Fun day's riding despite some extra-soggy trail conditions from the melted snow. Will & I warmed up with a few miles on-road from Gomshall Station to Peaslake, after starting the day weaving the MTB among the commuters in Clapham Junction station (thanks to Christmas disorientation it had slipped my mind that today was a normal working day!). Soon joined by Lee, and then George and Jason. With Aodan still a few miles away, the group took Jason for the same introduction to the area I had a year or two ago - up Holmbury Hill (the steep way) and straight down Barry Knows Best.
Aodan was waiting for us at the foot of BKB, so all six of us headed up Pitch Hill off-road. With Will as our guide, we came down Christmas Pudding with some interesting variations, a fair bit of mud, but also some nice dry and fast sections. After hot drinks and cake back in Peaslake, George and Jason headed home, while the other four of us slogged up to the top of Holmbury as the mist closed in - no views to be seen from the viewpoint today. Still, yoghurt pots was lots of fun as ever, after which Will headed over to Dorking via Leith Hill while the rest of us went down Telegraph (swapping places with a group of at least 7 MTBers a couple of times as we went), before one last climb, then a traverse through what seemed like a swamp, and ending on (of course) a final trip down Barry's.
Thanks everyone for a great day out, and see you next time.
As for the other possible MTB rides, it doesn't seem like NYE is on (sorry, Rob), but I'm still up for Bank Holiday Monday (flexible on location) if anyone would like to join me.