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If
you ain't tryin' new challenges you ain't nuthin |
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| 4th April 2004 Richard,Keef and Paul - Surrey_Hills Someone once said that a week is a long time in politics but 3 weeks is an even longer time in mountain biking. No riding since mid-March means that although the weather has changed to mild and sunny my fitness level has disappeared. We set out from Coldharbour for a very soggy Redlands which is suffering from the heavy rain of the night before for Foot_&_Mouth and White_Jam before heading back to Coldharbour somehow missing Wave_of_Mutilation. Up regurgitator and then back down the new downhill section and then up Wolverns Lane to Summer_Lightning which has just been repaired after the logging damage. Tea and cake at Leith_Hill tower before messing around on the play area and then down to the quarry. We decide to head for home from here and whilst Keef n Paul take the road, I retrace our steps. A quick stop at a totally chewed up Deliverance sees my downfall though as my front wheel washes out and I go sliding part way down the hill sans MTB. I only suffer a loss of dignity though and make my way back to the car bruised but pleased at a good run out.
a worrying development - a rash of these have appeared all over Leith_Hill |
Keef on one of the small descents
Paul looks like he's enjoying it
Paul on White_Jam followed by Keef Want more MTB_routes in the UK? Want to read more about mountain_biking? | |||||||
| 9th April 2004 Richard,and Mike - Surrey_Hills It's a Good Friday for cycling today. The sun is out, the trails are slowly drying out and there's a gaggle of riders waiting at the Pitch_Hill car park for dialled_Mike and I as we turn up early on a Bank Holiday Friday. Mike is on his matt black prince_albert - that's the fourth one I have sighted in as many weeks (check out:
I started cycling to work again this week so with 60 road miles under my belt already I feel up for an extended ride which is what it turns out to be. We head up the zig-zag fireroad on Pitch Hill to reach the hidden trails and mess around there for a good while, egging each other on to try new things before heading back to the Judge's seat where some big_air is had by those feeling confident. Over to Holmbury for a spin around Parklife, Telegraph_Row and Barry_Knows_Best before returning to the car. I have also been sent some gloves for review. There are 3 pairs of motocross/downhill style gloves and Mike and I tried them out today. Initial thoughts are that they perform really well. Check out the review.
Eight-Ball takes on a technical climb
which almost catches out Dom
Hamish looks more at ease
spacemonkey
and again on Pitch_Hill
Gav on Parklife
some of the gloves on test - see reviews for more details |
Darryl on Pitch_Hill
Hamish takes the skinny log roll
Chrissy Boy having fun
Dom just about to launch off the rock drop at Judge's seat
dialled_Mike launches himself for some big air watched by his mum and grandmother "ooh Gladys - that is some sick air!"
Gav goes even bigger on his Turner 5-spot
Chrissy Boy on an unknown descent
Richard on the steep roll-in. Thanks to Dirk for the photo
Mike looking more like the evil_mike we have come to know | |||||||
| 17-18th April 2004 Richard - Afan Argoed Friday night sees me fighting my way along the M4 hoping that the rain that is lashing down all around me won't affect the trails. I'm carrying the trusty spesh_enduro plus a large framed Morning_Glory that I offered to pimp for Mike. I am tagging along as a last minute addition to a weekend away at Wales premier riding centre for the delights of the Penhydd_trail, The_Wall and White's_Level. I roll up to the accomodation for the weekend - the nicely priced LA_Riding_Centre at 10 p.m. where I meet the other riders, the core of them from the Herts_Mountaineering_Club. After a few beers to break the ice it's time to retire for the next day's riding. Saturday morning dawns bright and mild and after endless bacon rolls from Barbara we head for the Penhydd trail. Esther has chosen to ride the Morning Glory in preference to her rigid steed. An immediate improvement to the trails since my last_visit is the naming of the sections - even if it is only crudely written in indelible marker on the anti motorcycle gates - it's much better to understand which sections you are riding at the time rather than trying to work out the names halfway round or back at the cafe. This is the first time that the now legendary Hidden Valley has actually been open when I have visited Afan and it's a great section. Despite the crudeness of the build, the trail is actually a really great ride with tight switchback sections and flowing singletrack. After lunch we move on to The_Wall.
