15 set off from Warlingham on a bright sunny morning looking for a bit of new mixed in with a bit of old.
We headed out towards Farleigh cutting through Mosseshill Shaw and drooping down the fast Bears descent towards Selsdon Nature reserve. A nice loop around the reserve with some twisty single track with a few tricky rooty sections before emerging out at Court Wood Lane where just like last week the dreaded puncture monster took his first victim…..Me!
A quick tube change and we were heading up to Frith Wood with one of my favourite sections in the area, a nice twisty downhill single track running alongside Addington Court Golf Course. Unfortunately this was interrupted by a fallen tree at the top so may have to return with a chainsaw in the next few weeks.
We then headed past the scout camp at Frylands Wood towards Little Farleigh Green where Terry left us to play a badminton match! Nice to see Terry back out on a Saturday.
The rest headed through Farleigh Golf Course for the adrenalin rush of Frith Hill decent, a half mile twisty downhill section with some reaching speeds of over 30mph.
All emerged at the bottom with smiles on the faces and tales of near crashes and over cooked corners.
One long climb up Crabs Wood and then off to Chelsham to our new tea stop at Amano café, who ordered the Americano???
The 2nd part of our ride started down Woldingham Golf Course decent which saw a few Evans riders coming up in the opposite direction, this slowed a few off us down and scared a few coming up!!
The steep climb up Great Church Wood nature reserve then taking the secret single track section in the opposite direction as normal (puncture monster No.2, me again) and the thought of climbing back up Tandridge Hill Lane after our next decent saw a few riders bail out at the top of Marden Park.
We waved good bye to a quiet Jack (makes a change) Cheryl and Jon and I set off before the rest down Al-Fyed Drop to set up on a corner to take a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx_v7CRy8Fg&feature=plcp
Puncture monster struck again at the bridge with Robert being the next victim on his new XTC 29er.
After the long climb up Tandridge Hill Lane we took another new section for most past Chaldens Wood Farm where at the top we saw great views across London.
Heading back past Marden Park Farm, time was ticking on thanks to the puncture monster so decided to cut the end a tad short and selected to climb back up to Warlingham via Bug Hill.
Back at the village and a custom on my rides saw a few riders in the garden of the White Lion topping up any fluids lost in the ride!
Considering the rain we had the last week the trails were in perfect condition and as usual the company wasn’t too bad either!!
Thanks Rob for back marking.
Colin