A copper, a bike tart and a homeboy

Date : 5^th December 2009
Riders : Roy, Simon, Andy
Area : Holmbury and Pitch

What with Mark 2 working, Dave with car problems, Rich on holiday, Tom under the thumb and Dunnie messing up his rear brake last night, it was left to Roy, Simon and myself to hold the “Over the Hill” fort this morning. It had been wet during the week, but the forecast for this morning was sunny, dry over head and cool. We were however expecting to get really wet up from the ground!

Meeting at car park 9, we headed up to the top of Holmbury, living up to our expectation by getting quite wet en route. We took a slightly different route to the top today taking in a little more single track than fire road. Arriving at the top we savoured the view before heading off to meet Barry Knows Best. This would be my opportunity to lead and look down the trail, and Simon's first visit of BKBs new ending. Seat posts dropped we headed off. It was a bit muddier than last week, and consequently slow on the top section. The new section was great. I dialled in, outside pedal down, looked where I wanted to go, and didn't brake... nailed it!!! How much better the berms flow when you get all those things together at the right time. It felt like I was flying! We all enjoyed it, so agreed to make the climb back to the the start of the trail!!

The second run was just as good. All hail to the Bishop/Dunn monster berm!

Off the bottom of the trail I practised my manualing down the road into Peaslake – trying to explain to Simon the mechanism and advantages of manualing and doing it properly..... Not sure he bought it!!!

Through Peaslake and up the long climb to the top of Pitch to take in the view, and then back down to find a particularly wet and muddy singletrack, which didn't flow and was very stilted! Arriving at the car park at the bottom of Pitch, we headed over towards the villlage store to partake of the usual cup of Rosy and a homemade flapjack. Nice!

Then off for the slog back up Radnor road. Simon and Roy were both caught by the Roadie, but I stayed in front..... I stopped at the start of BKB to allow Simon and Roy to catch up, and allow the roadie on hits way... although he would never have caught me!!!!

To the top of Holmbury and down the other side, stopping for a quick chat to a couple of orienteerers out on an 8 hour race!! Running and bikes! We hit Telegraph and slowed down... it was boggy again, there's a surprise!! The second half did run a little better, and took us back to the car park.

Good ride chaps... thanks.