Ride report: Sunday 22 August – To Holmbury and back
15 riders gathered to head off together onto the Surrey Hills this morning. Quite where we were heading wasn’t immediately apparent.
When Jem and I arrived at the car park there was a bit of a weigh-in going on as Paul901 had his scales hanging off his bike rack. It’s a great way to upset people!!
As the chat was in full flow I started by checking to see if Matt had a route; nope. Then I asked Colin; nope. On that basis I suggested as we’d been East two weeks ago, West last week then it must be South today. Initially Leith Hill came up, could anyone remember the way round the back of Westcott? Several blank looks.
So how about we do the Leith, Holmbury, Abinger Roughs route in reverse? This seemed to meet with some approval and so we head of in that general direction with a plan to head down White Down. Present were Matt, Jem, Colin, JamesPro, Ray, D’Andini (The Great), OtherDave, MarkW, Ian, Jez, Keith, Erick, Paul901, Tony and myself.
Jem was nursing a non-working thumb after an off in the week so I was steering the route away from anything too hairy. Having said that it turned out to be a great route and I could see smiles from riders old and new as personal achievements were exceeded.
So I found myself with Jez at the front of a pack of 15 riders as we picked our way towards Polesden Lacey and under the two wooden bridges. With a bit of moisture under the tyres there was just a small question mark over the amount fo grip we might find. As I lofted the Spider over the drainage gully I was confident and nailed the downhill making sure it was clear for those behind.
Managing to carry speed up the other side, I stayed ahead of Jem for a fair way before he and the other whippets got the better of me. At the Ranmore Road we gathered up and it was pleasing to see the pack re-group without too much delay.
I pushed forward again with the lead pack as we turned toward Scouting for Boys before turned left in formation along Badger Run and then Collarbone. With a slight gradient I was able to roll past Jem as the 29er wheels proved their trail flattening, fast rolling qualities again.
Regrouping at the top of White Down was even quicker and we quickly headed down as I watched JamesPro dance his Inbred across the trail in front of me. More grins at the bottom of White Down and we crossed over the field with the big ruts catching a few of the more Senior Moles out, causing a bit of bunching at the back.
The route through Abinger Roughs then threw down an option that the Nocturnal Moles used on the Solstice ride. This sent as a bit further towards Newlands Corner before turning left and coming into Holmbury from the West. A trail first for me and one I found excellent before picking up the back of one of the Reservoir trails and heading towards Barry Knows Best.
A quick check to see who hadn’t done BKB showed a couple of hands. We quickly discussed the main things to look for and then I set off hot in pursuit of the Great D’Andini. BKB always fills me with a great sense of glee as I get reminding of the great first section before we hit the new berms at the end. Try as I might I could sometimes close on D’Andini but never fully hassle him and I contented myself with frantically trying to get my pedals right going round the berms.
As the team rolled up at the end a few of us headed back up for a second run while the rest headed to purchase delights from the Peaslake Village store. On the second run down it became apparant to me that my arms were getting tired and I failed to flow the trial as well the second time.
Hot chocolate and flapjack were duly passed to me by JamesPro and I found CliveB outside sitting astride a Santa Cruz Tall Boy. It seems as though the 29er thing might slowly be spreading to the racing crowd although rumours of this being prompted by a struggle to keep up with a Niner SIR 9 will probably be hotly denied!! ;oP
Lots of chatter gave way to the need to head back and hence we headed up the road to pick up the direct trail towards the trig point and then Yoghurt Pots. Yoghurt Pots proved to be in good nick and fast although a few of the pots produced some heavy compressions for me, forcing me to stay on my toes and keep my weight mobile. More smiles all round and Jem was sorely temped to take his SC Blur XC back over the route again. Possibly stopped by his sore thumb!
A quick debate produced a winning vote for my preferred exit off of Telegraph Road and so I headed off again. Telegraph Road has suffered muchly in the last year or so from over use and the track is getting wider and wider. Roots abound and I heard a dismayed cry from Colin behind me as he got one wrong and ended a bit wide of the mark.
After taking the exit I wanted there was some chatter about the little stump that lies at the bottom of one dip and how it caught someone out even though the knew it was there.
The group filled up again and I picked my way through some recently forested trails, trying not to head butt a tree that nearly caught me on the exit of a double dip. Form there it was just a blast towards “Girls in the tree” and then a noodly, rooty little entrance to a fast steep descent. Colin classed this as Pure Classic Dave trail and I don’t think I disagree with it. Big up to Paul901 for clearing this section as he confessed it would have beaten him a few weeks ago.
A short section of road work and then we ducked left behind the Volunteer pub onto what I believe is called Raikes Lane. This eventually spat us back to Abinger Roughs and we slogged it back up White Down.
Ian got a puncture towards the top and as that was being fixed 6 of us split off to get back to the car park, allowing JamesPro to get some brownie points as well as pick up some of bike carriers from me. It was at this point Keith engaged his second engine and prompty took off like a bat out of hell causing me to raise a quizzical eyebrow as I struggled and failed to make inroads into his lead down Yew Trees.
A tiring but extremely enjoyable ride which must have been around 25 miles or so. Not sure my speedo is accurate at the moment having changed tyres recently.
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
There are 14 comments on ‘Ride report: Sunday 22 August – To Holmbury and back’
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Matt says:
I made it 26.5 miles for me Dave which is probably quite close to what you’d normally read, although I headed down Crabtree for the final mile.
