22 and 23 May – Merstham, Godstone and snakes in the grass

The weather didn't let us down this weekend. Not only was it forecast to be a scorcher, it really was a hot one. It makes a change. The last few weeks haven't been good, prompting posts on this blog about waterproof clothing. We've had a fair amount of soakings too and, yes, it was getting a little tedious.

This weekend, however, was a different kettle of fish: blue skies and sunshine. Check out the photograph (above) of Andy at Godstone Green, that hazy summer sun and the velvety grass. Hopefully we can put away our waterproofs for the next few months.

On Saturday we resolved to go to Merstham the long way round (see previous posts for details) and it proved a good cycle. Jon couldn't make it. I called him when Andy and I reached the quarry (and Andy took a leak) and he said he had a problem with his left knee. Andy said it could be something to do with the height of his saddle or, indeed, Jon's wonky pedals. Either way, Andy and I pushed on towards the caff (Hunger's End) where we enjoyed toast and jam, scrambled egg on toast and mugs of tea before heading home.

I went home via Caterham and, while a change from the usual route, it wasn't any quicker, thanks to hills, one being Tithepit Shaw Lane, a huge hill, but nothing's a problem where hills are concerned anymore, we just push on; it's a case of head down and get on with it. I reached home around 1110hrs but then we had dawdled a bit. I think we sat around at the caff for longer than usual.

A slow worm of the sort I saw near Bay Pond.
Photo courtesy of www.herpetofauna.co.uk

Sunday was a conventional ride to Godstone Green via Gangers Hill and the weather was fantastic. In fact, when we reached the green we both wanted to stay there for the rest of the day, it was that pleasant. But, as always, we both had things to do, namely a Sunday roast. On the way back towards Church Town, along the alley skirting Bay Pond, I rode over what looked like a snake. Andy reckons it was a Slowworm (or lizard without legs) and judging by a website I checked out this morning, that's exactly what it was. Click here for details. We watched as the slow worm or snake disappeared in the grass and then cycled home.

Godstone Green pond through the reeds – summer's here

During the day I drove out towards the route of last week's Black Horse Ride, in search of the Frog and Nightgown, but as usual, I didn't want to ask for directions when I realised we were lost. I eventually asked some people with horses for directions: turn left, then right, then left again and yes, we got there – but it was closed. We drove into Rusper for a pint of Harvey's, a mineral water, J2O and a couple of bags of Real crisps and sat in the summer sunshine in the pub's garden. Very pleasant.

A great weekend's cycling but my Spongy Wonder saddle needs replacement spongy bits, which I have in the garage. At the time of writing I still hadn't gotten round to it. This week, maybe.

The Frog & Nightgown

The Frog & Nightgown pub in Faygate where we stopped to fix my puncture. Sadly, we didn't have time to have a pint, but if you want to know more about this excellent little pub, click here.

The Black Horse Ride 2010 (May 16)

From left: Jon, me, Andy and Richard (Andy's mate).

The weather held out for us and was sunny most of the way round the circuit this year except for a few grey clouds and drops of rain. As Jon said on more than one occasion, "It's trying it's hardest to rain." Well, not hard enough, although I was wearing my Peter Storm waterproof top and had waterproof over trousers in my rucksack just in case of a major downpour.

Andy and I met at 0830hrs on the A23 and Jon met us further down at Merstham and then cycled through to the start line at the Black Horse pub in Reigate. Nick met us at the pub and so did Andy's mate Richard. This was Jon's first and my third Black Horse Ride, but Andy was on this fifth or sixth. David arrived on the Harley to be involved as a marshall, there were hot bacon sarnies, tea and coffee and this year, in addition to the piper, we had the Mayor of Reigate seeing us off.

From left: Richard, Andy and David (Harley man).

We had all opted for the 50-miler Black Horse ride and were given green number cards. I was 330 and Jon was 329 – there's probably a lottery number there somewhere. The ride started at 10am. 

For the early stages we all kept up a fair pace. In fact, most of the way round our energy levels – fuelled by many a banana – remained high. There was one point where the signage caused a lot of cyclists to go off route, but by the time we reached that point (Jon and Nick excluded as they'd been ahead of us) we had cyclists (including Jon) telling us to turn around. There was a left turn that a lot of the front runners had missed.

From left: Richard, Andy and Jon at Brockham.

The Black Horse ride is excellent. The route is superb as it follows some of the nicest quiet Surrey and Sussex roads, travels through some amazing villages and, well, as long as its not raining, it's the best.

