Leith Hill Off Road

South Western's All Terrain group hit the trails today, with a twenty-three mile muddy slog from Rykas to Leith Hill, followed by a fantastic, twisty descent through Wotton, Ranmore and Westhumble. Ably led by Taxi Bob, Will, John and Niall enjoyed the biking nirvana that is the bridleways of the North Downs.

A Happy New Year to all.

Niall

One for next year

http://www.cyclosport.org/event/07-Jul-2012/UK/bowland-badass.html

This is one to do - who's keen?

More Mountain bike riding

It seems as if we are all out on the mountain bikes these days. Six of us met up this morning for a ride from Cobham to Boxhill and back. The tracks were dry and quick or should I say flat. Only one puncture when Will Clutton over did it on one of the fast descents and probably suffered an impact puncture.

We stopped for a coffee at the top of Box Hill tearoom. Cyclists out number the general public these days.

Some shots from earlier rides over the Christmas break.

A Boxing day ride with both brothers. That hasn't happened for quite a few years.

Great track

Perhaps it's better not to watch this if you are of a nervous disposition.

Boxing day ride.

Today's ride was over to the mountains near na Xamena. On the way we encountered the floating rock of Angel. There were some great climbs and technical descents leading to a few face plants. Later we had pan con tomate y coca cola.

South Western All Terrain

As your new Mountain Biking Secretary, I've set up a yahoo group to coordinate MTB rides over the winter, in the same style as the A group mailing list.

Members who would like to get together for the odd informal ride, from Newlands, Rykas or wherever can sign up at the following link:  http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/swrc_swat/

Riders who can navigate their way around the myriad bridleways of the Surrey Alps will be particularly welcome. (I can just about find the Leith hill tower on a good day)

Niall

CC Santa Eulalia Xmas day ride.

Today's ride was over to the other side of the island to visit Vincenç,who is a fireman and had to be on call so couldn't ride with us. He showed us around his fire station and let Mari Elena slide down the pole :)

Pinchazo

Just like a swrc ride. In Ibiza too,it can take up to 8 people and their opinions to fix a puncture. :)) We joined the cc santa eularia club ride for a good couple of hours single track and trail riding.

Lunch with a naked man

Last month I had a very enjoyable day in the Dales with 3 friends from work -who all are blessed-in various ways-but one in particular,they are all born and bred,dyed in the wool Yorkshiremen. We had agreed in the summer that we should meet up for a ride before the end of the year and this was it.

I took the train up to Leeds on a thursday afternoon and was met by Patrick-who all of you who stayed in his wonderful house in Litton Dale 2 years ago when we rode the Etape du Dales -know . After the usual wonderful hospitality from Anita and Patrick -Anita not being similarly blessed at all as she is a refugee having fled to the grim north of Wharfedale from Guildford- I was prepared for our day in the Dales.

I had looked at 3 forecasts the day before ,and one said sunny ,one said sunny intervals and showers and the last said heavy rain.

Sadly,the last one was correct as we woke up to visibility reduced by mist to about 50 yards and heavy rain. But though we started off in full waterproofs ,though evidence of the sun was reduced to glimpses,the weather was not a problem at all.

Unfortunately the pictures are in precisely the wrong order -so forgive me.

The top of Embsay Moore and the last big climb of the ride.There followed a superb descent with a narrow bridge at the bottom which you arrive at doing at least 40 mph which makes it just a little bit more interesting.Note 2 of the soft Yorkshiremen who are still wearing their coats. How would they manage in a North Downs winter I asked myself.
Patrick and Mr Pike at the top of the climb onto Embsay Moore. Andrew rehearsing for his starring role in The Bradford Playhouse's production of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Our naked man ,on the square in Settle , where we had a very fine lunch. Despite knowing the route,one of our number,Mr Clay ,chose to try most of the various dishes on offer including a hot pudding and custard.This was quite a bold call since about 200 yards from the front door of the cafe we started a climb of about mile in length which featured a 24% gradient. Being a gentleman I have refrained from including a picture of Mr Clay at the top .It was not a pretty sight.
Mr Pike at the top of the climb out of Litton Dale.This is the last big descent on the Etape Du Dales. It is a superb climb with wonderful views all the way down the valley .It was here that Patrick had to walk about half the way up -due to losing a spoke ,which we managed to repair well enough to get him to lunch with the naked man,where we were met by Anita who displaying perfect Guildford manners had driven the best part of an hour with a replacement bike.
I did want to suggest that in Surrey they dont wear gloves for tasks like this but thought better of it.