Great ride today, my kind of riding, hard work, flowing and not massively technical but with a few moments in there. BKB was awesome despite my fears given the damp roots.
I found myself and Keith having to slow to a near standstill a couple of times to make space as we kept catching those ahead of us, can’t remember the last time I had to do that.
Also managed to drink nearly all my Camelbak’s contents and have dispatched a couple of pints of water this afternoon which, along with the energy gel and snack after climbing White Down means I’m feeling pretty good.
Of course, that might just be because the cheese straws at Peaslake Stores were excellent as usual, including Colin’s-ahem-volvo shaped one ;o)
Great to see they’re serving decent filter coffee too, surely it can’t be long before they start serving cappucinos and machiatos to the more discerning coffee fans?!
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Posted on August 22, 2010 at 6:13 pm
paul901 says:
Nooo, the coffee was spot on Matt. As soon as places start playing with espresso exctractions, poor milk steaming, dirty cloths and coffee mess lying around whilst trying to keep the queue of customers flowing it spelss trouble. They have it spot on offering filter coffee, easy to make, minimal waste and minimal mess.
I really thought my legs were too flat to take the whole ride and thought about asking Tony for some of the energy from Tony’s paunch that I knew he wouldn’t have to call upon. I hope for everyone’s sake he doesn’t burn it off one day and put the hammer down.
That’s also my sort of ride Matt for exactly the same reasons. I made myself a thai noodle soup when I got home (loads of fresh ginger, spring onion, chicken stock, dash of fresh chilli, lemon grass sticks, five spice seasoning, green beans mushrooms and carrot). It occurred to me that in the middle of a night of pedaling it might be a pretty welcome energy boost! Oh, and beans on toast tonight, pefect recovery food. It doesn’t take much excuse for me to turn from biking to thoughts on food.
Thanks to all those looking out for us at the back.
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Posted on August 22, 2010 at 7:19 pm
John R says:
It sounds a great ride – I am very envious. I heard the details from Colin who I passed outside Michael Cain’s house, on his way home from Bockett’s.
I had picked up a sprained wrist surfing in Wales, so instead of a challenging Moles Sunday ride I took the easy option of a quick trip up Ranmore, Box Hill and Stane Street.
Hopefully I’ll see you all Weds.
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Posted on August 22, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Andy661 says:
Hi All
Had been planning to join you but enjoyed myself a bit too much last night! 😉
Did wake up on time but when there was still more than one of me in the mirror the thought of 25 miles was a bit too much!
Went to change my tyres this afternoon and found the front (for which Jez provided a fresh inner on Weds) had gone completely flat with a tear in the valve join.
Putting the Panaracer Cinder’s 2.25 back on so with a bit of air in them shouldn’t get too many more flats.
Anyone know any good inner tube multibuys at the moment?
Off to Notting Hill Carnival next sunday and then the following weekend is a long one in Wales. Hopefully Mach 3 followed by The Beast! 😮
Can’t wait!!
Catch you all soon.
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Posted on August 22, 2010 at 8:50 pm
KC says:
Great route! It was a good combination of xc and technical man made trails with some lung busting climbs and fast decents.
Thanks to Tony and Jem who held the gates open on Whitedown as this allowed me to selfishly complete the climb in one go. I was pretty much running on empty at the top as I had pushed early thinking we would stop at the gate so I was thankful for the tyre replacment stop to regain some oxygen.
Yew Trees from Ranmore is on my regular one hour circuit so given that you lot were still talking I thought I would steal a lead and see if I could stay ahead up to the wooden bridges.
Tony got me on the last climb of course!
I also sucked the last drop out of my 3 litre Cammelbak before the A25 so was pretty thirsty at the end.
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Posted on August 23, 2010 at 9:25 am
Jez says:
It was a good way to do some riding over peaslake. I clocked 37 by the time I got back to Epsom so rather pleased with that effort.
Amazingly I didn’t fall asleep in the afternoon after. Maybe these recovery drinks really work as it was the first time I’ve tried them.
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Posted on August 23, 2010 at 11:14 am
Erick says:
Amazing ride, even though I was knackered by the end.
I clocked 35.2 miles from the car park and back.
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Posted on August 23, 2010 at 10:23 pm
kc says:
35.2! You must stop zigzagging Eric!
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Posted on August 24, 2010 at 9:04 am
Erick says:
It’s the fat finger syndrome. it’s actually 25.2!
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Posted on August 24, 2010 at 9:54 am
JamesProH says:
Was a really good route, not much stopping and managed to keep at the front! ish. Managed to get home 10 minutes before I said I would so some brownie points earned.
Also many thanks to DaveC for the roof bars:)
See you all Wednesday night.
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Posted on August 24, 2010 at 2:56 pm
DaveS says:
It was a great ride! – once I got over the initial shock of the speed you lot were going I started to really enjoy it. Thanks, as ever for looking after the boys at the back! Note to self – get fitter!
I was confused as to how fast JR knew about where we’d been (his txt to me was at 13.24 on Sunday) – the man has spies everywhere!
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Posted on August 25, 2010 at 11:53 am
John R says:
Dave S – If I succeeded in confusing you, then my day has been worthwhile. 😉
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Posted on August 25, 2010 at 12:03 pm
DaveS says:
Who was I chatting to on Sunday re sailing??
anyway I did my day skipper practical with firstclasssailing.com
Good luck!
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Posted on August 26, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Dave says:
DaveS, you were talking to Ray about it. He’s a member on the forum now.
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Posted on August 26, 2010 at 11:20 pm