Great G3 turnout, clockwise exit from the 'drome, under the motorway.
Passing Sharon and Ade's G-whatever groups on Prince of Wales Road, Alison swapped rides at the crossover.
We turned left, past the Castle Pub, the splintered Windmill (past Sharons group again) and down Hornecourt Hill. No speeding today with a horse part way down the hill.
Kept a reasonable pace to Blindley Heath and looped north around Lingfield. As Keith made the green lights on Racecourse Road, the rest of the group waited. A classic 'next left' from Curran-nav saw him head up St Piers Lane, but fortunately he heard the shout as we headed for Hollow Lane.
By now the weather was perfect for the ride down Smithers and Furnace Lanes. Shame the centreline still covered in chip 'n seal gravel. Grrr.
Cowden, over Hartfield Road and down Moat Lane. The sharp climb on Bassets Lane seems to get easier each time. (Must check with Eistein's quote on insanity)
Next, the fab fast loop round to Chiddingstome (Sharons group just pulling in), down Mill Lane to Bough Beech and up to Four Elms. Nick took a random turn at How Green Lane, then headed for lone punishment on Toy's Hill x 2.
Meanwhile, we arrived at a bursting Four Elms, queue out the door. Fortunately, the mega group that detered Ade's earlier G2 group was just leaving, so we battled it out with another SWRC bunch for the tables. Never seen so many bloody cyclists....
Revived with coffee and cake, a route back through Malpit Hill, Hilders Lane, up Honeypot Lane (with its epic-bad road surface) kept us out of the wind.
Best climb of the day kept till last, Tilburstow, nice. Must be going nuts, quite enjoyed it.
Fantastic views (no, not you, Stuart) from the car park on Rabies Heath Road.
Up the A25 then turning off down Outwood Lane to the (ex) Windmill again.
Just over 47 miles, decent pace, great bunch and good company.
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