Rode in Wyre Forest yesterday, and it was perfect. The sun shone, the temperature was just right, the trails were in top condition, dry but not dusty, and it was so green, and the flowers, and the wildlife, and the riding, all just perfect; a perfect day.Carla and I rode deep into the heart of the forest where you hardly ever see another soul. We managed to get ourselves a bit lost. Just as we were working out the best route to take ‘man of the forest’ Mick Arms appeared, with his biking buddy Tim, and rescued us. We have not seen Mick since last summer, and as if by magic there he was, just when we needed him. Now, Mick’s knowledge of trails in the forest is almost legendary, and we were soon back on track.

The HONC genuinely deserves it’s “classic” status, having been inspired originally by the “Hell of the North” Paris-Roubaix bike race, which takes place on the same day in Northern France. The challenge ride starts and finishes in the picturesque town of Winchcombe and uses a combination of tarmac, “white” roads and bridleways. Now in it’s 21st year, the event has grown in popularity year on year. The first event had only 13 entrants and Mountain bikes had not then been invented. This year, for the first time in it’s history, advance entries topped 1000, and had to close a week before the day. It’s a mass start event, with riders on everything from vintage bikes to brand new full suspension MTBs, with tourers, cyclo-cross bikes and more MTBs in between.After a neutralised parade through the town with a police escort the, the ‘event proper’ starts, and although the HONC is not a race, it’s every man for himself. I done this event a few times now, and I always make a point of being as near the front as possible, and giving it all I have up the first climb to avoid bottlenecks. After the first half hour the stream of riders thins, and small groups start to form. As we headed up and over Cleeve Hill, with the early morning sun on our backs, and a brisk tailwind, I found myself in the company of a small group containing Jack from the Numplumz team, Jack was to be our saviour. Continue reading →

Had a great cycling weekend. Carla and I put in the final push in our bid for cycling fitness in preparation for the HONC next weekend. We still found time to stop and get a few pictures though, and I’d like to share them with you.First is the Path through Puxton, the overgrown field on the left has been like that since I first moved to the area some 40 years ago. A lot of the surrounding land has been built on now, but this field remains, like some mad landowner had vowed, “Build on my land? Never!!!”, and left it unkept in a show of defiance. Anyway, this time of year that field has a smell, a fieldy sort of smell that reminds me of when I first moved here, at 8 years old.

Next is the entrance to Habberley Valley, another place that brings back happy childhood memories. There used to be a fairground in it, and a tea shop where you could go and get a tea tray for a picnic. The hut that used to be the teashop is still there, but the fair is long gone. I often ride through the valley on my way to Wyre Forest.

Which brings me nicely to the disused railway line that runs right through Wyre Forest. It’s a designated cycle route now, traffic free, and great for getting to the heart of the forest. It’s also a useful handrail if you get lost. Oh, and I found some of my favourite flowers along it’s banks.

Talking of spring flowers, spring wouldn’t be spring without Daffs, and there were some really nice one in the grounds of Enville Hall.

We stopped along the towpath that runs from Kinver to Wolverley to buy some duck eggs from a local smallholder. We rang the bell to get served, and while we waited I took a picture of the fantastic Spring Blossom in the cottage garden.

You remember I did some gardening work last summer? Well, I planted some of the plants I was given out in our garden, and some of them are starting to bloom. I cannot remember what this one is called, but I think it looks lovely.

OK, that’s all for now, I hope you liked.

The weather was good, the trails were dry, and we had a great night ride on thursday. The usual route with a few variations to celebrate the dryness of the trails. Got a very close look at badgers three times. The first time was on Kinver Edge, badger coming down the trail, Carla and I going up. Face to face meeting. Luckily for us the badger turned round and shot off into the bushes. In the second encounter, along Kinver lane, the badger ran across the road just in front of us. It’s no wonder they get killed by cars. No road sense at all!!! Our final badger encounter was along the lane that runs down toward Cookley. The badger was running along the road in the same direction that we were going. As we approached it was looking for an exit, but with high banks on either side there was none. Anyway, in panic the badger turned around and headed in our direction. We were sorry to have caused it stress, but thanks to all the badgers who made our ride so interesting. Finally we stopped for a second on the track through the equestrian centre. A quiet still night, the silence shattered by a horse nearby breaking wind. Made us jump. Can horses fart or what?

