Muddymoles

Clear night

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during November 08.

So far there's 2 comment(s) on this post.

Last night was a rare thing. A dry, clear night with broken cloud cover which after the soul destroying past few weeks came as a welcome relief to all involved. It was a real pleasure to be out on semi dry trails with a carefully chosen route to avoid some of the notorious mud holes in the area.

Continue reading 'Clear night'.

Ride report: Sunday 26 Oct

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during October 08.

So far there's 2 comment(s) on this post.

With Metcheck predicting rain it was perhaps no surprise that Sunday saw us getting wetter than a sackful of cod. It rained, persistently and without let up for most of the ride, providing hazardous riding conditions and testing our general resolve.

Continue reading 'Ride report: Sunday 26 Oct'.

Ride Report: Sunday 20th Oct

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during October 08.

So far there's 1 comment(s) on this post.

Bucking the trend of recent weeks I managed to join our ride (Dave, Rich, Jem, Jez, John, Lee and myself) yesterday for 23 miles of riding across Ranmore, White Downs, Box Hill and Mickleham. And there was I thinking I was just the person who talked about mountain biking rather than actually doing it!

Continue reading 'Ride Report: Sunday 20th Oct'.

Riding the South Downs Way (SDW)

Originally posted by Jez.

Filed under 'Rides' during October 08.

So far there's 1 comment(s) on this post.

By the reference to nice weather you may guess that this was written much earlier in the year but has been gathering dust on my hard drive…

The South Downs Way is a 100 mile route from Winchester to Eastbourne and I finally got around to giving it a go. A mate and I chose to ride the route over two days, which seemed enough of a challenge without being stupid hard. How wrong we were.

Continue reading 'Riding the South Downs Way (SDW)'.

First ride off-road

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during September 08.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Yesterday morning I took my first ride off-road after breaking my collarbone back in July — July 13th if we're counting, which I am! When I say off-road, that's a relative statement. Put it this way, it was only partially on tarmac which is 'A Good Thing'.

Continue reading 'First ride off-road'.

Morning ride

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during September 08.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

I left the house at 6:25 this morning. All was quiet with just a couple of newspaperboys sharing the road and the odd car driven by an unlucky soul with an impractical commute ahead of them or an absolute need to be at work early.

Continue reading 'Morning ride'.

Wed 17th Night Ride

Originally posted by Colin.

Filed under 'Rides' during September 08.

So far there's 12 comment(s) on this post.

Usual place, usual time - Hylands Garage, Bookham @ 7:30pm.

Continue reading 'Wed 17th Night Ride'.

Raves, Rings and offs

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 08.

So far there's 2 comment(s) on this post.

Well it was a ride of two halves as the saying sort of goes. Regrettably it ended up involving 3 vehicles from the Ambulance service as well....

Continue reading 'Raves, Rings and offs'.

Pitch and a Pint Night Ride

Originally posted by Colin.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 08.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

So this week’s ride did go ahead after all. Once again Lee joined us, this time for his first ever night outing. Four hardcore gnarly types (!) wouldn’t let the foul English summer weather put us off and Lee’s determination to ride came from having just invested in some Ay-Up led lights (great purchase btw and hopefully Lee will add a review soon).

Continue reading 'Pitch and a Pint Night Ride'.

Bike Envy

Originally posted by Colin.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 08.

So far there's 4 comment(s) on this post.

OK, envy is probably the wrong word, more like admiration. On today's excellent ride (more on that later) we were joined by Lee on his second ride out with us.

Continue reading 'Bike Envy'.

Pitch (Hill) Perfect

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 08.

So far there's 2 comment(s) on this post.

Summer's here!

And with all these long, warm evenings we've been making a semi-regular pilgrimage over to Pitch Hill, starting from the Peaslake Stores, heading off for some great evening rides and finishing off at the Hurtwood Inn for a sweet pint.

Continue reading 'Pitch (Hill) Perfect'.

On my knees

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during May 08.

So far there's 2 comment(s) on this post.

Perhaps in hindsight, heading off down a new piece of trail consisting of a combination of greasy mud and chalk, sharp flints, rooty ladders and little hops over fallen saplings, stretching out over a mile and a half of ribbon wide, looping singletrack that contoured beautifully down toward Juniper Bottom in the fading light, after a day of heavy rain was not the best idea of last night's ride.

