[Closed] Surrey Hills - Conditions

Horrific ought to cover it!

Hi Mashie, sunny now, but we've had lots of rain the last few days and even some snow yesterday AM. It's going to be very wet under-tyre.

And part frozen when i went out last night which was interesting as the ruts supported the wheel slightly and then mushed out to nothing. Looking forward to the cold weather next week to hopefully harden everything up.

yeah, the roads were treacherous this morning too. The next few days' forecast are sunny and cold, let's hope that holds.

There has been a lot of work on the worst trails to make them a little less muddy in the last few weeks but if it's anything like last weekend it'll be pretty bad, especially along the lower parts of pitch.

yeah, the roads were treacherous this morning too

I thought they seemed ok this morning actually.

off the main roads was plenty of black ice, last night's rain frozen, footpaths too

just been out to the garage, that's an 'effing cold wind!

Was out for 1.5 hours round Holmbury and Pitch this afternoon, and it was probably the worst / most depressing ride of the year, and bearing in mind how bad it's been this year, that's saying something. Having a hangover from the office Christmas dinner last night didn't help, but even so, trails were just awful. Even the stuff that holds up well was pretty grim. I resorted to riding the big sandy tracks.
Not sure even a hard frost will help, because there are so many deep puddles on most of the trails. If these freeze over, it will be entertaining to say the least!

heihei - that has sealed it. leave the trails alone if the conditions are that bad.

It will be full of South Africans or fat IT managers off here.

Avoid.

[i] so I can kit myself accordingly.[/i]

You'll need a 150mm AM bike at least 😉

pies, br - im neither in IT, South African or Fat. But have friends who is all three! Lovely chap.

Br - I dont have 150mm either but I did have 140mm 6 months ago and loved it around Surrey Hills. now riding a 29er.

Some rain last night. Clear skies to the east, hopefully coming this way. Mashie, you have a new baby I think? I'd say if you have a pass, take it.

I'm working today so that's one less South African.
Enjoy.

For the main good but slow going. Hit the muddy bits and it's like thick porridge that saps all energy. Nice and sunny though, so good for the Vit D production. Go for it.

Cold and bright morning, but I imagine like last weekend it will be pretty mushy up there. Tennis instead for me this morning. Might go for a quick spin later though depends ng on reports and mud nearby.

Generally shirty year for riding on the whole. Just glad I held off buying a new bike. Let's hope 2013 is better.

Road ride for me!

Road ride for me too.

dog walk here

Beautiful day out there, I'm aiming for a sundown ride and a pint.

Hangover today. Run later.

I know the conditions are gonna be lame but this weather is nice. The lure of the trails will be too strong to resist tomorrow.

Beautiful day out there, I'm aiming for a sundown ride and a pint.

Just back from Leith Hill. Plenty of puddles in the usual places, but some lovely sections on the sandy tracks. Much more fun than the road today.

Lovely up there today, bit damp in places, we were over Holmbury side, but not bad. mrs kilo got to use her new bike as well

[img] [/img]

I don't recall Surrey Hills ever being so grim that a road ride would be better! (I'm not anti-road and it has been known for me to bat for the other team too).

Whatever you do, usual plea: Stay off Parklife until the spring...

Mr Woppit - Member

Whatever you do, usual plea: Stay off Parklife until the spring...

Is parklife aka yogurt pots?

yup

Kilo - that was this year!?!? 😉

[i]yogurt pots[/i] wouldn't be the same without the yogurt

Whatever you do, usual plea: Stay off Parklife until the spring...

Why?

No signs today suggesting that you shouldnt ride it.

just in from a Dorking -> Holmbury loop, it's not so bad on the main trails, didn't do any of the "gnarr" Pitch stuff.

the sky is clear and temps dropping fast, it's going to be facebitingly cold tonight and a great tomorrow for anyone OK with a bit of frost nip.

bloody nice pint of 'Wandle' in the Hatch. (The proper Hatch).

Whatever you do, usual plea: Stay off Parklife until the spring...

pfffff.

Actually the work done on Parklife / Yog Pots has made it one of the better trails in the grim conditions. Credit to the trail pixies who have done a tremendous job.

I went exploring over St Marthas today and have to say the sandy soil and much lower traffic made for some cracking riding. The odd patch churned by horses but had soooo much more fun today than yesterday. There's some upside to grim trails - forces you to get the map out and explore and you inevitably turn up a few hidden gems of trails.

