BathMTB: Ride tonight

Fri Dec 6 07:43:14 EST 2013

Hi Andy/all

Good to hear from you, sorry not been out on a Wed for ages mostly due to family pressures etc (I think the last time was June!)

Can't make it out for Christmas meal either, the Indian above the pub in Weston I'm pretty sure has closed but Desh on Chelsea Rd is a good option and is BYO

Merry Christmas!

Will

Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 14:21:57 +0000
From: analogueandy at yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Re: BathMTB: Ride tonight
To: bathmtb at mtb-oz.com

Yep, it was indeed 'cold in the dips'..

For the first time in ages then, a Ride Report:

Richard, John, Andy, Kevin and Tav.

Tav was a tad tardy at the start - came tearing along the towpath ten minutes late having fallen asleep on the sofa having stuffed down a pack of Ginger Creams ;-)

Through the Winter we're going to aim for a prompt 6.30 getaway. If you're running late text one of us and we'll arranged to meet up en route.

Having not ridden much, Richard and I were up for a 'steady' ride - instead Kevin elected for Box Woods and we tore off at top speed down the canal.

Across the Bathhampton Meadow, bypassed Browns and tore up through Bathford. Did the little back lane route but bypassing the gold course until the top.

The lovely long descent down toward Box was broken up by a fallen branch (Rich stopped to lift it up for us) and then a tree (that was a bit big to lift and meant we all had to stop and 'limbo' under).

At the bottom we elected to bypass the muddy bit in the woods and the 'Hazlebury Manor' loop, instead we headed up the road to join at the main gates to the Manor instead - from there we dropped down and climbed up before the right turn towards Box woods. 'Bravehearts' Richard, John and Tav went to play in the bomholes whilst 'Wimps' Andy and Kevin stopped for a chat. Regrouped then on to Leafy Lane and Rudloe. The descent throught the woods and the slog to Ditteridge (actually it was 'soft' in places but not that bad). 

The 'Long Climb' up to Colerne was still 'long', the curch bells ringing out across the valley.

The others had a nice long rest waiting for Richard and I to bring up the rear. 

Leaving the village we were nearly joined by a 'ninja' (dressed in dark clothes with no lights on his bike) but he thought better of it and pulled a mahoosive rear wheel skid and turned back.

A 'breakaway' formed on the long straight to Bannerdown, Tav and John pulling out a 100m lead whilst we stuck Kevin on the front and ploughed on 'steady'.

The common has now been fenced, a few gates to gain access though, including one put in especially at my request! Further down though, on the descent, they've erected a wire fence inside the stone wall which really eats into the trail - I'm going to email them about that and will copy everyone in..

Half way down where the track starts to widen out, I started to get a bit carried away, and 'thump' a fallen branch at the wrong angle sent my front wheel from under me and I did a nice neat 'dive over the bars and rolls' to land, thankfully, in some soft-ish brambles. Tweaked my right shoulder a bit and a scratch but that's all!

Then, a bit further down, Rich was looking over his shoulder to check on me and did the same thing!

Managed to make it safely to the bottom without anymore 'incidents'.

Went through the Batheaston Car park to check on progress on the new cycling bridge across the river (they're still building the parapets). The path alongside the river was amazingly misty. 

Stopped for beers and chips in the George, Kevin heading off after one and the rest of us following a bit later. Blimey it was chilly heading out into the cold! 

Talk of Justin in new job and expecting again, Steve about to be no job and lots of talk about what's happened to everyone else, including lots of the 'occasionals' who turned up over the summer but who've disappeared. 

We said we'd get this email list up and running again, and post stuff on the Facebook page...

... And I promised to write a 'Ride Report'!

Definitely a ride next week (11th December) and then curry the week after (18th December) (we did say it would be in Weston - Richard thinks they might have closed as they are not answering the phone) (John suggested a place in Fairfield so we're thinking of moving there - more news next week...)

And Saturday 28th December 11am from the Cycle Circuit at Odd Down - Turkey Twizzler ride out Combe Hay and Wellow way - stop for lunch at the Café at Wellow Trekking Centre..

And Sunday 29th December - Salisbury Plain Winter Challenge - over the normally closed Imber Ranges past the deserted village. http://www.spamwinterchallenge.co.uk/event.html

I'm hoping to drive down - happy to lift share.

Cheers!

Andy

On Thursday, 5 December 2013, 8:46, BOYD Kevin <Kevin.Boyd at uk.thalesgroup.com> wrote:

John

Got your email, so it’s still working.

Felt like long cold ride back to the car last night, as usual Dunkerton was the coldest place at -1.

Kevin

From: John Tredinnick [mailto:architred at gmail.com] Sent: 04 December 2013 16:41To: Bath MTBSubject: BathMTB: Ride tonight

Anyone still getting these emails? If so, I'm out tonight, anyone else? Looks nice and dry.

John

John Tredinnick

Doctoral Researcher & Architectural Designer

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

University of Bath

07861784206  :  architred at gmail.com

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