Well that turned out to be a good weekends worth of biking. On Friday night I managed a short run up to Coldharbour where I met up with George and Mike for a couple of pints in the Plough. So that started the weekend off well with a 9 mile round trip all be it at a very easy pace.

 

Come Saturday morning and I ventured up to Nirvana for the 9.30 shop ride and despite there being quite a few people I was relieved to see most a distinct lack of the ‘faster’ riders. Still, having persuaded Paul to lead out from the shop all 12 or so of us headed off up the 4 minute climb (which took well over 4 minutes) to White Down.

 

From him we made our way over to the Abba Zabba complex of trails and descended as far as the road Crossing. George had already turned off to go alone and then Mike suffered a blow out and also decided to call it a very early day and head off to make some repairs to the split sidewall off his tyre.

 

We progressed on along the top of the downs before descending into Shere then through one of the fords before climbing up behind the village, crossing the railway line and heading up Ponds lane. This was rather muddier than I had hoped but lead to a couple of comedy spills for Jon and then a little later for Bridget.

 

Paul carried on leading us up through Winterflold until eventually we emerged on the road up near the windmill. From hear Nick who was patiently staying with the ride (it really was a slow one but Nirvana Saturday rides standards) showed us a few trails in the area that we hadn’t done before which were all very entertaining and produced a few more tumbles but thankfully nothing serious.

 

Having spent some time enjoying these trails we headed off over to Peaslake via the Gimp etc for a well earned tea stop. Despite the pace of the ride I found the whole thing quite hard work so along with pretty much the rest of the group headed off for home via Rad land and Abinger Roughs. So, something like 22 miles was covered, probably more for Leo and Nick who had headed of from Peaslake before us via Holmbury Hill or John and Bridget who went off for more after the tea stop. So not a bad ride overall and especially nice to get in some new (to me) trails.

 

Normally, even on a good weekend that would be an end to my biking but not so this time. With my wife being occupied by her visiting family I took the opportunity to head out again, this time along with George and Matt we cycled over to Bocketts farm to join the 8.30 start of the Muddy Moles ride. It’s been a while since I have had the chance to ride with these guys and always enjoy it when I do.

 

So, with a group of 14 riders Dave and Matt from the Moles set off on a route over to Gatton Park (Redhill) and back. Despite my early puncture before even clearing Leatherhead, it was an excellent ride. Both Matt and Myself were suffering a bit from riding the day before whilst George was sailing along. Following the puncture it was quite and effort to catch up with the main pack again which we did at the top of Alsatian.

 

Plenty of familiar trails followed at a good steady pace leading us all the way over to Gatton park which I ride sometimes on my work commute although it’s always good to now of alternative options. We climbed back up to the Reigate Hill café where the decision was made to head to headley for the tea stop. Back along the top to Colly Hill and as we crossed the M25 George opted to miss this section of the ride out and head for home. Once over the motorway we did some new single track I’d never done before and then joined the really good fast track across the golf course which although I have done in the past I haven’t for quite some time so really enjoyed it. It was also on this section that with Matt having hit the front for the 1^st time in the ride, rounded a corner only to startle and young family riding in the other direction resulting in the young, rather attractive mother falling into the trail side shrubbery. Luckily she seemed to see the funny side and was laughing as we pulled both her and her bike back upright.

 

Onward we pressed, past the ‘Cock Inn’ and then after another puncture delay took a couple of bridleways down then up under the M25 to Headley Heath where we eventually stopped for our tea and cake.

 

Having been suitably re fuelled my legs were feeling very heavy as we set off again and as Matt stopped to answer his phone (not something we’d normally bother with on a ride but as his dad was in hospital he wanted to make sure it wasn’t a call concerning that) we, along with Dave who had waited, got a little detached from the main group. Luckily Dave seemed to have a good idea of the direction they were headed so after a short while we were able to find them and then head off again as a group. Soon we were on the High Ashurst track and then at the top of good old China Pig.

 

With the ideal conditions China Pig was a right blast, I think everyone really enjoyed that and I remember Matt from the Moles saying it was one of if not the fastest he’d ever ridden it. Well, that was it for me and Cocks Matt and time to head off back to Dorking (Westcott in my case) back down the A24 to complete a really enjoyable morning. So 35 miles later I was back at home form my 3^rd ride of the weekend.

 

What happened next was an unexpected surprise as having barely got in the door, I was virtually ordered back out to go for another ride this time with my wife’s 13 year old cousin who is staying with us. I managed to negotiate a delay of an hour or so to get a bit of food in me and rest my aching legs before once again heading off on the bike.

 

Admit ably this was to be a short ride of about an hour and at a pace I could dictate but still, young Piotr despite only being 13 is quite a fit lad and as tall as me. We proceeded to have a fun little jaunt out the back of Westcott, past UNUM, over the A25 through the bury hill fisheries, across the field up to Logmore lane over and up to ‘Barking Dog Farm’ then eventually on to Wolvens lane. So that was the climbing out the way and all that was left to do was head back down Wolvens lane using all the single-track along the edge of it then down the rookery, around Balchins lane then home with one happy smiling teenager – looks like I’ll be taking him out again later in the week if time allows.

 

And there you have it, a very good weekends worth of riding for me and as a side note, I here Simon had a rather amusing incident on his Saturday ride with Antony and Tread but I’ll leave it up to him to divulge further detail if he so wishes.