Rads Mon 27 dec 10

Dawn, Fiona, Ollie, Steve, Roy, Glenn, Ron, Paul K, Pat, Ben, Jermaine and Myself made it to the car park for the Swinley alternate ride.  After a few mechanicals, rear mechs and cog stuff we got going.

Although the roads are all pretty clear the forest still has a heap of snow in it and although a lot is very icy it gave pretty good grip and more importantly kept the bikes clean and free of mud.  The Michelin 6 quid mud tyres worked wonders in the snow.

Ben on his Trek jump bike in the snow of Epping Forest

We headed out of the car park and down through The Graveyard where on arrival we found we had already lost Dawn to an extremely nasty bout of SMS.

Meeting at High Beech Epping Forest

We rode a load of the usual trails in the lower forest, picked up Tommy and a new rider Martin at High Beech.  A few more problems, this time with Tommy's single speed chain.  A quick play with the links and it was sorted.

Some bike fixing at High Beech

We headed out towards Old Orleans and then back through Deershelter and out to Goldings Hill before returning for a quick cuppa at Bradley’s where we were also joined by Omar.The run down Lippet’s, which was hard packed with snow and ice, saw the days best crash action with yours truly getting caught in the rut on the fast downhill and high-sided over the bars. It hurt at the time and still does! Paul K, who was a few places behind me, wasn’t to be outdone and also went down quite hard at the top of the same section.

Glenn taking it easy and Ben riding out of the "W" bomb hole.

We returned to the car park without further incident via Pat’s Path and headed for the Station House for a pint or two of pain killer where we were joined by Dave, Jane, Wendy, Simon & Ged.

Didnt get a pic of the station house, but here is one from the archive.  Dawn, rolla poluza stylee.

Dawn in the Station House

Miles