When the Beatles released their Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, those of us who were twenty then also remember another song

‘When I’m Sixty-four.”

Back then it seemed

‘Many years from now”

Paul met us at Welwyn North to lead a ride celebrating his safe arrival at this age. The day promised to be fine, sunny and hot as we were enjoying an Indian summer. Thirty riders assembled at the station and Eleanor and Susie joined us for the group photo.

The group photo.

Late summer was merging into autumn as the ride headed off through the woods and lanes to Hertford for lunch, and we dispersed amongst the pubs and cafes of the town.

In Hertford

‘Will you still feed me”

Paul and Daniel led the group back through rolling countryside to Tewin for a generous tea in the garden, on one of the hottest October days on record. Eleanor cut the birthday cake after the candle had exploded and played “happy birthday”, whilst Paul enjoyed being the centre of attention.

The exploding candle

Cutting the cake

‘Birthday greetings bottle of wine”

Pat and the CTC tour had sung this to Mike Strauss on his birthday in the south of France this summer. In the past forty-four years we have started the Central London section and met on many Sunday mornings to go for a ride. We’re still cycling but I don’t think these days we often

‘Stay out till quarter to three”

I will also reach that age next month, whilst Sir Paul McCartney is a few years ahead of us – the year of 1947.

There are a few more photos in the gallery, and a map of the ride here.

As normal we had left our bikes in a stack while we gossiped nearby and shopped for tickets and breakfast. When we came to move on we found we were one cycle short, the top bike having disappeared, a rather rusty substitute left close by. It seemed a passer-by had decided to trade in his bike for a better model without paying the difference.

The moral is that we need to immobilise our bikes whenever stopped in London, even if in the group and only waiting a few metres away. Most of leave our bikes unlocked at the station at the start of rides, so it could have been anyone of us left without our wheels.

We left the theft victim and his brother to report to the British Transport Police and the rest of the group proceeded to the Ashford train. We were 14 for a two/three star ride with some regulars from both grades but no new riders this time.

We left Ashford heading east for around 10km along the Stour Valley and then north into the Downs. We kept a good pace and, with one “single arrow gradient” hill finished quickly, I added an extra loop with a “two arrow” climb to slow the pace a little. It was a challenge for me anyway and also for the unfortunate but sympathetic car driver who met us halfway on the narrow slope while going down.

Pre lunch drinks at Elham

We took a long lunch break to recover at the Rose and Crown at Elham, where the weekly market had just finished, and then back into the North Downs, with a steeper climb straight after lunch followed by some long sections along valley floors, crests of ridges and though woods. The motor traffic was lighter than on most of our rides at the extra distance from the big city which, combined with fine weather, seemed to make a great summer day ride.

Back in the Stour valley we took tea at Perry Court Farm shop. I was nervous about a new venue but I need not have been concerned as although late-ish arrival at 16.40 and the only ones eating there at that time we were made very welcome with some fine tea and cakes.

Back to Ashford and I managed to navigate the cycle path network with only one missed turn this time. As is normal in UK towns that try to have cycle lanes, the network is designed by those who have good intentions but some rather strange ideas, presumably never having ridden a cycle themselves. Much of the Ashford network is pleasant though, and a (random) selection of junctions even have direction signs too. (See the previous post for another example of a hard-to-use town cycle network.)

We had a speedy return to London and St Pancras passing swiftly through the station this time. We did 85km. Map is here.

We took a quiet route out of Ashford and then along a Roman road up to the Greensand Ridge, over the top and down onto the flat lands of the Romney Marsh.   It was a fast run with the wind behind us and then we were by the seaside for 6km, a traditional English seaside with bungalows against grey skies and wind, but views of the surf and the distant power station (I always try to include a power station view on my ride).  Fish and chips were served all round at “The Pilot” at Dungeness, a popular seaside lunch venue, even in January.

