Started with the 17 mph which I've been riding for the last 9 months or so with no problem but today just couldn't hang onto the wheel as Grahame and co blitzkrieged down the A23. Struggled to get on. Finally did after dropping off several times. Looked around to see Sam 25 yds behind me. Don't know what was wrong. Felt Ok. Perhaps it was the wind (weather not biological!) After 5 kms gave up. No fun. Waited for Monty's 16s to come pass.
Had a really enjoyable ride from there on it. Nice natter with various pepes. We took the Rusper route. Sam dropped his water bottle. I waited for him. Then we got lost! No idea where we were but eventually found the cafe after 5 mile detour! On the way we were nearly wiped out by a Dutch? (well foreign) driver who turned out on wrong side of road!
Left Monty at cafe clearing cups,plates, mugs etc and doing hoovering and washing up and cycled back with Tim. Stopped to help (well give moral support to) Robyn and co. with puncture. Had a lot of fun watching comical girlie attempts at bike maintenance before the men were forced to take over. The rest of us wiled away the time comparing our pumps.
Eventually a nice group of 8 formed to ride back - Tim, Ian, Robyn, Bridgette, Stuart (Aussie), another rider - sorry didn't get your name, Sam and me. kept together for most of the way. Got to Merstham, Tim rode off like a man possessed, man with no name just stopped, Ian and Robyn rode on. The rest kept together until we got to Coulsdon and we went our separate ways. We rode up through Woodcote and backside of Purley - kept off the A23. Lovely day. Really enjoyed it. Thanks everyone. 90 kms door to door. What cycling's all about.