The temperature at Rykas was -6, and the cold took its first casualty straight out of the car park, as Colin's rear mech froze up, sending him home to defrost. Things went well for a while, with some cracking singletrack down mintys and some tough climbing over Headley. We passed our exalted Chairman out for a spin on fat tyres on the road, and after that point things started to go wrong.
First was a chain break from Jack, then a puncture for Phil, then another one on Smokers Hill with a thorn that looked like it could've hung a picture. By this point the main group had gone on ahead, so Phil, Si and I powered on down Stane Street until just before the turn into Alsation where I took a chunk out of the sidewall of my tyre. Fixed that and carried on to Bocketts, cup of tea, lost some going directly back to Reigate Hill and decided to take the short route back as we were running late.
Up Infestation and on to another puncture at the top of Norbury Park, so a good start on getting back quickly. Halfway down a good bit of cheeky singletrack, one more puncture, then down to the A24 and Rykas. My bodged tyre started losing air quickly, so does that count as another puncture?
It was cold, there was a lot of stopping, but it was a fun morning out. Even so....
.....come back Connor, we miss you!