Continue reading 'On my knees'.

Group ride with Diary of a Mountain Biker

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during April 08.

So far there's 1 comment(s) on this post.

So Sunday as usual at Bockett's Farm? Well, kind of. It wasn't until reasonably late in the day that I realised we were meeting up with a whole bunch of riders from Diary of a Mountain Biker to show them round 'our' stretch of the North Downs.

Continue reading 'Group ride with Diary of a Mountain Biker'.

Thoughts on this weeks night ride

Originally posted by Colin.

Filed under 'Rides' during April 08.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

The Muddymoles night ride last night really seemed to put a line in the sand in many ways.

Continue reading 'Thoughts on this weeks night ride'.

Blind terror on the North Downs

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during February 08.

So far there's 1 comment(s) on this post.

What great weather we're currently enjoying for mountain biking. It's almost enough to make up for the terrible summer we had last year, with firm dry ground, clear skies and sparkling, frosted surroundings still covered in last autumn's fallen leaf cover.

Continue reading 'Blind terror on the North Downs'.

When to Brake

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during November 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

I realise the title implies that I might know something about this pastime, but it's more a case of process of elimination.

Matt and I were out on Sunday, pounding the trails on what now seems to be our 22 mile regular ride, when we tackled a short descent that we'd not done for maybe a couple of years. It's a chalky, stoney, steep little descent that had a 90° right hander just at the steepest bit, with the added fun of a rather large gully.

This is something that had kept us entertained one summer with notable efforts from our dear friend Simon who has been responsible for taking out a few saplings during a dismount on the way down.

Continue reading 'When to Brake'.

Reflections on the Trail

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during November 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

So for once I've managed to keep my leg over on a regular basis while others around me have fallen or refused at the first hurdle!

The trails are heading towards wintery and for me it can't happen soon enough. I hate this thin layer of mud that is currently sitting over the still hard base layer of soil or chalk. The leaves don't make it easy either, covering a multitude of hazards.

Continue reading 'Reflections on the Trail'.

Easy come, easy go

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during October 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

It's happened again.

I've been ambushed by the trail pixies who in the past have managed to separate me from my bike lights, last week caused me to unclip spectacularly painfully on the Land Rover descent and now have run off with my cycling glasses.

Continue reading 'Easy come, easy go'.

And now the end is near…

Originally posted by Mark.

Filed under 'Rides' during October 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Since buying my new On One frame I have planned to make my old 1999 Marin Nail Trail out for one last Valkarian ride, and then take it out behind the barn and quietly shoot it. Like most 'last things' this turned out to be more difficult than planned and as disappointing as these things always turn out to be (like the last doughnut before going on your diet, or the last shag with your girlfriend before she becomes your wife).

Continue reading 'And now the end is near…'.

Autumn perfection

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during September 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Occassionally, everything comes together to make a cycle ride greater than you could have ever hoped.

Sunday was just such an experience. After weeks (months) of depression grey skies, Sunday was bright, crisp and blue and followed on from a couple of weeks of rain-free weather. The result just goes to show what we have missed out on all summer, tinder dry, dusty trails and an extra shot of enthusiasm from the riders.

Continue reading 'Autumn perfection'.

Voodoo Wanga and On-One Inbred go head to head

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during September 07.

So far there's 2 comment(s) on this post.

A beautiful day in early September gives Jem and I an opportunity to ride from Fetcham to Newlands Corner on our singlespeeds. It's Jem's first ride on his New Voodoo Wanga.

Continue reading 'Voodoo Wanga and On-One Inbred go head to head'.

I live in a strange world

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during August 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

If you're someone who likes to combine the delights of a hot summer sun with Mountain Biking fun, this year has not been the best. Ok, so the weather has rarely been bad enough to stop us going out but barring a biblical shower of frogs we've had just about every climatic condition possible. Coming straight after the dire drought predictions of early Spring, this Summer has been a disappointment to say the least.

Continue reading 'I live in a strange world'.

Summer lovin'

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during August 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

I don't like it.

After weeks and weeks of disgruntled moaning from the UK population in general (those that haven't just floated off into the sunset) and the Mountain Bike community in particular, something seems to be afoot.

Continue reading 'Summer lovin''.

Washed out trails

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Last night Dave, Nicola and myself headed out on a ride.

