If you ain't findin new people to go ridin with you ain't nuthin!

9th June – Richard and Addiscombe CC Farnham Downs

You know what’s it’s like – you haven’t been out for 12 days and all your mates are injured or busy. What do you do except look for someone else to go riding with!

David is still recovering from a badly twisted ankle, sustained in an alcohol and dark towpath incident, whilst Mike has cracked some ribs after going over the top of his bars after overshooting a double. Apparently it was quite spectacular – after a couple of successful attempts, he really pushed it, overshot the landing and hit the hole where the soil had been taken from to build the double in the first place. Finally, Keith has told us that his bike is dead. We shall wait and see what happens there.

So anyway, I have been on Addiscombe’s mailing list for about 10 months and finally have an opportunity to go out with them. Not a very successful morning as after a number of delays I make my excuses early before seeing any of the decent trails. On the way back, I misjudge a kerb and hit the tarmac at speed. Three hours in casualty later I emerge with a badly sprained, left wrist, right thumb and a sore leg.

Following the Addiscombe pack

Despite this, Addiscombe seemed a good enough crowd and keen riders who knew their stuff. I will certainly visit again – thanks Marco!

23^rd June – Richard, Dave F, Mark, Roger and Huey - Epsom Downs

Well, I have been out of action for the last two weeks recovering from my injuries but I finally manage to get back in the saddle today (ooh err!).

See here for a full report.

30^th June – Richard and Keef Epsom_Downs_to_Box_Hill

Just the two of us today but I have been keen to try out a route we did over a year ago that takes us across Headley Heath to Box_Hill.

David led us on the route last year but can’t make it today so I have the OS map in my pocket as we set off from Epsom Downs on a mild but overcast morning. After our usual drag up Ebbisham Lane and via bridleways to Headley we turn left onto the new route. After a quick stop to check the map we are onto Headley Heath. The heath is a mixture of chalk with lots of sand in places. Nothing too taxing but the views across the valley are fantastic.

Keef on da Heef

Peter and Keef – Headley Heath

After a pit stop at the NT Café on Zig Zag Hill we set off down the chalky descent to the foot of the hill. This is a really fast downhill and the loose surface makes it pretty scary but great fun. I can really feel my wrist and thumb that I injured earlier this month taking a pounding despite my front forks. 

After the exhilaration of the downhill is a steady climb back up to Slane Street which takes us all the way back to Epsom Downs. Just time for Keef to have a quick flat before we get back to the car park. Later on I notice that a spoke has broken on my rear wheel – not sure where it happened but it didn’t spoil the ride.

Keef feeling flat

This is a great route with a couple of good downhills but no really long or difficult climbs – try_it!

I managed to get a new spoke in the afternoon and fit it myself. It was a bit of a pain as I needed to remove the cassette without a chain whip or cassette cracker. I used an old chain I had and held this firmly with my foot whilst unlocking the cassette ring with a pair of pliers. Another wonderful bodge. At least I got a chance to clean everything up properly whilst it was unassembled. Decided I need to upgrade my tool kit and order a Shimano_cassette_tool, Quality_Chain_Whip and Quality_Spoke_Key from Chain_Reaction_Cycles.

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