Streatley, Sun 13th Jan

With ski trips imminent, we wanted a ride with some climbs (for fitness and leg strength) but no gnarly stuff (don’t want to get hurt). This Streatley route is ideal – thanks, Knobblies blog!

By Lilley my tubeless rear tyre was soft, but it wasn’t getting worse, so I (stupidly) just kept going. But I didn’t have enough psi to keep the tyre on the rim, and it flatted completely on a small drop. Think I’d have been ok if I’d topped it up when I first saw it, d’oh.

The Baulk climb started super-slippy, but the top has been resurfaced – easier, but less fun. Baz’s tyres were starting to jam up on Lilley Hoo, and by Icknield Way both Speshes were really clogged (and also short of grip). My Trek (on Mud-X’s) was going beautifully 😉

Tried (and failed) to stay off the brakes at the Springs – 30mph slalom through the bushes on slippy grass was terrifying! Climbing past Jeremiah’s Tree we were feeling the pain and ’twas getting late, so we took the road back for a pie and a pint in the Chequers.

Later while hosing the bike I found 6 thorns in my front tyre, which was still holding pressure. As I pulled each thorn out the air started hissing, but I pointed the hole downwards and the Super Juice plugged it up in 2 or 3 seconds. Tubelessness rocks! 😀

Route/Conditions:
Overcast, windy, 8-12°C. The ground was very wet which meant sticky mud in places and slow progress. Total 15 miles in 4 hours.

Learning points:
1. Speshes on stock tyres get trounced by EX8 on Mud-Xs. 🙂
2. If you lose psi from your tubeless tyre, stop and pump it up!!
3. New fave carry-along snack: malt loaf. Loads of carbs, no fat, tastes the same after it’s been crushed in your camelbak…

Crew, kit, bruises:
Baris (FSRxc), James (EX8), Chris (Stumpy).
Two punctures, lots of mud clogging issues.
No crashes! Baz suffering from knee pain.

2007 Ride Log

In 2007, I learned I’m crap at blogging 🙂 It takes me ages to write a post, and then even longer to tweak/perfect it, so usually I can’t be bothered to start. For 08, I plan to ditch the fine wordsmithery (ahem) and just slap up quick notes each ride. To hell with eloquence! 😀

Also in 2007, we chalked up two dozen Mud and Bruises rides! Mountain biking is definitely the sport for me – I loved every single muddy painful exhilarating bloody sweaty scary gasping mile 🙂

2007
Sun 23 Dec – Peaks (Stanage) – post coming soon…
Sun 18 Nov – Watlington – post coming soon…
Sat 10 Nov – Peaks (Cut Gate) – post coming soon…
Sat 20 Oct – Cannock – post coming soon…
Sun 14 Oct – North Downs – see post
Sun 16 Sep – Bedgebury – James, Baz, Ed, Chris
Thu 6 Sep – Cannock – post coming soon…
Sat 1 Sep – Woburn – James, Baz, Rowan, Chris, Ed
Thu 2 Aug – Cannock – post coming soon…
Sat 7 Jul – Peaks (Edale) – see post
Sat 9 Jun – Peaks (Carsington) – James, Fionnuala, Gordon, Hazel
Mon 28 May – Chicksands – see post
Sun 20 May – Chicksands – see post
Sun 13 May – Aston Hill – James, Colin, Ed. Wet, slippy, pain.
Sun 29 Apr – Rutland Water – James, Fionnuala, Baz, Rowan, 15.5 miles
Sun 15 Apr – Streatley – James, Baz, Rowan. 21 miles Knobblies route
Sat 14 Apr – North Downs – James, Baz, Colin. Holmbury singletrack
Sun 1 Apr – Woburn – James (new bike), Ed, Colin
Sun 11 Mar – Aston Hill – James, Ed. Dry, grippy, fun.
Sat 10 Mar – Rutland Water – James, Fionnuala, 8 miles
Sun 11 Feb – Woburn – James, Baz, Chris, Ed
Sat 27 Jan – Aston Hill – James, Baz, Chris. Fell off and bled a lot
Sat 13 Jan – Swinley – Ian, Chris, Ed
Sun 7 Jan – Woburn – James, Baz, Chris, Ed. Trail map from Knobblies.

And, just for completeness, here’s the 2006 rides too…

2006
Sun 31 Dec – North Downs – James, Baz, Chris. Coldharbour
Sat 16 Dec – Chicksands – James, Chris, Ed. Ed’s video
Sun 5 Nov – Chicksands – James, Baz, Chris, Ed, Ian
Sat 29 Jul – Afan – Baz, Colin, Anna, Ian, Chris, Ed – photos
Sun 2 Jul – North Downs – Baz, Chris, Ed, Colin – photos
Sat 8 Apr – Epping – Baz, James, Chris, Greg, Dmytro. On the train