The Mushroom Files

Saturday was probably one of the most fun days I've had on the bike in a long time.

In order to get to the trails quicker we took the flat route out towards the 22. We met Jill at Abinger and went passed the farm down to the Volunteer. We bumped into Lizzie, Iain & Dan at the top of the hill at the farm. Had a nice chat with them, told the girls just how hardcore they are. :)

Carrie-Ann, Saartjie, Letitia, Karen, Pokkeltjie & Jill

The girls were all super strong, I was taking some shots from not enough sleep and was just so lazy to do anything that involved effort. I spotted my 2nd snake in England, the shock was enough to get me to pedal faster.

The leaves are starting to change colour and the area was scattered with all kinds of different mushrooms! A beautiful and interesting fairy tale spectacle, they are absolutely fascinating.

Karen styling on Bron's bike

The adrenaline junkies amongst us did Yoghurt Pots twice and all of the others were appointed to take some videos while others did a 2nd or 3rd run.

We were waiting on Saartjie to finish her 2nd YP-loop before I heard this typical girly squeal... Followed by TTTTTCCCCCC! I ran back up the trail to hold Saartjie's hand and Liezl came along to hold my hand. :)
 

We got to Saartjie and there she sat facing the trail backwards with her bike also facing the wrong way... She was pretty much winded and just in shock. Pokkeltjie & I didn't give her much sympathy as I was more worried that a speedster was going to crash into us if we stayed on the track. So she just had to get on with it. :) She got back on her bike and did YP a third time with NO crashes.

We also did Barry Knows Best and treated ourselves with tea and treats at Peaslake Village Store. We also bumped into Roald, Pooh Bear, Iain, Lizzie & Dan again. 

On the flat route back, Liezl decided it was time to challenge my one and only QOM on my favourite Tunnel of Love downhill section. She trashed it with 9 seconds AND she had to slow down for people! We found 3 clusters of oyster mushrooms in the middle of the track. It was massive at first I thought it was a tree stump, but it was this squeesy slippery mess!

We left Jill at her car in Abinger and started heading homeward bound. At Dog Poo Dodge, Liezl and I decided to dice each other and oh dear it was at that point where everything fell apart behind us. As soon as we went round the corner, Carrie went flying into the bushes and winded herself. Karen broke her chain, no I mean, Karen broke Bron's bike chain on the short steep climb whilst I was waiting for them oblivious of what had happened where the road joins the bigger road again. I then realised that maybe they got lost or had trouble and started riding back. Saartjie filled me in on all that went wrong when I got back to them.

I asked Karen where the chain was, she looked down to where it would've been and said there... There was nothing! She quickly ran back and found it. Carrie was fine. I swapped bikes with Karen and sent Saartjie to get Liezl to come and push me up the hills. Hahaha

I freewheeled as much as possible and held onto Liezl's camelbak where and when I was losing speed. I learnt this *manoeuvre from Zane when Cecilia had chain problems on the exact same track earlier in the year.

Whilst we stopped at the very conveniently located Head for the Hills to get the chain fixed Liezl escorted Carrie & Letitia to the station and met us back at Head for the Hills. This allowed us more time to pop into this awesome cook shop that I always longingly look at when we sprint back to the station. It is an incredible shop, it has everything any cook can dream off and it was so nice just to 'look' at the stuff. My bank balance & camelbak limited me to buy anything apart from a small gift for a friend's birthday. :)

Give me the pinky & I'll grab
the whole hand... :)

Once on the train back to London the guard announced that there was a fatality at Wimbledon and we would be delayed. We were deliberating if we should get off & ride or if we should sit it out. We started chatting to the guard and he told us, "You have F((*&&^% bikes you have no problem!" To which I asked him, "Don't you think we rode far enough for one day? You are so cheeky." He then turned around and said, "It's not cheeky, it's common sense." I absolutely loved it, he put me right in my place.

We continued giving him stick as he made poor announcements etc. I suddenly thought it might be my only chance ever to be in the drivers cabin of a train and asked him if I could check it out. He agreed unexpectedly, so Liezl & I got right in there, under strict instruction NOT TO TOUCH anything. That was incredibly hard as it is soooo tempting, but also hard not touching anything when you have to get out of the driver's chair. We made it all the way to Raynes Park and secretly didn't want to get off the train as we were enjoying the banter with him way to much. Apparently Saartjie panicked and asked if he knew that we were double trouble and that he just left us on our own in the drivers cabin to which he replied he noticed. I love the Irish, fun & straight talking.

