Thursday thoughts

“I bought a bike last week and rode straight out the shop to here for my first ride here and my first night ride”

” I have been persuaded to lead tonight, glad it is only twenty seven”

” I am new tonight so that is why I am hiding”

“Don’t look, he has no head”

“Does my bum look big in this?”

” whistle – check, wristguards – check!”

“now you see me, now you see me”

” Are you ready Mike?”

” I hope this headset is back the right way round”

” How hard can it be?”

” I don’t want to turn around, what is he doing?”

“I can’t see from here”

“I can”

“I feel like a doppleganger”

“why is everyone else’s bike the wrong way up?”

“do you like that lycra feel?”

“not the feel, just the look”

Learning to fly

 

It lies in wait, hidden in the undergrowth and waits to catch you unawares. Daunting, dangerous, defeatable. Many of the obstacles on a mountain bike trail are challenging; narrow gaps, steep drops or a log structure that makes you girdle your loins and race to certain doom on the hidden side but the most fearsome for some is the natural jump.

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4 days in Wales

We arrived at Bryn Bettws Log Cabins situated in the heart of the Afan forest late on Thursday night. It was the first full season the cabins had been open and we quickly made ourselves at home celebrating St Patricks day with a few cans of the black stuff.

The next morning we woke early and got stuck into making packed lunches and sorting our bikes out for the days riding. By 10.30am we’d driven over to Glyncorrwg MTB centre only to discover that a few of the Afan trails were closed due to winter damage and the Japanese Larch virus that was forcing the Forestry Commission to fell 13% of the trees in the area.

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Swaning around Stanmer

It was a chilly night as I raced down the hill to the new meeting point outside the Swan Inn.  A little bit late again.  I’ve been coming out for the Thursday night ride for the last six months or so and therefore still see myself as bit of a rookie, especially in the wet.  The variety of the rides according to the differing conditions, the complex web of trails and the knowledgeable company means there’s plenty of scope for entertainment. Continue reading

Breaking in 2011!

Alex' new wheels

Our post Xmas ride organised by Laura and Alex via the singletrack world forum went off without too many problems, at least for those who actually made it to the meeting point.

The roll time was upon us when my phone beeped. It was Brian reporting that Alex had slipped on snowy roots and tumbled, he couldn’t walk, his wife had bundled him into the car and they were on their way to A&E.

After witnessing this Brian decided that the trails were too slippery so he wimped it and headed back home. Continue reading

Last night ride of 2010

An ennead of riders took to the trails on the last night ride of the year with everyone hoping for a fast, dry ride. I had arrived early and already ridden some of the trails and found the climb a slog and some of the trails saturated. Hopes for dry trails were about to be dashed immediately on the first climb.

 

 

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California

Lake Perris was a convenient start point for an 18 mile ride. The trails are dry all year round and the claim is that they are dry within a few minutes of any rain stopping so no need to plan, just meet up and ride.

Trees, obstacles and narrow singletrack were missing but really it is riding in scrub desert. Doubletrack seemed to be old Jeep trails but they seemed an endless run of these so if you lived out here you could either put together an endless mix without repeating the same trails or perhaps get completely lost and die in the heat. Continue reading

Best Tuesday Ride Ever?

After 2 years of riding with Brighton MTB, I thought it time to finally submit a ride report. During this time I’ve ridden in the Alps, Wales, Scotland, Quantocks and Forest of Dean, amongst others.
None of the above were worthy of a ride report (read “I couldn’t be arsed”).

The historic event that finally produced a report could cynically be seen as shameless self promotion – it’s a Tuesday night “Mile Muncher” ride. Continue reading