Ride Archive

If you ain't muddy in November you ain't nuthin'

2nd November 2003 Richard, Keef and Paul - Holmbury_Hill

We decide to go wet-weather gear testing today. It's absolutely tipping it down as we step out of the cars at the Holmbury YHA car park.

We soon warm up as we take the climb up to the top of Holmbury and from then on we mess around on the usual trails although a spot of exploring sees us lost in the middle of a huge expanse of heather.

As we return to the car the general feeling is that our wet-weather gear is in need of replacement. My Altura jacket has lost it's waterproof coating whilst all our feet have doubled in weight thanks to the amount of water that has soaked into our sealskinz. Looks like we need to visit the LBS again.

Keef on Barry Knows Best

Keef finds evidence of satanic rituals on the North Downs

Paul gets lost in a gully (a bonus point for you if you can spot Keef in this picture)

Richard on the Yoghurt Pots

15th November 2003 Richard, Keef, Paul and Martin - Stane Street and Box Hill

A Saturday morning start so that we can all watch the rugby tomorrow sees our special guest rider Martin appear (remember Martin?). But before we start, Paul surprises us with the news that he has been flexing his plastic on e-bay again and bought an On-One frame to compliment his recently purchased Ellsworth Isis. He is currently building up the On-One and we look forward to seeing it out on the trail soon.

Keef next to a wonderful bright november sky

Paul gets down in forest

We follow the fast rolling Stane Street to exit at Juniper Hill before taking the long hard climb from White Hill car park up the back of Box Hill before taking a well earned break, tea and cake at the National Trust Cafe. From here we head back across Headley Heath, dropping into the back of Epsom Downs to our favourite trail in this area, The Gulley.

It's the sort of fast, rocky ride where you get to the end and check whether both tyres are still inflated. All seems well and we head back to the cars.

However, by the time I get home I find that both tyres are flat from slow punctures. Oh well, I hope that was the great ride I had and not the dozen guys with shotguns out hunting pheasant that we surprised as we flew past the last section of trail.

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