Muddymoles mountain biking in the Surrey Hills and Mole Valley

Ride report: Sunday 27 October – Thursley to Frensham

Posted by Matt | October 28, 2019 | 7 comments so far

The Devils Jumps
This week we had a LOT of rain. So much rain that we decided to head somewhere with some reliable drainage!

This was driven in part by Lloyd’s suggestion and Karl’s ability to lead us round Thursley Common. Just as important was the fact that our local knowledge told us that we were guaranteed to be slipping and sliding around the muddy trails closer to home.

I rode into work on Thursday and while I somehow managed to avoid getting properly rained on (and Thursday had very heavy rain indeed during the course of the day), the trails were heavy going. Not only are they just turning to winter slop on the North Downs Way but they are slippery with recent leaf-fall. Somewhere sandier was definitely a welcome idea.

The Moles at Hindhead

So, we headed south of Guildford and ended up riding from the cricket ground at Thursley, via an early coffee stop at Hindhead, to bacon rolls at Frensham Ponds. Lloyd was kind enough to drive me, which unfortunately meant I forced Tony to drive himself (ooops!) and we met Karl and Elliot at around 8:30am. Unlike the week before we had the benefit of an extra hour due to the clocks going back.

Along the way we had a fine ride in beautiful autumnal weather across lots of sandy heathland. At times it was quite sapping; others it was steep and downhill but never really techincal. Just good old-fashioned XC riding which suited me to the ground.

We also passed the Army out on training exercises, with lots of gun fire exchanged (between Army units, not us!) and managed to document it with many, many photographs.

Frensham Woods

Unusually for us, we also managed a UWI – an Unprovoked Walker Interaction. This happened when unprompted by us a walker actually said ‘good morning’, something Dandy will tell you – if he wasn’t now based in Canada – is a rare thing indeed.

Further on we also struck up conversation with groups of horse riders – again this can not be taken for granted closer to home. I can only put it down to the weather – did I tell you it was glorious??

By the end of the ride, Lloyd had successfully managed to avoid hearing the Rugby score for the South African match and we had 20 miles notched up and a whole morning behind us. What a marvellous way to spend a Sunday! With the benefit of it being half-term I even managed to get away with very little in the afternoon.

Thanks once again to Lloyd for driving and Karlos for his guiding.

Pine woods and sandy trails

Lloyd near Hankley Common

Tony in sunlight

The difficult third album

Can't see the wood for the trees

Rushmoor Pond

Hankley Common firing ranges

The Atlantic Wall

Filed under Rides in October 2019

Matt

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.

There are 7 comments on ‘Ride report: Sunday 27 October – Thursley to Frensham’

We love to get comments from our readers - if you've spent a few moments to comment, thank-you.

If you haven't had a chance yet, jump to our comments form if you have something to say.

  1. Jem says:

    We were both in the same vicinity then. I was out on a bike with an ex / old mole who you may remember. Although we both had 250cc, rather than pedals.

    We too crossed the Sandy Byway at Frencham and ended up at Hindhead for a cuppa. We certainly found plenty of mud though on the BOAT’S! Started from Milford and did a 35 mile loop.

    Not stopped riding a bike, just taking a wee break and lost a little love for it at the moment.

    As far as polite walkers and horse riders go, I feel once your away from Surrey and towards Hampshire people tend to be more relaxed. I have found the same, even on a motorbike out that way.

    Shame we didn’t meet up.

    Add a new comment, or reply to this comment

    Posted on October 28, 2019 at 1:24 pm

  2. Karl says:

    A bloomin marvellous ride. How fantastically lucky we are to be able to do it.
    A real pleasure to lead such a happy band of souls around this heavenly landscape. Tks to Elliot too.
    Nice haul of atmos shots!

    Add a new comment, or reply to this comment

    Posted on October 28, 2019 at 9:33 pm

  3. Related: Ride report: Sunday 19 January - Karl's 115th Dream | Rides | Muddymoles: Mountain biking (MTB) in the Surrey Hills and Mole Valley

Leave a comment…

Have your say – we'd love to hear what you think.

If you have something to add, just complete this comment form (we will not publish your email address).

*Required information.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.