Took a nice group of 17s out today. Must have been going well because we nearly caught the other 17s - we could just see them ahead on the Reigate humps with Alex hanging off the back. But Brian needed to get cash out in Reigate so we waited for him at the common. We were furthered delayed by a puncture a few miles down the road (Bryan again) so I asked the group if they wanted to do the full Monty or go along Partridge Lane and miss out Norwood and Rusper Hill.
No one seemed unhappy at taking a slightly shorter not so hilly route

So we ground up Partridge, it being a bit of a drag still and then raced down to Tanhouse. As the other 17s had been driven along at a cracking pace we weren't that far in advance of them.
Box Hill not being a favourite route I started off with the Box Hillers and then at the back of Pixham, I turned right into Tilehurst Lane and headed over to Brockham via Root Hill - almost got taken out in Brockham by a jogger with ears plugged up and not a glance at the road till almost too late

Turned left at the green and then right after crossing the Mole. Didn't go quite the way I intended but ended up on a road I haven't been along in donkeys, turned right along Sandy Lane and then back onto Wonham Lane just before the deer park and then back in the new usual way out.
I do like the new route out - may keep doing it when the Flanchford bridge reopens - and without the direct route back it's making me pick other routes back around Brockham. Of course I might do Box now and again just to ring the changes, though I may also go up via Little Switzerland and up through Headley and/or Walton-on-the-Hill. Anyone's welcome to join me