Esther, Morning_Glory and Desolation
Ian The first climb to the top of the wall is still a killer and we all arrive breathless and looking forward to the descent. Maybe it's an illusion but the climbing seems to continue and it's not until you get to the Quarry and the graveyard sections that the fun really starts. Finally, The Wall descent is great as you skirt along the edge of the mountain with the breathtaking scenery first to your left and then to your right before you plunge into the forest again.
Barbara
Gary
Geoff
Barry
Want more_photos of the Afan trip? Want to read more about mountain_biking? | Sunday sees us driving to the desolate area of Glyncorrwg Ponds. Boarded up houses abound but with luck this will soon start to change as White’s Level is the latest trail, the most challenging of them all and it's bound to bring the visitors flocking. This is much more reminiscent of Coed-y-Brenin with the trail built mainly on the granite that abounds in the area. The whole of the climb is made through the forest on technical singletrack with plenty of switchbacks to keep you on your toes. The scenery is awesome with small waterfalls tumbling over the rocks only feet away at the trail side. The ladies bike hanging in the trees marks the end of the climbing and it's time to pin back your ears for the descent. Broken up into a number of sections, each one seems better until the final rocky descent has small drop-offs by the dozen. Gather a bit of momentum and you can launch yourself off every slab as you fly down the side of the mountain. Everyone is buzzing with an adrenalin rush as we exit onto the tarmac and head back to the ponds, pausing only to fix two punctures. The only flats of the weekend, both occurred within 100 yards of the final trail. With the Skyline trail opening soon it won't be too long before I start planning another trip.
Barbara
Barry White
Val on her Giant XTC
Ian
Ann Grenade on her hired Trek Liquid
Malcolm
Ian
Den
Barbara
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| After my weekend excursion the bike was filthy and a solid weekend's riding always highlights those niggling faults on the bike so I had a day of maintenance. As I was removing all that Welsh mud I noticed an inch long split in the tyre wall of my favourite Panaracer_Fire_XC_Pros which was no doubt caused by those rocky descents at Afan. I replaced this with a Continental_Vert_Pro 2.3 which I had lying around as a spare. The Panaracers have given me great service so far - 16 months and still gripping well - which is what I call a great tyre. I had also had trouble shifting. The front mech wouldn't change down to the granny ring and the rear mech was so stiff it was giving me a sore thumb. New cables and cable outers sorted this immediately. Finally, the forks seemed too solid so I checked the oil. I last changed this at the start of January but 3 months of hard riding in winter mud has left the oil black. |
All the tools for servicing the Marzocchi Z5 Bombers. Spanner, Black & Decker workbench clamping the bike stand, old oil (black stuff in the container), replacement Finish Line fork oil 7.5 wt., Allen key with oil height marked with sticky tape, Fox shock pump and a cup of coffee. | |||||||
| 25th April 2004 Richard and Rav - Surrey_Hills Another day out on the Surrey_Hills sees us join a horde of about 25 Chocolate_footers assing around, frightening the ramblers. A massive ride in terms of numbers and distance covered with all three of the hills done in one day with all those names we have come to associate with this mtb-mecca nailed including the quarry and Judges_Seat. Rav was on his throwabout hardtail, a nice little Scott frame, about seven years old with a selection of 'spares' attached to it. He had forgotten to bring his lid but this didn't stop him launching off just about everything in sight including 'Caution_Steep_Slope' and I was on the large framed Morning_Glory. I managed to warm up on the small drop-off in the quarry, nail the steep roll-in at the quarry and at 'Caution_Steep_Slope' and finally owned the easier drop-off at Judges_Seat so I was pretty satisfied for the day especially as I was on a hardtail and not my full suspension talent compensator. Despite the large number of riders there were plenty of guides who knew the area and the pace was reasonably fast. Bad news for the guys who had been told we would just amble about and chuck ourselves off a few things so they had protective pads and downhill rigs to lug about all day on what must have been the hottest day of the year so far. Enjoy the pix (click to enlarge)...
Dirk
Prawn lands his cove Stiffee FR badly and almost loses it
Dango |
Richard nails the easier drop at Judges_Seat. Photo © Darryl Anderson
Caution Steep Slope on Pitch_Hill
Caution Steep Slope. Photo © Darryl Anderson
Dorking Doughnut
Brittas on Reservoir_Dogs
Dango Want to read more about mountain_biking? | |||||||
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is an mtb-idle production | ||||||||
