Date: 2nd January 2011
Riders: Richard, Davebus, Rob, Wobbem, Green Orange Dave, Lee, Paul, Nick, Drew and Markie Mark
Pitch Hill and Leith Hill
Weather: 4.5°C

A mild day today and even though there was plenty of mud around we chose some of the less ridden trails (as well as the hard-packed motorway that is BKB) and had a ride that was generally accepted as being pretty damn good all round.

Miles of singletrack, plenty of technical trails and not too many climbs for those who were either on semi-freeride bikes or else just unfit (ahem Rob). In fairnes, Rob had a good excuse not having ridden for many weeks (we last rode with him on 24th October and like me, he hasn't commuted at all during the December snow).

From the YHA car park we headed to the top of Holmbury Hill where we had agreed to meet Nick and Drew and taking in some singletrack action along the way.

I was leading and all the miles I put in with Cas last week/last year had left me feeling strong and setting a good pace. All the regulars were at the front of the group with Green Orange Dave putting in a surprise appearance on his grey/black Cotic in singlespeed mode. Hey Dave, I've just realised that's the frame you bought round to my place many months ago and I think I knocked out the headset for you isn't it?

Down BKB where I tried out the new mount position for my GoPro (more on this later) and we had already sussed out that Mark and Drew were pretty fast on the descents with Drew on a fine looking new model carbon Santa Cruz Nomad frame so we sent them off ahead of the group.

Funnily enough though, Wobbem was struggling in the middle of the pack. He's our group's competitor regularly entering the Gorrick events and is normally right up there on his On One 29'er. But his latest ride in the Brass Monkey's Gorrick event had taken it's toll and a new Diamondback Mojito frame with bars that he acknowledged as being too narrow had him on the back foot.

He still managed to throw himself literally down the Sleepy Hollow descent but never looked like being in control and ended up narrowly avoiding the photographer (me) who had wisely taken refuge behind a tree and sitting on his arse in the bushes.

Onto Pitch Hill and I handed over leadership of the group to Nick and his big shorts to take us on a tour of what we refer to as 'Nick's trails' although he hasn't actually crafted any of them but has spent a lot of time scouting around, riding on his own and with others to map them all out in his mind.

And these trails are great although we avoid the ones that are too muddy so as not to ruin them for the forthcoming Spring. Even so, the mud id unavoidable and results in various comedy moments. I always love those post technical section pauses for breath where everyone is recounting tales of going too fast into corners, front and rear wheel slides and/or what tyre choice they or others have made and today was no exception.

We head out into new areas that have a couple of the group blinking in surprise not realising that the trail network out here is so extensive.

Back towards Peaslake and a break for a cup of tea and cake before the final slog over Holmbury and back to the car park. I ewven got a chance to exercise my 'evil powers' (Mwah hah hah hah haaaaaaaarrr) when Nick and Drew suggested they would take the road route back to the car park. 'If you do I'll post it in the ride report' I said and so they followed us up the fireroad climb.

A great first ride of the year.