I mentioned Squirtlube in my previous blog about "My Favourite Things" and am now proud to announce that Squirtlube is sponsoring Tango Cycling. I will be handing out sample sizes when I see you next time.

This weekend was the first time that we tried out the smaller groups of riders and it worked so well. Thank you Pokkeltjie for riding back & forth like a yo-yo, first to push & pull me and then to lead the way to the station. Thank you girls for joining, it has been one of my most memorable days of cycling in Surrey for me. #morefunforless 

Quote of the day: "It's not cheeky, it's common sense." Irish train guard on South West Trains.

Our route: http://www.strava.com/activities/87007650

Future Rides:

20 October - Intermediate: Men & Women

2 - 3 November - Skills Weekend: Men & Women (note no ladies ride in November)

30 November - Beginners: Ladies

1 December 2013 - Intermediate: Ladies

Drop me a line if you would like to join us.

*This manoeuvre is risky and is not recommended unless necessary. I have come off the very hard way from messing about with it before, but I have also concurred a 25km climb with the assistance this manoeuvre offers in times of need. :)
 

 

http://www.magisto.com/video/aEUZZgkNGDc1UU1nCzE?owner_login=1

2nd Tango Cycling Ladies Ride

The Ladies Rides seemed to have taken off, 13 ladies joined on 3 August to explore Peaslake. 5 Brand new girls that has never been out with us before.

We met at Raynes Park station as before. Paula was so paranoid that her sister Karen was joining us before her that she just had to come and see what we were up to. She clearly didn't fit in with her road bike.



Paula slowly infiltrating the MTB-group

We did a quick check on tyre pressures and made sure that everybody shocks were unlocked this time.

We set off along the White Downs then followed Cycle route 22, had a scary road crossing at Abinger Hammer, up past Holmbury St Mary YHA to Yoghurt Potts, our first fun part of the day.

I was so proud of everybody and special kudos to Izelle who attempted it with almost no back brake. Some of us did Yoghurt Potts twice before we set off to Barry Knows Best. Angela had a bit of a crash on Yoghurt Potts, but she got back on her bike and soldiered on.

We then got to Barry Knows Best. I was a bit nervous about BKB, because the drop is a bit scary and I wasn't sure if I should warn people or if I should just leave them. I had to hang back a little bit to wait for Liezl and Ange to join us again, so I sent Bron and the girls off. As soon as Liezl arrived I carried on, because I was as worried as a mother hen with her chicks about my girls. Big was my surprise when I got to the drop that they discovered the chicken run on the right hand side. I didn't even know there was a chicken run. I was so relieved! :)

We descended and waited at the bottom for everyone. The next minute I looked up I saw Izelle hitting a tree. Panic struck as I said, "Liezl... Izelle just went into a tree!" Izelle was fine, she moved out of the way for a speed junkie and because she only had a front brake she grabbed it and went over her handlebars into the tree.

Tarynne with her slick wheels had the biggest smile on her face and was saying how much she enjoyed it.

We made a quick loo stop at Peaslake and got Izelle's bike sorted at the bike shop. It was so straight forward, only a little screw that had to be adjusted, if only we knew that, but now we know.

We went back via the flat route, through the Tunnel of Love to Tillings Tea Rooms in Gomshall where we spoiled ourselves with coffee, cool drink, sandwiches and cakes.

Parked off at Tillings

Mel chilling

Our Route:
We covered 35km. I felt so proud every time I looked around there was a long line of girls riding along. They are all pretty hardcore for doing 35km on most of their first ride ever and all deserve kudos.
http://www.strava.com/activities/71840936

Thank you's:
Great thanks to Letitia for making the circle bigger (who tagged 3 friends, Mel, Tarynne & Carrie along) and for Emily from Ireland who came along not knowing any of us. We met her boyfriend, Glen the week before in Peaslake and I told him that I was taking some girls out the next week. #networkingisking. Special thanks to Pokkeltjie aka Liezl van Zyl for co-leading so self-sacrificially. Thank you everybody for a fun day out!

