with Mark Davison
Maison du Velo café, Lesbourne Road, Reigate RH2 7JS
I N THE hot and blazing July sunshine the other afternoon, I got on my bicycle and pedalled a few miles into Reigate to meet my sister for coffee and a snack.
She had heard from a friend that a new café had opened in Lesbourne Road and we should try it out. It forms half of a new cycle shop selling top-range brands and bicycle helmets, clothing and other equipment.
So it seemed appropriate to arrive at the venue on a bicycle – but obviously mine was a humble machine and quite "uncool!".
In the searing heat and with temperatures in the high eighties, I was puffing a bit as I climbed the hill into Reigate so was quite ready for refreshments and a seat out of the scorching sun.
Propping up my pedal cycle against the wall, I glanced up and saw what appeared to be an old-fashioned cycling advertisement dating back many decades. But it wasn't. It was a brand new "retro" piece of work giving the impression the business had been running since the year dot.
I stepped inside the building which for many years was occupied by the Bourne Gallery. I recalled passing this spot many times and admiring the large stunning paintings in the window and glancing curiously at the price tags before hurrying on.
Indoors a band of cheerful and chirpy girls were serving sandwiches, coffees and cold drinks to mainly thirsty cyclists.
In the old days there were many such tea shops and the like, offering drinks and fare to cyclists out and about in the Surrey countryside. Now, following a resurgence in the sport following last year's Olympics, those days happily appear to be returning.
I went up to the counter in the bright and breezy café and explained I was waiting for my sister but it appeared she was running a bit late. I noticed on the blackboard that one of the drinks on the menu was lemongrass and ginger and asked for a glass to slake my thirst. Then I realised that this was one of the infusion teas on offer.
"Do you have any cold drinks?" I enquired.
"Yes, they're in the fridge," came the reply. The list was run through and I was tempted most by the pear and ginger bottled fruit juice. Something nicely old-fashioned about that, I thought. A little "Enid Blyton" perhaps!
As I sat there sipping the drink, I studied the menu and learned that those about to set off on a cycling trip – and others, of course – can call in for breakfast. On offer was scrambled eggs with smoked salmon or crispy bacon (£4.50) or toasted sour dough with bacon and homemade tomato ketchup.
Waffles with maple syrup were available for £2.50 or you could select a pear and black pudding sausage roll (£3).
Lunches are served between 12.30 and 2pm. The teas include English breakfast, Earl Grey, camomile and peppermint (large, £1.65 to £1.95; small, £1.40).
There is an assortment of teas and coffees and cakes, too.
In the corner, two cyclists tucking into lunch after a long ride were glancing up at a cycle event being shown on Sky Sports on a large flat screen TV mounted on a wall.
A few yards away were shelves of cycle helmets of all different colours and designs. Stands of cycle wear occupied other parts of the shop.
Looking around, I estimated there was seating for about a dozen customers and bar stools could accommodate a similar number.
The floorboards had a period look to them but it was not easy to establish whether it was a clever lamination or whether they were the originals.
My sister walked in, sighing a little. "I've been stuck in traffic on Cockshot Hill for 15 minutes," she said. "The thing is there's no reason for it."
"Perhaps it's the roadworks at Woodhatch," I suggested.
"No, it isn't that," she insisted. "I think it's just people queuing to get in and out of Priory Park and Morrisons."
I ordered a toasted mature cheddar sandwich with "cheeky chilli chutney". My sister opted for a similar sandwich, untoasted.
The two cyclists finished their lunch and bade farewell to the waitresses.
I enquired if they had cycled far.
"I've done a week's cycling in the French Alps and have just cycled up from Newhaven but came up through Ardingly rather than the main road. I'm ready now for a bath and a rest, but we thought we'd stop for some lunch here."
His account made me feel ashamed that I'd only pedalled in from a short distance away.
For "afters" we selected large chocolate and raspberry cookies dusted with icing sugar.
As I savoured every bite, washed down with the pear and ginger juice, I gazed up at the expensive De Rosa bicycle suspended in the window and then at the copies of Cycle Story and Pro-Cycling magazines dotted around the tables for people to peruse.
It dawned on me that this corner of Reigate is building up quite a little community. In the same parade are a number of little shops including a florist, another café a baker's and the Busy Bees house cleaning service.
