With all the good weather I thought it about time I did one of my 'fair weather commutes'. From home to work on the road is about 11 miles and although pleasent is nothing to write home about. The route is pretty much all on back roads and on this occasion took me just under 48 minutes to complete averageing about 15 mph which I guess isn't to bad on the mounatin bike.
I am lucky that we have a shower at work so am able to properly freshen up once there; we also have a staff canteen to get a well earned breakfast if required although on this occasion that wasn't needed. I always feel good at work on the few occasions that I do cycle in but get distracted throughout the day thinking of the route home which is far more fun than the road journey in.
So come 4 (I work 8 to 4 which is great especially in the summer) I quickly get changed back into the cycling gear, head out of the building, unlock the bike from the crowded bike rack and head off on the long journey home.
The 1st mile or so takes me out of Redhill via London road and Carlton road (hear I bump into a couple of mates, Andy and Ed who are working on Marks new house extension) and then into the off road stuff starting at Gatton Bottom.
| After a close encounter with a dog that decides to chase me and nip at my legs I stop and wait for what seems like forever for the owner to eventually get hold of the animal so I can continue on my way without the dog yapping at me. From Colly Hill I carry along the top of the downs eventually coming out near Pebble hill. From hear I stay off road and nip over to Headley Heath and then on to Mickleham down. | |||||
| The weather is hot, the trails are quite and its great to be out on the bike. From Mickleham Down I join Stane street and head down there and eventually come out on the road. A quick blast down the road, past Rykers Cafe and then under the A24 where all the traffic is que'd back towards Leatherhead due to the continued road works in Dorking. Once on ht either side of the A24 I head of into Denbies and then cut back to the edge of Dorking at Lime Terrace. | |||||
| At this point I get a call from George and arrange to met him at the fisheries car park in 15 minutes between Westcott and Dorking. So I head off along the lower slopes of Ranmore, join the old coach road there then head down past the UNUM building cross the A25 and meet up with George. By now I'm getting tired but along with George we aim for a pint up at Coldharbour (I have to go that way to feed my mums cats at Coldharbour whilst she is off camping in Dorset). | |||||
| George leads the way and we end up heading up past the fisheries, across the fields up a couple of paths over Logmore Lane then through 'Barking Dog Farm' and onto Leith Hill. George shows me a new track which he is in the process of making and after a bit more winding around we have a final flourish down 'Crooked Furrow' to finish at the Plough. Its now about 6.15 but the pub is open and as we settle down for a pint of Tallywhacker a few of the locals turn up (Dave, Vicky, Terry, Alan, Barry, Andy to name but a few). With my pint finished I walk the few yards down the road to my mums place, feed the cat and clean up the litter tray before returning to the pub and collecting my bike. | |||||
| With my pint now finished I head for home down the road via Ockley to Capel where I eventually arrive in time for dinner. | |||||
