Letter: West Surrey Cycling Club Celebrate 100 Years With ‘Legendary’ Carrot Cake

Published on: 20 Sep, 2021
Updated on: 20 Sep, 2021

By Alison Warren

West Surrey Cycling Club member

50 members and partners of West Surrey Cycling Club (WSCC) celebrated 100 years since the club was formed in 1921 with a 54 mile ride in glorious sunshine to and from MCafe in Cranleigh (Sunday, September 5).

Angela Lee and her team at the cafe served up a delicious afternoon tea including the legendary carrot cake that has firmly put MCafe as a go-to destination for cyclists from far and wide.

West Surrey Cycling Club members celebrated their club’s centenary with the “legendary” carrot cake at MCafe in Cranleigh.

It was wonderful to see a sea of yellow and blue WSCC shirts and to hear chatter and laughter far exceeding normal levels (apparently).

Phil Gasson (Rides Secretary) provided some lovely words to mark the occasion. He ended by saying he hoped the club would still be here in another 100 years. Hear, Hear.

Back in 1921, founder members of the club, Gar. Gribble, Jack Eldridge and Bill Inder all played football for a local Surrey team. After their Saturday match, they felt at a loose end on Sundays and Gar.Gribble suggested, as all three sort of had bikes, excess energies be worked off with Sunday bike rides.

Early April saw the three climbing up to Newlands Corner for their first outing of 18 miles. The following week Hindhead was the destination with an increased mileage of 36 and a pot of tea at the top at a cost of 1/6d (7.5p) for three!

More joined from the football team and destinations widened to Alton, Dorking, Beaconsfield and Cranleigh, with mileages averaging about 50 for afternoon and evening. Soon there were all-day rides on Sundays and the first Easter tour was in the Salisbury and Stonehenge area.

West Surrey Cycling Club members taking arest during their 54 mile centenary ride.

The club has flourished and membership has continued to grow. Today WSCC, a branch of Cycling UK, has over 200 active members who live in and around Guildford, Woking, Godalming, Farnham, Haslemere and Camberley.

The club caters for all levels and ability in a way that is social, enjoyable and safe. Rides today aren’t just on a Sunday and take in the wonderful scenery of Surrey and surrounding counties and are led by experienced ride leaders.

New members are welcome, so get in touch and we can find a ride that suits you.

Please contact Neil McIntyre (new rider coordinator) on 07778 593601 and he will discuss with you the ride options and availability.

For further information, please visit www.westsurreyctc.co.uk