Ride report: Sunday 1 February – Ranmore and Leith Hill loop
Well we’re in to February which can be no bad thing. Today’s ride can best be described in terms of stats I think – 10 riders, 24 miles, four punctures, one broken chain, one big crash and one late finish. Quite an eventful ride then.
But that’s only half the story really as Dave, Colin, Jez, Jem, Andy, Tony, Nick, Toby, Nick and myself headed off toward Ranmore from Bockett’s Farm car park. In complete contrast to Wednesday night, the trails seemed to have magically drained over the last few days against my expectations. Not that my expectations can be relied on really.
A quick whizz down Yew Trees resulted in our first puncture of the day, Tony suffering from the hedge cutting work we’d passed through near Crabtree Lane I think. A lengthy pit stop resulted from it being the first time the tyres had been off his new bike which left us sheltering under the trees from the cutting wind but once we got on our way again we soon warmed up.
Ranmore, then the Landrover descent came and went, the roots on Landrover seemingly more exposed than usual. But, remarkably, it was pretty grippy and dry and as we headed over toward Wolverns Lane via the steppy climb it was apparant that Leith Hill was holding up even better. Even Wolverns was an enjoyable in–and–out spin through the trees that let us get into a good rythmn and led us eventually to the head of Summer Lightning.
Tempting as it was to give it a try, we decided to head off toward the tower via the bombholes and a quick ponder at the top of Deliverance. It may come as a surprise to hear that’s the first time I’ve seen it, although I’ve spectated from the bottom. Somehow, I’ve never been able to find the top and as we stood there it looked magnificent. With the trees still in their winter slumber there was a good view all the way down with the shed nicely framed at the bottom. I admit that had we stood there a bit longer I might have given it a try but as was remarked later in the ride, it was a cold day to be waiting for an ambulance!
So up to the tower, I managed to clean the climb nicely which I was pretty pleased about. It’s one of those technical plus endurance climbs which is do-able but needs thinking about so I was pleased to reward myself with a coffee and a large slice of fruit cake. Puncture number two manifested itself as we were starting off though, the worst time really since we’d had a chance to cool down but we amused ourselves circling the play area while Nick sorted his bike out.
Unfortunately, meandering through the trees heading toward the quarry Nick notched up his second and our third puncture! That’s the way it goes sometimes but we were soon on our way to the quarry where again I was tempted, this time to try the massive roll-ins halfway down which I’ve done in the past. As with Deliverance though it was time for the sensible hat, so we did Chocolate Jesus instead which I’m not sure that was much easier!
The Mother beckoned us onward and we fairly flew down it making full use of the grippy track and the shelter from the trees, popping out near Holmbury where we parted company with Toby who was off to cover Holmbury too. A few of us, myself included, where running out of time chips so we rolled down to the Volunteer and picked up the bridlepath off Raikes Lane toward the farm on the A25.
It’s a quick, sandy track with wheel ruts all the way down and once we’d arrived at the bottom I was getting increasingly worried at the abscence of three of our riders. After a few minutes we turned back and met Nick, Andy and Nick at the farm house to find out that one of the Nick’s had wiped out big time on the descent, caught out by the ruts before being pitched off and spinning on his back down the trail, all watched by Andy and the other Nick. Lucky not to have high sided himself and still in one piece if a little dazed, Nick was nonetheless able to continue much to everyone’s relief.
By now it was becoming more urgent to get back so we crossed the A25, picked up the Abinger Roughs and headed to White Down for a sod of a climb all the way back up to Ranmore. A bit more time would have given us a more leisurely climb via a different route but our masters were calling. Actually, we were guiltily calling them when Dave broke his chain on the climb (well, Colin just texted!) to make our excuses and promise we’d be back soon.
Dispatching Collarbone with my now customary caution we slogged to Ranmore, then flew back down Yew Trees before climbing to Polesdon. As we reached there, Colin pointed out my front tyre was soft and by the time we’d got near the old gate house it was flat. Knowing I only had a mile or two to get back I said goodbye to the others thinking a swift fix would see me home.
