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Jean Hoblyn, who owns the Barn café at Newlands Corner, between Gomshall and Guildford, says: "If Wiggins came in here, I'd give him a piece of my mind. It's all right for him — they closed the roads when the Olympics were on. But these roads are dangerous, with 60mph speed limits and blind corners. I'm terrified there's going to be an accident."

For Mrs Hoblyn, Mrs Morley and many other residents, enough is enough. "I didn't have a problem with the Olympics," says Mrs Morley. "There was a great atmosphere. We were all proud of our country. The problem is that everybody now comes and practises on these roads, and their mindset is that they are in an Olympic race — riding four abreast and often over both sides of the road."

At this point, James Nicholls, a customer nursing a pint of Surrey Hills ale, pipes up: "I like cycling. I cycle around the village a bit. But these louts have gone too far. They are obnoxious and completely oblivious to any of the traffic on the road. Why should we put up with it? We feel it is Londoners coming down, filling up our roads, with no benefit to us whatsoever."

The issue came to a head this week, as preparations were under way for the Tour of Britain's arrival in Surrey today, with the professionals, led by Sir Bradley, riding a route similar to the one used at the Olympics. A petition entitled "Stop Surrey Being Turned into a Cycle Track" received 2,000 signatures within days of being launched. The petition has struck a nerve for a number of reasons.

Never have Britain's roads been so full of cyclists. In total, 6.8 million people cycle once a month, a rise of 1 million in four years, according to the organisation British Cycling — and a disproportionate number have ended up in Surrey.

All those extra two-wheelers taking to the road is great news for the health of Britain, and most are undoubtedly polite citizens, keen to get fit. But many residents around the Surrey Hills argue that a few of the "Mamils" (middle-aged men in Lycra) are plain rude — spitting, swearing and gesticulating at any car that dares to overtake.

Of equal concern is the infrastructure, which is inadequate for mass-participation cycling.

The region is distinguished by its postcard-pretty villages straight out of a Miss Marple tale — Holmbury St Mary, Abinger Hammer, Westhumble — and sharply winding roads that cut through copses and woods. Many are completely canopied by beech trees, creating stunning, shady, leaf-lined tunnels through which the cyclists hurtle — especially dangerous when they fail to wear bright clothing.

"So often you come across 150 cyclists racing down these roads, with no prior warning," says Mrs Hoblyn. "These are not organised events, just club cyclists who have decided to have an impromptu race."

However, the petition is supported not just by motorists, but by some cyclists, too.

Living on an idyllic farm off one of those tree-lined roads are Jane and David Biggins, who are in their seventies. They keep chickens, a few pigs and sheep, along with a Dalmatian puppy, Polka.

"I'm a cyclist myself, and go every day before breakfast. It's marvellous that it's become so popular after the Olympics, getting kids outside and tackling obesity," Mr Biggins says. He proudly shows me his tandem, which he partly built himself and which he and his wife have used to go on cycling holidays.

His objection is the draconian road closures sometimes implemented, with no consultation and little warning. "We're a farm with a drive leading up to the road. There's no pavement, so when they block the road, we can't get out at all. We have fields on the other side of the road, and we have to get permission to go there to see our sheep.

"We have had three road closures this year. One day it was closed from 6.15 in the morning to 6.15 at night. If I need to get to hay on the other side, there's no way I can put that off; you can't delay farming."

His view is echoed by Ian Huggins, the petition organiser. He profoundly objects to some of the events organised in its wake, not least the Prudential Ride London-Surrey in August, championed by Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London. The event incorporated two separate races: one involving 16,000 amateurs in the morning, followed by 200 professionals in the afternoon. It is scheduled to become an annual event and be even bigger next year.

"I am not allowed out of my front door. It's a cul-de-sac. I can't go anywhere by car," says Mr Huggins, who lives in Esher and runs a clay-pigeon-shooting school at weekends.

"Why, for a charity bike ride, should I be kettled in my home from 5am to 7pm, and not be allowed to pursue my hobby or pastime? This was in August during the school holidays."

What really offends is the lack of consultation. "There was a leaflet put through our doors telling us that our cars would be towed away if we were parked on the roads," he says. "It was a fait accompli."

The road closures have been particularly onerous as many residents, reliant on their cars to go to relatives or shops, cannot leave their homes.

But it is a trend that is unlikely to go away, either in Surrey or elsewhere in Britain. That is because we are witnessing an explosion in events — in their broadest possible definition.

No other country in Europe invests as much time nor as much money on "leisure" as the UK. Last year, we spent £101 billion, a sum that has increased despite the recession and is even more than we spent on food and drink. For many, weekends are no longer about pottering in the garden, but joining a mass-participation event.

Triathlons, almost unheard of a decade ago, now take place on a weekly basis around the roads, lakes and parks of Britain; this weekend alone, there are more than 250 different 5km runs, 10km runs or half-marathons happening; local authorities are more willing than ever to grant licences to rock concerts, outdoor theatres, children's festivals and "winter wonderlands".

The Royal Parks of London have — within a decade – been transformed from a place to walk or sunbathe to a venue for large-scale commercial events. Last weekend, much of Hyde Park was closed off for the ITU World Triathlon, prompting many businesses to complain about the disruption for an event watched by few people.

Tomorrow, the Tour of Britain concludes in central London, leading to significant road closures and transport diversions yet again in the capital.

I ask Mrs Morley what cyclists need to do before she would welcome them.

"Well, for a start they could learn some manners," she replies.