Ride Report: Wednesday 18 November – Effingham loop
A quick phone call to Jem to find out if he was cycling was met with the “well I’ll go if you are going” so we mutually pushed each other up the road to see who was out.
We met a rather relieved looking James who was sitting at the garage beginning to worry if he was out on his own. However we were soon joined by Barry, still fettling his rear mech on a straightened but still wonky hanger, Tony and JohnR.
With Matt absent I was keen to put in a shortish ride, especially as I was in “more ears than gears” mode. We decided to do our Effingham loop which entails a slog up to Ranmore. The ground was slippery and a surface layer of gooey mud kept us on our toes at all times. Going round the back of Polesden Lacey I found the limits of traction early and had a few moments. This was the way of the ride and a few muddy arses were apparent by the time we got to the end of Collar Bone.
Sneaking through the woods on the way to the Reservoir the mud was just as bad and a light rigid front may not have been the best choice of bike but I managed to hang in, especially now that the worst of the climbing was behind me. Jem and I sat in a steady rythmn for the most of the fire road and the talk was of lights and tyres as we polished off the road section before the long run down towards Dirtham Lane.
Even with the mud this long run is fun, or maybe becuae of the mud it’s still fun. With average speeds much lower than in the Summer I was still pushed hard by Jem as we approached the road. Tony pointed out that Effingham Common would be “fun” and we were soon there agreeing with him. A few trees down on Bookham Common made us make a few detours as we pushed on home.
Around 18 miles was on my clock by the time I got home and it turned out to be a very enjoyable ride!
About the author
Dave's been riding seriously since about 1997 and is one of the founding Molefathers — along with Matt and Mark — that came up with the idea of a MTB website for Mole Valley riders.
He's had several different bikes but it's now mainly 29ers in Dave's stable, apart from an Orange 5.
Current Bikes: Orange 5, Salsa Spearfish and Kona Big Unit
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tony says:
It certainly was the most muddy ride I’ve had on a wednesday night since the spring. I had horrible chainsuck too but when I got home and gave the bike a quick wash down I had half a tree in the chainset!
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Posted on November 19, 2009 at 8:55 pm
james says:
I was starting to think that I had made a mistake and was glad to see Dave and Jem arriving on their single speeds. Just a thought, are you on facebook? Maybe an idea to set up a Muddymoles facebook page?
Anyway another great ride and very slippy, riding summer tyres with high psi probably didn’t help. It was me who had the muddy arse, not from the bike as I now have the excellent rear race crudguard, but from a loss of traction in Collar Bone and a quick off.
My new Thomson Elite post came today replacing the now bent on-one one. I fitted it in my lunch break at work, wow the bike feels so different, so much stiffer then the old on-one which was certainly flexing, I assume it was just a faulty post as this feels as solid I think I will need to drop the pressure in my rear tire. Should help with the climbs which for some reason I seem to be struggling with. My old Cannondale used to fly up them, AndyC may agree as he had a spin around Richmond park on it. Jem kindly offered a free winter tyre, Jem if you send me a text I can pick it up the next time I meet up for a ride, my number is 07977 ****** it would also be handy if any mole wants to text their number to me as I wasn’t sure you were meeting last night but took a chance and as it is an hour round trip by car would have been a waste if no one turned up!! Cheers guys and thanks again.
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Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:37 pm
John R says:
I found Tony’s chainsuck was contagious. Despite the heavy going on some of the muddier bits it was a good evening’s ride, especially the run down to Dirtham Lane.
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Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:51 pm
bikewizz says:
Hi guys, rode B.K.B last night only to discover the new route is open. What a blast had to do it again. Great conditions last night, shame about todays rain. Just get out and ride it.
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Posted on November 20, 2009 at 10:53 pm