Central London CTC blog

Well, a magnificent sunny November day brought the “Magnificent 7” to Boxhill Station. It would have been the magnificent 8 but Marion missed the train, we did try to link up latter but it did not work out. Marion did let me know later that she had quite a good if lonely morning anyway.Our ride today was a sort of figure of 8 based around Boxhill. Paul, Kerryn (first timer, welcome Kerryn) Marieanne. Tim, Mark and Ailan from across the river, (thanks for joining us gents) and I, made up the magnificent 7. “Ah” a grand site as we first headed off to the toilets at the nearby car park!

Then up to the North Downs ridge, but this time by an easier more scenic route than on my last ride, through Denbies vineyards which looks out over the valley, Dorking to our left and on the other side of the valley to the right Leith Hill Tower could just be seen by the naked eye if you know it is there, the autumn leaves giving a magnificent array of colour in the bright sunshine.

A nice down hill from Ranmore Common, then back up to Ranmore via Tanners Hatch for another nice down hill, then (just in case this was getting to repetitive) up to Polesden Lacey. A few small ups and downs as we headed for the bottom of Boxhill for our first break, (at the top) unfortunately in that time Mark suffered two punctures and Marianne took a bit of a tumble on some hidden roots, no damage thankfully.

As we were approaching Boxhill, police cars all over the place, thankfully not after the magnificent 7! But they did close the road (I did think of asking “do you know who I am” i.e. the “Off Road Rep for Central London CTC?” albeit only a title! But some times they display a lack of humour, so I thought better of it), which meant we had to take a detour almost back to Boxhill St to approach the hill from the other side. Ailan got a more serious puncture going up the hill with damage to the actual tyre, so he felt he needed to head home, as did Kerryn and Paul, this transformed the magnificent 7 into the “Fantastic Four” for the second half of the ride.

Down the back of Boxhill, then up through the woods to Mickleham Downs then following a few small ups and downs a welcome cup of tea on Headley Heath. Between times Marieanne reported that she had don a bit of a summersault over the bars, but again no damage thankfully.

Now on the last leg and running a little late chasing hard on the tail of daylight which was fading fast into the distance the Fantastic Four were deep in the woods when the light finally disappeared. However every cloud has a silver lining and although Marieanne, Tim and Mark could hardly see a thing I had the opportunity to test my magnificent new lights! (Let me know if this sound totally self centred?)

One last speedy dissent for me with my “new lights” and a rather cautious creep down for the others, with a report which I did not get confirmed that Mark had taken a tumble on the way down? (But again no damage done as he was ok when I saw him afterwards.)

A” magnificent” day with “fantastic” company and great weather, thanks all, and hope to meet again soon.

Robert Johnston
Off Road Rep Central London CTC (DA)!
Retired
From work, not as Off Road Rep for Central London CTC