Leith Hill MTB - Sunday 13th December

[Andrew G]

I'm off for a bit more playing at Leith Hill on Sunday 13th December should anyone want to accompany me. I'm first to admit I don't know the trails anywhere near as well as a lot but can probably bumble around them okay if "the knowledge" can't make it.

For a change, to both ride over to Peaslake for tea and goodies at half time, and ride the other side of Leith Hill up to the tower, I'm going for a Westcott start.

The car park is a little sort of off road left turn just after you go passed the Westcott sign which leads in to a car park. Off the top of my head I can't remember it there is a sign to it but think it may have something as it's a start point for a lot of walkers in the area. If anyone can remember better directions then please post them.

If folk stick their hands up then we can sort out any car shares needed and possibly do a convoy there if needed due to my dubious directions.

10am start from the car park.

[ceejay]

Somehow another torrential soaking this weekend hasn't put me off so I'm definitely in. I'd be interested in a lift if anyone has space, or could ride over from Dorking (given a bit more detail in the directions).

Colin

[higg]

You read my mind Andrew I was just looking at dates between now and Christmas. I'll add this to the "sticky" list.

BTW I will also add a Coulsdon MTB ride this Saturday.

[quote="higg"]You read my mind Andrew I was just looking at dates between now and Christmas. I'll add this to the "sticky" list.

[higg]

Just a point, Nirvana have their social MTB ride on a Sunday leaving at 11 so the on-street parking might fill up. Not sure how many they get this time of year but in the summer there can be 20 people in their group.

There not much between them either way (1km), and it's downhill to the carpark on the way back. Lets say the ride starts in by Westcott green and park where you like ?

[Andrew G]

Just bouncing so you can make sure you get your Christmas shopping done before next Sunday.

10am meet at Westcott Green on a fat tyred bike with bouncy bits .

Does anyone want to raise their hands for a sort of convoy there from Croydon or are folk happy to find it themselves
Space in cars to offer lifts

I have space for one other plus their bike.

[ceejay]

Andy,

I'll take that lift if that's OK - much appreciated. Where would be a good place to meet?

Colin

[George]

What a beautiful day!
Just returned home from Peaslake been out all day riding the Trails with Nick De Meyer.
Lovely warm sunshine all day long but hardly anyone out on the trails , I think the rain in the morning scared them off.

Must say we like the new and improved Barry Knows Best downhill, its much longer. much dryer, less rootier and more Bermed

Although we both wore out our brake pads in the conditions.

Theres even a bike shop opened in Peaslake opposite the stores, very handy for spares.

[quote="George"]Although we both wore out our brake pads in the conditions.

[ceejay]

[quote="Andrew G"]Where's easiest for you to get to? I could pick you up anywhere in Croydon, or on the way down somewhere.

[Andrew G]

Wheel your way over to the pick up point the other side of the taxis and I'll see you there at 9, if your train gets in a bit later just let me know what time it's due in. I'll pm you my mobile number and if anything crops up just let me know.

Cheers.

[Andrew G]

What a damn good day.

Nick, George, Aodan, and Ben met Colin and myself for today's fun. We started off from Westcott and Nick led us up a trail to start some long climbing. Unfortunately we'd not been going too long when Nick, George and I heard a shout from behind. George went back to investigate, puncture perhaps, but then shouted for us to come back.

Ben was sitting on the floor not looking his usual chipper self . It would seem that he hit a root which made him hit the eject button and as he put his hand down to break his fall his finger took the brunt of it. I have to say full marks to Ben for being so calm about the whole thing as his finger was pointing off in a very funny direction and was obviously dislocated quite badly, I think I'd have been screaming the woods down.

We started walking back down to the cars again but Aodan and George said we should carry on and they'd take Ben and his car to A&E. It made sense as there wasn't much good all of us would do sitting in casualty but you still feel a bit of a B carrying on for your fun with a mate walking off to the hospital.

Nick then led Colin and I back up the hill and all over a number of trails I've never seen before, he really knows the place like the back of his hand. It was quite hard going as it was a lot of climbing to get up to the tower where we had a tea, and fruit cake for me .

While supping I got a call from Aodan saying they were on their way back, so with Nick having to get back early we followed him back through some other trails and along Summer Lightening. Down the last bits and bumped in to George and Aodan coming the other way.

Goodbye to Nick and then Aodan led us back up to the tower another way. I think Aodan and George had been saving their energy on the hospital run as they set off with rockets up their backsides .

Up to the tower and we carried on straight by and off to Peaslake. More great trails finishing up with Barry, wow that's good now with the new twists and berms in the final section, massive grin inducing stuff.

More tea and a samosa, and a puncture to fix for me as my rear end was a bit soft. Back to the cars now and plenty more climbing, some good descents, and a lot of good trails including Telegraph. Colin's legs were feeling it a bit towards the end but we were going quicker than the normal Sunday fun sessions, and we'd done a lot of climbing with the extra trip to the tower.

We covered some of the way back to the cars by road through Friday Street, although the surface is so bad a detritus strewn that it's almost off road, getting back as it was getting dark. The last half hour was done in dusk and any longer and we really would have needed lights.

Very tired but a good day and I've got half a bottle of rather nice red that needs finishing .

A big thanks to Nick and Aodan for sorting out most of the route finding.

I checked my phone in the car and had a message from Ben:
"Thank you to everyone especially George and Aodan. It's appreciated. Finger popped back in, off to do some one handed press ups."
Hope to see you back on the bike soon Ben.

[George]

Indeed great ride out today quite cold but soon warmed up with all the climbing.

Ben glad to hear your now all on the mend, hope to see you back on the mtb soon.

It was almost dark by the time we got back to the cars after 4pm

[nick de meyer]

really enjoyed this, glad your finger is better ben, looked kinda odd, oh and i can't tell you what a difference having brake pads makes, you can stop instead of it taking 50 metres
when is the next mtb trip?

[ceejay]

Great day out (although totally knackering for the once-a-week cyclist like me...)

Thanks to all for the guiding and repeated promises of "it's all downhill from here", thanks to Andy for the transport, and all the best to Ben's finger.

Colin