived in good time to meet Daniel waiting for us and enjoyed assorted cakes and tea. Suitably refreshed we headed for Dorking and turning into Chalkpit Lane avoided the town centre and later made our own ways.

Distance for me home to home was 60 miles.

Ed

Sunday 11 Aug - Henfold

Still without JT in USA this happy bunch enjoyed tea & cake in somewhat drizzly weather at elevenses. Good to see them happy & Brian G thanks for sharing the generous portion of chocolate cake!

Pru Classic 100

For the record I spotted Janice and Mark G in Richmond Park; they were some 10 minutes apart. And Mike B was riding up among many walkers near Leith Hill Place. Janice tells me she finished in 6 hours 20 minutes (16.1 mph).

PS Why am I the last to know? - 3/4 of Tanhurst Lane has been resurfaced. Did they run out of tar? Both ends are smooth; fortunately the rough section is before it gets really steep.

Prudential London Surrey Classic 2013

Riders from the London-Surrey 100 in Dorking High St

Irene,Terry,Ed together with Bob and his wife on the Feed Zone A29 at Ockley

Watching the big screen in the beer garden at The Parrot PH,Forest Green

 

Eight man breakaway,first lap with sound (slightly excited Irene)

Forest Green

Peloton,team cars & officials,first lap with sound

Forest Green

Everything went to plan except we couldn't get to Capel in time for tea & cakes............(cue violins)..........................but we found tea at the cricket pavilion in Ockley .....................(woohoo!)..................but no cakes............... (cue more violins).
Rode back from Pixham Lane on a still closed A24...............heaven.

Won by France's Arnaud Demare in bunch sprint.
Boris Johnson completed the London Surrey 100 but punctured in Cobham and was assisted by a local.

Prudential London Grand Prix 3rd August 2013

Among the riders in the Youth Race was this young girl who couldn't of been more than 10 yrs old

The highest number I spotted from the Freecycle earlier in the day

Awaiting the start of the Pro Women Race caused by an injured rider from the Youth Race still receiving medical attention on the course

Womens Pro Race gets under way

Taken looking south toward Morden South railway bridge

Souvenir from the evening.............I envisage an ebay listing on the cards :-)