Finally a break in the constant, interminable weather provided since May during what passes for our "British Summer". This week has seen temperatures of 30 degrees, drying trails and general pleasantness. I got out for a couple of quick solo rides early in the week and last night Mark, Dunnie and I met at the Pilgrim for a proper ride - Tom had threatened to join but then jilted us by text, deciding instead to go for a solo ramble in his unending quest for anonymous man-love.
Mark and I were slightly concerned that Dunnie had fitted a new rear brake in record time, feeling the subsequent odds on mechanical failure would be rather short. We needn't have worried - Dunnie's brake held up without problem, only his new Terminator riding glasses and the rattle from his seatpost lever providing any impediment to unruffled progress throughout the evening.
We rode over Ranmore, taking in the log roll, Reformation and Numbskull then onto Deerleap Woods and up to the A25 and Wolverns Lane. Despite the warm weather our pace was unrelenting and we rode through to Coldharbour. Resisting the temptation of the brilliant service and wonderful welcome of The Plough we pushed on to the Redlands jumps then into the woods proper to ride White Jam and the new link up to Firebeater and S&M.
Finally we rolled back along the road to Dorking and The Star where we imbibed a couple of refreshing libations and regaled one another with gentlemen's tales of mirth and mishchief.
A quick ride through the Surrey Hills with a group of 40 something mtbers who really should know better!
