How many crashes Phil??

Thursday 5th March



A few tumbles.......................



This weeks ride started at The Norfolk Arms at Ringinglow.

On arrival I got out of the van and was surprised to find how much the temperature had dropped since leaving home, according to amy & Chris's temp gauge in their van it was now 0 deg and windy!

Luckily most of the proposed ride is in the woods, or has the prevailing wind following so we got cracking.

The 1st mile (as usual) is uphill, and is a roman road popular with off roaders. Up to the cross roads after Lady Cannings plantation, and Left down to the road.

a quick ascent of the a625 to do the excelant decent along the edge of blacka woods. at the end of this track is a test we like to do called the 'drop of doom'!

This is just as described, a steep grassy bank with a defined narrow track, one that is best not ridden unless you are 1st down. It gets really slippery after 1 or 2 riders.

Geoff went 1st and took a route off to the left and around a small tree, I was next and took the direct, on track route, the front super tacky 'swampthing' tyre really worked here allowing me to hang right over the back of the saddle and brake hard without skidding at all. Made it, safe. Adam next straight down, no worries.

Cub was next, he teetered over the edge and then just seemed to accelerate until he went down on his left and straight into a tree, he was ok, but he and ther bike was now stuck fast.

Phil came down the far side and found what appeared to those watching below, the bumpiest route on there, it looked as though his front forks were getting full travel all the way down.

We pushed back to the top to find the others in the group had decided not to have a go, and were ready to carry on with the ride.

a short climb back up to the junction, and now a descent i didn't recall having ever done.

it starts steep and rocky, then as it levels out gets straighter, faster, and wetter. At one point I could hear someone behind me getting close, worried it was Phil trying to pass I dropped off to one side. It was Phil, he passed me, giggling away, and then got the back wheel stuck in a drainage ditch that has been lined with timber to keep its shape. He fell off just to my right, forwards rolled straight across my path and ended up in the trees on the left. adam came down next, and later commented on how he was concerned to see on his approach to see Phil's bike, but no Phil!

With Phil up and still laughing, I was off, and now found that it was turning into a bog, no well defined route, and as i zig zagged around the woods trying to find traction, adam caught me up and said, Phils off again!

At a junction near the bottom, we gathered and laughed about how Phil always seems to pass you, and then takes a massive tumble, we all should have helmet cameras, we'd have some excellant youve been framed footage!

We now dropped through the ford in Blackamoor, and tackled the big climb up through the trees to the sweetie stop, here we put Phils chain back together, it had broke right down at the bottom.

we then disscussed the possiblities of extending the route, but with no decision being made Phil set off up the grassy climb, so decision made, we all duly followed.

Heading just slightly off a head wind, this climb seemed easier for me then normal, at the top a quick run along the a625 again takes us back along the Roman road back to lady Cannings Plantation.

Along this track with the wind behind you can really fly, and at the top we met another group of riders going the other way. When ever we see other groups they always seem (to me) to be heading the wrong way for getting in the best decents, maybe they don't like downs and are into the pedally stuff?

Now we set off across the tops, and found 3 off roaders going off the track and making the ugly deep scars to the side of the track even deeper, if they carry one doing this, they will end up with the track closed to vehicles, and the prospect of nowhere to go, not a bad thing some might say. I just think that everyone will be tarred with the same brush eventually, and it will get everyone with wheels a bad name.

Now into The woods, and a quick flowing blast with roots and the odd rock or two, myself and Geoff were near the back of the group, and as we split into the technical track in the bottom wood, his light went off, he stopped with lots of cursing, normally unflappable he seemed to be quite angry. he set of, went off to the left into the under growth, back onto the track and shot straight into a tree! Keep it calm!

at the end we met the road, and with 150m on tarmac, we were back with our cars.

Whilst we loaded up, we were entertained with the sound of jazz from the Norfolk Arms, very nice. We didnt call in though........... The Grouse beckoned!