Ride report: Sunday 24 July – Reigate XC fun
Today saw us heading toward Reigate and Gatton Park, from the outset an XC kind of run. Despite the billing though, we managed to squeeze in a decent portion of singletrack fun to make it worth our while, thanks in part to Phil from Muddy Ground.
The idea was partly planned to cater for a returning Jem who has been given the all-clear to resume gentle exercise, which provided him with the perfect excuse to meet us at Headley. In part though, we just hadn’t been over to Reigate for a while. In fact until this week I don’t think I’d ridden to Reigate off-road for about six months, although as luck would have it, this would be my third ride along this route in four days thanks to a bit of commuting.
So at Bocketts we had Ray, KevS, MarkyMark, Tony, DaveC, Rob, Karl, Lord On-One, Tommo and Newboy (Lee). We left the car park and pronptly disapeared into the track that parallels the road down to the farm, a new one for me that’s brisk and unchallenging but certainly beats rolling down on tarmac.
After crossing the road it was notable that DaveC was setting a quick pace on his 29er singlespeed before pulling up sharply with a puncture at the Thorncroft vinyard. Such faffage and some pumpage got us underway again but by the time we reached Michael Cain’s place it was causing trouble again. Leaving Ray and Dave to faff we headed on a few hundred yards and waited for them at the foot of Alsation. And waited.
After an eternity during which whole civilisations grew up only subsequently to perish in a fiery apocalypse, Dave and Ray were underway again. I blame it on the flints.
So with cold legs but warm backs in part thanks to that fiery apocalypse but more pertinently due to the welcome appearance of a hot sun after days of June rain, we started on Alsation. It’s overgrown now, with parts of it little more than a green tunnel and after three ascents in four days my singlespeed legs we feeling it but up we went.
I don’t think Tommo’s 16kg Norco was doing him any favours but we kept going at the top and I led into Life on Mars. Even after all the recent rain the trails were only muddy in places with usually plenty of grip. It’s quite a climb uphill over several fallen logs but I slogged on and after reaching Tyrells Wood we carried on toward Headley. After those few singlespeed rides recently my legs may have felt tired but the one gear effort was finally coming to me.
On reaching the car park at Headley we bumped into first my colleague Kimberly and her riding friends but also Phil from Muddy Ground, as well as Jem who we were planning to meet. For a while Headley was pretty busy!
After a bit of chat we were underway again, heading toward the North Downs Way, dodging over grown bridlepaths and horses. Tommo had decided to bail out due to the effort of lugging a heavy bike around heavy trails but the rest of us continued under Phil’s guidance.
Our standard route to Colley Hill this got hijacked by Phil showing us what could have been a trail if you were feeling kind but more likely was just an experimental wander through a bracken field. I think Phil was taking the locals-only thing a bit far personally (only joking Phil!) but it did provide a bit of variety from what was proving to be an increasingly hot dash across country.
At Colley Hill we meandered across the ridge, taking in the best of the views and avoiding – as much as possible – the worst of the cow pats. After all the recent rain the air was cystal clear and you could easily see across to the South Downs without much effort. A beautiful view.
On reaching the Gatton tea rooms Phil offered to show us more singletrack through the park which gave us all a chance to earn our tea-stop. Jem decided to save his energy while the rest of us disappeared after Phil along some cracking wooded singletrack. I’ve always guessed there must be stuff in these woods but nt being local I’ve never had time to find it. Some lovely meandering trails seemed to suit the singlespeed rather well. Even the eventual climb back up to the tea-room didn’t seem too bad and certainly better than the sanitised climb I’ve been doing earlier this week.
Heading back to Headley, we picked up more of Phil’s singletrack finds through Margery Wood, heading toward the gold course where the Senior Open was in full swing (boom-tish!). With no route across the gold course I took the pack round the edge along a nice twisting bit of doubletrack that narrowed into singletrack as it skirted round toward the club house. We were on public trails and off the course but I still don’t think the golfers we saw were particularly impressed to see our mole-pack of ten or more riders hooning along!
Crossing the road it wasn’t long before we were rolling into Walton on the Hill, past the Blue Ball pub and the pond and then across the road and off toward the fast descent toward Headley. It takes you down and under the M25 where the climb to Headley starts to dig in. Just keep spinning or if you’re singlespeeding, keep grinding.
At the Headley road we parted from Jem and carrie don, retracing our steps to Tyrells Wood and back along to take in Life on Mars in my favoured direction. This leads soon after to Alsation which needs a bit of care at the moment as it’s so overgrown.
By the time we’d got back to the Bockett’s car park I think we were all feeling that for an XC ride we’d managed to squeeze in plenty of fun, even without Secret Singletrack or Gear Selecta which were on the cards for the Headley section. Yes, it was slow at times with the need for faffing but on the whole it was a ride with plenty of work to satisfy me. About 23-23 miles from the car park I reckon, nearly 26 for me door-to-door.
A really nice way to spend a summer Sunday morning.
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.
