The long climb up was rewarded with the fast decent down titsey and along the bridleway towards the M25 tunnel, we stopped at the tunnel to repair a puncture when the heavens opened, the tunnel gave us plenty of shelter until the rain eased off.
We headed on crossing the A25 and through Andrew's wood where our second downpour saw every rider pull over to grab waterproofs from their backpacs. Battling the delugewe headed for Jackass Lane and took the section under the A22 through to Leigh Place at high speed stopping at Church Road to replace the waterproofs with sunglasses.
The next section was mostly road until we passed over the M25 and took the short but tough off road climb up to Gangers hill. We reached the entrance to Marden Park for our third and heaviest downpour of the day. The trees gave some shelter but even they gave up after a while with the water pouring down the trunks like a Japanese water feature!
After a small wait the rain eased and we carried on through Marden park, down the popular church wood decent and towards our tea stop at Knights. At 16 miles the tea stop being so close to the start gave some riders the opportunity to bail out (must change the tea stop next time). Jules who was racing the next day opted out and Jack who was suffering from a headache (funny that he usually gives them out) also jumped ship.
After tea we set off up route 21, climbing up Woldingham golf course and across towards Farleigh, crossing Farleigh Court Road saw Aled and Phil C chasing my strava KOM down Farleigh’s Rusk and Phil missing it by only 2 seconds (don’t think I will be holding on to that one for much longer).
We headed towards another Strave section, Frith wood decent, a great twisted single track running along side addington court golf course. Again Phil C nearly taking my KOM but missing it by 2 seconds.
We carried on with the loop climbing up towards Holt wood for our last down poor of the day, back on with the waterproofs. We past through Henley Wood and then back out at the top of the Woldingham Golf Course for our last decent of the day.
25 miles and 2400ft of climbing.
Thanks to everyone who turned up and Rob for back marking.
Colin