A ride out to Downe (great news folks – we stop short of the Cudham climb!) for what will probably be a fairly leisurely pub lunch at the George and Dragon.

 After lunch, past Charles Darwin’s House, Biggin Hill, the odd bit of climbing but nothing you won’t be able to manage. We will of course wait for everyone.

 Some nice country lanes, with some autumn colours probably still left to admire.

 Pace decidedly moderate but we should still be back at a fairly respectable hour.

 Bring lights of course.

 Short bit of very moderate off-road which a full-on racer could do – I’ll be doing it on a narrow-tyred fast city bike.

 Distance probably lower end of range 35 to 40 miles.

Report

Six of us altogether, seven when we unexpectedly encountered Jurek waiting for us on a bench in Downe.

One of my shorter more easygoing rides – no mishaps on the way out though we managed to lose Dave for a while.

No climb up Cudham today – after only about 13 easy miles we arrived at the George and Dragon - a few minutes early.

Actually a better pub than I’d remembered it – decent beer so we settled in for a longish natter on topics serious and not so serious. Snippets I can sort of remember include Darwinism (his house is up the road – I recommend a visit though Bill would advise against I think), creationism and intelligent design, alcohol and cycling, top tips for court cases, the perils of naked Skypeing, probably the odd diversion into nerdy bike talk, wondering why the pub was so quiet. Good pub though and we’ll be back.

Then past Darwin’s House, touched the edge of Biggin Hill Airport – renowned as one of the most famous Battle of Britain airfields, latterly as, allegedly, host to CIA rendition flights (oh where did it all go wrong?) then we dropped down Saltbox Hill before facing the climb back up to the NCN21 route.

At Fickleshole another long downhill (who says my rides are all climbs?) to Addington Village. A puncture delayed us a bit but was soon fixed and then left up Spout Hill where four of our seven managed to get obscenities shouted at them by a variety of drivers -  male and female. They objected to us cycling up a hill I think and slightly delaying their 4-by-4-ed speeding journey to a coronary. There is a segregated cyclelane perched above the road at this point but I wouldn’t recommend it – one slip and you’ll plummet into the road below. Pratt of the month award to all these folks – last time I encountered this sort of thing was a group of us struggling up Ditchling Beacon before Brighton to have some woman tell us off for holding the traffic up. It’s Sunday – you’re not on a motorway – chill.

All peaceful from then on in, we went down a bridleway to hit West Wickham and we variously peeled off along the way as south east London gradually became more familiar to folk.

A decent ambling ride and we’ll probably be back this way again before the winter’s out. Thanks to the friendly folk at the George and Dragon – they also have a decent beer garden so a good easy ride for the summer as well.

Paul