Last night saw a really big turn out with a total of 16 ‘Cocks’ flocking to Nirvana for the traditional Wednesday Night Ride. The weather was set fair and with rumours of dry trails in abundance everyone was looking forward to putting in a few miles.

Huw was on his comeback ride from his knee op, Nick had strayed from his Paragon roots, Mark was on his inaugural SS ride on his converted old Rocky Mountain and Charlie just made the start on time.

So off we went at 6.45 heading out over Abinger Roughs on a mission to ride a reportedly dry, fun and rarely used ‘Clawhammer’ trail. Simon led the way at 1st taking us around deerleap and over the road where the 1st re group took place. After that Toby took over at the front and the pace was soon starting to split the group.

Before leaving the roughs it was decided to have a split with Toby, Simon, Antony, Leo, Tread, Duncan, Charlie, Nick, Matt G & Mark heading off in the main group and Jo, Simon H, George, Huw, Mike and John doing their thing – the agreed pub stop was the Kings Head.
 

So off we went once again at speed heading around the back of Gomshall then up to Peaslake. We made our way up to the reservoir on Holmbury Hill then descended again down BKB to Peaslake. From here we headed up Pitch hill past the graveyard eventually coming back down T1 and ‘Fork Right’. Next we went back up and did ‘Roller Coaster’ followed by ‘Curly Wurley’.
 

The miles were being eaten up by a right old mixture of 29”ers, 26”ers including singlespeeds in both some with front suspension and a couple (Toby & Nick) on fully rigid. We soon found ourselves in the top car park and then made our way over to the start of ‘Clawhammer’. The start of this trail had been blocked off so we went down the road a bit and found another entrance.
 

Having completed this trail we turned left, up, over the road to Bentley Copse then climbed back up to pick up ‘the Gimp’. This was descended at speed and eventually we came out past ‘shouty women’s house then up past the sheep field and old football pitch back to Peaslake.
 

From Peaslake we climbed back up and over Holmbury hill and as time was ticking on went directly to the Kings Head where the remaining 6 of our group were sat happily drinking their beers.
 

A couple of pints later and in drips and drabs we headed off for home with me and Simon the last to go except for Jo and Simon H who we left supping there beer. By the time we got back to Westcott a very decent 25 miles had been covered and a heavy frost covered the grass and parked cars – a great nights riding in beautiful conditions, can’t wait for more of the same.