That the day would come that I would be seeing how fast I cycled down Alsation

I remember tackling going up Alsation, I heard discussions about people cycling down it and it didn’t appeal to me at all. I then cycled down it and it wasn’t as bad as I had imagined.

Recently in trying to improve my fitness and performance out on rides I have been timing myself going up and trying to beat my time. I know there are plenty of people faster than me but I was pleased when I got my time to 5 mins and 24 seconds.

So on the homeward stretch today I thought hmmmm I wonder how quickly I can go down it, I am sure I would have been faster without all the brambles attacking but I was pleased that I made it down in 1 min and 58 secs.

Dave says it’s asking for trouble seeing if you can get down something faster and I am sure he is right but I was pleased if with nothing else than my change of attitude and missing fear.

Today was Debbie and myself and we had a great ride, up Alsation and continuing up past Headley Golf course, right down the bridleway and across the road into the woods, left at the farm, right past where the naughty horse resides who has his dangly bits on show, out onto the road and left past the Cock in (which has nothing to do with the horse).

Down the gravelly trail, swooping down into the woods, up a long climb which at one stage I did think I may be able to catch Debbie up but then she was off and out of sight, no chance of me keeping up.

Popping out by the Polo club, right onto the road and then a sharp left into a descent and a narrow jumpy downhill, which opens up into a farm then left uphill which I think is near Epsom downs, across the road down a tarmac area and up the chalky section back across the motorway through woods and down a long, loose and rooty section. I have to say I am really noticing a change in some of my down hill now I have a full suss bike.

Across the road and up that sharp climb which then brings you back at Stane Street where we finished back down Alsation (where I started this post about).

A very nice 2.5 hour ride and with the chill in the air it was quite nice not being too hot.

Tomorrow I am going out with another new female rider showing her some trails over Norbury way. I know the 3 femoles that went out Thursday had a great ride too.

A fantastic way to spend the summer playing in the woods 😉

About the author

Cathie was introduced to mountain biking by Dave about 9 years ago but only really been riding regularly since May 2008 when she invested in a new hard tail (a white On-One classic Inbred), a wise investment as a result of being able to trial different bikes at Cycle Works demo day at Holmbury-St-Mary. She also rides a full suspension Giant Cypher which was this year's treat and saw many miles during the summer of 2010.

Cathie has attended skills days with Dirt Divas at Swinley Forest, she would like to improve her skills on bomb holes and her favourite trails are the ride over to Newlands corner loving "Whitedown" and a favourite trail through Denbies.

Cathie loves meeting other female riders of all fitness levels and experience and is hoping for less punctures in 2011 now that both bikes are wearing tubeless tyres!