Our first banana stop was in Brockham and by and large we kept going until Rusper where Jon and I stopped for something to eat and drink before heading off again. Everything was going smoothly and we really were gaining ground until, as we reached the Frog & Nightgown pub, my front tyre let me down. Yes, a puncture, and why? Because we'd gone along an off-road track. It cost me around 15 minutes so, if you include the eating stop, we were effectively 30 minutes behind. A quick release front wheel would have been useful.

My bike at the Frog & Nightgown pub near Faygate.

Energy levels remained high until the very end when the last few miles never seemed to end. Marshalls told us there were only three miles to go and then, whenever we met another marshall, it was always the same, 'oh, about three miles'.

The Black Horse ride was fine where hills were concerned; there weren't that many and when they did appear they were fine, certainly nothing like the big hills on our weekend cycling trips. Having said that, there were some punishing inclines towards the end but they were only punishing because we were getting tired. The worst was Trumpet Hill Lane right at the end before turning left on the road through Reigate Heath. Like all long cycling trips, it's the last few miles that are the worst.

Nick Thorp relaxing after the ride.

Jon and I crossed the finish line at 1520hrs and made our way round to the pub garden and a free burger with onions, not forgetting a free pint of Young's – just what the doctor ordered.

My family was there and it wasn't long before we were all together – Andy, Jon, Nick, Richard and myself. We had a few more beers and then, after Andy, Jon and Richard had gone home – Nick and I were going to cycle Redhill – and the rain came down hard. We ordered a couple more beers and sat underneath one of the umbrellas chatting about this and that before heading off in the drizzle to Redhill.

Jon having a well-earned pint of Young's after the ride.

I bade farewell to Nick and made my way through Redhill streets knowing that I could be arrested for being drunk in charge of a bicycle, a reality that came fairly close when I stumbled across three police cars and a bunch of coppers trying to quell some kind of disturbance between a group of 'youths'. I passed unnoticed, bought a ticket and jumped aboard the 1846 Victoria train, got off at East Croydon, took another train to Purley Oaks and then cycled home in the rain.

In fact, ironically, having brought with me waterproof trousers, I took a soaking mainly because I had a ten-minute ride to my house and couldn't be arsed to stop and put them on.

Thankfully, a Sunday roast was in full swing when I walked through the door; all that needed doing was the gravy! I went to bed at 9.30pm, woke up at 3am and then went back to sleep around 4am. Now, as I write this, I feel good: no aches and pains and no stiffness, thanks, I guess, to our regular weekend cycling jaunts.

Clear skies so far...

It's the morning of the Black Horse Ride and I was up at just gone five am. The curtain in our bedroom had been pulled apart by about a foot but it was enough to let a huge bar of sunlight into the room. If the truth be known, I was awake by 0430hrs and just lie there hoping I'd get back to sleep, but it was not to be. I got up and moseyed on downstairs to make porridge, toast and marmalade and a cup of tea, not forgetting a glass of fresh pineapple juice and then I looked out of the window: clear, blue skies. That was around 0530hrs. It\s now just before 7am and I really ought to be moving and sorting things out, but the skies are still blue bar just a sliver of white cloud. The sun is still out and the temptation is just to go out wearing nowt but a teeshirt and shorts.

I think I'll go prepared, however!

The big deal yesterday was how to get to Reigate: meet Andy on the A23 or simply get the train. I've opted to cycle down there, meaning I'll be riding over 60 miles today – 70 if I cycle home. We'll see how it goes. Jon's on the ride, so, of course, is Andy, and possibly my old pal Nick Thorp from the mighty spud! Who knows?

When I get back I'll report more on the event and post some images too, so watch this space. Better go.

Andy, you're gonna get wet in those trousers...

Peter Storm packable waterproof jacket – only £22 from Blacks,
click link below for more details.

Just a brief one to say that I strolled into Blacks, the camping shop, yesterday afternoon to discuss waterproof trousers and it turns out that those Endura trousers (that Andy purchased online) are water 'repellent' but not waterproof. What's the difference? Well, in general, light rain, they will 'repell' the rainwater, but in a heavy downpour (ie when you're on a bike even a little drizzle becomes heavier) they will begin to soak through like normal trousers.

The guy in the shop told me that waterproof trousers are basically the 'over trousers' like the ones I've got. You put them on OVER your trousers and you should keep dry.

Andy's top is fine, that's waterproof. I found a North Face top in Blacks that might be worth buying, but even in non-cycling shop, they're pricey. I think it was £80 for the jacket and £50 for the waterproof trousers – that's £130!

Mind you, there's always Peter Storm! How about a waterproof jacket for just £22? Click here!

Seems like I was wrong!

Well, I'm not afraid to admit that I was wrong and it seems as if I misjudged the intentions of the Liberal Democrats. They DID go in with the Tories and Cameron has now formed a government; he is the new PM. I know that Andy and Jon will be pleased and I'm getting used to the idea, but there you have it. Only time will tell if the Con-Lib Pact is the right way ahead for the country.