Get out there and lock you back brake down all the descents. If you seen anyone doing trail work, try to kick them in the face as you go past.

Now, I'm really missing my Headley to Headley, Dorking circum-navigation route via Leith Hill.

Best wishes.

LT

Was exceptionally quiet out on the trails today, despite the car park and shop bring really busy.

Only saw 2 other bikes in over an hour on Pitch/winterfold at one stage.

Conditions really variable. Found some lesser ridden stuff that was bone dry, but popular sections were a mud fest.

My road ride was chilly! Rode past some well known trails and didn't see a single mountain biker. In my opinion that's a good thing as trails will get time to recover. Lovely say today, felt awful on the bike, just one of those days.

forces you to get the map out and [b][u]explore[/b][/u] and [b][u]you inevitably turn up a few hidden gems of trails.[/b][/u]

Regardless of conditions or company, this is sometimes exactly what you need to do. Just head off the beaten track and keep those wheels turning ... 🙂

Saw 3 guys riding down from Holmbury St Mary who were filthy. Was nice on the road - dry, no ice! A pleasant 50 miles.

Over towards Devils Punchbowl today (so not quite SH!) - ground really firm and best riding for ages. Too cold for gloop anywhere. But water erosion (in secret areas) has made for some interesting changes to some favourite (slightly) cheeky trails ie, the holes were big enough to swallow my bike and me!!!

Generally blimmin brilliant tonight, although a few trails too rutted and still a bit soft (eg crackpipe). Like riding through fields of diamonds and trees of tinsel!

we'll be out tomorrow night, hope the frost holds

steep stuff on pitch
Eric, robnav, the 19th etc all great today in the sun..perfect winter riding.

Night riding tonight, and I can't see any prospect of the frost thawing in daylight today. It's going to be faaaasssssssst!

Just been out for two hours - lovely! Best conditions for ages over the Headley Heath | Reigate side. Deeper mud still exists, but lots of hard, frosty trails making for a fast ride. Currently weather can't decide between light rain and snow. Well worth getting out just for the views over the downs. Bike filthy, I'm defrosting, but very happy to have gone out.

Great round Boxhill, ranmore this afternoon...perfect winter day. if only more often 😡

Last night - rutted fields with hoof prints like concrete, brittle leaves, grass with white sheen.

This morning - heavy white frost.

Now - raining. Normality returns.

Yeh I had a lovely ride on Monday from Peaslake in the cold sunshine. Almost bone dry on the main trails but looks like rain on the way.

Any of you guys fancy a midweek ride over the next couple of months please do holler, I'm off work until end Feb, prob get down to Surrey Hills once/twice a week, start around 1030.......

Redlands was ace this arvo....warming now though.

Frosty and fast here in the Lakes 3 1/2 hours all offroad and no bike to wash 🙂 must be one of the few this year

Wet.

Anyone ride surrey today?

Well at least it's wet mud , rather than sticky mud.

Was on the Surrey end of the North Downs Way, got absolutely caked in mud on the descent from Chaldon to Merstham, glad I bought a jet wash, we really need some dry weather now.

I've been riding Leith Hill all week and it's steadily been getting better and better (amazing what happens when it STOPS RAINING FOR FIVE MINUTES!!!).

Rode this morning and it's running pretty well now, the mud is that thick porridge like consistency which although slow in places atleast flicks back of the bike and doesn't stick. The drivetrain was fine after a two hour ride and my clothes were mostly clean. That's kind of success bearing in mind the constant rain and snow melt of just a week ago I think?

Good riding at the moment especially if you pick the right trails. Chocolate Jesus and the trails around the tower are still bad but Summer Lightning is very fast with no standing water anywhere at the moment.

That's good to hear, now its just a question of repairing the damage to my bike from last week's mud fest!

Might be a chance to demo a trance 29er?

Winterfold trails were in reasonable shape today bar the usual mud patches, eg bottom of Evian, bottom of Charlie B, bottom of 3 amigos...

Supernova was in good shape with a few small puddles

Obviously BKB was dry as a bone.

BKB is soooo smoooooooooth at the moment. Really, really fast. TBH I'm not 100% sure I like it like that but I do appreciate the efforts of the trail pixies. Made a nice change from glop.