Having just go back in from swimming it was a mad dash to get some food down me and sort myself out, load the camelbak, decide on clothing and jump on the bike, I settled for minimal as it looked like it might warm up and stuffed the camelbak with layer options and the joystick for the return journey. A quick blast along the rive Adur with a stop to clear dog egg from the tyre (grr) and I was at the SDW bridge meeting point. Just to make sure I wouldn’t be waiting for ever I gave Jimbo a quick tinkle to find they were sewing Dave’s thumb back on! It wasn’t long before Martin trundled up, and then we saw the line of Sussex-MTBers arching towards us along the riverbank, we were then joined by Captainff and ready to roll.
We used the ‘under construction’ path being specially widened for Jimbo’s new bars, only to find construction vehicles etc baring the way, oh well, a quick hop over the barrier sorted that with some friendly banter from a local about taking our lives into our own hands with falling barriers killing us. And so on to that lovely little climb up Truleigh, I waited for the painful little kick part way up, but for some reason it didn’t come, I must of borrowed someone else’s legs…. SO time for a re-group and chat at the gate, at which point Pike declared that he was struggling, feeling rather unwell and looking a little green to be honest, he trundled back, whilst the rest of us continued onwards and upwards. When Jimbo stopped to remove some layers as he was about to explode the conversation returned to Dave’s thumb and by extension to comments on the forum about sewing arms back on, well one thing leads to another and it wasn’t long before we had the opening scene to a horror film featuring a double arm transplantee (Check out the recent news) written, with the arms coming from a homicidal maniac – of course it had a typical Bobster twist to it 
At the top of Truleigh we were presented with the amusement of a reversing ambulance trying to get some of us, a quick flurry of activity on the descent and subesquent climb getting us across to the next hill, where we stopped for an extended chat and rummage through Dobby’s leftovers whilst Deadly repaired a puncture(?). Eventually we all regrouped and carried on along the SDW to Devil’s Dyke where Jimbo found his tyres covered in dog egg, a quick clean up and then time for fun as we blasted down the trail at the edge of the road, it was dry fast and grippy – absolutely fantastic, and I knew there was better to come, a highspirited dash along the ‘motorway’ path before I scared a driver sensless at the Saddlescomb Road crossing with a last minute decision that I didn’t really have enough time to get acdross the road. Along to the carpark for a re-group. We found a woman faffing about in her X5 figuring out how to 3 point turn it, we got past only to witness her ram the sidings and almost get it wedged. The step-up out of the car-park looked rideable, but only Tony managed it. Along to the roll down to the Devil’s Dyke Road roundabout, and over the A27 bridge to take us left towards the Mill Hill windmill. Once through the gap onto the field it was a quick descent into the right hander, only to have to haul on the brakes for a dog walker, we paused and re-gathered before blasting along the path and off the steps. Time to stop and try and find the jumpy trail that crosses the usual Nature Trail route, the leaves all over the ground were making it difficult to find the trail, and whilst we picked up some of it, we also missed large chunks reverting to the normal trail instead – god it was fast! Down through the green and across London Road before stopping for Jimbo to attack the cash-point and Deadly to fettle Si’s bike, I spotted Brompton Close, a perfect address for Slim, whilst there was some playing off kerbs and trackstanding whilst we waited. Then on the usual route up Ladies’ Mile Road where a little race ensued, with the quick descent and climb again to get across Winfield Av, before turning left into Ladies’ Mile Close and popping right to climb up the field, then dive into the trees to blast the singletrack. The rooty sharp climb of death proved too mcuh for most as usual, with Pete the man to conquer it, as we dived on into the singletrack Captainff’s chain exploded so we stopped for some trailside repair. It was obviously a local hang out with all the beer cans surrounding us! We soon realised that we weren’t all there, and a long debate ensued about how many people were actually out, how many had parted ways and how many there should be, and ultimately who we were missing. Somehow we did just about manage to get the right answer, and a quick call from the guys ahead confirmed it just as we were ready to roll again, so on up the hill before stoping for a little play on some small dirt jumps before the BMX track. Yes they were very small, but a perfect opportunity for learning, Jimbo seemed to have the hang of it, and Chris had a few rolls, I decided to call it a day when I cased a jump, hooking up the rear wheel on the landing, so we carried on and met the rest of the guys at the exit before the roundabout.