Video:
The day was filled with banter at Paula's expense as Karen her sister came mountain biking before her. I've known Paula for a few years now and we have bumped into each other at Peaslake Village Store plenty of times. Paula on her road bike and myself on my mountain bike. I've tried all strategies to get her to join, I even started road riding and then Bron had the winning strategy. She convinced Karen to come along whilst we were in France so we had loads of fun taking small videos that we showed to Paula to stir the pot a little bit.

If the video doesn't work, you can use this link to see the video...

http://www.magisto.com/video/PE4bYUVWBzQpUhJgCzE

Some of the ladies requested tips on how to improve hill riding, so I thought I'll put my top tips down for you.

TC's TIPS for next time:

1. Ride as often as possible to build up some base fitness
2. Ride at your own pace up a hill, best not to try and keep up with the person in front of you as you are just burning yourself out quicker than you ought too
3. Use your gears, use a lighter gear and increase your cadence (cadence = the amount of pedal strokes you give per minute) so you might will feel like a hamster on a wheel, but you will get used to the technique and the benefit is that the quicker you learn this technique the more energy you will safe
4. Just keep on pedalling, you will get there even if it feels like you won't
5. Don't look at the top of the climb, keep your eyes in front of you and before you know it, you will be at the top
6. Sorry for the over share, but it is common knowledge in cycling circles, so think it is appropriate to go on this blog. Ride commando under your cycling shorts/tights - you don't need more rubbing than what is there already 

NEXT Rides make a note in your diary:

31 August 2013
5 October 2013
2 November 2013 (Yes we ride whatever the weather, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing)

3 Days = 3 Rides = Bank Holiday Weekend!

25 May 2013 - Ride & Braai

The Ride

Box Hill Window

13 of us reported for riding on Saturday morning. We split into groups right from the start.
Hard core, Less Hard core & Fun groups. We all started with the steep climb round the back of Box Hill to the top. I led the Fun group (myself, Cecilia, Bron, Kyle & Mike). I was unable to find the entrance to China Pig, so instead we went down quite a steep descent, Kyle fell of his bike like a bag of potatoes, the sound effect was priceless as it was just a thud on the ground, he jumped straight back onto his bike and we continued. We got reprimanded by an auntie on a private farm that it is private land and no cycle track, she was rebuking us in a very kind way, we just apologised, cause in all honesty I couldn't find the trails that I was looking for. We dropped Mike at the station and found our way up to Leith Hill Tower by climbing up Summer Lightning. I love that route, it always bring back memories to when I first started riding, I relive all my moments of insecurities where I fell, unclipped or thought this is tough, so it is a huge confident booster whenever I do it.

Bron, Mike & Kyle

At the top of Leith Hill Tower we had the most amazing and biggest sausage roll ever! I am definitely going back for more soon! The teashop is under new management, the lady is not overly friendly, but the treats on offer make up for that.

Three of the A-Team ( The Van Niekerks & Rich) bumped into us at the Tower and joined us for our journey back to the station.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: Hitting Summer Lightning hard with Stephné van Niekerk!
Steph and I love chasing each other down Summer Lightning. It is our ticket to ride 'varkerig' as we would say in Afrikaans. Summer Lightning divides naturally into 3 parts, so we take turns to go in the front. Today we had an absolute ball! We were gunning it whilst giving running commentary all the way down to the bottom. We rode so fast, that we had enough time for a 'bos piepie' before the others arrived. :)

The Braai

I prepared most of the side dishes on Friday evening as I knew space would be an issue once the 25 guests arrived. Most of today's riders, their better halves and friends who were unable to ride joined us for the braai. We had the obvious signature dishes of lamb chops and paptert on the menu accompanied by butternut, sweet potato, carrot, feta & cranberry salad. For pudding some people had braaied marshmallows on the fire or chocolate pudding with custard

Finally blessed with some sunshine

26 May 2013 - Swinley Forest

A lot of people have been talking about the new improved Swinley Forest. I've never been a huge fan of it in the past, but was keen to give it a try.