Just for a change, it was raining, although not much more than a light drizzle and in any case the weather was warm. Thankfully we're not in the same boat as most of Gloucestershire (it seems literally) so it's a bit churlish to complain but if we could just have a dry run from here to, say December I'd be very happy.

In fact, I keep telling anyone who will listen not to worry, at this rate we'll be sun-bathing on Christmas Day!

Continue reading 'Washed out trails'.

A trip round Leith And Holmbury Hills

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Sunday, and wonder of wonders, plenty of sun. Having decided a couple of weeks back to take a trip over to Leith Hill the fact the weather was fine was the icing on the cake.

Figuring it was best to make the most of it before The Flood returns, we started at Staveall car park and pointed our bikes down the Mother toward Holmbury Hill. What a wake up call! I haven't been down there for some time and had trouble just seeing where I was going as the heavy rains have washed loads of rubble and loose stones down the track, added to which my contact lenses were struggling to stay in contact with my eyeballs.

Continue reading 'A trip round Leith And Holmbury Hills'.

Mountain Biking - there's always an alternative

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Last night's ride proved that no matter how much you plan something, it doesn't always work out the way you hoped.

First of course there was the persistently poor weather to contend with, yet another wet ride in muddy conditions. Yay!

Then we had trouble all getting together. Dave discovered he was double booked and had to pull out during the day whilst Jem and Dave P were out Wednesday night instead. Hannah was unwisely sent to meet us in an obscure part of Leatherhead (don't ask!), so that left just Mark, Nicola and me to venture out into the wilds of the Surrey Hills.

Continue reading 'Mountain Biking - there's always an alternative'.

Whatever the weather

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

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.

Continue reading 'Whatever the weather'.

Bedgebury, three thoughts from an MTB rider in Kent

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during June 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Whilst I stood with Matt, sheltering from the rain outside the refreshment area, looking out onto a calm but pock marked lake where only ducks feared to venture and Swifts swooped low, two observations came to mind.

1. It was wet. Very wet.
2. Portion Control was poor.

A third observation joined these slightly later;

3. Wind in the gents was very strong...

Continue reading 'Bedgebury, three thoughts from an MTB rider in Kent'.

Bedgebury Forest return

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during June 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Just back from a morning at Bedgebury Forest and it seems all this venturing beyond the Surrey Hills appears to be habit forming!

With Wimbledon about to start and Glastonbury in full swing, any sane person would have realised that there was more than a fair chance that it might rain. And boy did it rain!

I can confidently say that I have never, ever been wetter or muddier over 18 miles of forest singletrack than I was today at Bedgebury. The rain just fell down, stair-rod style for almost the entire time we were there, adding extra centimetres of water to the already soaked trails.

Continue reading 'Bedgebury Forest return'.

Girls and Mountain Biking

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during May 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Mark and I were out at the weekend, covering a good 23 miles of the Surrey Hills in what turned out to be a fine Sunday for riding. We left Bookham behind and made our way over to Ranmore, then Westcott and back up to Ranmore before the descent through Denbies vinyard and the slog up Box Hill for our scheduled cake stop and the chance to hang out with the roadies.

Now as Mountain Bikers we are often faced with the uncomfortable fact that it's a male dominated activity. We have resigned ourselves to this over the years and nowadays face it with a Stoic acceptance that would have been greatly admired in Ancient Rome. With young families we can even understand it, to a point, when someone has to stay behind to look after the kids (sorry that sounds chauvanist. It's not meant to and despite my best efforts Quid Pro Quo operates in our house).

Continue reading 'Girls and Mountain Biking'.

Singlespeeding

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during May 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Last week's night ride was a less relentless pace to the previous week. With the gears on my Inbred continuing to play up, preventing me selecting the granny ring, I started to toy with an idea I alluded to in my 11 things for Mountain Bikers post.

Singlespeeding.

Continue reading 'Singlespeeding'.

Bouncing bike lights

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during May 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

I appear to suffer much misfortune when it comes to bike lights, particularly my rear light.

Over the past three years I have gone through at least two per winter, invariably losing them at some undetermined point in a ride in the middle of night with no chance to ever finding them again. I believe they may be secretly hoarded by a particular type of nocturnal trail pixie that's running a pixie brothel and needs the red lights to drum up business.

Continue reading 'Bouncing bike lights'.

