I met Ben, Nick, George, and Martin and Grahame who was passing on his way out for a ride joined us.
After the cold night we decided we'd see how it was in the lanes. Martin turned back early, at Green St Green, not sure why but Ben said he'd turned back.
Once we turned in to the lanes they were okay but there was a couple of patches of ice so we decided to take it easy rather then push on. Some frosty bits but under trees nothing had got through and they were just wet.
After Tatsfield we started to head South and thought it would be better as we were loosing height coming off the North Downs Ridge. About a mile later we were going down a lane which was messy, twigs and gravel, but looked just wet. Then my front wheel went sideways and I went down. I looked back to try and warn the others and saw a collection of wheels and legs in the air. Ben at the back stopped in time but George, Grahame and Nick had also come down.
Looking at the road there was a big patch of diesel which was cold and had become like ice. No actual ice as there was no sheen on the road, hence no prior warning, but it was slippy as an ice rink.
Grahame and Nick were okay and I've just got a very small bit of rash on my thigh. Unfortunately George seemed to have stretched his leg out and it was sore just below the buttock. He had a bit of shock and was very stiff limping up the road to the junction. We met Nick's wife here, Nick had phoned her and she very kindly came out to give George a lift to his parents. I've spoken to him since and he said he was okay but stiff and wisely going to A&E to get checked over and find out what he'd done to his leg.
Fingers crossed it's not too bad, a muscle stretch or something, and you are back on your bike asap. Feel guilty as it was a ride I was leading and don't want to crock the club's best tester.
The rest of us rode up Botley and back home. At the top of Titsey the roundabout was also lethally slippery but without any ice sheen either, don't know if this was also diesel spill but demanded tip-toeing over.
A shame as it had been quite a nice start with loads of cycists out today.