Dorking in lockdown

 

the professional race

police have a good time too

Or so the letters page of our esteemed local newspaper would have us believe. Today the RideLondon 100 charity and London-Surrey Classic race takes place and just as when the Olympic cycle race came through Dorking last year a number of roads have been closed to traffic. It is such a shame that people should see it as an attack on their personal freedom with emotive remarks like 'inprisond' and 'kettled in our own homes', but then drivers have had a pathological hatred of cyclists for years. One often quoted remark is 'they do not pay any road tax' but then again neither do the motorists. They pay a Vehicle Tax, and the link between that and road maintenance ended way back in the late 1930's. It is instead the responsibility tax payers at National level and local tax payers at County level, so everyone pays in one way or another.

 

 

On a tour with a very young Rob

20,000 riders will be coming through Dorking, some rather faster than others, but 100 miles is not to be taken lightly, as I know. Many years ago I liked to cycle on a lovely touring bike called a Raliegh Royal, mainly on Sunday mornings around the Surrey Hills, with rides up to 60 miles. The longest trip I ever did was to Dymchurch, and at 75 miles, it was about 6 too long. Ah well the scenery was nice even if my knee thought otherwise. The significance is that 20,000 people will be able to enjoy Surrey without the fear of being run off the road, and it doesn't end there as yesterday 8 miles of road in central London was closed to traffic (which has a horrendously high death rate among cyclists) and an estimated 50,000 enjoyed a stress free ride around London's landmarks.

 

Boris Johnson may appear to be a buffoon (he does actually ruffle his hair before going on camera) but what he is doing for cyclists gets a thumbs up from me at least. As for me, well now days it more sedate on a mountain bike pulling my Veelar trailer full of tools to the allotment, keeping off the road as far as possible.

 

As the cyclists leave Dorking they will pass its most iconic landmark, The Dorking Cockerel. We have had it on the roundabout that is the crossing point of the A25 and A24 for six years now and was its self the subject of many complaints from the 'town that likes to say no' as a waste of public money. It was in fact financed by the civic development fund from nearby flats and public subscription (the reception after the unveiling was very nice). The 'Dorking' chicken is said to have been introduced by the Romans and is distinctive by having five toes and being good for both eggs and the table, it was widely farmed in the area but now only bred by enthusiasts. Our neighbour kept a few until the fox called, but that cockerel was a thing to be reckoned with. 

 

For Prince George

The statue is now a well established, and dare I say loved, feature in the town attracting the attention of Dorking's guerilla knitters who adorn it on special days through out the year, the last one was to celebrate the birth of Prince George with a pair of blue booties. Even the Council has stopped warning them of their mischievous misdeeds, so maybe there is hope for Dorking and with luck the RideLondon event will continue for years to come.

 

Easter bonnet

Queens Diamond Jubilee