Date: 9th August 2009
Riders: Richard, Lee, Rob, Davebus, Steve, Rich Lonegroover, Gazza, Terry, another Steve, Debbie and David
Three Hills Classic; Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill and Leith Hill
Weather: 24°C

Davebus’s classic 3 Hills ride is one of those rides that often gets a good-natured slating on the forum or whilst we are on other, mainly easier rides because well, it can be such tough going particularly in the wetter months of the year. It comprises a circa 22 mile circuit of Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill and Leith Hill and includes a number of long, tough climbs.

Before I started my cycle commuting in March I used to dread it because I knew it was going to be a really tough day in the saddle. However with my new found fitness levels it is much more doable and even enjoyable.

So with that in mind it was great to see so many riders in the Hurtwood Control 2 car-park at the off even if Chad never did make it (does he even exist, who knows?).

Terry and his spin-class mates completed the 100 mile SDW ride back in June and are currently training for an upcoming randonnee that includes 10,000 feet of climbing over a 65 mile trail. That’s in a totally different ball-park altogether to quote some of the transatlantic bullshit that I get so much of at work (“This data is directionally correct and the convergence requires us to align our requirements, identify the synergies and give a heads up to our front office on this one guys or we’re gonna have to shoot the puppy” incorporates some of the oft used vocab).

However, user error in programming in the Sat nav department (back to work again; its programme not program!) means that a smaller group set off to cover Pitch Hill whilst Terry waits forlornly in the car-park for the latecomers to catch up. They claimed the location was detailed incorrectly on the forum, cheek!

After the initial climb up Pitch Hill and a few trails at the top we drop back down Trails 1 to 5 and roll towards Peaslake Stores when I spot Tony (Noodles) from this ‘ere neighbourhood and whilst I stop to catch up with him the others roll on down to the village to say hello to Howard at Pedal and Spoke, Surrey’s latest bike shop ideally located bang opposite the bus-stop where you can often see up to 40 riders pausing for lunch on any given weekend.

Apparently a non biking American woman was in the shop and when Rob was chatting to Howard and told her that the guy who runs the site (i.e. yours truly) will be down in a minute she piped up with “Gee, is he a famous mountain biker, do I need to get my camera out?”. Unfortunately Rob missed the chance of a great wind-up and told her that no, I was just an ordinary bloke on a bike.

This was compounded when I finally arrived to say hello and Howard told me how much he liked this site and that he grew up watching my videos (that tells you something about our respective ages). I didn’t know whether to feel honoured or patronised. ‘Patronised’ means talking down to people by the way…

Howard is really positive about riding in the area and I even got to meet his mum too! I wish him the best of luck and with his infectious enthusiasm and an ideal location for the shop I am sure he will do well and he certainly has my support.

Now that Terry and team were ready to go we had a full complement and set off up the rooty climb towards the top of Holmbury (crossing BKB at the bridleway before turning right) and after a brief visit to the trig point for a clichéd photo opportunity we set off down Parklife/Yoghurt Pots and then down the fast descent crossing the two small streams to bring us out opposite Upfolds Farm and the first of the days long climbs up to the top of Leith Hill.

I had trouble keeping pace on this climb and it wasn’t until we were virtually at the Tower that I realised that the seat post on the Prince Albert had slipped down a couple of inches. A quick adjustment but it was too late to get any benefit at that stage. After a tea-break at the Tower we rode Personal Hygeine which left Debbie screaming a well known phrase that rhymes with ‘clucking bell’ but proved that she has got to be the most rad grandmother you have ever met. Yes, she really is a grandmother.

Deliverance and Summer Lightning and then the long fast descent past High Ashes Farm that Dave refers to as 'brickbats' took us to the bottom of another long climb up past The Royal Oak and with the sun at its zenith the sweat was pouring into my eyes. But with my seat post correctly positioned I held my own with the long distance athletes (perhaps I should have let go of it to concentrate on my riding!).

A right turn took us across to Holmbury and after descending Telegraph Road it was the final wide sandy bridleway climb heading back up towards Reservoir dogs and with the ‘final climb of the day’ bonus in my legs I gave it all on this as the lead group raced up to the top arriving literally minutes before the stragglers. Now that's not knocking the stragglers as they all rode the climb as well and it's only a few short months since I too was in that group.

A quick blast down Barry knows Best and we were back at the cars; hot, sweaty but feeling great.

Check out the latest video 'Into the Valley' which features a few shots of the recent LOMAC to Redlands via Ranmore Common ride but was mainly shot on this ride.

Check out the latest videos we have uploaded

Date: 16th August 2009
Riders: Richard, Lee, Davebus, Rich Lonegroover and Terry
Leith Hill and surrounds
Weather: 20°C

Another ride round the ever expanding trails on Leith Hill sees us start at the Starveall Car Park (beware those height restrictions anyone with a roof-mounted bike rack) and starting so close to the Tower we are soon into the twisting technical singletrack that is so prevalent in this area.

Less than two miles ridden and we are already launching ourselves down Deliverance; a real warm-up for the rest of the ride.

Over the last few weeks Rob and Davebus have been having an unoffical and until today unnoticed ride-off with each trying to better the other.

It started the other week with Rob riding Blind Terror 2 for the first time and 'Abba' of Abba Zabba (he rode the first steep descent but not the bit that kicks you back up and around the tree) and Dave was obviously planning his next move and that came today when he upped the stakes with his first ride down Deliverance (captured on not one but two videos which will soon be edited into a new MTB movie).

It's one of those steep, loose, rooty descents that even veteran riders tend to look down and think twice before riding but Dave psyched himself up (not too long at the top or you will talk yourself out of it) and down he went riding it successfully.

In fact this was another first with all five of us on the ride making it to the bottom and not having to do the normal " see you around the other side" shout to those usually left at the top.

From there we went on to ride all the technical stuff we could find and in the process learnt about Dave's 'Dominant right toe" which seems to not only tell him which socks to wear in the morning but also seemed to be making the route taking decisions at times too.

Dave or his dominant right toe, I can't remember which one it was to be honest, also showed us a new trail 'Deliverance 2' which whilst not as difficult as the original, has plenty of loose rocks on a narrow line that saw me take a slow tumble into the surrounding ferns and which raised the largest cheer of the day for some unknown reason.

I pushed back up and cleaned it successfully and was reassured when Terry told me that was the first time he has ever seen me fall off in two years of riding with him! Again, it was all captured on film for your entertainment.

As the day grew warmer we were pouring with sweat but it was a great 16 mile tour of the hill which was pretty good considering we were never more than a mile or two as the crow flies from the Tower.