[Closed] Surrey Hills STW Ride 22/23 May?

You should be easy to spot then!

For any late comers to the thread who are too lazy to scroll up, there are likely to be a number of simultaneous rides going on, but there will certainly be one on [b]Sunday 23rd 10:30 Holmbury Youth Hostel Car Park[/b].

I have been battling a particularly virulent strain of the plague all week, so I may drive over rather than ride!

We'll be at Holmbury YHA car park at 10.30.
If necessary I can show a group of 5 or 6 round a nice easy paced ride over to Pitch and Winterfold, back over Holmbury and to Leith and back. Shouldn't take more than 3 or 4 hours or so.

In my meagre state of health that is exactly what I was intending to do! So we can see who turns up, how fast they are, how much people hate each other and refuse to ride together, and go from there.

Ap you neglected to mention that that would involve 6 very long climbs and 4 more not so long ones.

Are there any 'very long' climbs around there? Even the one up through High Ashes isn't that bad.

Still intending to make this ride. Must be dry and dusty by now as we have not had any significant rain for a week.
STM

PP - i can give you a lift back if you want. I was planning on dropping off the cake stand which might be awkward for you to ride home with

Haha! 6 very long climbs? Where are they? Would that be like climbing the Galibier?

Can't make this now as the start time is a bit late in the day & other half pointed out that if it started @ 10.30 i wouldn't be home before 4-5pm and had promissed to "do more around the house" 🙄

Have fun without me and remember to play nicely or at least remember what the insults were and post them up on Sunday evening 😆

PP - i can give you a lift back if you want. I was planning on dropping off the cake stand which might be awkward for you to ride home with
[/quote

I might take you up on that to be honest, it's not out of your way is it? You can always come in for a cuppa too. 🙂

 

I am merely pointing out that for the unfit it can be surprisingly climby. Obviously my climbing ability is unquestionable and I can do them all without breaking a sweat ( Yeah right).

That last one past high ashes is a right pain in the arse if you've been out for a few hours AFAIC.

if I can trudge up the hills in my old/overweight way then they aren't that bad - I think play it by ear on sunday.

Yep definitely, the advantage of a Holmbury start is that if people are knackered after Holmbury/Pitch/Winterfold we can just call it a day, of if people are still fine we can push on over Leith. Looks like it's gonna be a hot one! I may have to see if I can find a Camelbak 🙂

Eye, the weather looks crackin' Gromit!

I may even turn up. I generally ride on my own so I can pace it how I like (massively slow going up, surprisingly fast going down, so I'm told) perhaps I should be more social.

massively slow going up, surprisingly fast going down, so I'm told

Reverse 'slow' and 'fast' and there's a better description of my own riding 🙂

You should come along, I imagine a number of small groups naturally forming based on speed and what folk want to do.

Hmmm. I may appear with a friend...

I am regularly overtaken by families walking on the ups, I ought to have a slow moving vehicle sign on my butt. Seriously slow but I don't care I get there and I don't walk!

I much prefer nice'n'steady everywhere really, oh, and definitely no faffing!

You and me both Joolsburger.

That YHA car park will be RAMMED! If more than 20 cars, it will be interesting!

Was up on the hills last weekend, and the only puddles were in VPL, but Yoghurt Pots/Parklife was pure flow in motion.

See you all there on sunday at 10:30!

6 pages!

I was thinking about the car park capacity, if I drive I think I'll park in the glade and roll down the hill, suggest a few may like to do the same if you know the area!

and definitely no faffing!

Couldn't agree more! I have no problems riding really slowly, much much prefer that to riding fast, then stopping to faff!

there are a few car parks around Holmbury, Anyone got a link to a map to give everyone a chance to find parking? I would avoid the Pitch car park, because that is always really busy on a sunny sunday.

Maybe we should warn Peaselake stores to get an extra large batch of cheese straws ready! It's the official food of surrey hills cyclists don't you know!

[url= http://www.multimap.com/s/CS8E4VW9 ]This[/url] is the YHA car park, my second choice would be the one not shown on the map at the end of the yellow road passed 'Felday'.

njee20. your location is not the YHA carpark, You have pointed out the one just up the road, next to the road. Tbe YHA car park is at the top of the little yellow road to the left of your car park, Next to the brown triangle, which is the YHA location. It's at the bottom of the main Telegraph Road trail.

Your carpark highlighted is at the end of the extra wiggle of singletrack to the car park at the bottom. Right?

Apologies, you're quite right, now I'm just trying to confuse people! I would be inclined to ignore the one that's actually shown on the map as a car park as it's tiny!

[url= http://www.multimap.com/s/CS8E4VW9 ]HERE[/url], and one above edited for consistency!

Has anyone checked the trains, for those of you planning to head down by train?

