8 of use headed off for a 23 mile loop from the Milton Heath fisheries car park to Albury, Blackheath and up some back trails to the top of Winterfold Hill.
Everyone stopped an hour in to admire the views of the Surrey hills . At this stage lots of smiles as they admired the view of where we were going. 2 hours later 8 weary riders arrived in Peaslake for a well deserved tea stop.
I was billy no mates for the first ride of the weekend – Snowdon. I love the place, and have ridden it several times before, so was excited to do it again, but when I got the first distant glimpse from the car at Capel Curig the excitement rose substantially as I could see snow on the tops of the mountains, and I’ve never been up there in snow (and the sun was shining and tops were not in cloud!)
The forecast for the weekend of April 1-3 promised sun, rain and snow and freezing temperatures at night. All of these came to pass but didn’t prevent the MTB trip from being declared a great success.
The weather for the first Saturday in August was not promising - heavy rain on Friday followed by a downpour overnight. Roadies pulled the duvet over their heads but, to quote Ade Webb's newletter that week, "MTB riders ride in everything!"
It’s been such a long wait, but finally outdoor sport is allowed again and that includes mountain bike racing... Yay, how I’ve missed it!
“Leaving from Westcott, nine intrepid RCC MTB riders braved the zero degree temperature and threat of immanent snow to warm up on Rookery, before feeding our little adrenalin habit in the bumps, dips and humps of Leith’s Fat-Jim, Garage, F’sake and What’s the Matter.
Fully warmed, next up was the Windy Willows drop in and the long traverse down Live at the Witch Trials, before completing the loop and returning back up the flank of Leith. That saw us accommodate Half-Pint, Choc Jesus and Jab-in-the-eye.
Ten of us arrived in a wet and muddy Roosthole carpark for Lee's ride over to Tilgate, first obstacle over no one lost a bike to the dreaded height restriction.Heading on to Hammer Pond Lane we climed to the turf farm and took a trail which was going to be the flavour of the day - thick slippery mud! Dropping by the mx track and in to the forest we climbed our way up over to Grouse Road. At this point we all agreed that we had probably pedalled twice as far as the Garmins said thanks to the constant wheel spin.
Christmas Eve - once the presents were wrapped it was out on the bike at Newlands Corner with Lee leading the ride. This should be fun.
Thirteen of us set off on trails that seemed a little damp but amazingly good for this far through December.
Well winter has arrived I thought as I arrived at Walking Bottom.
Slowly but surely, a mix of intermediate and experienced riders arrived ready for the trails ahead.
Ten experienced riders left the car park one way while the Inters went the other leaving Moji not sure which way to turn.