Cycling in Surrey

London’s leafy suburbs: the archetypal Home County of Surrey is Britain’s most affluent (highest GDP per head) and most wooded (nearly a quarter by area, twice the average, with lots of green belt). Its immaculate villages such as Abinger Hammer or Shamley Green, with their half-timbered brick cottages, flower-basket real-ale pubs and village green cricket grounds, make cycle touring a delight.

The North Downs separate its flat northern half, bordering London, from hillier southern half. At weekends Surrey’s country lanes blur with the colours of cycling club tops, and during the week there’s quite a commuter tide of well-heeled and well-cleated bikes, too.

The iconic Box Hill, just north of Dorking, is the county’s great climb – it featured in the 2012 London Olympics. It may ‘only’ average 5% and reach a mere 129m (420 feet), but its lovely setting and fine views make it a club and leisure staple.

The best cycling stretch of the Thames path (part of NCN4) is the Surrey leg, running 14 miles or so between Hampton Court and Egham; being almost all off-road, it’s ideal for families. Among the many parklands and nature reserves set up for family rides are Ashtead Common, Blackheath Common, Epsom Common, Guildford Riverside Park and many more.

NCN4 runs through the lovely quiet lanes of Windsor Great Park, bordering Berkshire. Just south of Guildford, NCN223 is a pleasant railpath, and in the town centre, the Wey towpath is very good.

Just over the border in West Sussex, Gatwick Airport is a more convenient option than Heathrow for those flying with their bikes: there are plenty of trains, and a marked cycle route from London (NCN20 and 21, some bumpy off-road sections though). For tourers, the 110-mile Surrey Cycleway loop gives you the best of the county. 

Cycling groups and clubs in Surrey

East Surrey CTC (Croydon)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/east-surrey-district-association

http://www.eastsurreyctc.co.uk/

Small sociable group in Croydon with regular Sunday rides

West Surrey CTC 

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/west-surrey

http://westsurreyctc.co.uk/

Social group with longer distance rides during the week and at weekends

Surrey Cycling Club

https://www.cyclinguk.org/group/surrey-cycling-club

Bordon & Whitehill Community Cycling Club (Farnham)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/bordon-whitehill-community-cycling-club

Top Banana Sports (Godalming)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/top-banana-sports

Farnham U3A Cycle Club (Farnham)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/u3a-farnham-cycle-club

The Source Community Cycle Club (Aldershot)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/source-community-cycle-club

Ash Velo Community Cycle Club (Ash)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/ash-community-cycle-club

TAG Farnborough Airport Ltd (Farnborough)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/tag-farnborough-airport-ltd

Farnborough Fastners Community Cycle Club (Farnborough)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/farnborough-flying-bikers-community-club

Pedal Smart Bike Club (Aldershot)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/pedal-smart-bike-club

North Camp Spokes & Spanners (Aldershot)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/north-camp-spokes-spanners-community-cycle-club

Farnborough & Camberley Cycling Club (Franborough)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/farnborough-camberley-cycling-club

Enigma Cycling (Surrey)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/enigma-cycling

Pedalling Pandas (Surrey)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/group/pedalling-pandas

Winston Churchill School Bike Club (Woking)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/winston-churchill-school-bike-club

Woking Cycling Club (Woking)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/woking-cycling-club

Saddlesore.Bike (Woking)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/group/saddlesorebike

Woking Cycle Users Group (Woking)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/woking-cycle-users-group

https://www.wokingcycle.org.uk

North West Surrey Short Stay School Bike Club (Woking)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/north-west-surrey-short-stay-school-bike-club

Phoenix Triathlon Club (Guildford)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/phoenix-triathlon-club-0

https://phoenixtri.co.uk

G-Bug – Guildford Cycling Campaign (Guildford)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/g-bug-guildford-cycling-campaign

South Western Road Club (Cobham)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/south-western-road-club

http://www.swrc.org.uk/

Road rides of all kinds across SW London, Surrey and Sussex

Horsley U3A Cycling Group (Horsley)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/horsley-u3a-cycling-group

Bike50 (Leatherhead)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/bike-50

http://bike50.org.uk/

Range of rides from easy to challenging for the over-50s

Good Shepherd Cycling Club (Surrey)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/good-shepherd-cycling-club

Ride2Raise (Surrey)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/ride2raise

Dorking Cycling Club (Dorking)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/dorking-cycling-club

http://www.dorkingcycling.co.uk/

Road races, time trials, hill climbs, sportives, and campaigning for better cycling

