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Date:
3rd December 2006 I was supposed to be going out for a spin with Rob but the howling wind and driving rain woke me at about 6 a.m this morning and I thought 'fuck that' as I rolled over and went back to sleep. Luckily Rob felt the same and cancelled the ride but when the sun came out mid-morning I thought I would take advantage of the break and get out for a training ride. Sticking mainly to the road I went out for a good couple of hours pushing myself up some hills to make it worth my while. Of course I managed to stop for a couple of pictures to keep myself (and you) interested. Earlier on this weekend I had also dragged the SX trail out of the garage. After the mud-fest that was Bedgebury I had left the SX in the garage exactly where I put it the week before when Rob dropped me off. Needless to say, there hadn't been any cleaning fairies in my garage and it was down to me, some washing up liquid, a couple of buckets of water and a soft brush to make the best of the situation. I also remembered that my rear SRAM shifter had seemingly broken at the end of last weeks ride. Well, I'm sure it's not supposed to be at that angle. I also reminded myself that it's not a good idea to wear a decent pair of Vans on a very muddy ride; i like the way they blend in with the concrete. Again, some water and brushwork came to my rescue and left them looking great.
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speeding
Date:
10th December 2006 Another wet week and the start of the Christmas party festive season and it looked like I wasn't going to ride until Cas texted me late on and we agreed to meet at The Drift Bridge especially late for Cas's hangover to downgrade from nuclear to merely high explosive. We knew the trails would be muddy as Cas had been out for a spin the day before so we decided to do a simple short route instead. I had already taken the long way round to get to the meeting point and was well warmed up so that was fine for me. Cas struggled up the first few hills and it was a rare experience for me to be waiting at the top of climbs to see where he was. The first few miles showed that the trail pixies had been out in force. But this time it was the ones employed by Reigate & Banstead council and they had been laying a semi-permament trail down. Luckily not too much of the trails were flattened, widened and simplified like this and the ride was quite enjoyable. I remember when they last did this about 4 years ago and the trails soon cut up again making them more interesting. We saw a number of other riders out on the trails, mostly going in the opposite direction and all too soon we finished as we both needed to get back early for an afternoon visit to Stamford Bridge, home of the Champions.
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speeding Date:
17th December 2006 A
combination of miserable weather and dads versus kids football with Sam's under
16's football team meant that I didn't get out riding this week. But the football
reminded me why I had to give that up many years ago, especially when I was still
aching until the following Wednesday. But
I did
Date: 23rd December 2006 Filmed over 3 days this summer by Sam and the guys, this features most of the teen element of this site at their favourite jump spot. I
finally got round to editing it; let me know what you think.
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speeding
Date:
24th December 2006 A quick spin out with Orlando, a recent addition to the group but keen to ride and that is the main thing plus Markonthedowns, an infrequent visitor to the Epsom area. It's mild and the trails aren't too bad and we enjoy the route although Orlando is a bit disappointed to discover three-quarters of the way through the ride that we had passed Box Hill some 6 miles back and he hadn't realised.
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speeding Date: 27th December 2006 Riders: Richard, Keef and Paul The Big Eight Weather: 5°C  There I was, in the front drive trying to replace the Hope M4 plastic cables with the new Goodgridge Braided cables that I got for Christmas when the mobile rings at 12-15pm and it's none other than a bit of 'diaryofamountainbiker' history on the other end of the phone. That's right, Keef (for you newer readers I spent the first 3 or so years riding with Keef until somehow we stopped riding together). He was out for a spin that afternoon with Paul, another rider I spent my formative riding years with. I was a bit indecisive but a stuck bolt on the Hope cyclinder forced my hand and I agreed to meet them at 1-45pm at Epsom Downs. I gave Cas a quick call too as I know he is always up for a last minute ride. 75 minutes later and I was at Epsom Downs but a call from Cas indicated he had a broken chain and a power link but no chain tool to remove the remains of the broken link. I'm sorry to say we couldn't get down to meet him to assist and so we left a man out there on the field (who do you think we are anyway, the US Marines?). Sorry Cas. We set off on the Big Eight route. It was much dryer than the last time I rode it and after catching up on all the news we were soon back into the usual banter. The ride went well with not too many horse-riders and walkers out on the trails although Keef did suffer his usual mechanical and a pretty big one it was too. At the Reigate Hill tea-break area he spotted a pretty significant crack in the swingarm of his Whyte PRST 1, right near the pivot area. He nursed it round the rest of the route but I think he is already planning what bike to get next. By the time I got backit was dark, very dark. A good ride with some good mates who I haven't seen since July 2004.
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speeding Date:
29th December 2006 Went out night riding with Mark. The first night ride for me in 12 months and we didn't really pick the weather very well. After raining all day the trails were pretty boggy. I finished fitting the Goodridge brakeline kit this morning and so took the titanium frame out to see how it performed. We had started badly when as we were driving along to the car park, I realised I had forgotten my waterproof jacket and was sitting in the car in a few layers with just a thin fleece on top. Luckily Mark had two waterproof jackets with him and despite the difference in our size one of his jackets fitted me quite comfortably. We set out at 3-15pm and the light was already fading. By 4-15pm we had the lights on and the rain started coming down. By 5-15pm we'd had enough and sodden and muddy we headed back to the car park. The Hope's squealed terribly for the first half of the ride but they performed okay although there still seems to be some air in the system. A bit more attention needed there. A good ride but we do need to choose the weather more carefully next time.
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speeding
Date: 31st December 2006 Riders: Richard, Rob, Gary, Colin and Bryan Pitch Hill Weather: 11.5°C  I really have been finishing off this year in style; this is the fourth time I have been out riding in eight days. We set off from Pitch Hill car park in less than the promised sun and cloud and are joined by Rob, Gary who we last saw at Bedgebury and his dad plus Bryan who has contacted me via the site. My legs are aching from all the riding but at least the trails are a bit drier than Thursday evening and I follow a fairly regular route round all the usual trails and attractions before finishing off with Trails 1 through 5. A great way to waste 2 and a half hours and to 'blow away the cobwebs' as Colin put it. The last ride of 2006; what an awesome cycling year for me.
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speeding Buy a replacement brakeline kit
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