I half-heard an announcement at Wimbledon this evening about "Buses replacing trains between Leatherhead and Dorking" at some point this weekend. I wasn't really listening because I'm not riding this weekend, but then I remembered this thread...

Just found this thread - am riding anyway on Sunday around that time, might join u too. how many are going at last count?
Rode a lot of Leith today for my lunchtime WFH treat (the joys of living in dorking 😉 ) and the trails are sweeeeeet n dry. the odd damp spot but just the usual lingerers. Bet itll be packed at the weekend.
Hmmmm, having said that, might go out at 5pm like usual and miss the crowds 🙂

stealthcat - Member

Has anyone checked the trains, for those of you planning to head down by train?

I half-heard an announcement at Wimbledon this evening about "Buses replacing trains between Leatherhead and Dorking" at some point this weekend. I wasn't really listening because I'm not riding this weekend, but then I remembered this thread...

Yes. Buses are replacing trains beween Leatherhead and Dorking. You'll be VERY lucky to find a bus driver who'll let you on with the bike, especially if you're not alone. 😥

No idea how many are going to turn up, there were a lot saying yes, then other meeting points started to crop up. It looks like the YHA one may still be the biggest, the idea is to split into manageable groups so we get riding done rather than standing around! Suspect it will be busy! Can't decide whether to go up there today or go out on the road!

"Buses replacing trains between Leatherhead and Dorking"

Maybe see you, maybe not.

I'm happy to guide people there by bike (early offroad warm-up - should take about an hour and a half at my pace) but it means leaving from outside Cycleworks in Leatherhead

http://www.cycleworks.co.uk/about/cycleworks-leatherhead

at 9am SHARP. I'll be there from 8:50 to meet anybody who wants to take that option. Look for an old bloke in black on a grey Orange 5/maroon Revs...

It was unbelievably busy up there today, I was out on the road, but I reckon that's the most cyclists I've ever seen! I guess we can expect the same tomorrow.

I've just had to bodge a different brake and shifter onto the Fuel as Fishers still haven't returned my one! Should be good though. I imagine I'll be fairly distinctive...

Factor 30, everybody!!

Indeed. I got a tan in an hour at the pub this lunchtime!

See y'all in the morning. 🙂

Good ride this one, thanks for organising Njee and co! I was in the slow group on the black Chameleon SS with the marmite jersey. Was good to meet you all. Hope the guy who headbutted the tree is ok! Thumbs up to Mark as well - if you are every over Newbury/Swinley way drop me a message and we can go for an SS bimble! Oh and post up your charity link and I'll send some money your way. Now where was that beer I put in the fridge.....

Where'd you end up going?

I can't remember! Yogurt pots was mentioned and we did telegraph (?) anyway Im sure someone with a better memory will be along shortly!

XC_PK - Member

I can't remember! Yogurt pots was mentioned and we did telegraph (?) anyway Im sure someone with a better memory will be along shortly!

Holmbury hilltop. Parklife (AKA Yog pots), Telegraph Road/Telegram Sam. Post-split (petesgaff to home, me to Leith) the rest of 'Team Slowmo' went over and did Bazza, I believe...

[IMG] [/IMG]

From the left: GT, "Strangers To The Forum" 1&2, petesgaff, worldclass accident, XC_PK, thisisnotaspoon

The other group had fun too 😀 Thanks Nick, a great ride.

Cheers for organising Nick.
Cheers to everyone else for coming and making up an ace ride
Gnarlcore to the max 🙂

Where did the other group end up (the fast one that is)?

Was going to come but arranged something else to do as I mixed up the weekends. Sounds like I missed a good one (although found some new to me stuff in the area).

We went up and rode across to BKB and didnt stop at Peaslake Stores.Then up the road to the car park, and up past the windmill and dropped over the road and did the 3 bombholes, on which i binned it in a numpty fashion as i have cleared it often in the past. Fair bit of singletrack, a puncture, lots of faffage, christmas tree or T1 T2 graveyard shift, Cheese straws , Yoghurt pots , Sella Rosa I think, and Telegraph road to finish.
No great distance but hard work in the heat and dust. Pub stop afters for cheesy chips . Result.
Good to meet some old and new faces , a grand day out in the sunshine

Sounds like you had a good ride. Those three bomb holes are trickier than you might imagine - let me guess, was it the third one that got you? I've shown it to a few people that I've randomly met over the years and about half of them end up binning it! I've stopped taking peeps down there now because of it.

If anyone wants to explore Leith Hill and doesn't know it I would be happy to lead a ride up there some time soon.

Great to meet you all and in particular it was a privilege to meet Mark, aka Pete's Gaff.

yep 3rd one, Even having told everyone to avoid the stump I rolled into it too slowly and too 'on the bike' the front wheel didnt clear the first root and stopped dead, and I carried on.