We seem to be having a good run of sunny Saturday mornings and this one was no different. A group of 25 RCC off-roaders, accompanied by the puncture monster, were determined to make the most of it.
A nice warm-up courtesy of Juniper Hill quickly had everyone stripping off – steady – their top layers and ready for our first bit of “technical” – Minty’s. It seems to get worse every time we descend it and I am convinced that it has its own soil erosion pattern. Never mind the back wheel, just get the front wheel over those roots and hope for the best! The usual series of up and downs through High Ashurst and Headley from where we enjoyed a mix of easy and fast trails along the southern edge of Sandhill Wood descending towards Langley.
I should have kept my mouth shut and said nothing about punctures….. First flat tyre near the top of Alsation put yours truly out of action temporarily but our collective patience was rewarded with a “brisk” trip down Alsation and a tea stop at Bocketts. (BTW, the Mars Bar cake is as good as ever).
Afterwards we headed towards Ranmore Common and along the way, a familiar hissing noise from my back wheel. We know the routine – sigh a bit, dismount, shake head, change tube, mount and ride on. The big climb up Ranmore Common soon began and duly rewarded with another flat tyre at the top! I was getting the hang of this puncture mellarky now – and so too was everyone else. No time for a group photo at the top – some of our number had already exited stage left and time was pressing on. A collection of very noisy 1970s Ford Capris, Escorts, Cortinas and Anglias (remember them?) had taken over Ryka’s car park to greet us so just as well we were on bikes to get through the crowd.
Thanks to Tim and James for back-marking. Tim is back to uni now (lucky chap) so we won’t see him again until Xmas. A pleasant 18.6 miles in all, so the puncture monster tells me.
All the best,
Conor