|
climb. Unfortunately Sabines saddle decided to slip right at the top,
just before the last descent. It removed any confidence she had that
the bodged would get her safely down the fast, bumpy singletrack.
With disappointment she chose the firetrack for her return to the car
park while the rest of us got to enjoy the singletrack. It was a real
shame because, as usual, we all got to the bottom with huge grins.
Thanks to everyone who turned up and made it such a great ride.
Hope to see you again.
just before the last descent. It removed any confidence she had that
the bodged would get her safely down the fast, bumpy singletrack.
With disappointment she chose the firetrack for her return to the car
park while the rest of us got to enjoy the singletrack. It was a real
shame because, as usual, we all got to the bottom with huge grins.
Thanks to everyone who turned up and made it such a great ride.
Hope to see you again.
| Richard and Steve at the end of Cyffty Tube |
On Sunday morning I was still recovering from the annual MTB party at the Druid Inn, my local, on Friday
night. It wasn’t so much from the after effects of drink, I don’t get hangovers, but staying up till 3am. If I
was sensible, for my age, I would have been tucked up in bed well before then.
Thankfully my guiding duties wouldn’t be too taxing on the Marin Trail, or so I thought. With 14 people in
the car park I soon found myself pulled in a number of directions at once. While getting myself ready I was
signing disclaimers, helping fettle bikes and trying to be a sociable host.
night. It wasn’t so much from the after effects of drink, I don’t get hangovers, but staying up till 3am. If I
was sensible, for my age, I would have been tucked up in bed well before then.
Thankfully my guiding duties wouldn’t be too taxing on the Marin Trail, or so I thought. With 14 people in
the car park I soon found myself pulled in a number of directions at once. While getting myself ready I was
signing disclaimers, helping fettle bikes and trying to be a sociable host.
| Bill and Neil on the first climb |
| Derrick and Wayne on the first descent |
| Lee, Micheal and Richard on the first descent |
Somehow everything got
sorted and we headed
out of the car park for the
long first climb. It was
great to see another big
turn out, with the chance
of meeting more new
riders. Getting to know
them and catching up
with the regulars helped
the climb pass and we
seemed to reach the top
sooner than expected.
With some fresh air in my
lungs and warm legs I
was feeling a lot more
alive and after the first
descent my tiredness
disappeared completely.
The trails were damp and
a bit sketchy, with greasy
rocks that required some
real concentration. It was
on these first descents
Darren showed off his
bike handling skills and
mixed it with the full
sussers on his old, ‘V’
braked hardtail.
It was damp but not
raining, cool but not cold,
great autumn weather for
riding in the forest, and
the riding was good. The
singletrack was great
and, as always, the
Dragons Tail was
fantastic. I’m sure I heard
to occasional ‘Woohoo!’,
so I wasn’t the only one
having fun.
After the fast downhill fire
track section we stopped
and compared our
speeds. While Darren
sorted and we headed
out of the car park for the
long first climb. It was
great to see another big
turn out, with the chance
of meeting more new
riders. Getting to know
them and catching up
with the regulars helped
the climb pass and we
seemed to reach the top
sooner than expected.
With some fresh air in my
lungs and warm legs I
was feeling a lot more
alive and after the first
descent my tiredness
disappeared completely.
The trails were damp and
a bit sketchy, with greasy
rocks that required some
real concentration. It was
on these first descents
Darren showed off his
bike handling skills and
mixed it with the full
sussers on his old, ‘V’
braked hardtail.
It was damp but not
raining, cool but not cold,
great autumn weather for
riding in the forest, and
the riding was good. The
singletrack was great
and, as always, the
Dragons Tail was
fantastic. I’m sure I heard
to occasional ‘Woohoo!’,
so I wasn’t the only one
having fun.
After the fast downhill fire
track section we stopped
and compared our
speeds. While Darren
| Steve and Wayne on the second descent |
| Michael on Blue |
| Nigel, Sabine and Harri on the sweet singletrack of Blue |
had clocked 32mph I admitted to previously hitting
40mph. This led to a general discussion on highest
speeds, where Darren re-trumped me with 27mph
downhill on tarmac………….on rollerblades.
40mph. This led to a general discussion on highest
speeds, where Darren re-trumped me with 27mph
downhill on tarmac………….on rollerblades.
| (right) Steve and Wayne at the end of Cyffty Tube |
| Derrick, Michael and Shane on the berm at the end of Pandora's Rocks |
It was on Stumpdance that
things went a bit wrong. A
garbled massage on the
radio, from Sabine, let me
know that something had
broken on her seat post.
When I retraced my steps I
found her coming the other
way, with Steve who had
come to her aid. Sabine
was riding Steve’s spangley
things went a bit wrong. A
garbled massage on the
radio, from Sabine, let me
know that something had
broken on her seat post.
When I retraced my steps I
found her coming the other
way, with Steve who had
come to her aid. Sabine
was riding Steve’s spangley
Orange Five while he
struggled gallantly on
her Gringo, minus a seat
post.
Back with the group
Sabine’s broken seat
post clamp was bodged
with zip ties. It wouldn’t
take much force but at
least it was enough to sit
on. Grudgingly she
handed back the Five.
That seat post might
prove to be her most
expensive mechanical
yet, full suspension
bikes aren’t cheap.
struggled gallantly on
her Gringo, minus a seat
post.
Back with the group
Sabine’s broken seat
post clamp was bodged
with zip ties. It wouldn’t
take much force but at
least it was enough to sit
on. Grudgingly she
handed back the Five.
That seat post might
prove to be her most
expensive mechanical
yet, full suspension
bikes aren’t cheap.
| Nigel, Ken and Sabine on Dragons Tail |
(left to right)
Bill, Neil and Shane
on the sweeping
turns of
Stumpdance
Bill, Neil and Shane
on the sweeping
turns of
Stumpdance
(left) Our happy group
| Darren and Peter on the berm before the lake |
| Lee and Peter flying down the last descent |
It was then straight into a
climb on cold legs. Not
nice, but we did warm
back up again quickly. A
group photo by lake
(thanks Jonathan for
taking the pic) was
followed by the final
climb on cold legs. Not
nice, but we did warm
back up again quickly. A
group photo by lake
(thanks Jonathan for
taking the pic) was
followed by the final
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