Norwood Paragon Cycling Club

CLUB GRAVEL RIDE: CATERHAM – DOVER
2022-06-02 06:00 - 18:00 (Europe/London) | Tupwood Lane, Caterham
What: Gravel ride
When: Thursday, June 2
Distance: 86m
Ability level: Technical – medium, Fitness – high
Simon Richardson will be leading a gravel ride from Caterham to Dover this summer, open to all members and friends of members. It’s a big day out following the North Downs Way and Pilgrims Way down through Kent to finish at Dover Harbour for a dip in the sea.
Although there are only two major climbs on this route, fitness required is high due to the length of the ride. Technically it’s not too demanding with a mixture of bridleway, tarmac, tracks and paths making gravel bikes the best option to cope with the mixture of terrain and keep the average speed up. A cross bike would work just as well and if it’s dry a file tread tyre is recommended. A mountain bike would likely be too slow, so not recommended for this ride.
The meet point for the ride is at the bottom of Tupwood Lane where the Sustrans route 21 crosses the A22. For users of the What3Words app, thats forget.coffee.fancy. The ride will be leaving at 6am, please do not be late.
The aim is to reach the Dirty Habit pub in Hollingbourne for tea or coffee at 9am, Canterbury for lunch around 12.30pm and Dover harbour for fish and chips and a dip in the sea by 2pm. The finish point on What3Words is depth.dignitary.remote. Simon rode the whole of the North Downs way in two days last last autumn, writing about it for CW. Check it out if you want to know a bit more about the ride.
If you want to look at the route in more detail it’s plotted here on Komoot. Premium Strava users can download the gpx here.

What will I need?
All the usual spares including tube(s) pump, tyre levers and tools and a whatever you think you’ll need for the journey home, change of clothes etc. The two stops mentioned above are for food and drink, but there is little else on the route. It goes through a few small towns but skirts around most built up areas, meaning you’ll need to be self sufficient with enough food for the ride. Swimming trunks and a lightweight towel are essential for those who fancy a swim. Please no mankinis.
Getting home
Trains from Dover Priory station take 1hr 5m to get to central London with prices starting at around £37. It’s a fast service so please check how to book a bike on. Otherwise invite friends or family down for a day on Dover beach (pebble beach, but nice on a summers day with plenty of places to get food) and get a lift home. They could even meet us on the way. Hollingbourne is just by Leeds Castle (M20 junction 8) and Canterbury is always good for a day trip.
Please let Simon know if you intend on riding via info@norwoodparagon.co.uk

NORWOOD PARAGON X 1904RT TRAINING DAYS
2022-06-05 14:00 - 17:00 | Surrey
Norwood Paragon will host two race and ride skills training days in 2022, in association with its race team, 1904rt.
The sessions will be coached by Ian Watson (manager of Team Brother UK – LDN), and will be suitable for riders of all levels. You don’t need to have prior race experience to attend, or even an intention to race, but there will be plenty to learn for those who do have a few seasons under their belts.
Skills covered will include cornering, sprint technique and bunch skills.
These sessions aim to help riders to grow in confidence, in readiness for whatever cycling goals they have in mind.
The details
Dates: Sunday, April 3, 2-5pm and Sunday, June 5, 2-5pm
Location: Cyclopark, Kent
Free for Norwood Paragon and 1904rt members, £5 for guests
Sign up
April 3: https://bit.ly/3GW1rsN
June 5: https://bit.ly/3IjGjN0

Club time trial #5 - Crowhurst
2022-06-07 19:30 - 20:00 | Crowhurst Lane, Crowhurst Lane, United Kingdom
Join us on June 7 for time trial number five around Crowhurst, just south of Godstone. It’s flatter than the Bletchingly circuit, but does have one climb followed by a smaller, short, sharp kicker before the finish line. The loop is ridden twice to make a 12.7mile event. The start and finish are in Crowhurst lane where there is minimal parking. Start time is once again 7.30pm so arrive with plenty of time to sign up and get your number on your back.
The course
Start in Crowhurst lane and continue to the end of the road where you turn left on to Tandridge lane. Follow this to the end where you turn left into Ray Lane by the Red Barn pub. Stay on Ray Lane for just under a mile before turning left into Lingfield Common Road (if you find yourself in Lingfield, you’ve missed the turning). After half a mile turn into Crowhurst lane and follow the road all the way to the start line where you repeat the course.
Startline on What3words – priced.sailor.coffee
In line with CTT regs, all riders must wear a helmet and have a working front and rear light.