I made my bike meow

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during May 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Last night's mid week night ride took us over toward Ranmore and the White Downs at a furious pace.

We were joined by some of Jem's friends and Nicola which brought the group to eight riders. It quickly became apparant that fitness levels covered a broad spectrum, with most of Jem's mates in the top half of the group. I managed to hang on to them (just) and at dusk found myself hooning down the descent off the White Downs toward Westcott at high speed.

Continue reading 'I made my bike meow'.

Down to earth with a bump

Originally posted by Mark.

Filed under 'Rides' during April 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

As I am the only Mole who didn’t get a name check in Matt’s post about our outing to Holmbury Hill, (probably due to the fact I made it the whole way round without falling off or breaking my Mountain Bike), I thought I might post a few words about last night’s ride.

It was a really pleasant evening ride, right up to the point that I took a tumble off the bike.

Continue reading 'Down to earth with a bump'.

One bike and two men down!

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during April 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

Sunday saw us travelling over to Holmbury Hill for some fun on the dusty dry trails that have suddenly appeared everywhere.

The plan was to make the most of Dave and Jem's new Orange Fives and have a morning of Mountain Biking fun in the Surrey Hills singletrack.

Continue reading 'One bike and two men down!'.

Surrey Hills riding conditions

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during March 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

My commute into work takes me along the A24 to Dorking, past Box Hill and the Denbies vinyard and escarpment.

Driving in this morning, the weather is warm and dry, the hawthorn hedges are just about to burst into life, the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Perfect conditions in fact to put some zest back into tired legs.

When I got into work, one of the first things my colleague said to me was 'bet you'd like to be out riding today?'

Yes, is the short answer! Anyone who has some time on their hands today should head for the hills.

The changing face of riding

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during February 07.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

After an extended break I made it out onto the trails at the weekend in the company of Dave, Jem and Neil.

Continue reading 'The changing face of riding'.

Night riding

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during August 06.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

So the nights have started to draw in again, not immediately obvious perhaps given that's it's only mid August, until you try to get out on the bike in the evenings. Starting at 7:30 it doesn't take more than an hour before there's an obvious need for lights out on the trails.

Continue reading 'Night riding'.

Good times

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during July 06.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

So I'm back in the saddle. Not literally as I type* although that would be a clever trick, but metaphorically, as a way of saying I'm back riding the trails again and more importantly, enjoying it.

Continue reading 'Good times'.

Aches – or it seemed like a good idea at the time

Originally posted by Mark.

Filed under 'Rides' during May 06.

So far there's 1 comment(s) on this post.

Over the last 8 weeks I have managed to get out on my bike about twice. For various reasons, my routine has been very disrupted, so in total I have not actually ridden more than about 15 miles.

Continue reading 'Aches – or it seemed like a good idea at the time'.

Leith Hill

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during May 06.

So far there's 1 comment(s) on this post.

A story about how much I hate Wolverns Lane, cycling with teenagers who have too much energy, helmet camera trials, meeting friends not seen for a long time and massive energy crashes! A tale of everyday riding you might say!

Continue reading 'Leith Hill'.

In the shit

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during April 06.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

I had a number of titles that came to mind while riding home.

Continue reading 'In the shit'.

Gaiters

Originally posted by Mark.

Filed under 'Rides' during April 06.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary gaiters are: -

Continue reading 'Gaiters'.

At last, 'real' winter riding

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during February 06.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

After the nasty shock of the alarm I ambled into the kitched to hear the sounds of rain on the roof. Real winter riding is back!

Continue reading 'At last, 'real' winter riding'.

A cold winter ride

Originally posted by Matt.

Filed under 'Rides' during February 06.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

I rode into work this morning, 12 miles of mainly off-road fun along the North Downs to Reigate. Unfortunately it was not without it's niggles.

Continue reading 'A cold winter ride'.

What is an average ride like?

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during January 06.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

It struck me that anyone stumbling upon the "new" blog might wonder what sort of ride is "average" for us on a Sunday.

Continue reading 'What is an average ride like?'.

Quite chilly really!

Originally posted by Dave.

Filed under 'Rides' during December 05.

So far there's 0 comment(s) on this post.

With both Sundays over the Christmas period being covered with notable days we had to organise a midweek ride to ensure some fat was burnt off. We had a new boy join us...

Continue reading 'Quite chilly really!'.