Having said that, as we discussed in Hunger's End on Saturday morning, will life under Cameron be any different to life under Brown? Probably not. By and large, certainly since I've been working, many governments have come and gone. Let me see now...when I first started in work we had a Labour Government; they went out in 1979 and in walked Thatcher, then it was Major and, my memory is a little hazy but after Major it must have been Blair in 1997. And now, 13 years later, Blair and Brown have gone and we have a coalition in power – Nick Clegg and David Cameron. By and large, however, nothing has changed in real terms as far as my life is concerned. I've always existed from one month to the next where money is concerned, I've never been able to afford a new car (not that I want one) and, yes, everything just tends to carry on as normal.

As long as it doesn't affect the cycling, I don't mind.

Photograph courtesy of Top News Law.

Andy in his new clobber

A shot of Andy just after going off-road at Tandridge.

Off-road tracks – they're amazing.

Map shows a small section of our off-road route towards Godstone Green. The track passed through Castlehill Wood past three sizeable ponds, used for fishing and then followed Leigh Place Lane towards Glebe Water, another pond, through Church Town, down a more developed track bordering Bay Pond and then, of course, our final destination, Godstone Green. The above map shows how close we were to The Enterdent, the hill en route to Hunger's End in Merstham. I know for a fact that we can get virtually all the way to Merstham off-road.

The map above shows the off-road tracks from Tandridge. We had turned right from Jackass Lane, travelled down Tandridge Lane and took the track on the left just before the Barley Mow. That stretch, all the way to the A22 is open fields. Note the other tracks on the map.

May 9th 2010 – treading new ground

The route to Tandridge down Jackass Lane is yielding new routes for NoVisibleLycra and today was the best so far. I'd checked out the map and found off-road tracks linking Tandridge with Godstone so Andy and I set off to find them. While rain threatened, we avoided a soaking, much to Andy's annoyance as his Endura Hummvee cycling kit had arrived and he wanted to see if it was waterproof. I offered to throw some pond water over him when we reached Godstone Green, but for some reason he declined the offer.

How to explain this excellent cycle? Well, quite simply, we reached Tandridge we rode down the hill, past the pub, re-traced our steps, found a footpath, followed it and found ourselves in the middle of rolling hills and ploughed fields. Totally amazing! We stayed off-road all the way to Godstone Green where we sipped tea, munched on cereal bars and watched the ducks.

I can only assume that Andy did get the chance to try out his waterproof gear as it started to rain towards the end of my ride, although often I have noticed that when it's raining where I live, it's dry over Caterham way so he might still be none the wiser as to the effectiveness of his new clobber.

Blogger, by the way, is a bit annoying. Sometimes it enables me to write picture captions, other times not. This is one of those 'other times' so to explain, the top shot is the off-road path from Tandridge and the other shot, the one with the bluebells, is the same track but further along the route. 

May 8th 2010 – Merstham the long way (avoiding a soaking)

A copy of the Sun in Hunger's End, Merstham, Surrey.

Amazing! We didn't get that wet! After last week's soaking – and judging by the skies overhead – I thought I would be coming home in shiny wet trousers, but no! Okay, I was a little wet, but this was definitely a  result.

Andy and I met at Warlingham Green as usual and, as we pootled along we discussed the hung parliament and the fact that, even now, as I write this at any rate, nothing has been resolved. Will the Lib Dems go in with the Tories? Let's hope not. Why would they? I mean the two parties are not only ideologically opposed, they positively hate one another (like Manchester United and Liverpool).

Anyway, it's getting boring so I'll say no more – although when we reached the caff, Jon and Andy carried on the conversation. Perhaps we'll hear something today, who knows? Perhaps the country will lurch towards anarchy? Fine, as long as it doesn't affect our weekend cycling.

I guess the phrase 'fine drizzle' would sum it up; all the way there was a fine drizzle, which at times got a little heavier but overall it wasn't unpleasant. We stayed on the tarmac at the end of Church Road instead of the off-road bit under the motorway (I figured it would be too wet and muddy) and met Jon halfway up Rockshaw Road.

For some reason I was feeling extremely energetic. It might have been the porridge for breakfast or a good night's sleep, although I woke up around 2am and then fell asleep again. The next thing I knew it was 6am and time to get out of bed for the cycling.

Picture shows an interior shot of Hunger's End in Merstham. The drizzly weather meant that we couldn't sit in our usual seat outside. There was no sign of shaving man either. Note copy of the Sun claiming that Gordon Brown is squatting in Number 10 Downing Street. Obviously, the right wing tabloid knows nothing about politics.