I had a pretty zippy group of 8 leaving Reigate Hill with me this Saturday, hot on the tail of Mike and co. Despite taking a less used route to cross the motorway thinking 'they won't have gone this way', we were soon catching up before taking our separate ways again. A very fast run over to Headley had me mentally extending the route so we wouldn't run out! Our first casualty of the day came on Headley Heath as Dave had a suprisingly bloody entanglement with a bramble on the singletrack.
My plan for a longer route was already starting to slip as we lost Lee somewhere in the area of Life on Mars. We found Mike and Co again though. Some quick laps of the area didn't find him until he tanked it up from the opposite direction having found the other group for the last time. Not quite sure how he got there! White Honky was nicely tricky on the very dry and dusty ground and Graham came a cropper, not on the tight, steep and twisty bit but afterwards when it opened out! A scratch to the nose and a fair amount of dust eaten but no harm done.
Up Minty's and an introduction to wizards sleeve before dropping and across the Mole for some of the Ranmore singletrack, perhaps the first time many have seen the likes of Wire in the Blood in the dry. Losses and crashes had rather set back my (extended) plans so we cut things short and headed for Bockets via Rip Van Winkle where Andrew made it a triple crown of crashes with damaged pair of glasses. I think we may need to start putting up safety tape to warn of the scenery!
We arrived at Bocketts too late for the other group, but timed it perfectly to sit inside out of the one shower. Routes home were discussed and the quick way was selected so we actually stood a chance of getting home before tea time. Up alsation it was then, with Mike and Andrew both splitting to hurry home. About 30 miles all in I think, and Colin managed to come back on a club ride and not break anything, so that'll do!
Mat