Cyclists in Surrey

Sansa85

My partner and I are moving south west of London from the Leeds area as he has just been offered a new job. We like to get out on our bikes 3-4 times a week but we're used to country roads and few drivers. We've found a few properties we like in Cobham http://www.gpees.co.uk/forsaleoffice/Cobham/714 but I'm a little anxious about cycle routes in the area. Is it possible to avoid major roads and traffic? Or is it something we're going to have to get used to?

monkimark

Cobham = good cycling.
I'm looking at moving out that direction myself later this year.

drlodge

If you're moving to Cobham you must be considerably richer than me

The roads are likely to be busier that what you're used to, but there are plenty of non-main roads that are fine for cycling especially as you go towards Guildford. You've got a lot of busy cycling territory round that way like Box Hill and the North downs (Leith Hill, Ranmore and down to Cranleigh) and sometimes the cyclists out nuimber the cars!

What kind of mileage are you typically doing? That will dictate how far out from Cobham you can go.

simonhead

Cobham is nice, lived in the area all my life. As the good doctor has said there are loads of nice roads but they do get very busy at times. There is a cafe in Ashtead called Bike Beans, they do rides from the cafe one evening a week and also at the weekend. Bring you bikes down and go out with Jamie and they guys, they will show you the area and are happy to chat over a coffee and cake.

jibberjim

Sansa85 wrote:

My partner and I are moving south west of London from the Leeds area as he has just been offered a new job. We like to get out on our bikes 3-4 times a week but we're used to country roads and few drivers. We've found a few properties we like in Cobham http://www.gpees.co.uk/forsaleoffice/Cobham/714 but I'm a little anxious about cycle routes in the area. Is it possible to avoid major roads and traffic? Or is it something we're going to have to get used to?

There are roads near Cobham that are more overrun by cylists than cars... there will be drivers, there aren't that many, but there are a lot of cyclists...

elbowloh

Look out for all the Chelsea players in their big cars.

DesB3rd

Cobham does have access to some nice areas, only a couple of miles to the downs etc.

But:

a.) Really busy; I cycle there & nr. Newmarket, the backroads around NM seem empty by comparison - and wholly devoid of cyclists.
b.) Major roads can be dodged but the layout often means a run along the e.g. A25 might get you where you wan to go a lot more quickly.
c.) Surfacing is hit & miss; there seems to be an ongoing campaign by local highways to improve the worse roads (proper resurfacing, not sh*tty chipseal) and they're making some progress, but plenty of backroads still have pretty awful surfaces.

IShaggy

As others have said, Cobham is great for cycling. From the high steet you can turn down Downside Road, and then onto Plough Lane. Within 5 minutes you're on quiet country roads with not much in the way of traffic. 20 minutes later you're in the Surrey hills, and you're likely to see more cyclists then cars out there. You will be surprised by how many cyclists there are. Some days it's like riding in a Sportive.

Here's Box Hill on a quiet day

philbar72

Cobham is a great base of operations to get cycling. South of there you have the surrey hills, and box hill is busy but not too busy (the pic above is a bit farcical). you have the royal parks of windsor and richmond nearby and you can get out to Henley and the Chilterns fairly easily.

flasher

I've lived in the area for years, but it's getting mental, on our club ride yesterday we must have come across at least 2 different sportives + loads of other club runs, individuals etc. like the M25 at rush hour!

The worst thing to have happened was the Olympic's everyone seems to think it's the only place to ride, personally I like the Chilterns more, quieter and the road surfaces are better maintained.

thepeopleschamp

I recently moved to the surrey hills and even as cyclist myself had I known how full the roads are with bikes on weekends I wouldn't have moved here. Going out in the car on a weekend is ruled out unless we absolutely have to.

I viewed my house in winter so didn't get an idea of how bad it would be. My advice would be view any houses you're considering on a Sunday morning/afternoon to get an idea of how many will be around, you may be surprised.

Also consider how near the house is to the road, mine is right on it so I can hear the cyclists shouting from the front bedrooms from 7am.

MiddleRinger

Check any road you're buying on for Strava segments....

CXrider

MiddleRinger wrote:

Check any road you're buying on for Strava segments....

Ha.

twizit

Flasher wrote:

I've lived in the area for years, but it's getting mental, on our club ride yesterday we must have come across at least 2 different sportives + loads of other club runs, individuals etc. like the M25 at rush hour!
.

Does depend what time you head out though. Surrey hills are my usual stomping ground heading out from Surbiton, and it's not that hard to find very empty roads if you know where to look... but then I do usually head out before 7am on a weekend.