So back across the A27 and hop off the roundabout onto the climb up through the field to Ditchling Road, and on to singletrack heaven. We made our way up the trail before diving off into the trees for some LUSH singletrack which was flowing really nicely in the conditions, the dry leaves were excellent for drifting the back end round some corners, great fun. I bet Dave was having fun on his ’skinny’ tyres, bouncing off the trees. After the excellent twisty singeltrack descent we were getting nearer to Stanmer park, and whilst we paused to regroup we could smell the cake – there was mention of the Tea Room closing at 5 and a quick time check showed that was 5 minutes away, sod it – hammer down we were off! Through the field, hard left and jumping for some over the banking, then a road sprint ensued to the Tea Room, where we just made it and stripped the shelves of what they had left. I’m not sure what we all looked like sat in a row along the wall, but we happily stuffed ourselves with cake and tea/coffee.
It wasn’t long before the chill started to set in so we all started to add layers and think about moving, so up the hill, at which point many of us removed layers we had only just put on! Along the falling wall and over a fallen tree, then more up the hill to get us to the Ditchling Road singletrack, at first this was going to be an opportunity for some to wait and rest whilst the rest did the singletrack loop, but we soon persuaded everyone it was worth it and cracked on. As we made our way along the path past what would be the last section of singletrack we noticed some campers with a fire in the trees – were they on the racing line? Oh well we’d soon find out on the way back down…. We dived off for the left and right into the singletrack, again the trail was really grippy and I took it fairly easy now knowing it would be more fun going back down. Out the end we re-grouped and a quick edge into the trail squeezed me ahead of Jimbo to send it down the singletrack, wide on one corner I took an alternative route only to let Tony up my inside on the normal path, some elbows and he was through – cheeky but fair, we barrelled on and scared the campers as one sleeping bag was pulled away from the debris we were scattering, we emerged giggling at the other end. Through the wall and then the troublesome Coldean Lane crossing, fairly painless today to set us up for the road slog along Dithcling Road ready to hit EP for the descent to Wild Park. It was a reasonably casual bimble along the path before checking everyone was there for the descent, as I checked what option we were taking at the bottom Jimbo took a cheeky opportunity to ‘Snooze you lose’ and was off, I quickly gave pursuit and was on his tail as we went the wrong way! Arrgghh, I ended up amongst some pits and trenches and could see the others coming but just managed to pick my way through to rejoin the trail ahead of everyone, although it was a close run thing – righto then – brakes off and lets fly. I was really concentraing on not slowing down unless I really had to, getting my weigh over the front to dig the front in on corners – I doubt this trail will be like this again this year as the weather will soon change, so lets make the most of it. Even the rooty sections had loads of grip. I forgot about the quick climb part way down and was badly geared in the big ring, but stomped up it, allowing Tony to get on my rear wheel, but I wasn’t letting anyone past today, so hammered on and let go of the brakes for the hump, just floating over it. Down the final section, squeeze through the gap alongside the steps, and then down the steps, I didn’t feel up to trying to launch the big sets of steps, so it was just roll those, but straight off the 2nd 2 sets, felt really good. Tony and I sat and watched as the rest came down, egging some on to launch rather than roll, it wasn’t long before most of us were pushing back up to redo the steps.
Time was getting on and it was starting to get dark, so time to head towards the station, we rode back alongside the road, before slipping onto the road further into Town, we parted company at the Level as most headed up to the Station, whilst Tony, Damo and I carried on. A rather uncomforatble ride back ensued into the wind, with Damo taking the rear as he was the only one with a rear light, not a pleasant position as both Tony and I were ejecting snot frequently, I’ll admit it was a pleasant site as we rolled into Shoreham. Damo sorted Tony out with a rear light whilst he popped his front light on, and I escorted him up to Shoreham Toll Bridge, and gave him instructions for the route back to the shop, before making my way home and opening a welcome can.
Great ’stolen’ ride, great company – Good Times.
Bobster