Reigate & Banstead Cycle Forum (Reigate)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/reigate-banstead-cycle-forum

Bikefit Surrey (Surrey)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/bikefit-surrey

http://www.bikefitsurrey.co.uk/index.html

Fun, social and relaxed led rides of 1 to 2 hours in SE Surrey – busy mums or dads welcome

Anerley Bicycle Club (Anerley)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/anerley-bicycle-club

https://anerleybc.org/

Three regular weekly rides around Surrey

Oxted Cycling Club (Oxted)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/oxted-cycling-club

Redhill Cycling Club (Redhill)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/redhill-cycling-club

http://www.redhillcc.co.uk/

Off-road, touring, club runs, track racing, time trials, road racing and ultra distance

Banstead Belles (Banstead)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/group/banstead-belles

Cogs (Cycle Trails Old Girls) (Surrey)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/cogs-cycle-trails-old-girls

HotXBuns (Surrey)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/hotxbuns

Dittons Velo (Esher)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/dittons-velo

http://dittonsvelo.org.uk/

Welcoming club with rides for all adult cyclists around Elmbridge and beyond

Base Road Club (Surrey)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/base-road-club

Ensono UK (Staines)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/ensono-uk

Cheam and Morden (Surrey)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/cheam-and-morden

https://swlondonctc.wixsite.com/ctcswlondon

OpenMTB (Lightwater)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/open-m-t-b

https://www.facebook.com/OpenMTB

FSI L2P (Epsom)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/fsi-l2p

Wednesday Night Riders (Farnham)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/wednesday-night-riders

Alice Holt (Surrey)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle-centre/alice-holt

Alice Holt Cycling For All (Surrey)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle-centre/alice-holt

https://aliceholtinclusivecycling.com

Surrey Police Cycling Club (Guildford)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/surrey-police-cycling-club

Guildford Bike Project (Guildford)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle-centre/guildford-bike-project

http://shop.guildfordbikeproject.org.uk

100 Climbs Challenge (Guildford)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/group/100-climbs-challenge

Footbiking UK (Surrey)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/group/footbiking-uk

http://www.footbike.co.uk

Cranleigh Cycling Club (Cranleigh)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/cranleigh-cycling-club

https://cranleigh.cc

Bikes Revived (Dorking)

https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle-centre/bikes-revived

http://www.bikesrevived.org.uk

What to take with you on your ride 

The only thing you really need for cycling is a bike. And maybe a phone, and credit card: in Britain you’re only a call away from any service you might need.

But unless money is no object, it’s wise to take a few things with you on a day ride. A saddlebag, panniers or bikepacking bags are best for carrying stuff. A front basket is second best. A rucksack is third best. Your sweaty back will soon tell you why.

Cycling short distances in jeans and t-shirt is fine, but on a long or strenuous ride – over ten miles say, or in hills – those jeans will rub and the t-shirt will get damp and clingy. Shorts or, yes, lycra leggings and padded shorts will be much comfier, and merino or polyester cycling tops wick away the sweat, keeping you dry and comfy. (They don’t have to be lurid colours.)

If rain’s in the air, pack a rainproof top. If it might turn chilly, take a fleece or warm top. But the thing you’re most likely to forget is the sunblock. 

It’s remarkable how often you enjoy being out on the bike so much that you suddenly realise it’s getting dark. So take lights (which are legally required at night). They’re price of a sandwich, take no space, are easy to put on thanks to tool-free plastic clips, and the batteries last for ever.

Take a puncture repair kit (with tyre levers) and pump. Make sure it fits your valves, which will be either ‘Presta’ or ‘Schraeder’ – realising they don’t match is a very common roadside discovery! Carrying a spare inner tube (make sure it matches your tyre size) makes puncture repair much easier: mend the old one back at home. If you do get in trouble, some kindly passing cyclist will probably stop to help.

Using a helmet is a personal choice – they’re not legally required.

Cycling makes you thirsty, so take lots of water. Long-distance riders talk about ‘the bonk’ – a sudden loss of energy rendering you almost stationary. It’s miraculously and instantly cured by eating something sweet. On short rides you’re unlikely to run out of energy, but just in case, take a snack like flapjack, banana, chocolate or jelly babies. 

Taking a packed lunch or picnic will save you money, though that hot drink and cake in a cosy cafe could yet prove very tempting!

Your phone GPS could be invaluable for showing where you are when lost; you can download free detailed UK maps and GPS software before your trip. 

Paper maps are still useful, though, so take one: no power source or wifi signal required, and they’re great for suggesting possibilities or changes of plan.