In Litton Dale -most of which seems to be owned by Patrick.He is shown here inspecting some of his estate workers as they rebuild "his" dry stone walls.

the view from Barden Tower -about one hour into the ride with the mist just beginning to lift.About 5 miles from Grassington ,where we stopped for a coffee and cake.A very civilised start to an extremely enjoyable day.
Nick

SPOTY 2011

Mark Cavendish was named Sports Personality of the year. He was favourite, but they kept the suspense going right up to when it was announced

Matt's MTB loop

With the temperatures down it was time for a little mountain biking. We had planned to meet at Newlands Corner and do a 40km loop that Matt had ridden before so had a Garmin route GPX file to e-mail around. Before that there was a slight bike tinkering to make sure the bike was working. When I checked it out at home I found 2 flat tyres but I sort of exspected that after not using it since last winter. I run Tubeless these days so it was a case of removing the tyres, cleaning and replacing the sealant, I'm using No Flats Joe's Super Sealant, at the moment. This did the trick and I must say with Tubeless, I haven't had a puncture for a couple of years now.

I drove out with Nick Allen to meet up with Matt Scholes and his brother in law Graham. Matt has done lots on the MTB while Graham is more of a runner having completed six marathons this year.

We rode along the North Downs way, past Coombe and White Down then headed down across the railway line and on towards Westcott. Everything was going to plan. I was warm as I had decided to wear an extra fleece layer under my top to make sure I would be toasty.

Climbing up to Coldharbour we encountered a smattering of the white stuff but this is where it all went wrong for Matt. As he rode through the braken and heather he picked up some vegitation and before I could warn him that the was something caught, his rear mech had wound its way around his wheel and had bent sideways. B*****ks he must have thought. There goes another £100.

We stopped and contemplated what to do and decided to shorten the chain to make a single speed.I wasn't toolong before we were on our way and up to Leith Hill tower and a celibration coffee & cake. Thigs were going fine so we continued around our route to Holmbury hill and down one of the tracks.

We carried on until we reached that Mecca that is Peaslake (see cartoon below) where Matt decide that he'd had enough and would head back to Newlands on the road. Me and Nick headed back via a few more tracks and the finished by heading along the Downs Link and St. Marthas Church. We all met up back at the carpark as matt's bike had imploded when the rear suspension stretched and tightened the chain to such an extent that the chainring disintegrated.

SWRC Stuff #3

These Pics come from SWRC old boy John Thacker who lives in Bradford. He still gets out to events and attended the Elmet 12 up on the Yorkshire/Humberside border, he still rides his bike everywhere.

Somewhere in the Surrey Hills (1957) Phil Parkinson (Snr) shows Club President how to mend a puncture while future CTC president looks on distainfully and everybody else seems to be trying to ignore the situation Reg Edwards (scrutinises the map)  Phil's bike looks like the Carpenter that hangs in my studio. John comments whistfully and somewhat cryptically "The photo should have got me the Most Meritorious Performance of that year"

SWRC at the top of Hindhead Dave Kewell (white socks), Jimmy Dabbs (dapper in tartan), Bill Squirrell, Ollie Davis (all black), Laws and Harris With the opening of the Hindhead tunnel I wonder if it will be possible to get back to these sort of scenes in the future

The final picture from a SWRC trip to the Brecon Beacons with Phil again looking the 'country' gent in a flat cap with young Jimmy's Dabbs and Page (barefoot!) and Pete Summerfield claiming the summit for the club. I remember a moody picture with a cyclist in the distance (SWRC treasurer George Oliver) riding over the Brecon Beacons that hung in the offices of my fathers building company, taken by Fred Parsons who was by all accounts an excellent photographer, if anybody knows of the existence of a copy I would very much like to see it.

