MTB Ride - Box Hill Loop - Sun 21 June

[higg]

Anybody interested in a ride round the Box Hill loop next Sunday.

For those that don't know this is relatively non-technical about 3-4 hr ride, do-able on cyclo cross bike but MTB is probably more fun on the downhills. Tarmac to Wallington, then bridleway to Epsom Downs and Box Hill. Return is on North Downs Way to Reigate Hill car park then Chipstead to Coulsdon. As usual, pace is easy, no one gets dropped.

Start is from East Croydon at 10am.

[ceejay]

Sounds great, see you there. Do we meet just outside the station?

Colin

[higg]

Meet just at the side of the station, next to the taxi rank.

[Alboy]

Taking Dad to watch British Superbikes at Snetterton for Fathers day.

Cant make it.

Have a good one. Wanted to do this ride.

AL

[sonic909]

It all depends on saturday, if i get an early night then i am IN!

[higg]

If it make's it easier for tomorrow's ride you can join in at Action Bikes in Wallington (opposite Sainsburys at the top end of the high street). We will be passing thro around 10.30 or soon after. PM me if you plan to be there so I know to keep an eye out.

[higg]

Thanks to everyone who turned up. Some photes to give a flavour. Another sunny day.

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[sonic909]

Well... What can i say my first time out with "The Addiscombe" on a bike (the first time out was at the Nat12TT but i was car based throwing food at GuruP).

It was my weekend off, and i have tried to do a CR for nearly 18 months now...

I intended to do the road CR to the cafe on the saturday but i had to go to a suit fitting for a friends wedding so that put play to that... so i was DETERMINED not to miss the sunday offroad event.

I stayed off the beers on saturday and got to bed by 1am so i would be fresh for it, set my alarm for 9:30 (hey i like 11 hours kip!).

Sure enough my alarm went off, i checked the forum and saw that i could meet at action bikes if i was late... so i showered and ate and left my house (near CS station) in coulsdon at 9:53... i absolutly cained it all the way to East Croydon angry that i had left late and might either miss everyone or turn up as people are leaving and not even get much of an introduction, trying hard to keep the garmin over 25mph all the way.

I arrived at East Croydon at about 10:05 with my heart in my mouth partly from the rather pressurised ride and partly flapping that i would of missed the run and would then have to decided how long to wait incase i was not the latest and then cut my losses and burn over to wallington.

I carefully rode through the masses of people (at ten a.m. on a sunday?! i didnt know the world happened this early!) and pulled around into the taxi rank area to find Steve and Bob waiting... not knowing either of them i introduced myself and asked both if they where "higgs"... failed, neither was higgs, everyone was late and my epic sprint on knobbely tyres down the bus lane had been unwarranted, oh well... what a warm up - being it was my first time i that thinking maybe a good warmup was well needed.

Then Aodan arrived... introducing himself as Aodan... a few minutes later (by his clear knowledge of the route/party that he was a lead figure...!) i clocked on that he was Higgs... and therefore i was in the right place!

We waited a little while for Marco to turn up, which was quite a pleasent moment getting to briefly know the other "agreeables" and then rode down the street to meet Colin and then set off down towards the wandle.

I wasnt sure what to expect with the ride... i wasnt worried, more cautious. As to the pace and the technical ability i wasnt sure if i would keep up or come unstuck (and bail into a hard rock or fluffy bush with epic embarrasing consequences!) however it was a gentle pace out to the rough stuff and a fun time just having a bit of a social with some faster bits when we got propperly "off road".

I enjoyed the blat upto the downs, again i still wasnt sure where we were going so didnt want to burn out but it was a laugh to do.

The ride was great, a pleasent fairly calm route with some good company, i thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was great for any newbies, Aodan was also very good at backing up the group and checking that all were present and happy, i know its easy to do but it did make me feel "looked after" and all the more welcome.
Are some of them faster or rougher?

My front brake needs sorting, its making a hideous sqeaking when braking and it got worse later when i went out for a ride with my GF.

I defo enjoyed it, would love to do it again (every other weekend when i am off) and am hooked... i am defo going to do the road clubrun in 2 weeks and am 99% sure i am going to go to the TT... i'll take my road bike and see what happens.

So guys, thankyou very much for an awesome morning, it was good to meet you all!