Our customary amble down the Waterlink Way before hitting the road. Some wonderful country lanes, despite the M25 never being far away. Pub lunch in Farningham.

Some climbing on the way out, quick and pretty easy on the way back with a good run on a segregated bike lane.

Suitable for all bikes except full-on racers – very short bit of mild off-road.

Distance about 45 miles. It’s possible to return from Eynsford by train at the half way point. If you do want to do this, check that there are no engineering works and be prepared to ride at a pace (still reasonable) to allow the rest to finish at a reasonable time.

Bring lights of course.

Report

Four of us turned up at Cutty Sark Gardens – Paul, Ray, Rob, and Jeff (apologies if it’s spelled the other way) with Jane joining at Ladywell Fields.

Down the Waterlink way and past Kent House into a maze of suburban streets where Ray’s crank fell off – apparently intentionally – his very own patented way of removing them. Thoughtfully he’d brought the spare with him.

Off we went again when Tim called to ask where we were. Call suddenly ended as he wandered round the corner and he saw us. Past West Wickham and the climbing started, though we were spared a climb round a fallen tree by some very prompt road clearance that must have taken place that morning.

Through Downe, Cudham and Knockholt, we reached Eynsford after just a short burst of rain in reasonable time despite Jeff’s initial worries that he might be too slow. We’ve never been a fast group. The initial plan had been to eat at Eynsford but the favoured pub has gone the way of many in prime locations and moved upmarket to semi-restaurant status. A quick detour brought us to Farningham and the rather nice rabbit-warren that is the Lion Hotel.

We laid claim to the meeting room where we had a clear view of the bikes parked in the garden. Just as lunch was ending a visitor joined who had cycled over from Eltham after seeing the ride posted on the web. “You must be Ray” he said to our crank specialist though the two had never met and what identified Ray I have no idea. Some folk just have a natural aura I suppose.

Ray and us lesser mortals retraced our steps for a short while, past a very recent memorial stone to a fallen Spitfire pilot and then took a few country lanes followed by an extended segregated cycle track up the side of the A224 Sevenoaks Road and A20 Sidcup bypass. Hardly scenic but a good way to get speedily back to the lights of suburbia on a short winter’s day.

A sudden hiss at the end of this alerted me to a serious puncture. Fixed it in my usual slow/careful way to then find out that the “new” tube had failed as well. It was starting to get dark so Tim led everyone else back while Ray gallantly offered to stay with me to help fix it. Turned out to be a faulty patch making a curiously musical whistling noise. Relieved at least that it wasn’t a puncture in the same place with all the worries of a third to follow. Back on our way myself and Ray returned through Blackheath.

A decent turnout for the time of year and as almost always of course the rather grim looking weather turned out nice as they say. Will probably return to Farningham and the Lion in the summer though apparently you have to get there early to bag the rather nice outside seats.

Paul