After spending a lot of time building this blog in the early part of this year, I haven’t been out on my bike now for the best part of three months. Why the hiatus you might wonder?

Well, predominantly boredom I’m afraid to say. Most of the winter was spent slogging round the same old routes which took some shine off things but I don’t think I can really blame that. I just think that after nearly four years of constant riding you start to get a bit jaded. That’s only natural I would say. When you start to find things a becoming a chore, things like cleaning the bike after a ride or mending a puncture, or it just seems too much trouble to take the Camelbak bladder out, clean it and refill it, I think it’s time to take a break.

Added to that, there’s an element of creative exhaustion. This blog took a lot to get right, having built Mk I it was obvious it needed further work to get to the Mk II version we currently have. Sorting out all the little details, like archive layout, photo styles, search results pages and everything else that makes the difference between a proper website and a ‘bedroom homebrew’ site also took time.

Actually, I have ridden once, last Thursday into work (a round trip of 26 miles). I was hoping to enjoy it but I really found it a slog. I don’t think it was a lack of fitness, although I only averaged about 9.4 miles/hour over the whole trip but that might have been a contributing factor. Tomorrow (Friday), I hope to try it again and we’ll see how that goes – at least I feel in my own mind that I won’t be shirking out of the ride at the last minute so that’s positive.

So, to my fellow Moles, apologies for not being out. There is an important group aspect to mountain biking and I know how frustrating it is when others cry off at the last minute. I didn’t plan to be out for this long but the news is, I’m coming back. When my head (in all respects) is ready for it of course! (which I hope is this Sunday).

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.