Big mistake. First, it happened I’d stopped in the most exposed part of the whole area and the wind was whipping viciously in from the side. I’ve covered over 150 miles since my last (tubed) puncture and a lot longer since needing to repair a tyre trailside as my Orange is tubeless. So hunting around for Park patches in my pack I found just one very old one.
Getting the tyre off proved an effort in itself due to the wind chill on my hands and even at this point I was starting to get worried. Once I’d tracked down the thorn and pulled that out, then turned my attention to finding the puncture hole I was getting more and more uncoordinated with the whistling wind stopping me from hearing where the air was coming out!
Eventually, I tracked the hole down, tore off the patch and stuck it to the tube only to see it blow away again in the wind… At which point I felt like sobbing! I managed to find an old vulcanised rubber and glue repair kit in my bag but the cold seemed to make the glue do very strange things, it was sort of congealing before it got anywhere near the tube and felt a bit like I was handling snot from the trail pixies. I slapped it liberally on and just knew it wasn’t going to work so I whacked the patch on top of that, shoved it all back into the tyre and pumped like mad hoping the pressure would press the rubber and patch to the face of the tyre.
Wonderfully, it held and I managed to get air into the tyre. Shoving bits of kit back into the Camelbak left and right I climbed back on the bike, still being knifed by the howling wind up at Polesdon and tramped it back home on the road. As I got into my road the tyre finally gave out and I rolled up the driveway on my rim, mightly relieved but knowing that my wife would not be impressed at me getting back at nearly 1:45. Worse was to come as I barely managed to stay awake all afternoon (untouched by my magic cappucino machine), although I did managed to hang a picture later on!
The moral of the story is not to abadon your riding group even when you’re so close to home and make sure your kit is serviceable. I just didn’t want to hold people up any longer but at one point I really thought I was in trouble, I was so cold and tired.
A great ride though with lots of twisty technical stuff, plenty of variety and hard work in the mix too. Nice to see Jez for the first time in a few weeks and Nick and Nick who were riding with us for the first time.
About the author
Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.
Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.
An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.
If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.
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Jez says:
You were not the last of the punctures! There were at least two more that become apparent as we rolled into the car park, myself and the other Nick. I think the hawthorn hedge had been trimmed by the farmer.
Good ride though, despite the difficulties.
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 11:53 am
Toby says:
I split from the others after the Greensands Way descent as we entered Holmbury, it seemed a shame for me to not ride up Holmbury Hill seeing as I was there and no need to rush home.
Well, I was a bit concerned that I hadn’t brought enough food and water for a long ride – I had 1 cereal bar left – but I was feeling good and thought I’d probably be OK…
So I rode past the cricket pitch and on to the top of Holmbury then over to the top carpark and down Resevoir Dogs, then Golden Birdies. As I got on to the road I noticed my steering was not what it should be and saw that I had a puncture so stopped at Peaslake to mend it.
Now I had noticed a twig sticking to my front tyre looking suspiciously like it was holding on using an embeded thorn earlier but as the tyre seemed to be staying up OK I thought I’d leave it. So before putting the new tube in I looked for the thorn which was obvious enough – fortunately I carried on looking all the way around and found 2 more… so never assume there’s only one!
Having sorted the wheel out I climbed to the top of Pitch then down towards the otherside where we went a few weeks ago but via the singletrack I broke my collarbone on 18 months ago.
Since doing that I’ve avoided the drop where I fell off and do an alternative which is a nice switchback; at this point there are 2 rooty drops both with a switchback alternative the 2nd of which I usually struggle with but this time I cleaned them both. I then rode over to do the ‘otherside of Pitch’ loop that we did the last time we were here doing the easy(ish) option on Two Headed Dog and then the triple bomb holes.
After this I took a different option to the one where Andy (I think) came off; this involves two sections of singletrack, the first of which includes a tricky off camber sweeping switchback that I have managed before but this time the frozen bike wheel ruts upset me and I managed to go over the bars.
