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Map (by Rich 1)

A well written blog’ – is that meant to be me? Uh-oh, no pressure!

First up many thanks to the OTT guys for inviting us chancers from MTB Berko over to share your trails. Lord knows what you were expecting when the van came screaming into the car park, expletives flying. Thankfully the bikes were tied down properly this time … another story that.

22 riders has to be one of the biggest groups I’ve ever been out with too, what the locals must have thought having seen our rag-tag posse heading out can only be imagined.

To say the terrain isn’t obviously as hilly as that around Berko you’ve certainly got some quality little trails round your way too and it was a real pleasure to be branching out and riding something new. Personal highlights included the singletracky bit – Shaw’s Corner perhaps? – and Hitch Wood, both of which proved quality riding can be found even in the depths of the Home Counties. Oh, and the jump Lukasz and I attempted to session was fun too!

Did I say “isn’t obviously as hilly” too? Could’ve fooled me after that slog up to Easthall Farm, the challenge that not many have achieved it on a singlespeed a red rag to a bull to this one-geared idiot that kept those pedals turnin’ and calves’ burnin’ all the way to the top. Granted, I did actually want to die at that point, rather detracting from the undoubted glory this mighty achievement merited. Never have I been more thankful for a puncture stop – thanks Karl!

Anyway, to save repeating myself too much there will be a full ride report up on MTB Berkhamsted very soon but thanks again for having us all over and we’ll look forward to a rematch over our way some time soon. The landlord at The Riser has already been warned!

SEE LINK BELOW FOR FULL DETAILS FROM MTTB

Click here for the NEW MTBB report with great vid and pics

 click for route on nokia sportstracker 

Do we love cleaning our bikes after a muddy Sunday ride or what?

Here we go again…

Feb 14th was pretty much a re-run of last week’s route - the only differences were:-

1. We did the Mud Lane loop (as per night rides) dropping down into Sandridge  and heading through Rifle Butt Wood before  heading over to Symondshyde Great Wood.

2. We did the Cromer Hyde/half Bunyan gulley route rather than the mudfest through Titnol’s Wood to Colemans Green and full Bunyan gulley run.

3. We did the ’step down’ from Heron’s Farm  (which was passable) rather than the East - West ‘wheelstopper’ of last week.  No pushing the bikes on this section!

A few minor mechanicals and a wee tumble saw Rich I return to base rather than risk injury on the full route.  The rest of us plodded through the mud to complete our 20 miler.

You know, when I look at the bath water it’s green and not brown - I’m convinced it’s all recycled horse poop that OTT ride in and not mud at all. Argghhh!!

  I won’t elaborate on the route further as you can do comparisons to last week’s map.  I must say I was glad not to suffer any punctures this time.  A pretty uneventful ride overall but great training battling through the sticky stuff.  Gotta do us all some good in the leg muscle department.    

Well that’s about it for this one so thanks to Mark Sparks, Neil on his KONA (got it right this time, eh mate!), Rich I and ‘Tough Guy’ Tim for joining me on another mission to camouflage our bikes with the finest of Hertfordshire mud.

Oh, and a special shout out to Rich IV who popped in to the Mill to greet us whilst out ‘improving his fitness’ on his road-tyred Marin  - “Get your mud tyres back on, you muppet”.  Yes, I’m talking to you mate :-)

      The route

Mark 

Craig was sporting a minor injury but that didn’t prevent him from taking his singlespeed for a blast. Simon also on his singlespeed, Rich III on an old school Muddy Fox, Neil on his Kona and myself on my trusty old Trance made up the riders.

We made our way over to Nomansland Common for our first dose of mud.  This was followed with more gloop by heading cross country towards Symondshyde Great Wood.  The run down into the woods was pretty sticky and the regular trail was a slip and slide spectacular.

In a moment of madness, I persuaded everyone to do a full Bunyan Gulley run  and we headed towards the start of it by branching off through Titnol’s Wood which was a mega mud-fest.  I found the best way was through the middle of the deepest mud where your wheels actually had some traction deep below the surface - it certainly wasn’t an easy choice of route though.

Bunyan Gulley was as expected and I opted for a full-on through the water approach to get me to the end.  However it was negotiated by all, it was a fun run in horrid conditions.

As per usual, we continued into Brocket and along to Waterend eventually picking up the Ayot Greenway.  We dropped down the Steep and continued until the Codicote Road where I delayed proceedings with a puncture.

That fixed, the slippery route through Stocking Spring was next on the agenda.  We finally got to Ayot St Lawrence where I picked up my second thorn in less than a mile and a half - Arghhh!  Suppose I’m overdue a punture or two though - gotta take it in turns eh?

We continued through to Gustard Wood and across the golf course. After Heron’s Farm, the last section that had us exit onto Marshalls Heath Lane was a nightmare.  The mud stuck like glue and despite a stream of profanity, I couldn’t  make it fully across the field.  I was about 30 feet from the road when both wheels stopped rotating completely due to an excess of mud.  None of us made it fully across this section as it really was impassable.

I’m sure Rich III’s old school ride weighed the most as his V-brakes collected mud like crazy.  The last section saw us all pedal to the start of the singletrack for the final descent into Batford.  A short ride today - only showing 17.3 miles on Memory Map - but it was a 20+ mile workout we had negotiating all that sticky Herts mud.  What better way to spend a Sunday morning than pedalling like madmen throuh the stickiest tracks in the county.

Thanks to all that came and stuck it out in the gloop.

 click for full route

Mark

When we got to the Rocky Road before Whitwell the singlespeeders and those who didnt have to be back by 1pm headed north - Neil, Simon , John and I headed to Water Tower Hill and back towards the Amble Inn for a quick cider - It was good to see Adders join us and newbie John who kept up with the pace (damm good for first time out with a bunch of lunatics)-hope to see you again soon - click on map below

 click for full size route (thanks Simon)

A cold start, part of James ploy to ensure that Simon and I couldn’t’ keep up with up with him at the begining of the ride - He kept us waiting and frostbite was beginning to set in. When he did arrive the whole of Sandridge new well in advance, as his 1800 lumens from his MTE LED lites could be seen miles away - the fact that collectively we emitted nearly 3 times that amount really cheesed off some oncoming drivers during the ride (it was there fault for driving off road!).

Anyway, great fun (but cold and sticky) nearly two hours in the saddle with the guys on their singlespeeders and we came across some other equally mad mtbers who even tried to keep up with us once or twice - but in true OTT style we led the way (or should that be L.E.D the way!) . Its not very often I can keep up, let alone manage to beat the dynamic duo on their SS’ers, but I did, however they made up for on the last leg by leaving me in the distance (for a short while, so I’m not complaining!) - I will be back! - Rich (Capt Slow)

Some of you asked about the lights - so pics above (see message board for tech spec)

John Bunyan Gully was so sticky we had to pedal down it!

Only 3 of us stupid enough to venture out, Mark S, Rich A and I, first time out for a long time meant Rich was very quiet during the climbs………

Perfect conditions for SS, I could almost hear the drivetrain on Mark’s new bike being ground away in the gloop.

Cheers - Rich