So my verdict is:

• They have done an amazing job on building a challenging blue run, in my opinion it is more advanced than other blue runs I've ridden before, so will give beginners a good feel for mountain biking and help build their confidence
• They have done a superb job on the berms!
• The red run is also good, there were two sections that gave your stomach that sinking feeling like when you drive over a short steep hill fast - I loved it!
• It was more challenging than what I expected
• Some people are still cycling in the wrong direction, this can be dangerous especially it is near some jumps and on a downhill where we got some oncoming traffic
• Signage is good, but could need a few more signs at a few corners especially the link from the blue to the red can be marked better
• It was fun and is especially great for people who want to do a quick ride and who don't know other routes that well or want to ride on their own and it is IDEAL for anyone with a family as the teashop and play area is any child's dream
• I don't want to do it every weekend as I prefer getting a bit more distance on the legs between single track sections, but it is a great for some variety every now and then

27 May 2013 - Dorking

Today we had the privilege to have the company of no other than Mr Gerhard Bonthuys, thoroughbred roadie as many of you would know. I met Gerhard the first time on a mountain bike ride last year, but has never seen him on his mtb since, I have however seen him on his road bike a lot and even had the courage to go on a few of their roadrides.

Myself, The Van Niekerks, Bonty, Pokkeltjie and Rich our token Brit was joined by Lizzie at Dorking station. Now in our circles if you mention that you've been riding with Lizzie it puts you automatically in another level of riding. She has a racing background and is known for her mountain bike skills and that she can out ride any male rider. Nervous levels were high before we even started riding.

We started off with the same steep back of Box Hill climb... WHY??? It takes me a good 20 minutes to warm up on every ride, this was a bad idea. This time we found the entrance to China Pig, we then went across to near Denbies Farm and climbed up past Tanners Hatch to Ranmore Common, stayed on the North Downs and down a steep section at White Downs onto the 22. From here we went the normal way over to Yoghurt Potts & BKB. We crossed the A24 head up past the fish farm over to the Volunteer, up past the YHA in Holmbury.

We had some tea, cheesestraws and other delicacies from The Peaslake Village Store before we took the 'flat route'  back to Dorking station. Pokkeltjie finally got her mojo back after she finally ate something and started enjoying the 2nd half of the ride. We have now excelled to another level of riding after we survived our first ride with Lizzie. Hehehe. :-)

Bonty seen on his MTB @ Peaslake!

Snow Riding

Picturesque Peaslake

It's been such a cold winter with so much snow. Not knowing if Summer will ever arrive we thought well at least with the snow we won't get wet. We as South Africans are the only people who still get excited when it snows in London. 

I ordered overshoes from Wiggle and they e-mailed me to say they can only deliver in April, well technically it should be Spring in April and they will be redundant by the time I receive them. Jason lend me a pair of his. 

The first time I rode in snow was last year with Simon, that was an experience in it's own. Riding in snow is hard work. It is such a weird consistency. Last year we were slipping in sliding a lot more as the snow was thick and lose. This year the snow was more compact and the consistency of a ski slope. It was awesome. 

Saam met die Van Niekerke

I wasn't that cold, I used some instant hand warmers that my cousin had left over from playing golf in the cold and was actually quite toasty, but my feet were ABSOLUTELY freezing and I even said to the others, I wish I could defer some of the heat to my toes, my ankles was warm, but my toes so cold that I was on the brink of tears. When I heard that they mentioned tea, I overruled the option to carry on riding, cause my feet was just so cold. 

A visit to Peaslake Village Store is always a highlight, but this time I was just so relieved to be there. I said hallo to Trudy, walked to the back of the shop and took the booties off just so that I can wiggle my toes. I discovered that my toes was literally on ice... The booties were to big, so the snow came in from underneath my shoe and formed a layer of ice. I'm not lost for words often, but my toes was so cold and started to defrost whilst I was having my tea at the bus stop in silence. :(

My poor tootsies were on ice

Tea at our usual Hangout

We went all over our local playground, it was totally different than normal. So serene, so quite, so peaceful. It was snowing softly all day and you were able to hear the snow falling... tap-tap-tap... It was so beautiful and a once-in-a-lifetime-experience. 

Video Footage compliments to Simon Osborne

Rich, our token Brit shows us in which gear you should ride in this weather - he is nuts

Steph & I on top of Pitch Hill

Albert on Barry Knows Best

Steph on Carpetland hanging onto Jason's tree