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!

What really became apparant was how badly some of the trails have suffered due to the monsoon conditions over the past six weeks. Lots of downhill sections were heavily rutted and strewn with loose rock and debris, making negotiating them more than a bit tricky. Roots were not just slick with damp but more exposed than usual, which as we all know is not a great combination. And on top of that, the vegetation seems to be having a ball, choking off tight routes that are normally good fun.

This reinforced our experience of last weekend when Dave and I bagged another eighteen miles, tackling the Land Rover descent, the Denbies run and the run down to Juniper Bottom on the way. Each run was a pretty nerve-wracking effort with both of us having scares.

If you’re out riding anytime soon, it might be best to keep your wits about you. Sometimes the trails we’re most familiar with bite the hardest!