Diary of a Mountain Biker

Date: 11th May 2008
Riders: Richard, Dave, Rob, Mat, Steve, Gary, Phil and Lee
Two Lumps or Three? Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill
Weather: 26°C

The weather has been glorious all week and an early 9 a.m. start from the Landslip Car Park sees us head out onto quiet, dry and dusty trails.

It's another Dave special route i.e. find the longest climbs we can and go straight up them, as we head up to the top of Leith Hill, back down Deliverance across to Summer Lightning, (well me and Lee anyway) before speeding down to High Ashes Farm and across to Holmbury Hill, shouting a quick 'hellooo!' to Rich Lonegroover as we tear past him. On the way being 'spotted' by another group; 'are you diaryofamountainbiker?'

Up to the top and then down Telegraph Road, up to the top again, over the crest and down via Reservoir Dogs and passing yet another group who were looking for Rich Lonegroover and asked again; 'are you diaryofamountainbiker?' (it's so great being famous) and Barry Knows Best to Peaslake, pausing to help the bloke who back-flipped off the Orange 5 onto a stump and break for tea and cake.

Here we got the full sales pitch from Chas Gordon of Loct child saddles before climbing back up Holmbury Hill, down the Yoghurt Pots, pausing to lose the small, smelly dog that had attached itself to us and down the fast, wet descent to Upfold Farm and the long, long climb all the way back up to Leith Hill Tower. Down the steep'ish roll-in and climb back up to the final descent back to the car park.

A great ride that took just under three and a half hours and left us sweaty and with aching legs but huge grins on our faces.