June's Thursday evening gravel thrash
2022-06-16 19:00 - 21:00 | The Inn on The Pond, Nutfield Marsh Road, Merstham, RH1 4EU, United Kingdom
Come and join the Norwood Paragon and discover some new off-road routes in and around Merstham, Bletchingley, Oxted and Caterham. The June ride will take in this new route down to Outwood along some lovely hardpacked paths around fields and through woods, most of which you wouldn’t even know were there. There are also some lovely houses on the route, hidden away from the usual roads we ride.
the first half of this route is quite flat with the first climb coming when we get back to Godstone. From there we climb up to the Caterham view point before making a decision on where to go next. If time is against us we’ll drop straight back down to Merstham, if not we’ll chuck in another loop around Caterham and Chaldon.

What you’ll need
An off road bike with all the usual spares including tubes, pump, tyre levers and multitools. Lights will also be needed as it’ll likely be getting dark when we get to the finish point. Water is essential, and bring food if you think you’ll need it for a 1.45hr ride. Dress according to the weather and keep in mind it will get cold quickly once the sun goes down. We recommend a gravel bike, but mtbs and ‘cross bikes would be fine.
The ride will be leaving the Inn on the Pond at 7.00pm, please don’t be late. If you’d like to know more you can contact us via info@norwoodparagon.co.uk

*****CANCELLED*****Club time trial #6 - Newdigate *****CANCELLED*****
2022-06-22 19:30 - 20:30 | Newdigate TT course, Rusper Road, Newdigate, United Kingdom
*****CANCELLED***** roadworks on course 🙁

We’re back on the Newdigate course for our first interclub of the year against the Dorking CC. It’s the same 7.3 mile course used in May, but with a bit more of a competitive edge with club bragging rights on the line. Interclubs are won by the club with the fastest aggregate time of their first six riders, meaning these events are often won by the club who get the most riders out. We won this event last year, and we’ll need our fastest riders out if we’re going to do it again.
First rider off at 7.30pm, so please give yourself more time than a usual club tt as there will be more riders. We also need to know in advance who is going to ride, so please contact our TT sec Simon Smythe via the email below, or via the clubs What’s App groups.
We will be having a pub night social gathering at the Six Bells pub in Newdigate after the race, so even if you’re not racing, please do come along and join us for a drink afterwards.
The course
Head south down Rusper road (toward Rusper) before turning left into Partridge lane and following it all the way round to the finish by the 30 mile-an-hour sign as you come back into Newdigate. The course is rolling, but with no climbs. There is usually minimal traffic on the course, but please look out for farm traffic and private driveways. Riders can use either a road or a TT bike.
Start line location on What3words – honest.shorts.elaborate
In line with CTT regs, all riders must wear a helmet and have a working front and rear light.
*****CANCELLED*****

Club pub night
2022-06-22 20:00 - 22:00 | Six Bells Pub, Newdigate, Village Street, Newdigate, Surrey, United Kingdom
Where: Six Bells pub, Newdigate
When: Wednesday, June 22
Come and join us for a drink after our interclub race against the Dorking CC. Hopefully we’ll be celebrating another win, but if not, all welcome to come and commiserate with us. If you’d like to ride the club tt – it’s a 7.6 mile undulating course and is a great way to test yourself – get in touch via the email below.

Club time trial #7 - Bletchingley
2022-06-28 19:30 - 20:30 | Bletchingley TT, Waterhouse lane, Nr Bletchingley, United Kingdom
We’re back on the Bletchingley circuit at the end of June, and this time it’s the big one. The interclub TT against our old rivals the Addiscombe. After years of humiliating defeats last year we finally came out on top, and we want to do the same again. But for that we need numbers, so whatever your fitness levels, no matter how good your skinsuit is, please do come and ride. And ride fast. Once again, as it’s an interclub please let our TT sec Simon Smythe know if you intend to ride as a start list has to be produced for this race.
And ride or spectate, do come along to our pub night at the Bletchingley Arms afterwards. Hopefully we’ll be celebrating another magnificent win!
The course
Start where Waterhouse Lane joins the A25 and head up toward Bletchingley. Carry on through the highstreet before dropping down toward Nutfield where you turn left into Coopers Hill Lane. From there follow the road all the way down to Smallfield where you turn left and head back up Scotts Hill and continue on back up to Bletchingley. Finish line is at the top of Outwood lane.
Startline location on What3words – lifts.parks.fees
In line with CTT regs, all riders must wear a helmet and have a working front and rear light.

Club pub night
2022-06-28 20:00 - 22:00 | Bletchingley Arms, 2 High Street, Bletchingley, RH1 4PE, United Kingdom
Where: Bletchingley Arms, Bletchingley
When: Tuesday, June 28
Tonight is the big one. Our interclub against our old rivals, the Addiscombe CC, and we’ll be heading to the pub afterwards. The two clubs – both originally Croydon based – have been rivals for decades, but it’s a friendly rivalry and the gloating in the pub for the winning team tonight will be much enjoyed in the Bletchingley Arms. It’s a big pub with a great outdoor area and a really nice menu. Come and join us for a drink, find out more about the club and what we do.