There are 19 comments on ‘Ride report: Sunday 24 July – Reigate XC fun’
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LordOnOne says:
Thanks for a great ride! The route was longer and far more fun than I had imagined.
Another good thing was that only one other rider saw me overshoot a corner and stack into the hedge.
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Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:37 pm
Dave says:
Yes, an amazingly good ride.
Tiny flint cut in the side wall of the crossmark refused to seal with latex so a tube was required in the end. I think it’s going to require a patch but will see when I take it off in the garage.
Kudos to Rob for clearing a sizable tree that was blocking one section of the uphill from Gatton. Big enough to have chainring marks in it.
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Posted on July 25, 2011 at 5:32 am
PIJ says:
Ha ha! That ‘experimental meander’ works quite well the other way as it avoids the mud of the parallel path, but is somewhat rubbish if you hit it head on coming in from the West as we did. The ferns are just too mad. I do appreciate that it is an acquired taste. More gardening work required? Possibly that and a few horses. Honestly coming the other way it’s a nice little thing and more obviously a proper trail, albeit a tad overgrown in parts. I don’t know; you Moles just want it all on a plate with GPX data supplied four weeks in advance in triplicate….. Tut tut.
You could have used the parallel path to my ferns one to get back to Headley via the duck pond and avoid the golf course when in full swing – there’s a bridge over the M25 not too far away. It’s a bit of a mud and bracken fest but sorts the men from the boys. I’m guessing most of you would know the trail if you’d come down from Colley onwards. You’d certainly know where it came out – near to the better downhill to Headley.
I think Mr Dog Walker looked to have taken umbridge with my Gatton route choice – but then most people would with a dozen sweaty mountain bikers steaming past of a quiet Sunday morning.
Nice to have teamed up with you guys for once ;¬)
PIJ
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Posted on July 25, 2011 at 6:36 am
Jem says:
Really good to get out with other Moles again after a fairly long absence.
Struggled a little climbing up to the Cock at Headley where I departed your company.
A bit pi55ed!! You did’nt tell me it was muddy out there, I’ve got my Blur all dirty now 🙂
Hope to be out a little more often now.
Cheers Guy’s.
Nice to meet and have a chat to the new bloke Lee. Aparantly he live’s round the corner from me. He also rides with someone who would be keen to join us once in a while, goes by the name of Colin. He tells me he pretty good at endo’s to, love to see that.
Keep an eye for him.
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Posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:56 am
Colin says:
Lol @ Jem
I may not be ridin, but i’s watching!
I have been a little rash and set myself a target I need to prepare for. See the registerd entries list for D2D.
Week 1 of my 10 week plan started yesterday. I have some work to do. Will be out with you all again soon, cheers
Colin
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Posted on July 25, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Dave says:
Oh lordy….such insanity.
I’ve read the list and am in shock. At least you’re all racing under one banner.
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Posted on July 25, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Dandy says:
‘kin hell ! You boys don’t learn, do you.
I would’ve thought a ‘recently married mole’ had other things on his mind, especially as he’s only had one dry year in three in recent experience :-0
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Posted on July 25, 2011 at 3:01 pm
tony says:
I’m sore tempted………not….
12hours of 4mph biking / walking again – no thank you.
Tony
PS. I reserve the right the do a complete U turn and find myself in a field in Norfolk on October 8th.
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 7:48 am
Jem says:
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….NO!!!!
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Posted on July 25, 2011 at 5:15 pm
KevS says:
I would like to add my NO!
By the way, If any of you Lunatics feel the need I can put you in touch with a good psychiatrist that is into MTB’ing!
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 8:27 am
Dave says:
Psychotherapist I think you mean….don’t confuse the two! I’ve added my “no” on several threads on the forum. This morning I found myself thinking it might be a good idea to go up and support these madmen as a spanner man. I’ve submitted myself for analysis.
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 8:40 am
PIJ says:
Don’t you mean cyclotherapist?
Sorry, couldn’t resist especially after my submitting you all to the self-harm that are the badlands trails of Reigate.
PIJ
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 10:59 am
Dave says:
Here’s your coat……..
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 11:13 am
PIJ says:
Here’s your coat….. is that how you treat all of your patients? Not very nice is it now. Here am I, the “Mole Stalker” from Redhill, coming to you for professional help and you turn me away. I’m all sniffy and upset now ;¬(
PIJ
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 11:19 am
Dave says:
Again, some confusion. Psychiatrists would have patients, Counsellors and Psychotherapists generally have clients.
As you well know though, “I’ll get my coat” is an acknowledgement one makes when you’ve made a poor joke. I simply got it for you. ;o)
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 2:40 pm
PIJ says:
How did the morning’s analysis turn out then? Pedant per chance ;¬)
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Dave says:
..only about the use of “Add a new comment” and “reply to this comment”
;o)
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Karl says:
Where shall I park the juggernaut of milk?
Bump.
Very good ride, thanks to all, and very varied tracks..
Always discover somewhere new..
Brill….
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 3:59 pm
PIJ says:
Always like a good bit o’ friendly banter ;0)
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Posted on July 26, 2011 at 4:29 pm