Ride Report - Sunday 22 February 2026

Our relationship with the weather is one sided... it dictates we compromise. This morning it decided to rain, why, no reason... it just wanted to. But hey, Garmi was down to lead a ride today and I couldn’t let him down and so out from under the warm blankets I rolled. The aroma of the filtered coffee on the stove got me down to the kitchen and seeing Sabina on her bike and ready to go installed a certain pep in my step and still yawning there I was sitting behind Garmi on my bike.

We were on the tarmac... but with hardly a mile done we were sodden with another 20 miles of drench filled bucket loads to ride. We were on track to elevenses and weighing up the joys of kayaking on a bike. On arrival at Knights Garden Centre in Betchworth it was high fives (metaphorically for Garmi of course): We had made it through river like roads and up and down squisshy squasshy hills.

We walked through the ‘delicate’ plant section; so many of them, needing sensitive handling and protection from nasty winter weather.... kind souls tendered their needs ensuring that everything was just so (basically all nicely tucked under warm covers in comfy beds, oblivious to winter’s lashings, metaphorically speaking of course}. Then we came upon the ‘hardy perennials’, plants that were out all year round, capable of withstanding the depths of minus temperatures and the highs of the severest of frosts. And there on the other side of some very hardy looking evergreens were a couple of seasoned C&M'ers ready and waiting for this delicate to lead them out into the wettest of winters. I felt a shudder.

If it weren’t for Sabina holding me upright and gently ushering me forward I would have crouched and hid behind one of the extra large perrenial hardies and texted one of my fellow C&M'ers, “sorry... can’t make it... got a cold.... “ pinged them the route and let them get on with it. Then with grace and dignity I would have made a retreat and swiftly to the train station back to a warm bed where I naturally belonged. But before I could put this very sensible plan into action Sabina introduced herself to our fellow cyclists and said “Bernard is really looking forward to leading you today!”

So on our bikes we got... aiming for a lovely piece of Art Deco architecture, the Jack Fairman Whetherspoon in Horley. They recently spent a bob or two sprucing it up and they’ve done a wonderful job. It has those iconic straight lines for decoration, in fact the building has a wonderfully understated symmetry and balance with not a curve in sight. Its frontal is painted in low key white and blue. It really is a gem of early 1930’s architecture. The one shame is that I couldn’t find out who the architect was and I really do think his or her name should be sited somewhere as just recognition for their excellent work. Anyway, with these musings Garmi led us to Charlwood from where we headed straight to Horley cutting out the Gatwick chunk of our ride. I was grateful for this because when we did the reccie on an even wetter day than today it had felt like a war zone; the bellowing of airplane engines skimming our scalps as they took off and came in to land, stressed to the eyeballs drivers speeding to who knows where on single lane roads, pot holes and crater scars to avoid, mud ditches just to the side and not least Russian-roulette styled roundabouts.

Tummies nicely fed and watered we were soon back on gleaming snake-skin roads. We were all in positive mood for above us we could see yonder the hovering dark cloud Spring blue sky. It beckoned to us and we all rode like the wind heading for tea and cake in Leatherhead. The sun was out and the flat green lands of the countryside had a golden hue. Amidst the purples and yellows of the daffodils and crocuses wrens flitted in and out of the hedgerows. There were snow drops too. Spring was saying hello!

We finished our ride in Leatherhead where we enjoyed coffee and cake in Charlie and Gingers.

Thanks to Andy C for the allusions and to David W for the route!

I was led by Garmi and escorted safely around the route by Sabina, Jenny, Gina, David W and Andy C with Terry joining us for elevenses in case extra help was needed in making sure I made the course.

I finally did make it back to my warm bed and I’m writing this under the covers safely tucked away out of reach of the pesky rain! 

Do Join Bernard's Ride On Sunday 22 February

On Sunday Bernard will be leading us from elevenses at Knights Garden Centre, Betchworth to lunch at The Jack Fairman, Horley (about 20, not too hilly miles), then about 16 miles back to tea at Leatherhead.    There may be one or two unfamiliar bits of route, not least the home of the world marbles championships!

Do join us!

Ride Report - Sunday 15 February 2026

 

Now at last I know what 'C & M' really stands for - cold and miserable, obviously!  Actually, it could have been worse.   The weather forecast wasn't at all encouraging, and I fully expected to be on my own at elevenses at Staines Wetherspoons, when the cavalry unexpectedly arrived in the form of Pam and Liz (making her final appearance with the C & M)!

At some length, reluctantly dragging myself away from The George, I had a C & M moment (cussed and madcap), and set off on a cut-down version of my carefully-curated route to Staines.   Well, the show must go on!   I just about got away with it, but I did have the distinct impression in places that the waters on either side of the road would close together after I had passed!

I made it to Woking, and the comfort of a warm train, but, of course, by then the rain had subsided!