Newlands Corner

Paul doing an Audax event while the rest of us riding our MTB around the North Downs.

SWRC Christmas Dinner 11th Dec 2011

The SWC Christmas Dinner last Sunday, 11th December 2011, at The Parrot Inn, Forest Green, was a most enjoyable and well attended event. Many a time the C group has gathered/regrouped by the roadside opposite The Parrot Inn on the way to other destinations and the temptation to stay has loomed large with a few of us (OK, just me I suppose). At last the chance to see inside and enjoy a meal.



The C group tables (two) at the dinner were situated at the far end of the room, well away from the trophies, which was a bit inconvenient for collecting the silverware but as it happened none of us won anything. I felt quietly confident of picking up some award – “most cakes eaten at Tanhouse Farm”, “most plausible excuse for avoiding Coombe Bottom”. I had my acceptance speech ready and I was primed to make my way to the trophy table accompanied by the thumping theme music from Rocky but it was not to be.




The food was good and the presentation of the year’s events and trophies by Jeremy and Alan made a good double act. We were all reminded, as at the recent AGM, of the awesome performances of various talented individuals within the club that encompassed a broad range of cycling activities – Audax, Mountain Biking, Sportives, Time Trials, Road Racing and Track.

A certain Irish dramatist nearly wrote “We are all cycling along by the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars” - best wishes to the SWRC members for the New Year and may some of us pull off more stellar performances on the bike next year. But for those who don’t make it on to a podium, the club runs,‘sportives’, and overseas trips etc will again bring much enjoyment.

Balcombe

I don't think it was just me, but the A's had a rather quick ride yesterday. We seemed to be rocketing along and it couldn't have just been the tail wind. Trevor as usual had set a route, eastwards, past our first of the month meeting location, Betchworth, then out towards Sussex and Turners Hill. I think it must be partly the fact we were on quite a few main roads, and consequently riding single file, but this in turn, made the ride into more of a training line-out than a social. There were a few big guys at the front like Dave Reynolds, Mark Williams & Niall being the main main culprits. Mind you we all managed to stay together for most the ride down and as a bit of fun I thought I would try to be the first to the green as we hit Turners Hill. I attacked and had 50m on the group at the bottom of the climb but by half way up it was, youv'e guessed it, Andy Hicks & Simon Howard who came flying past me, neck and neck, all the way to the top.

It's great to see everyone out in club kit these days, here we are all refreshed and ready for the return ride. Unfortunatly I missed off runs leader Trevor who was just on the LHS. Nick & Simon had turned off earlier for non stop rides today.




Not long after I bumped into Ex-SWRC 1st cat. road rider Steve Gowar, who was out on his bike, but not doing much racing these days, so had to leave the club run and returned home at a more leisurely pace than earlier that day.

Sport

Cycling has come a long way in the last few years, and to prove the point, London's free newspaper, that I picked up at the underground yesterday had a 4 page interview with Mark Cavendish. BUT the best bit was to be found at the back, where they usually have a glamorous picture of one of the premiership's WAGs. Not this week. WOW. Our very own cycling superstar, Queen Vic, no less. Bring it on.

WORLD MASTERS TRACK - Manchester

Starting effort in 3000m Pursuit

10th place style

Sprinting for points in the 10Km heat

Getting ready to attack in the Points race final

Breakaway trio in the Points race with Greenstreet & eventual winner Blasczyk (Ger)

Casper and the (non working) Argentinian in the final laps

Watching and waiting in the Scratch race

Attacking with 5 laps to go in the Scratch race

Caught a lap too early in the Scratch race Blasczyk (Ger) leads the string

Pictures from World Masters Points,Pursuit and Scratch race c/o Steve Walton

A Super sun-Day

Barry and Richard Gordon with a bit of Richard French ,approaching Shillinglee .

