Seven departed the 'drome for today's G5 ride. It was very windy, damp and grey but when you've got a group of such strong riders, including members of the racing fraternity, in the group what could go wrong ? Quite a lot, actually!!

Chris, Gavin, Brian, Ollie, Peter, Stuart and I set off at a brisk pace, heading out towards Bletchingley via Smallfield and Outwood and so our problems began. Brian was not happy at the back of the group - a place he is never normally to be found - the effects of a virus that he thought he'd shifted making things very tough for him. He decided to take his own route to our planned tea-stop, The Tudor Rose at Westerham.

Now 6 we pressed on for the first major challenge of the ride, White Hill Lane. With it's 20% gradient this hill is tough enough but here our problems struck again. A dangerous combinaton of damp and diesel just before the start of the hill saw Stuart fall heavily on a corner. Ouch.

Stuart remounted after some rubbing of legs and arms and we set off to tackle the hill and so to the mechanical...

Gavin lost his chain on the steepest section of the climb, stopped dead on the 20% gradient...and also fell !! After sorting his chain and remounting Gavin rode down the hill and rode up it again and we re-grouped at the top.

On then via Caterham-on-the-Hill to the next climb, up to Woldingham - none of us could match Chris's pace as he dropped us all, although Ollie gave it a good go.

Now the pace really picked up as we rode the ridge and then dropped fast into Westerham...touching 40 mph at one point...fantastic !! Now our luck changed - just as we arrived at The Tudor Rose cafe so did Brian.

Perfect timing and a well earned stop for tea and cake. After a short break we rode on to the final hill, the climb to the top of Toys Hill via Brastead. This is a long, ramped climb and Brian was back, staying with the group and even riding on through at the top when the rest of us eased up. No doubt he'll be back as strong as usual next week.

Now we headed home via Edenbridge, Lingfield and Grinstead into a strong headwind. Thanks to all 6 riders - great ride in tough conditions. A special mention to Peter who helped with the route, to add an extra 5 miles on at the end.

51 miles / 16.7 av.mph / 3200 ft of climbing