Thanks to Pam and Liz for their company!

Plans for Sunday 15 February 2026 - When George Met Herbert!

As billed, Sunday's ride will take us on a tale of two Wetherspoons from The George, Staines to The Herbert Wells, Woking.   I've kept the outbound route short (about 15 miles) in case of rain, and it can be further shortened further if it's very wet.    A lot of the route will be on roads we don't often traverse, and there are a few surprising hills too!

The return route (about 10 miles) to Walton Bridge starts off the usual way but then veers off up yet another unnecessary hill!   That's the price you pay for variety!

Do join me if you can't think of an alibi!

Ode to a Day Without Rain - 8 Feb to Camberley

During a slight pause in the current monsoon season, we met at Whiteley Village's Community Cafe - a new elevenses venue for us.  An amazing turnout for a grey February day - eighteen riders found their way there.   Was it curiosity about the new venue, or just desperation to get out of the house without getting instantly soaked?   I think we were all delighted to see so many people, especially Niall after his recent spell off the bike.   The cafe staff and regulars seemed very pleased to see us too, and encouraged us to come back soon.   It's a lovely old building with plenty of space.  We had the Conservatory to ourselves, and a good selection of pastries, sausage rolls and bacon butties was enjoyed by all.

Part of the large Millenium tapestry

Ah yes, so much fun chatting, but we had a longish ride to do, so a round dozen of us left fairly promptly, destination Camberley.   I had tried desperately to make it sound attractive in my "invitation" to the ride, and David W found a much more interesting poem by John Betjeman, A Subaltern's Love Song, which includes the lines

By roads "not adopted", by woodlanded ways,

She drove to the club in the late summer haze,

Into nine-o-clock Camberley, heavy with bells

And mushroomy, pine-woody, evergreen smells.

After much research, I found that David W had already invented the best route, so I stole that with a few adaptations.   We had to dodge the flooded river Wey at Brooklands, and reduce the stretch along the canal because it was a bit mucky, but soon enough it was "only another ten miles" and we were approaching Pirbright.   It's a little-known fact that Camberley is on top of a small mountain, so there was a fair bit of climbing through the above-mentioned mushroomy, pine-woody, evergreen woodlanded ways.

Eventually we reached the sanctuary of the Claude Du Vall, named after a gallant and non-violent French highwayman who charmed the ladies and tied up the men before relieving them of their valuables.   It ended badly, as he was captured and executed at Tyburn in 1670.   His memorial stone reads as follows:

Here lies DuVall: Reder, if male thou art,

Look to thy purse; if female, to thy heart.

Much havoc has he made of both; for all

Men he made to stand, and women he made to fall

The second Conqueror of the Norman race,

Knights to his arm did yield, and ladies to his face.

Old Tyburn’s glory; England’s illustrious Thief,

Du Vall, the ladies' joy; Du Vall, the ladies' grief.

The return was much more straightforward, with only a small mountain to climb in order to leave Camberley, and no highwaymen troubling us.  Soon we were speeding to Lightwater, Windlesham and Gracious Pond Road.  We nearly saw Pam in Chertsey (she waved at us from the bus, having just visited Vic) but we were at the end of a longish ride, it was tea time and our attention was elsewhere.   Just four stopped for tea at Shepperton, everyone else heading home to make the best of the daylight.

Thank you everyone for making it such an enjoyable and sociable day.  And especially to David W and Andy for leading a second group of riders, and Geoff for back marking, plus Dave E and Diane for their photos.

Plans for this Sunday's ride to Camberley

This Sunday, we will be visiting the spa town of Camberley, well known for its famous pub The Claude Duvall.  Even more exciting, we will gather for elevenses at Whiteley Village Community cafe, which is two miles west of Hersham, along the Burwood road.

If you're coming from Walton, you can ride through Ashley Park (Ashley Park Road/Silverdale Avenue), but beware that if you ride through Burwood Park (Erlswell Road) you can't exit at the southern end until a car comes through.  (Unless someone knows a better way?)

It's about 22 miles to lunch, and then 17 back to tea at Shepperton.  I hope you can join us.

Sunday 1st Feb ride report - Steph

Alan and I cycled from North Cheam together, leaving North Cheam at 9.15 and arriving a little wet at Polsden Lacy cafe at 10.30. Dave and Simon were ahead of us and we had coffee and left at 11 arriving at Wetherspoons Epsom at 12.10. We traversed Chapel Lane, Juniper Lodge Bottom, Headley and descended swiftly past Ashtead Garden Centre into Epsom. The weather was damp and drizzly, only 2 heavy showers fell, but enough to give us damp feet and gloves heavy with water. Lunch was a cheerful social with Colin Quemby arriving first, followed by Ed and finally Ann Bath. A very useful catch up with a couple of our non cycling members.