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Date:
2nd April 2006 I enjoyed the riding from Westcott last week so much and with no transport today I decided to get the train to Dorking and repeat the route this week. As usual though, the complete cast of riders has changed with the only constant being me. Andrea has met some of the domtb cast a while back on the Big 8 route but this is the first time I have met her. The weather can best be described as changeable although there are some stunning views and it's mild enough not to require a coat again. We soon break into a sweat heading up Rookery Lane and then Greensands Way. The rain throughout the week has made many of the trails gloopy but they are still great fun. My tyres are coping well with the conditions but others aren't so lucky and a few comedy crashes are had by all. The best is probably Troy's slide into the holly bush near the quarry. Luckily there are no injuries except some hurt pride here and there. All riders are keen to give everything a go though and despite most coming a cropper on the tricky descent near the quarry all riders clean the steep roll-in near Leith Hill tower. The return leg sees a momentous occasion with Andrea who has been riding regularly for about a year getting her first ever puncture which ends up getting fixed by committee.
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8th April 2006 The forecast all week has been for sun, sun, sun and it didn't let us down. A lovely warm day with the trails nicely dried out from the mudfest that was last week. It was Sam's birthday during the week (15) and like any good son he had received a selection of bike bits including some pimped to the max Crank Brothers 5050 pedals and a new bottom bracket. Unfortunately, whilst out riding during the Easter holidays he had also managed to repeat my trick of his exploding his rear mech so I was left replacing this and the chain pre-ride. The cassette proved to be pretty worn though and the chain slipped for most of the day but at least the bottom bracket had stopped squeaking. Anyway, back to the ride. We explored most of the old favourites as well as a few extra trails that I haven't shown the others before including me refinding 'Return of the Jedi' even though we had to ride in circles for about 30 minutes before I realised where it was. Sam looked miserable most of the day, first cos of his chain problems but then because he went over the bars on a twisty bit of singletrack on Pitch Hill when he barrelled round a tight corner and his front wheel came to a halt against a large tree stump. All too soon it was over but there were smiles all round as we packed the gear away in the car.
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14th April 2006 After a dry start the rain started to come down very finely. It wasn't cold and I didn't even bother putting my waterproof jacket on. We carried on riding and the trails were really nice and grippy as we made our way over Holmbury Hill and down the recently maintained Barry Knows Best. Onto Pitch Hill and the rain really started to come down heavily. This made John Steep very interesting and Jim tumbled off the bike and heavily into a sapling. The trails were really starting to cut up and the rain getting heavier and so we decided to head for home. The riding was difficult as my shades were covered in mud and rainwater but removing them meant you got loads of mud flicked up in your eyes. Some of the corners on the trails were really slippery too but this just added to the fun. We reached the cars back at Holmbury soaked and muddy but happy. That was right up until Jim realised he had left his rucksack with car keys etc. on the bench at Peaslake Stores. I gave him a lift back in my car and luckily some kind soul had handed it all in to the stores - thanks whoever you are. A good ride even though I can still feel the grit in my teeth and in the corners of my eyes.
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23rd April 2006 A large group of 12 meets at the Newlands Corner car park incuding Graeme, a new rider who has come along to see what domtb is all about. A few late arrivals get left at the car park as we setoff in the light drizzle. We cross the A25 and follow the bridleway east for the first fou or five miles. these are amazingly straight and flat until we reach Hackhurst Down and turn South down the fast, steep descent with a slippery off camber corner and cross the railway. Along to Westcott and back across the A25 where the late arrivals catch us up before the climb up Rookery Lane. Up to Leith Hill tower and down the singletrack descent where we inadvertently split up before the climb up Holmbury Hill. across the top and down Reservoir Dogs and Barry Knows Best for a tea and cake at Peaslake stores. Up Pitch Hill and across Winterfold Woods when the rain really starts to hammer down. A combination of rain, sweat and grit flicked up off the trail get in my eyes making them really sore but we carry on down another fast descent to cross the railway again near Ponds farm and climb back up the chalky climb to Newlands corner. A great ride of 25 miles which sees Huey's first ride on flat pedals and riding with 1kg downhill tubes on each end of his Cannondale Jekyll and Sue's first decent off-road ride since breaking her wrist at the back end of last year. We won't mention everyone's soggy clothes which led to me being renamed as Soggy Fox and Rob driving home in his pants - now there's and image I didn't want in my head. Click here for the North Downs MBR Killer route map.
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27th April to 2nd May 2006
We were amazingly lucky with the weather, having to buy sun lotion on the second day there and only had a single morning of light rain. The trails are all heavily armoured, all weather trails with endless switchbacks on the climbs at the larger centres such as Innerleithen and Glentress. They are also built around the natural rock formations that abound in this part of Scotland with challenging rock gardens on the climbs and descents. Here are a few photos to wet your appetite. If you like these then view the 100+ photos in the 7 Stanes photo album. If you've never been and you enjoy all day riding along challenging, waymarked trails, thisis the place for you.
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February
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