Cyclists beside the seaside

The wind was against us on the way back but at least the rain held off.  It was a slog across the marsh and back to the mainland at Bilsington by the Cosway Monument.  Once back in Ashford, a wrong turn took us off the quiet cycle paths and onto the main dual carriageway for the last few km.  ”It’s nice to have variety on the ride” was a kinder comment from among the group.  Anyway, it was at least a direct route back to the station and a speedy trip back arriving in London before 1700.  Map of the ride (67km) here.

It was a cold damp ride through the Chiltern lanes to lunch at Bourne End by the canal. The pub had welcoming open fires, and Paul Lohr’s new GPS toy became the centre of discussion amongst the nerds.

Back at Watford we found a cafe in the park, and took tea outside in January drizzle.

Eighteen riders were ready at Tunbridge Wells to head out through the High Weald for a morning of climbs and descents though wooded hills.  By lunchtime I had only lost two of the group (we arranged to meet them again at tea) and we took a break at the Blackboys Inn in the village of that name.

Then a cycle through the town of Uckfield and a long but gentle climb on a quieter route to the top of the Ashdown Forest. As ever there, we found spectacular views of heathland and the surrounding countryside, today in bright sunshine, slightly marred by the many drivers who see the 40mph  limit clearly marked as there only for decoration.

We had our own chance to try break the speed limit though on the long downhill stretch, followed by one last small but steep hill before tea.  Being the Ashdown Forest, tea was at Piglet’s Tea Room attached to the House-at-Pooh-Corner in Hartfield.

Having lingered over our scones, we spread out on the return to Tunbridge Wells, to catch different trains.  I think I counted the full number past me back into the town, but was slightly nervous that one or two may still be out there and will emerge from the forest in years to come.

The ride was 67km in East Sussex and (a bit of) Kent.

A few miles later Ash had a puncture. His tyres were hard to get back on and he damaged his spare inner tube with a tyre lever and so had to do a puncture repair by the roadside. Not surprising after this succession of punctures we got to lunch late at the Crown and Sceptre in Bridens Camp.

John left us after lunch and the remaining four of us rode through the National Trust’s attractive wooded Ashridge Estate to the Bridgewater Monument. Three of us climbed to the top for a panoramic view of the Chilterns and two of us succumbed to the lure of the tearoom. Then it was back through Redbourn for a short break at the Holly Bush (picturesque but no teas or coffees) and then on to the Nicky Way, a former railway line,  back to catch the train home from Harpenden.

The morning ride took us through the High Weald. After a first busy section we took in a succession of small hills though villages, past ponds, farms and woods. The group maintained a strong pace and we arrived at the Black Horse at Nuthurst before opening time.

Entering the village at Slaugham

A slight drizzle kept most of us indoors for lunch, but the rain soon stopped and the afternoon stayed clear. The afternoon took us into the Low Weald, with fewer slopes now and a distant view of the Downs to the South. Against my on-road principles, I took the group for a few km off the tarmac on a bridleway near the River Adur, before following back roads to Hassocks and tea, amid the statuary and old machinery at the South Downs Garden and Heritage Centre.

In the woods near Staplefield

Then a final ride through Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath back to the railway. We returned to London just in time to be soaked through by a cloudburst on leaving the station, but this didn’t matter as it was too late to spoil the ride.

We did 69km, all in West Sussex. A map of the ride is here.

Puncture repairs near Pleshey

I’ve put a few photos from yesterday’s  two-star ride in Essex into the photo gallery.

There’s also a map of the route here.

A bright, sunny but chilly start and the mornings ride found ice patches on the route through the Beeches, with plenty of pot holes on the back roads. There were only Snowdrops as the first sign of Spring. We made good progress through the hills, and were ahead of schedule for the planned lunch stop, so continued to “The Whip” beside the windmill at Lacey Green.

Richard left after lunch, avoiding the hills that David had planned for the afternoon. Over Bledlow Ridge and across the grain of the Chilterns, then down into the Hambleden valley. We crossed over the weir there with the Thames in full flow, then south to Twyford.

The train back had grown to three crowded coaches. Fifty quality miles on the first ride in March, with plenty of good hills: well worth the early start.

950m total ascent!