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5th January 2003

I can't believe the amount of rain we have had this week. After last weekends mini-epic around Leith_Hill it took me ages to clean my bike and I just couldn't face all that again with the thought that the ground would be even harder going this time.

So what I'm trying to say is that you are spending your time reading that I didn't actually do anything!

Here's a couple of new pics tho' - Happy New Year. May all your cycling exploits be great ones.

Keef

12th January Richard, Paul, David and Jo - Epsom Downs to Box Hill

This week the weather conditions determined that I would ride 'rigid' to give me 'direct feedback' from the trail. Or, to put it another way, two months of mud and crud has put the spesh out of service and I am back on the Apollo.

All the disadvantages of singlespeed (limited gears) with none of the advantages (heavy bike).

The ground is at least firm and I receive plenty of direct feedback into my forearms and backside. Anyone with any doubts over full suspension should go back to rigid for a while.

Paul

The riding is good although treacherous in some places where the snow has turned to ice. David takes a tumble at the foot of Stane_Street.

The route back up Box_Hill is unrideable due to the ice and we return up Zig-Zag Road (yes, it really is called that) - a surprisingly easy ride up if you don't fancy the brutal off-road climb.

Due to time constraints, we return along the road until the final gnarly downhill that runs parallel to Ebbisham Lane. I am coping with the gullies, drop-off's and rocks quite well until almost at the foot when my right bar end gets caught on a felled tree protruding onto the trail.

It wasn't like the normal fall where you see it all in slow motion (but still can't stop) - one moment I was on the bike and then before I had even blinked I was eating dirt. I had gone straight over the handlebars at speed landing on my shoulder and head. I took the majority of the impact on my shoulder and it is really starting to ache as I type. My worst fall for a long time but the bike was okay after I recovered it from a bush and I was able to continue home.

A bit overexposed by the sun but it makes for a good picture

Box Hill

19th January - No riding for me this week. My shoulder and neck are still aching from last week when I left the bike, flew over the handlebars and landed with extreme discomfort on the frozen solid ground and requiring two days off work to recover.

Instead, I topped up the fluid and bled the brake on my rear Hope_M4 as it has been losing power over the last few rides. I am also using the opportunity of my worn granny ring to replace the specialized strongarm chainset and cranks with a Shimano_LX chainset. Is it just me or is it really unclear what size bottom bracket you need? I am only moving from square to splined. Very confusing...

I hope you liked the new calendars. Go on, print one off now and stick it up on yer wall at home or in the office - you know you want to. I haven't worked out how to make them a downloadable file yet. Just open them up and then print directly from your browser.

Huey n Andy                              The January calendar

26th January Richard, Paul and David - North_Downs_Way

A damp and misty but mild morning as we meet early (8-45 a.m.) to try a route we haven't done for the best part of a year. We leave Epsom Downs, heading up to Reigate Hill and then along the North_Downs_Way.

the new chainset fitted

David has fitted his Hope Minis and Mavic X317 Disc wheels laced to Red Hope XC hubs that have finally arrived from Dave Hinde after a month in the post (very trick) and I have fitted the LX chainset and XT BB that arrived within 24 hours. Stick with Chain Reaction, that's what I say!

The new chainset and BB are 230g lighter than the in house kit - a good enhancement to the unsprung weight.

Paul had a disc mount brazed on to his Decathlon_Rockrider 7.1 and only received the frame back yesterday so he is out on his Dave Hinde framed singlespeed (32:16) - a classic 2:1 ratio (or so Paul tells me).

The route is boggy in places but otherwise very rideable and we complete the 14 miles in a respectable time.

Adding on a round trip of 7 miles from my house makes it a great morning - and back home by eleven with this site updated by lunchtime. You know what, I'm too good to you guys!

	Web www.diaryofamountainbiker.com

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