MTB Ride Sunday, change of scenery ?

[higg]

Just to mix things up a bit, I've been looking through the OS maps and there's a few options for rides west off the A23. The rides would go through Farthing Downs, North Downs Way, Mogador, Bansted Heath and returning via Kingswood and Bansted Wood or stretching over to Epsom Downs and back through Surrey Oaks Park.

I was thinking of going out this Sunday, say starting 10am but from Coulsdon South instead of East Croydon.

Any takers ?

[Grahame]

Me. with two "ifs"

If I feel OK after Saturday's clubrun having virtually ignored the bike for the last two weeks.
If the pace is "fat guy" friendly.

[higg]

I can't help you with the first "if" but the pace will definitely "fat guy" friendly or LBP-20 type.

BTW This is a pic from last weeks ride, although I think this week the bluebells might be out.
[img]http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3317_68586216867_565591867_1734204_6744149_n.jpg[/img]

[sonic909]

Just got a new MTB, live in Coulsdon and am dying to try it out...

Put me down.

[ceejay]

Hi Aodan,

Yes, if it's the usual off-road clubrun pace that sounds great and I'll be there.

Colin

[Marky Mark]

[quote="sonic909"]Just got a new MTB, live in Coulsdon and am dying to try it out...

Put me down.

[sonic909]

So am i to turn up at CS tomorow am?!

[Maria David]

Yep, this is is happening.

Aodan's marshalling at the Addiscombe time trial but will be there for 10 or just after.

See you,

Maria

[sonic909]

DOH... guess i missed it then, or you all on it right now.

I work in a pub and just got in from work last night at 1;43am so slept like a baby and didnt get up:(

So wanna go out on my new bike, gonna take my GF out somewhere flat instead i think as shes learning to ride...!

Is this likely to be regular on sundays from CS?

[higg]

Sorry to have missed you today sonic, maybe next time.

To answer your question, there are many starting points but here are three of the most common :

East Croydon train station - local rides south of Croydon, it's surprising how many trails there are in the area between Croydon and the M25. When they happen these are typically on a Sunday morning at 10am lasting 3-3.5hours. Easy "social" pace.

Leith Hill + Pitch Hill etc. These are also easy "social" but over more technical terrain with more scope for playing around. These don't have any regular timing but just posted on the forum on an ad hoc basis. (There is one next Monday viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9109 )

Cousldon South - Off-road club run. A 2.5 hr trip to the club cafe in Charlwood. A good way to meet the roadie part of the club. Return to Coulsdon either 2 hrs off road or 1-1.5hrs on tarmac. This is typically held once a month during the summer on a Saturday morning leaving 8.30 to get to the cafe by 11 before the roadies leave.

Coulsdon South can also be used as an alternative to the East Croydon Sunday ride as it was this week.


At the moment all these rides are organised on an ad hoc basis and posted on the forum. In the next few weeks it might get a bit more structured.



And as for todays ride, bluebells were promised and here they are.

[img]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3317_69989496867_565591867_1753987_5566015_n.jpg[/img]

[Grahame]

Thanks for leading the ride yesterday Aoden, and sorry that I had to bail part way round.

I wasn't feeling too good all morning, then when I recognised that we were halfway down/up the Merstham drag, I realised it would be sensible to head back whilst I knew where we were.

This turned out to be a good decision - I got to the start of the dual carriageway part of the drag and had to stop to jettison my breakfast, so sorry to anybody out riding yesterday afternoon who came across any oat-based groundbait on the drag. The 15 miles home from there took over an hour, and when I got in I went to bed for 5 hours before I could face doing anything else.

Hope you enjoyed the rest of the ride, and I'm sorry I missed the bluebells.