Well, it was advised as being a bit longer than the Sunday rides to date but I can see where we went wrong now I have a proper map Yep, we should've turned right and then left almost immediately and we would've been in Barns Green in minutes... as it was it was a very nice lane we went on even if some of the properties showed more money than taste
Up till then I had got most of the turns right as Del and I formed a team of him knowing what route he wanted and me suggesting which turns to take - Del would be a bit concerned it was the right one but then most of the time he'd recognise it and we carry on till the next turn
You can see which way we went from Captain Jon's summary on week's rides above but it was up and down lots of lovely little lanes once we'd got off the club run route at Newdigate, going down Weare Street as a nice change from going up it
Would've been 5 of us but Andy got a call at CSS to say the water was leaking again (he'd already forgotten a water bottle) and thought he'd better go home and sort it out. Sorry John found it too hard and turned back we would've slowed down for you. It was just so tempting to try and tuck in behind the Norwood Paragons for a bit of shelter from that headwind... I wasn't sure if I was going to make it round OK myself...
But I did and I seem to be getting stronger and fitter each time I'm out now
On the way back just at Rusper we spotted a Phil Kemp disposing of his ride buddies after a trip to Brighton and back. This kept the tempo up as we headed back to Reigate. Del turned off for home just after Parkgate and Phil turned into his home road leaving Ben and me to slog back up the lovely A23 where we split at Coulsdon as I took the last hill home (I hate that climb out of Coulsdon to Woodcote Green)
Good ride, nice lunch stop at Sumner's Ponds and 80 miles on the clock for me