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My First MTB Ride of the Year

We knew a couple of days before that it was going to be good weather for wearing shorts! The contrast between riding in shorts and a sweatshirt or muddy tights and full winter kit is huge and it makes a real difference to us now that we have somehow become fair weather mountainbikers! Six of us met at our usual meeting place in Central Croydon, some had ridden over from various points in South London, others got the train over and the rest of us live local enough that we can roll out of bed just before the start time and have our breakfast on the bike as we meander up to meet and greet.

After a quick period to fix any bike problems that people discovered after leaving their bike in the shed for so long we were off. One full suspension rider, two hardtail riders and 3 singlespeeders meant that it was going to be another of our infamous fun rides. We'd agreed long ago it was a club fun ride and definitely not for training and we were going to stick to that. As we walked and rode out of the first offroad trails that lead us out of Croydon the sun was beating down and laughter could be heard no matter where you were riding in our little peleton. Various Bridleways and special paths took us to the edge of the Borough of Croydon where the real countryside starts. Steep climbs that you definitely want to walk up are rewarded with downhills where you can easily get over 40mph if your confidence will let you stay off the brakes that long as the mud and hardpack whizz by underneath you and beautiful views where you would be content to sit and wait all day for the whoever is nursing the worst hangover from the night before to catch up!

New recruit Pasquale with past member Joel

We soon found ourselves at our intended destination; the ice cream van at Keston Ponds! A bit of a chance to get off the bikes and mingle with the families out walking and the fisherman at the side of the lakes. When everyone was suitably refreshed we headed off on yet more bridlepaths which took us all the way back to central Croydon. The total ride (and walking!) time was around 3hours so not only did we arrive home feeling suitably invigorated but we still had the rest of the day to savour it

Bob only joined us a couple of years ago but really took to riding offroat

We know all the local bridleways!