I carried on to the next section which includes 1/2 dozen or so increasingly tight switchbacks some of which I can never manage. After that I did the climb back up towards Orange Claw Hammer and then onto Hidden Valley, the Lost Trail and then past the house with the clock and onto Peaslake.
Feeling annoyed that I hadn’t brough my usual peanut butter sandwiches or cash I ate my cereal bar and headed towards Abinger Hammer via Rad Lane. I then rode up to the bridleway that goes along the valley above Abinger Hammer towards Westcott and started to feel pretty weak.
I turned towards the Downs after the farm to go up the so called, by some, 3 minute climb only I pretty much bonked and struggled up towards Ranmore Road. I rode towards the church then past the vicarage and down to Bagden Farm.
Unfortunately I was unable to ride up the steep ascent towards Bookham so walked up and then rode through the woods to Bookham feeling completely wasted.
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Nick says:
Yep I got one of the last two punctures. As I turned left and wheeled into the carpark my front went down suddenly. Must have been a big thorn. As I said ‘How’s that for timing’, Jez’s went down too.
The last climb defeated me but I had an enjoyable ride. Its a shame I can’t make Wednesday nights out at the moment.
See you again soon 🙂
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Dave says:
And add me to the list of casualties as the front tyre was flat in the garage this morning. Two thorns removed.
Cracking ride though, really glad Toby re-introduced me to those bits near the Quarry on Leith Hill.
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Lee says:
Sounds like a great ride lads. I left my bike in the garage and managed to avoid any punctures or frostbite, result!
Why is it you can fix a puncture in five minutes in your garage and then it takes half an hour on the trail?
Toby – sounds like you’d be better off packing lights next time not peanut butter sandwiches!
See you all soon.
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Colin says:
Great ride chaps and thanks to Toby for his Leith knowledge – as it drains so well, I want to get up there alot more – some superb trails.
Add me to the puncture list – I had to stop at Gimcrack Hill near Bocketts on my way back.
The climb at the river to home finally finished me off and I was useless for the rest of the day (that was after having to go for a 3 mile walk with the kids almost as soon as I got back!
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Andy C says:
Reading this litany of punctures I smiled inwardly as I had apparently escaped with tyres intact; despite, like Toby, removing a twig from my front tyre that was holding on with its thorn.
Some niggling doubt just forced me to nip out to the shed and check. Rear tyre as flat as a… as a… flat thing. Doh.
Otherwise, a great ride yet again. Full marks to Nick for his stylish crash, followed by his leaping to his feet protesting no injuries, despite his weaving and inability to focus! I hope the head was fine this morning.
Cheers all.
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 2:51 pm
jem says:
Tubeless!!!!???
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Matt says:
Toby, that’s an impressive write up of the remainder of your day, makes me feel we only did half a ride which is strange given how tired I’ve felt today.
Lee, your comment made me laugh! You need to watch out for that sort of thing Toby, it’s happened to me before and feels horrible, way beyond any normal feelings of tiredness or hunger.
As for punctures, I’ll have to revise my stats. That’s 10 in total. Not too impressive for a collective 240 miles but that hedge up near Crabtree has a lot to do with it I reckon…
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 6:27 pm
mike61 says:
Guys, we also had a blast on Leith Hill on Sunday. Trails were lovely and dry with almost all the mud frozen – a handy excuse not to have to wash the bike.
Your report reminds me of why I have not gone the tubeless route!!!
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Muddymoles says:
Ride report: Norbury Park and Box Hill in the snow
Jem and Tony go mountain biking in the Surrey snow, making a welcome change for those of us more used to winter mud.
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Posted on February 2, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Nick de M says:
I had two more punctures Monday morning, and then two more in the back tyre yesterday, eventually succumbing to changing the tube instead of just pumping up and hoping, its very hard getting tyres off in freezing conditions.
Really enjoyed the ride on Sunday, despite falling off, shoulder a bit sore but apart from that all ok.
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Posted on February 3, 2009 at 3:25 pm