Nine riders left Kenley Station on the long climb up Welcomes Road, this climb it’s usually done in silence but not this time! The sound of chatter from behind was an indication of the group’s fitness and Julian keeping me company on the way up debating whether a creek was coming from my bike or my knees!
We headed over to Farthing downs taking in some nice drops on the way and then down Badgers Table Tops with one rider finding a nice badger hole! The bruised ego looked worse than the bruised knee!
I found a new section of single track a few weeks ago leading up from Happy valley through Broad Wood with a short technical climb at the start. Once I mention to the group I had not made it up the climb yet without a dab the gauntlet was down! Mat determined, he set off back down for a 2nd attempt! If he was on his mountain bike and not the cyclecross I think he would have made it?
Leaving the cover of trees the forecasted shower was 10 minutes early!
8 out of the 9 riders did not seem to mind but one rider who was on his first MTB ride this year did not like it! Not mentioning any names but he was a bit BRASH!!!
With the promise of more tree cover just around the corner he soon cheered up and by the time we got to view point the shower had passed.
The short shower made the run from view point to Sanderstead Britannia interesting with wet roots and the slippery steps to Quarry Road, Mat with a full audience making the steps look easy on his cyclecross.
The Tea stop at Knights Chelsham was a welcome sight after the big climb up from Woldingham Golf club and already clocked up 16 miles!.
The second half of our ride was a little shorter with only 8 miles to cover, this passed through the blue bell infested Kingswood before crossing over to Riddlesdown for a bit more new single track, (one for Phil C’s commute home).
A good 24 miles with plenty of banter, a lot of laughter and a pub finish!!
Colin