or as Rachel said it was a sh!tty ride 😉

or parfum de dog – doesn’t suit me 😉

I’ll come back to dog experience…

Having not been out on my bike for a fair few weeks I was itching, almost pacing the floor, so much so that at 7.30am Saturday I jumped out of bed only for Dave to ask if I had wet it as he was surprised to see me so keen to get out of my warm duvet surrounded by the Autumn radiator heat, swapping my cosy pj’s for my cycling clothes.

Well a few weeks back while the guys did the Marin dusk til dawn us girls had a get together and someone who hasn’t been out on a bike for a while was convinced by some new femoles that she should join us and so it was agreed that she would borrow my hard tail and come out with me for a trial ride and see.

Well we had a great time Saturday morning and I am to believe that our friend has asked Santa for a new bike for Christmas.

Then another early start Sunday morning, Rachel and I met at 8.30 at the Bell pub firstly exchanging pleasantries at how cold it was, I still had my fingerless gloves and my fingers were frozen by the time I reached the meeting point, however the sky was clear blue and with a bit of energetic heat and the sun breaking through we were warm enough.

We headed out towards our regular Sunday route towards Headley, Ashtead, Epsom and home.

It was a gorgeous morning and as much as I have enjoyed my Sunday lie ins while Dave has headed out at an unsociable weekend hour for years since I have known him I was really glad to swap my Sunday lie in for my bike – yes those who know me it’s true I have swapped my bed for my bike 😉

It was pretty quiet at that time (clearly lots of people like my oldself enjoying Sunday lie ins) and we quickly made pace out towards Leatherhead and Alsation, at the bottom of Alsation we noticed that I didn’t smell to good thanks to a nice chunk of doggie doo.

We washed that off with water from Rachel’s bladder pack (note to self a reason to carry bladder pack) and headed off up Alsation, with 3 weeks of non cycling I didn’t time myself at all my only goal to make it to the top in one go, job done! including at the top of Alsation being blinded by the low sun, it was amazing you couldn’t see a thing and could just see your front tyre. It was so lovely though that early seeing the squirrels darting out of the way and bursting through cobwebs that had been untouched and felt like candy floss as you tried to get them off you but cycling at the same time.

Rachel and I recovered and headed out to “Life on Mars”. Now this has a cheeky little right hand turn that I *yawn* tire of attempting but hats off Rachel cleared the turning and up the rooty section and I am reminded I must try harder 😉

We set off through the trees but it all looked so different with the red leafy carpet and what had over weeks felt familiar and we had grown in confidence with now felt very strange. The leaves are like a floating carpet covering hidden obstacles and yet so beautiful.

Rachel in front we set off through the tree line only for Rachel to do a rather impressive tree hugging stunt, her handle bars hit a tree on the left which then faced her front wheel into a tree on the right and from behind I could see and feel the thud as her right shoulder hit the tree.

Winded and shocked Rachel recovered herself and was back on the bike to clear 2 logs (an impressive lady)

“Life on mars” is a weird place very void of wild life and activity and on Sunday leafy and slippy, challenging to the mind and the bike but so very interesting!

Off out to Headley, past the Cock inn and down the bridleway we encountered some really friendly horse riders and dog walkers, the sun was warm, the trails clear and we were able to really make the most of our ride.

Out towards Epsom and Langley Vale and back to Stane street where at the sharp up hill where there is loads of fly tipping a guy over took me on what looked like a road bike, while I was pedalling and recovering he was off…

Back down Alsation I foolishly forgot my fortune of an hour or so earlier, so happy to be hurtling down the hill I arrived at Rachel’s side only to be smelling not too pleasant again!

That’s what happens I guess when you don’t have mud guards!!

I got home left the bike in the garden but no matter where I went parfum du dog followed me – brrrrrrrrrrr disgusting!

I don’t think I have ever showered so long 😉

I later found a speck of doggie doo on the back of my helmet and so believe me my helmet has had a good scrub with disinfectant and I am now once again a clean femole.

Give me cow or horse doings any day but keep doggie do at bay 😉

I am out Saturday and Sunday this weekend and know others are keen too so please let us know if you want to join us and I promise it isn’t always that smelly!

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!