November Diary

Mtb Diary - November 2012

12 Nov

It’s always slightly depressing when you finally realise that summer has passed. No more dusty, loamy trails – baked dry by the sun and rolling faster than you can recall.  Not that we actually got any of that this year (unless of course you went abroad – I’m envious of you).

Today, however, I have been lucky. As I sit at the top of Bredon Hill I can see for miles across the Vale and Cotswolds. With the sun shining so warm and the sky so blue, one could almost mistake it for summer.

But as I sit and take in the views I am under no illusions. Following a tortuous climb to reach the summit I can remark that it most certainly is not summer. The sun may be out right now but it has been raining all week and the muddy trails are a stark reminder of this time of year.  They have been turned in to wet sloppy imitations of their previous selves and the climbs, as a result, have become an ordeal.

Still, with views like this it's not hard to see the advantage for getting out. 

It’s been raining all week and may not stop for a long time. You’ll be waiting even longer for the trails themselves to dry up. Try sometime next summer, if we have one.

But do not despair. It is this characteristic that is so familiar to the British, to all those who actually get out during the darker months. There’s no point sitting around and moaning about it – another typically English characteristic. It is these types of trails that are responsible for producing some of the finest professional riders to emerge from the UK.

The likes of Steve Peat & Mark Beaumont have developed their skills on these slippery, rooty trails. Getting out on this will undoubtedly make you a better rider too. By getting out now and pushing your limits you’ll be quicker come summer and better to boot.

For those of you who really do find it hard to get the enthusiasm to get out once it gets cold, think of it this way. It’s only going to get worse. And, you will regret not getting out now once the dark days of deepest winter really set in – not that it’ll stop me. I find that some of the best riding all year only materializes once the ground freezes over. Why not get out now and make the most of the last embers of warmth from the sun? The extra miles you put in now (and over the winter) will pay dividends next spring.

18^th Nov

Again, I have been lucky to get the sun. With the rain being persistent the climbs have become quite a challenge. I think it’s time for a tire change, my summer trail tires can no longer with the thick mud.

25^th Nov

Over the last month I have repeated my ride over Bredon Hill on several occasions. At first my thoughts were centred on the idea that it is sad to see the dusty trails disappear. What I hadn’t bargained for was that they would be literally subsumed beneath the water as they did this week…

…So, it’s floodin’ out there! So bloody what! Why should that stop you? It’s not like it doesn’t happen almost every year anyway, so we should be prepared for it by now. Although I will concede, it’s usually in the summer. In places, my trails have literally disappeared – they are impassable. But, rather than sitting around and moping, I have found alternative routes to link up the remaining sections that are still rideable and, this weekend, I ventured back up Bredon Hill for some slippery fun.

I have been having some issues with brakes this year after trying to ‘restore’ a hope mini M4, however that has been resolved by the fact that I no longer need them. I simply stop pedalling and I come to a halt quicker than if I apply them at all.

Tires have been a huge frustration though. My usually adaptable all-rounders simply cannot cope with the knee-high gloop. I get the feeling that I’m navigating a boat rather than riding my bike. New ones are a must do, despite the ‘gulp’ price.

Still, there’s a certain gratification at having been out. A typical ride is no longer just a ride but a full-scale expedition and it feels good to actually get back in one piece. I’m not even bothered with pace. Timing is out the window. Everything pales in to insignificance, I’m out and that’s all that matters to me.

Trail centres have revolutionized the way we can approach our winter riding. The man-made trails are quite often designed to be ride-able all year round without being any less fun.  So why not take advantage of the additional access you have to trails. Kit up and get out and stop moaning!