Meet: New Cross Gate map ticket office at 8:50 – we’ll take the 9:10 train and change at East Croydon map for a train leaving from there for Oxted at 9:40. Arrive Oxted at 10:00.

Arrive early at New Cross Gate to maximize your chance of 4-for-2 Groupsaver discounts.

Distance: 45 miles

Phone: Paul - 07957 209 322

Another Lewisham ride determined to scoff at the drawing in of the days with an earlyish start to ensure a manageable pace. Pace medium in order to get back before it goes dark.

We’ll be doing a tour of Surrey Lanes and parts of the Surrey Cycle Route and thanks to training it to Oxted and back we’ll be missing out the climbs of the North Downs.

Total distance about 45 miles max with a pub lunch after about 25. Possible short stop just after lunch for farm-made ice-cream. Winter? Pah!

Bring lights of course.

All on road apart from a very short bit of very mild rough surfacing you could almost walk over so suitable for any bike.

Report

Just four of us for a fairly early start from New Cross Gate - Ian, Jane, Liz, Paul. The winter seems to be having an effect on turn-out at the moment but the weather was to prove glorious – blue skies, completely dry.

Jane out on her beloved Roberts and Liz on her still pretty sparkling Thorn despite its jaunt to Spain. Much talk of elliptical chains or something, lugs and other technicalities. Women can be such nerds.

Trains are cheaper from New Cross Gate (it’s also less hassle getting onto the platforms than London Bridge) so four of us got Groupsave tickets to Oxted for a bargain £2.80 return each.

Off the train at Oxted at 10am, a quick bite of home-made cycling snack and we were off through the supermarket car park. A quick left over a pipe near a farm which seemed to be pumping sewage out to the fields.

Managed to take the same wrong turn at Merle Common as I’d done on the reccie so we stayed on course for Lingfield – then a bit on faster B roads past Newchapel and the Temple of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) proudly proclaiming its location as London, England. A quick right and we were back in the lanes. As we approached Smallfield we crossed the route of our regular run to Brighton.

Over the M23 and taking a nifty right down a bridleway we managed to by-pass Horley, passing the Greenwich to Brighton national cycle route. Greenwich beckoned but we pressed on to lunch – a nicely rolling ride – not much in the way of sustained climbing.

We hit The Plough at Leigh about quarter past 12 – a record for one of my rides for sure – and got ourselves a decent seat before the pub filled up with locals and a party of hunters complete with long red socks. Good value food and a decent selection of beers.

Back on the bikes we passed the house with US and Union Jack flags outside. I had meant to take a photo but a couple came out and I didn’t want to endanger international or other relations so we carried on to the farm where we bought farm-made ice cream, marvelled at the computerised milking of the cows (one hopes they aren’t entrusting their udders to Microsoft) and the planetary diagram which plotted their carnal adventures.

We passed the turn-off for Bletchworth and the rather nice Dolphin pub - worth a return in the summer. Crossed the A23 south of Redhill, then cross-country to Outwood and its windmill – another landmark we pass on our Brighton runs. Ian showed an unaccustomed interest in historical matters– apparently it's the oldest functioning windmill in England.

A bit of climbing to Bletchingley, where Jane recognised a bench she’d once had breakfast on (don’t ask), then right down Rabies Heath Road to pause at Tilburtstow Hill for various musings on the great 80s storm which had changed so much of this landscape. Through the woods, a swift left at the bottom of the hill (I said A QUICK LEFT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL). Jane overshot, but we regrouped and meandered back to Oxted.

Wildlife seen/almost hit included a deer leaping a hedge in front of us on the run down to Leigh, a fox crossing the road, an unidentified hawk, and what was either a stoat or a weasel dodging our tyres – Liz is apparently an expert on the small difference but I must admit I’ve forgotten what her conclusion was – at least I resisted the temptation to seek refuge in that old joke - what’s the difference between a weasel and a stoat?- one is weasely identified – the other is stoatally different. Oh well.

Back before 4 I think still in daylight. 45 miles in all – a good ride. We used parts of the Surrey Cycle Route, though it must be said that it’s not terribly well signed. And Surrey doesn’t seem to offer the wonderful quiet hidden lanes of Sussex. Surrey County Council is to be congratulated on its cycling maps though – lots of detail which even gives you information about the cycling terrain on different routes in different weather. Call the usually efficient call centre on 08456 009 009 and they’ll send you the whole set of eight.

Thanks to all for coming – the rest of you get out of bed – some of the best cycling days are in winter – honest.

Paul