A smaller than expected group of 16, no doubt as a result of grey weather (soon cleared) on Reigate Hill, were ready to go on Saturday morning. Tea stop was Bocketts, so we headed off over to Walton, then cut across to Headley for a couple of pieces of new-to-most-people singletrack leading us to the top of Alsation for the run down. This was fast as always, feeling particularly zippy with the undergrowth encroaching from the sides.

After an unexpectedly outdoor teastop, group keenness suggested an extra excursion to yet more new singletrack would be welcome, so we headed up over Norbury. Somewhere we lost Dave, Colin and Si, and a quick phone call arranged to meet at Rykas. Our route had a steep, tight and so-dry-it's-slippery descent to open with, followed by an equally steep climb, topped with a nasty lump of roots just as you were most knackered. I don't think anyone cleared the whole climb, although Mark made a valiant attempt at the last roots- the photo is a split second before a very sudden fall left! The climb paid back with a gentler descent with a few tricky off camber moments, then we were out of the woods, across to the base of Box Hill, rescuing our lost sheep from Rykas and on up the hill.

Catching some roadies resplendent in Redhill colours leaving the cafe, we made to give chase, but after passing a couple it became apparent we'd bitten off more than we could chew and hooked the G5s! After a valiant effort at keeping up, we were glad to have the excuse to turn off for the return via Headley. The sun was out by now, so food and a chat at Reigate Hill was very welcome before we all dispersed.