Head back up the Portsmouth Road from Cobham to Esher between 9.30 to 10am on a nice weekend and it will be a near constant stream of cyclists heading South in the other direction!

Box Hill has just got stupid though. I've been there at 7.30am and found myself in a crowd of other cyclists heading up :shock:

Ben6899

Twizit wrote:

Flasher wrote:

I've lived in the area for years, but it's getting mental, on our club ride yesterday we must have come across at least 2 different sportives + loads of other club runs, individuals etc. like the M25 at rush hour!
.

Does depend what time you head out though. Surrey hills are my usual stomping ground heading out from Surbiton, and it's not that hard to find very empty roads if you know where to look... but then I do usually head out before 7am on a weekend.

Head back up the Portsmouth Road from Cobham to Esher between 9.30 to 10am on a nice weekend and it will be a near constant stream of cyclists heading South in the other direction!

Box Hill has just got stupid though. I've been there at 7.30am and found myself in a crowd of other cyclists heading up :shock:

I got to Box Hill on Sunday at about 11am. Red hot weather, as you'll know, and also an Evans sportive going up there. Yes, it was busy, but I didn't really find it a problem.

Just choose another cafe for the pitstop, rather than the one at the top!

homers_double

ThePeoplesChamp wrote:

I can hear the cyclists shouting from the front bedrooms from 7am.

Lazy gits, they should be out way before 7!

CXrider

I find the box hill run always a nice experience, whether quiet or busy.
I do tend to ride on weekdays though so I have not yet experienced a bunching effect when hundreds of us are out.

For a quieter test, just go a mile out and take on Leith Hill. It has many different permutations of ways up and it's many times more challenging than Box Hill anyway.

Strith

I find surrey a nightmare to be honest, it's very busy and full of moron drivers. I would recommend you get out early or late evenings and stay off the busiest roads.

thepawbroon

Hello,

Another vote for Bike Beans - great cafe, really friendly and a brilliant range of rides.

Regarding your question, if the job and move to London are attractive, then Cobham is a good place to live. I presume you've looked at the commute to/from places of work - that can be a nightmare. But to be honest, in Surrey all the best cycling is in the areas mentioned above. Outside of the peak times and Sportive events, it is quiet enough. Direct cycling access to the area is possible for most cyclists from anywhere in SW London-Surrey (let's say a rough arc from the M3 to the M23/A23). For example, I'm a real lardy and enjoy a cycle from home (Carshalton) 20 km to Bike Beans (Ashtead) then out on a 45 km ride with them via Box Hill, then to the mother-in-laws in Ewell for Sunday lunch (15 km) then home again (10km) and never feel worried by traffic.

What my rambling is trying to say is, there's a huge area you can live in and still enjoy cycling in Surrey. But Cobham is a nice place, if you can afford it.

Good luck and maybe see you at Bike Beans one day.
cheers

thepeopleschamp

CXrider wrote:

For a quieter test, just go a mile out and take on Leith Hill.

The problem with Leith Hill is that it's just as busy as Box Hill now for cyclists but as you say, it is more challenging.

It means in the car you have you follow the slowest rider up at about 4mph. It's steep and winding with blind bends and blind summits and there really aren't that many safe places to pass. Especially with inexperienced cyclists swerving without warning and others descending at you at 40mph, you really can't risk overtaking. It's a national speed limit road but it's single track, you need to take it easy!

I've been in the car and had to follow cyclists pushing their bikes up and had others wave me past and when I haven't gone I've had them turn around and shout abuse at me! - I've also had the reverse, I live at the top so cycle commute it outside of peak cycling hours and I've had drivers lean out their windows and shout at me for being there, you can't win!

Strith wrote:

I find surrey a nightmare to be honest, it's very busy and full of moron drivers. I would recommend you get out early or late evenings and stay off the busiest roads.

I'm stuck in the middle of this. I ride these roads and drive them and I can see both sides. I guarantee I've had more abuse from drivers than most people and equal amounts from cyclists whilst driving too! On balance I'd say the drivers do tolerate cyclists well but the sheer numbers, particularly large club runs from London and newbies training for Ride London, do cause problems.

There is no solution, the cyclists have every right to ride the roads how & when they like and the locals have no choice but to drive there (not everyone fancies riding Leith Hill every time they want to pop to the shops!)

I'm trying not to rant about Surrey cyclists I'm hopefully giving some useful info to the original poster!