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Rob on a roll...

The weather was great, the company was very enjoyable,  the trails were bone dry and Rob handed out loads of free beer at the end. What more could we wish for. This ride was returning a  favour to some folks from Tunnel Hill Trolls who showed us around their playground earlier in the year.  Jay and Andy gave themselves plenty of time to drive to Brighton and arrived way early, newbie Garth arrived while Pete and Rob got stuck in traffic but at 10am about 12 of us were ready to roll.

We headed up to the South Downs Way via a section of sneaky singletrack, the pace was pretty quick and we regrouped at Black cap before dipping into a section of singletrack that took us all the way Lewes. It is 14 months since we cleared this trail and sections are starting to get overgrown,  not to worry the nettle stings helped to focus the mind! A puncture delay provided the opportunity for some building and a jump was hastily thrown together across a fallen tree, Neil and Martin cleared it while others had varying success on the log ramp across the tree root ball. The only way to go was up and the grind back to the SDW beckoned but not before a select group made a complete pigs ear of repairing a broken chain with a powerlink, careful use of pliers sorted things out and we had no excuse to delay the forthcoming climb.

We arrived in Stanmer Woods at noon and immediately went into the singletrack. The jumpy trail was a hit and we hooned around it before deciding to split into two groups, one to blast  the singletrack and one to take it easy and practice some of the technical challenges, with an agreement to meet at the tea rooms. A few of the usual suspect trails were dispatched with displays of jumping and re-doing sections, the two tree rides were their usual fun and as ever the second one which looks the simplest was very tricky and caught out more than one person. Rob was determined and after a couple of attempts cleared both of them. The log rolls on Ill-in-the-Head were bone dry. Everyone who attempted them cleared both, Rob did the first one stopped and then restarted for the second, luckily he made it accompanied by much whooping and encouragement. The final tree ride caused a few intakes of breath, the locals cleared it but newcomers found it awkward. Jay cleaned it and at the 3rd attempt Rob came flying over and safely down the other side. We all regrouped for the cheeky route to the tea rooms and it put a smile on everyone’s face.

Fed and watered some of the gang headed off towards domestic duties while the rest of us climbed the tarmac road for more singletrack fun. Highlights were riding up and across the broken wall into a small bomb hole and the final blast through the main singletrack and out into the playing fields.

It was 3-45pm when we arrived back at the carpark. Rob cheered up aching legs and lungs by producing a box full of beer bottles which we rummaged and quaffed while reminiscing about the ride.  All in all a great day out.

Photos to follow.