Mr Hicks exhibiting his momentary disorientation

With a lovely autumn morning it was not surprising to see a good turn out at Cobham. Soon after the ride started the sun came out and gave us all a great day.

We played tag with the B group our paths crossing at the bottom of Coombe Bottom and then again going thru Bramley as both groups made our way south. It was then that Mr Reynolds rather disgraced himself interfering with one of the riders in the other group which really was not called for .One for the committee I think .

As we travelled southwards the sun must have been rather stronger that we thought as it seemed to have a rather alarming effect on Mr Hicks. I may need to explain that if there is a hill it is customary for Mr H to exert himself and if there is a village sign he is absolutely in his element but it is,of course, below a national champion to raise himself to anything so humdrum as riding at the front on the flat. So, the evidence above needs to be filed away to show his grandchildren .

Trevor as always had done us proud with a fine route ,going down to Petworth via the unusual route of Lurgashall and the surprisingly long climb up to the village of Tillington with one false summit after another.This climb starts as the wall surrounding the Petworth Park bends southwards . For those who,like me, have not been round the house ,there are a few details below.

I had to be back by 2pm so as the others turned into the town to stop for lunch I carried on back via Balls Cross, Plaistow ,Cranleigh,over Winterfold and Coombe Bottom. No doubt the others rode the "proper" way back over Horse Block Hollow and White Down.

.Petworth House in Petworth, West Sussex, England, is a late 17th-century mansion, rebuilt in 1688 by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, and altered in the 1870s by Anthony Salvin. The site was previously occupied by a fortified manor house founded by Henry de Percy, the 13th-century chapel and undercroft of which still survive.

Today's building houses an important collection of paintings and sculptures, including 19 oil paintings by J. M. W. Turner (some owned by the family, some by Tate Britain), who was a regular visitor to Petworth, paintings by Van Dyck, carvings byGrinling Gibbons and Ben Harms, classical and neoclassical sculptures (including ones by John Flaxman and John Edward Carew), and wall and ceiling paintings by Louis Laguerre. There is also a terrestrial globe by Emery Molyneux, believed to the only one in the world in its original 1592 state.^[1]

It stands in a 700 acre (2.8 km²) landscaped park, known as Petworth Park, which was designed by 'Capability' Brown. The park is one of the more famous in England, largely on account of a number of pictures of it which were painted by Turner. It is inhabited by the largest herd of fallow deer in England. There is also a 30-acre (120,000 m²) woodland garden, known as the Pleasure Ground.

I had

Frensham

No one was quite sure whether it was actually autumn as we turned up at the carpark with some of us in shorts racing jerseys while others in full tights and sleeves. Trevor had e-mailed the Gpx file out so myself and Andy had the route on our Garmins which gave me and idea of the loop we were taking to reach our lunch stop destination of Frensham garden centre. The damp roads made for careful descending over the North Downs and around any sharp corners but the only thing to stop us was the punctures, both of which came from Mark Williams bike. Mind you the seconds one could have come from the leaking valve after removing it while pumping up after the first stop.

The riders at the front were Andy, Trevor, Niall & Dave, who is riding well considering we very rarely see him. Following just behind tended to be the two Mark's, John, Richard and finally me. Trevor's route was very enjoyable and he had managed to find some lovely quiet lane and with the tree on the turn it was a real pleasure to be out in the county side. It was warm enough that we could all sit outside when we eventually reached the garden centre and we didn't mind the wait as the cafe seemed to be especially busy. Niall's simple order seemed to take the longest. I mean it was only a piece of cheese and ham. Perhaps they had run out of Basil and had to search around for the plants for some more!

Trevor's 14 year old Nephew Adam joined us at the tea stop and then rode with us for a while as an introduction to group riding. He's a nice lad and perhaps he will be out with one of the other groups in the future

It was nearly 100 miles by the time Mark Williams and myself reached Wandsworth again and the light was fading enough that I had to turn on my lights for the last couple of miles so it looks like summer is truly over.