Saturday CR - MTB Special inc reports

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Grahame"]Oh yes, almost forgot and especially for Toks- the stats:

Distance - about 25 miles
Ride time - just under 4 hours
Average speed - don't care, but about 6-7mph
Average happiness - 25sph*



*sph = smiles per hour

[Chris L]

That was a lot of fun, good company, good snow and good trails. Thanks to Graham for guiding and for tea and biccies. Talk about a total body workout I had sore shoulders and arms, sore abs and sore legs.
And the lessons learned:
1. I must do more off road this year
2. I should have use the full nobbly tyres not just half nobbly
3. (follows from one) I probably need to get a new off road bike
4. Bromley to Wallington aint as far as I thought
Chris

[Toks]

[quote="Grahame"]Oh yes, almost forgot and especially for Toks- the stats:

Distance - about 25 miles
Ride time - just under 4 hours
Average speed - don't care, but about 6-7mph
Average happiness - 25sph*



*sph = smiles per hour

[Grahame]

Falling off isn't really compulsory. And if you do, usually it hurts much less than falling from a road bike - the ground is softer, and the speeds (usually) lower, so most falls are follwed by fits of giggles rather than screams of pain.

If you want to try it out anytime, let me know and I'll take you out for an introductory ride, I'll even lend you a bike.

(#Note to self - must ask Stu to return the Merlin that I lent him a year and a half ago)

[Jon H]

What a great morning out playing in the snow. Thanks to Andrew for the suggestion and to Grahame for the navigation.

As Grahame said earlier, this loop is do-able on a cross bike, which is just as well, cos that's what I was on. Not sure whether it was a help or a hinderance really - the narrow tyres seemed to cut through the snow and mud OK, but I found the icy road sections pretty dodgy, and I was a bit overgeared in places.

Also had a couple of NO BRAKES moments, when I discovered that a layer of compacted ice had formed between the brake pads and the rim - Hal almost got my front wheel parked somewhere where it shouldn't have been parked as a result of one of those moments.

I bailed out before the end because I had to get back for an opticians appointment, so missed out on tea chez Grahame.

[Sue R]

Cracking little ride!! Not such a little ride in the snow - I bet it's really quick in dry weather.

The snow pics are great.

Thanks to Graham for leading and refreshments and George who I am re-naming the "snowplough" I think local authorities could utilise him for road clearing with suitable attachment on front of bike.

[Sylv]

Another puncture tonight ...
I think I can safely say now I prefer riding in the snow than the rain
Cheers George for the tea - bike now up and running - I forgot that swiss knife again

[George]

wanna swing by in the morning on the way to work Sylv?