After some lushness is Scotland the previous Tuesday & Thursday (see my other report) it was back to the normality of the sunny Sussex downs for this Tuesdays ride. As it was still hot, dry & dusty, approximately 77 riders were oop the shop, almost 90% of which were on Hummers. *Clears throat* BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Deadly had a new bike which he had kept quiet, for obvious reasons, so allow me to introduce the Surly Karate Monkey for him:
Karate Monkey
So, now we have two 29er bikes amongst the flock. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! A nice looking bike it is too, albeit from 200 yards in thick fog.
Dill was out on his new tea coloured Cotic Soul (BAAAAAAAA!) and had some last minute fettling before we set off. It was suggested that as Marko the SuperMario Look-a-like gay boy was out and he is apparently quite fast, we should split up. A few chuckles later, we all headed off together. Church lane it was where the fun began and I got caught behind Deadly AGAIN who was testing his new brakes out. They worked very well with him picking his line neatly, yet slowly. I pointed this out to him at the bottom much to my, and a few others, amusement (love you Dave).
From here we slogged out some miles on a bit of road, a bit of park, a bridleway or two, and up to the horse place. Then up to OTF after easing my way past the ex King of the Mountains Kim on the steep rise past the vineyard.
OTF always throws up a tale or two of a fall here and a crash there, and this week was no exception with our leader taking a tumble and head butting a tree. Fortunately his helmet broke, and not his neck. The line is not the best and some rumblings on the forum may see a huge swathe of angry riders go up to clear a new route, or more likely one or two will give it a go.
Always wear a helmet guys!
After some waiting we headed back up to the LT, and after some nose bagging (Tangs my fave, and some fruit pastilles thanks Damo) we hit it. Sweeee-eet! Fast and furious down there, but still cautious as only my 3rd run down, we soon pooped out the bottom. Back up we went as we wanted beer. On the way up, Kim’s chain broke – poor maintenance Kim, tut tut, and we also met the guys who were ‘heading off’.
A quick blast down the north side of Cissbury then back over to the rabbit run where ASBO ate dust – a full over the bars off with suspected broken ribbage, enough for him to have a good excuse to pull out of Mayhem at the weekend.
A fast blast to the pub on the Hoops Express where recovery food this week was a pint of Carling and Chicken & Mushroom pie and chips. Brian had 1p of curry sauce. Is it me or can Richard really neck a pint quite quickly?
The Brian express back to the school, then Andy Jones caught the Tommo Express back to Goring. Phew.
Pics this week are courtesy of Jimbo as my spy cam has dies. FFS.
Tommo