The second of the training rides from Pearce Cycles, and with the weather looking good Bircher Common was on the menu. Only four riders this week, Carla on her S-works Stumpjumper hard tail, Gibbo on his singlespeed, and Matt and I on vintage steel Stumjumpers. We set of just after 10:00am, it was very chilly, but with the first hour and a half mostly climbing we soon warmed up, and by the time we rode across the top of the common we had a good sweat on.After stopping to admire the view, and negotiating a huge fallen tree we headed into the forest, and down toward the pools. What was so far a clean ride now turned into a very mucky one as we slipped and slid along the tracks.

Eventually we left the forest behind to return to Ludlow along the lanes. We had two and a half hours hard riding under our belts and I was starting to feel a little weary. Luckily for me, it was Carla who was cooked first, and we eased a little on the climbs so that she could hang on. Just under three hours saw us back at the start, tired, dirty, and hungry. Cannot wait until next week.

We did a night ride last night. Yes, you guessed it, out along the towpath, and back over Kinver. It was our first ever night ride together, and Carla’s first night ride ever, so we learnt as we rode. One thing that we found was that when we rode one behind the other ‘roadie’ style that the lights of the rider behind casts a shadow of the rider in front right where that rider in front is going. Not a full-on blind spot, but enough for the sub-conscious brain to tell you to move to one side slightly to try and avoid it. A bit weird because the ingrained roadie in us wants to follow the wheel in front thereby putting the shadow back.Anyway, all was going well, it was a star lit, frosty night, we’d seen a couple of owls, and three other night riders, when my light failed. First time I’d ever used it! I had read the instructions that stressed how important it was to store the battery fully charged. I had made the assumption that because it actually worked when I bought it that it was fully charged, with a run time of 2hrs. However, after 40 minutes it went dim very fast. We continued the ride with me looking over Carla’s shoulder to see where I was going. This was actually quite good fun!

In one way it felt like we were going really fast as we raced into the pool of light in front of us, but in another way it felt slow, as if we were standing still, and pedaling the ride past us, cocooned in our own little world (yeah, I know, I live in a little dreamworld most of the time!).

We arrived safely back at home with an hour and a half under our belts. It had been an excellent ride, on a route that we know well. We wondered what it would be like to night ride on a route that we didn’t know. We have plans for more night rides, but we’ll probably stick to the familiar until we get a little more confident. I’ll bet Wyre Forest would be good at night.

Carla used bar mounted Smart Lights, with a 4w flood, and a 10w spot. I used a Marwi Nightpro head mounted light with a 12w flood. Both gave good light to ride by. I can’t decide whether helmet mount is better than bar mount. One thing you have to remember when you use a helmet mounted light is not to look your friends in the eye!

Out along the towpath, and back over Kinver Edge. Expecting it to be very mucky, but it wasn’t. Parts of the towpath were still frozen, and the air felt cold. Hardly anyone around.Cossed the lane, no cars, and climbed up onto Kinver. Just soooo quiet, no background roar of traffic, just quiet peacefulness, so relaxing. As we rode along the edge the sun came out, and there was just a hint of warmth. We stopped to enjoy the view, snow on Clee Hill in the distance. The sun tricked us into stopping longer than we should have, and as we dropped down toward Cookley we froze. Back across the Wolverley road, no traffic! and home. An hour and a half in the saddle. Just right for Christmas day.

I only ride with the best riders, and today was no exception. Amongst the excellent riders who came along today were National Vets Road Race Champion Marcus Walker, and Junior Commonwealth Games MTB Gold Medalist Nikki Harris. In such an elite group it was always gonna be a great ride. Thanks to everyone who came along, thanks to Lindsey for the refreshments, and thanks to Dave for letting me ride the FSR 120 test bike. I took some pictures.