Ride report: Wednesday 8 September – ouch that’s got to hurt!
With the threat of rain passing, Wednesday evening was another one of those beautiful late summer evenings. Maybe the promise of the last of summer encouraged another big turn-out, 13 riders by my counting.
Meeting at the Highlands garage was a goodly crowd of bikers. Although MarkJ (in not so secret D2D) training was heading back home as we headed out. Obviously he doesn’t like crowds.
A vague plan for the evening route was hatched between DaveC and I, well only that we wanted to ride the “new” route that runs off Ranmore to Denbies.
DaveC headed us up the Admirals trackway and we turned left before Polesden along the bridleway that soon heads down to the valley below Polesden, before heading back up to Tanners Hatch YHA. Once this track heads down it keeps you on your toes with big flints washed into the middle of the track that you have to dodge and bermed banks for hooligan riding (Colin).
Normally we re-group for a breather at Tanners Hatch but in a ominous sign of D2D seriousness we headed straight up to Ranmore, with Daniel showing us a clean pair of heals. There were a few cries of surprise back down the trail as it became clear that tonight was not going to be a stopping ride.
Regrouping at Ranmore we headed off past the church, along to the roller coaster bridleway then to the top of the Denbies chalk road. The new trail starts here with a cheeky path off into the woods. When we rode this trail last weekend there was a tricky looking log roll half way down the first section and I missed the second part of the trail as it crossed a bigger track. So I suggested to Dave that I ride down to the log roll and stop to let people know where it was and Mark ride down to the track crossing to make sure people went the right way.
It’s a great swoopy track with bomb holes followed by tight curves. I headed down and soon found myself at the track crossing. The Trail Pixes had removed the log roll! I quickly found the start of the second section and waited for the riders to come down. DaveC was first and slowed to discuss the missing log roll and how the track was much easier now. Prophetic words.
As he rolled off into the woods he hopped over a big tree root and the front wheel skidded out sending him down fast and hard. Bang! He hit a log next to track full on and I feared another mole injury. Soon there was a crowd around and Dave was doing the “lie on the ground and check whether I’ve broken anything before I move” thing. Fortunately some serious bruising was the only damage.
It’s not often you get as good a view of a crash as that!
We headed down through the second part of the trail to Denbies, then along the A25, under the underpass and along to Little Switzerland. With Colin determined to ram everyone we headed up the chalk path. As we headed up to the Mickleham Gallops I thought that we hadn’t ridden Alpine for a while and before the winter mud set in we should give it a go.
Since I had suggested Alpine, it seemed that I should ride it first. It’s been a while, but it was all I remembered it. Fast, off chamber and rooty, frequently all three together! Never easy with Colin on your tail. Plus the drops to the right keeping you on your toes, although the “Spider Killer” log drop near the end didn’t seem as extreme as I remembered it. It was a new trail for quite a few riders and discussion followed as we regrouped I think that the trail virgins had enjoyed it!.
Dave and MattP7 headed off and the rest of us headed up to High Ashurst with Adam making it look easy. Frustratingly I seemed to roll up without too many problems until the last root got me. More impressively Mark managed to come off his bike and roll into the vegatation commando styleee – going uphill.
The ride was turning into a quick one as we headed up to the bridleway that swoops across the Headley Heath and brings you out near the gorse bushes. Without hardly any stopping we rode over to Secret Singletrack and again I seemed to be first down. It’s still quite overgrown with bracken but it’s getting back to it’s spring best. With Secret Singletrack we put together my current favourite sequence of singletrack. Secret Singletrack – Life on Mars – Alastion.
It was not a night for hanging around as we cranked up the pace. Even JohnR told me that the ride was quick!
Life on Mars was new for some riders and universally met with approval, provided you noticed where the logs rolls were.
Finally it was down the tunnel of light that is Alsation on a night ride. Looking at my computer afterwards, I noticed a top speed of 31mph on Alasation. Yikes!
Certainly a quick ride, with some of the best singletrack trails in Surrey, what more could you ask for?
Cast – not in order of appearence. Tony, Colin, DaveC, MattP7, MarkyMark, Adam, PaulM, JohnR, JamesPro, Trevor, Daniel, MarkW, TopFuel Chris.
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Dave says:
It was a fast ride, although I slowed for Alpine as I started to get the nerves a bit, possible as the adrenalin started to pass form my body.
Injury wise I seem to suffering from a weak right index finger and have trouble raising by left leg but it’s getting better after just 36 hours. Should be out on Sunday.
It’s quite of putting riding next to Adam in the lead up to Alpine, panting like a steam engine while he doesn’t break sweat. Still I am gathering evidence that I am faster on 29ers!!
I think the fact we didn’t stop at the YHA made the climb better for me. No pain (ouch….) no gain
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Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:09 am
Cathie says:
The wounded returned home looking quite battered for sure and I certainly didn’t stick around to watch Dave scrubbing his wounds with what would have been my nice new toothbrush still in it’s wrapper. He did yelp quite alot too when he applied the antiseptic spray!
Boys will be boys!
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Posted on September 10, 2010 at 11:08 am
Dandy says:
Look what CRC have in their autumn sale, Cathie. Maybe time to get him an early Christmas present? And it will keep him nice and warm on the cold winter rides.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7088
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Posted on September 10, 2010 at 12:12 pm
StevenD says:
LOL, but let us be honest – Dandy, you (or I) can hardly throw stones from our broken greenhouses. Maybe we should get one as well !
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Posted on September 10, 2010 at 1:09 pm
kc says:
I can feel a bulk order coming on.
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Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:35 pm
paul901 says:
I would feel obliged to add a Vader mask and cloak with that thing whereas I want one of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25078 for no better reason than it looks like an ‘Alien’ will burst out of it and onto the face of a rider getting too close 🙂
Sadly (or thankfully) the available sizes would only go round a thigh at best though, lots of laughs.
Seriously though, if horse riders all wear back protectors (and these are a misnomer as they are really to protect the ribs and internal organs) maybe a similar more subtle under-top protector is needed for the sort of riding that seems to cause so many trail injuries?
We’d still need to fit Steven in medieval armour for his deer exploits of course.
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Posted on September 10, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Andy661 says:
Remember how you all laughed when i turned up in my ’09 661 pressure suit?!
Now i NEVER fall off. . . cough
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Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:09 pm
davew says:
I use one of these for downhill tracks and and races –
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24905
But you really don’t want to try riding up hill in one…
Forget all this nonsense for XC and just wear knee and optionally elbow pads and ride within your abilities (i.e. do as I say and not as I do ;o)
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Posted on September 11, 2010 at 10:25 pm
paul901 says:
Andy, that must have been quite some sight as a big rider. Like the bad guy in a Scooby Doo episode – and if it hadn’t been for those pesky Mole kids, you’d have gotten away with it. Who played Shaggy that day BTW, I would have christened 5 of the bu88ars with a new nickname in revenge!
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Posted on September 12, 2010 at 6:44 am