|
Special |
|
| Tandem | |
| TV Programme | |
| Webcam | |
| Archives | |
| David Duffield | |
| Off Road | |
Addiscombe Cycling Club have always had an exciting mountain biking section since the dawn of the mtb in the UK in the late 1980s. Organised off road rides take place every couple of weeks or so. The primary Sunday ride meets in Central Croydon and heads off road with the minimum of road riding. Rides are planned in advance over email and often get in excess of 10 people on each one. The pace is always manageable and beginners normally keep up fairly easily. Croydon has some surprising bridleways surrounding it that lead to some seriously big hills and riding opportunities. Box Hill, Leith Hill and even Brighton are all accessible from Croydon with surprisingly little tarmac required. Obviously Addiscombe wouldn't take complete beginners to places so far away but build up new riders to the point where they can comfortable complete a longer ride. Off road rides are always about fun firstly and fitness secondly. If someone struggles to keep up we all wait for them and don't mind doing so. Riders know that Addiscombe off road rides aren't really used for training. They are for going out exploring new trails and having a laugh with likeminded people. Some Addiscombe riders also compete in cyclo cross races on their mountain bikes against the cream of the South East's riders. Generally we do pretty well and it is a good safe introduction for many of our new riders into the world of bike racing. Cyclo cross evolved from 'rough stuff' time trials in the 1950s (see the picture of John Smith racing one of these events) and the link between mountain biking and time trialing is kept alive in a perverse way as Addiscombe off roaders also use their mountain bikes and even BMXs to compete in local time trials!
A few of the regulars meeting up in sunny Croydon
Addiscombe also do away trips
"Downhill" Jason showing us where the skin is starting to grow back after trying to ride local tracks just that little bit too quickly!
Related features: First
Ride of 2007 |
|
