To paraphrase T.S. Eliot, June was the cruelest month, what with all the rain, wind and mud.

Yesterday was the third Sunday in a row when we got properly wet and muddy out on the trails (it may have been four, I can’t remember the last time it was sunny) and the mid week rides have been pretty frustrating as well. Trails that were hard packed and dusty during April and May have turned into slick root-infested nightmares, making it hard to get into a decent flow.

But at least we were riding I guess. There’s always the opportunity to act like kids (again!?) with all the enormous puddles around and the quiet hope that the person who gets wedged up to their hubs in orange mud and has to swim for safety across a small inland sea isn’t going to be you.

Along with everyone else who has to spend any time outdoors, here’s looking forward to a better July.

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.