What a most excellent day, best club run for ages, and far better than just charging up and down some main roads
.
A goodly number met up at East Croydon (no Marco as he was still having sequin trouble) and set off under the stupendous guidance of Grahame. It was a really nice route along tracks and trails that are all on my doorstep but I never knew were there. I do now and pretty sure I can remember where they are so can do this loop again - I have a feeling that it could be a really good blast after a period of dry weather when it's all hard packed
.
A mix of mainly snowy tracks - some light and thin, some deep and ensuring a hard effort slogging through them - and some icy stretches including sheets on the trails with water underneath (very attractive a bit like a lava lamp). Most broke under your wheels some stayed solid and gave you a little slide. There was one stretch which was like riding up a very narrow stream with rooty steps on it. It was so narrow with snow banks either side that from time to time you hit your pedals as you rode up.
We all had to walk up a couple of snowy climbs just because they were too bumpy due to the snow freezing over hoof marks and the like meaning there just wasn't enough grip. The odd road bit we used to link things up were very icy, or at best slippery slush so don't even think about riding in the lanes yet unless you want go down them on your backside
.
Grahame had said he was a bit unfit at the moment but had a hard workout today on his singlespeed and looked in fine form. In addition to showing us the way today he also repaired a chain, and to top off his "Most Agreeable Agreeable" award called ahead to home so the remaining five of us by the end could swing by chez Baker for a proper nice cuppa
.
After that the final four of us headed home and I swung by the folks to hose the bike down, with the added bonus of being given some homemade soup for my lunch, mmmm spicy.
A great ride. What I find nice about this type of ride is that it seems to allow people of mixed ability to all go out together and enjoy a fun ride yet all get a tough workout as each can all charge along bits at what ever speed they want and the regroups at the end of hills or trails allow it to stay social. If you're quick and don't want to wait about too much you can always loop about for a bit.
Oh on a final note I think Sylv's getting a bit porky as he found a crack in his frame
.
A few piccies from my phone.
Any road bits were mostly like this.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MTB%20CR%20Snowy%20070209/WEBMTBSnowyCRLane.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MTB%20CR%20Snowy%20070209/WEBMTBSnowyCRIcyRoad.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MTB%20CR%20Snowy%20070209/WEBMTBSnowyCRSlipperyroads.jpg[/img]
The puncture repair appreciation society.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MTB%20CR%20Snowy%20070209/WEBMTBSnowyCRPuncture.jpg[/img]
The remaining 5 (well 4 of them as I'm behind the camera
) on the last section over to cuppa heaven.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MTB%20CR%20Snowy%20070209/MTBSnowyCR070209011.jpg[/img]
Despite all the fun we've had in the snow lately George and I did agree on the way home that it would be pleasant if it warmed up a bit soon as it's been around zero most days for about 2 months now and the novelty is starting to wear off.
by thePinkDreamMachine » Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:58 pm 
