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

 

North Downs, Sun 14th Oct

Perfect conditions for a 7-man assault on Leith Hill / Holmbury Hill. 16°C, no rain, and just enough mud to make it interesting. Terrain was gnarlier than our usual – very challenging in places. 10/10. 🙂

Route:
From Coldharbour, Summer Lightning (x2), then nameless singletrack into steep rocky chute to GR136457, grind up Broadmoor, clean(!) the steep climb to Leith Tower, then NW for some “novice freeride”, down to Starveall, then a fast b-way past Upfolds to the road, and via Joldwynds to the base of Holmbury. Incredibly steep push to summit, then Bombholes, Telegraph Road, a stop to patch up bloody knees, then road/Greensands Way/road back to the car. Total about 14 miles.

Learning points:
Car park was full at the Plough in Coldharbour – next time we’d be better off meeting at the Landslip or Starveall, see map.

Crew, kit, bruises:
Baris, Rowan, James, Ed, Colin, Anna, Vikki. 5 Specializeds, a Trek and a hire bike. Vikki bloodied her knee/shin on Telegraph Road, and, for the first time in living memory, Baris did not bleed. 😀