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...was surprisingly tiring at the end of a long ride.
I rarely make it over to Leith but did the classic Westcott Loop with some time messing about on Holmbury and top of Leith. Got to the Tower as 5:10pm so missed a refuel.
Pretty tired sitting at the top for a quick breather. Enjoyed SL but as it was first time I didn't carry enough speed throughout so much more peddling than I was expecting, especially in the middle bit * from cricket ground to W Lane. Fun though, although wide bars and the narrow track by the barbed wire are a slight challenge.
Must get fitness back, two poor years on that front..... 😳
*are you meant to double back on yourself just before the top of Deliverance?
Fun trail if run from the tower down to Westcott in one go 😀 (minding the walkers or rather hoping no walkers 😉 )
Doesn't double back, but you can do whatever options really, inc Deliverance itself which gets a bit forgotten now.
But where was everyone on such a gorgeous day? Three people between Gomshall (ish) and Holmbury, another three at Y pots and one on Leith. I though SH were popular (and the rugby was always going to be one sided this afternoon 😉 ) ??
Only stopped once (at the Lane) but was tired going through the dull boggy section. Great blast at the bottom until walkers by the row of houses.
Just before Deliverance, I doubled back into some rolling drops which was a nice section and thought about Deliverance ( briefly!!)
Yeah, that's the right way. I don't actually like it that much, find it all quite hard work and not that rewarding!
Where is everyone? peaslake
You can ride the rest of the Surrey hills all day and barely see another rider and walking bottom will be overflowing. Don't get it.
Very true 😉
Peaslake was rammed. Always is on a Sunday, but P&S were doing a demo day also, plus Brendog was around apparently.
I prefer that WB is overflowing and everywhere else is quiet though 😉
I suppose SL does loop about a bit round there with a few down and up bits. I don't mind it.
Part of the trail is quite uphill, Richard always said its a link and never was supposed to be downhill all the way. From the Tower to Westcott without stopping would be a fairly serious "burn" for most riders I'd suggest. There is an informal "Leith Hill Mega" 🙂
I can't imagine you've slowed down to my pace but at least you won't have to wait so much for me. Peaslake mtbo is next weekend. Deliverance you just need to see someone do it to get a sense, first time I did it one if the guys hit the tree on the left (I thought it would be an ambulance job) anyway I was so determined to avoid the tree I went over the off camber bit to the right and ended up with a proper mouth and face full of dirt 😳
Yep everyone is at Peaslake these days or out on their road bikes. Leigh, Ranmore and over to Mickleham have some great trails now but not the reputation. I rode from Leatherhead to Leigh and back last weekend, all off road and only saw a couple of MTBers.
I head to Peaslake most Sundays, spending most of my time on Holmbury, Pitch Hills and Winterfold Woods/Heath.
I've ventured to Leith Hill to sample Summer Lightning but apart from that I don't what else there is to spend time on, I always find a visit to Leith to be slightly underwhelming. Is that just because I've not ventured far enough off the beaten track?
Is it worth me spending a bit of time mooching around Box Hill and Ranmore?
FWIW, I usually stick to trails like Evian, Supernova and John Baptist/Church Road.
TIA.
🙂
Thought it was a beer thread. . . .
I'm riding in the area on Thu what are the conditions like?
Well the weather is supposed to be good. Other than that I'd expect the trails to be muddy in places and dry in others.
sofabear - MemberI've ventured to Leith Hill to sample Summer Lightning but apart from that I don't what else there is to spend time on, I always find a visit to Leith to be slightly underwhelming. Is that just because I've not ventured far enough off the beaten track?
Yes and no. Leith itself is ok but there isn't loads to ride. If you head down coldharbour lane towards Dorking and try the woods either side there is more sport. Cheeky riding though so be careful with access.
Is it worth me spending a bit of time mooching around Box Hill and Ranmore?
I've found stuff recently I didn't know existed on Mickelham which is good fun and quiet, so I'd say so yes.
Thanks lcj - might have a wander over by Mickleham on Thursday.
There are plenty on Mickleham (TNP, Wizards Sleeve, Apline, Tankslapper etc) and even more on Ranmore (RWR, Flinty, etc..). Just have a mooch about.
There is quite a lot of hidden and not so hidden stuff on Leith. The whole section NW-N of the tower has loads of trials, often pretty narrow and lots of fun bombholes (two that still catch me out)among the bushes. Open out the further north you go.
But Leith is one of those places where I always ride badly. I still feel a little vulnerable ( 😉 ) clipped in on some of the tight bombholes and end up mincing on one trail in particular.
... and thanks to Tonyg2003. 🙂
hi Sofabear - have a look on Strava too
Teamhurtmore - sounds like I haven't really given Leith a chance. Think a more thorough look is required.
I'm quite bad at going to the area when it's late in the day and not many riders around which means quiet trails but you also don't get to spot the good stuff, it's more 'stumbleupon'.
Leith - There's a maze of trails about but it's mostly natural and make of it what you like. On their own they're nothing, but link it all up into something flowing and can be fun and add in the jumpy bits and bombholes also. Not that I've been able to link them up in a fun way.
If you head down coldharbour lane towards Dorking and try the woods either side there is more sport. Cheeky riding though so be careful with access.
On one side in particular, first rule of R*** is we don't talk about R**** 😉
jambalaya - Member
Deliverance you just need to see someone do it to get a sense, first time I did it one if the guys hit the tree on the left
Thing that always puts me off is half the time I've seen people do it someone's been thrown off on the bumps at the bottom or hit one of the trees at the side 😀
Teamhurtmore - sounds like I haven't really given Leith a chance. Think a more thorough look is required.I'm quite bad at going to the area when it's late in the day and not many riders around which means quiet trails but you also don't get to spot the good stuff, it's more 'stumbleupon'.
I enjoy stumbleupon - its great finding new trails just by exploring especially on our own. But have had a few crashes recently late on which does make you think. Deliverance at 5:30ish with no jane around seemed like a bad idea - my excuse anyway!
A year ago I spent a day playing around on the section NW - N of tower. A few dead ends, bit all lots of surprises!
Deliverance is fine but not really any fun. The main trails needs more skill.
There is loads of quality riding all the way to the their side of Boxhill and it all links up. The focus on a small number of at rails around Pitch and Ranmore is nuts.
As above really; with a look at a few maps, you can link Leith Hill easily with Box Hill or Ranmore, and then, with a bit of ambition, places as far away as Westerham, Sutton or Guildford. Darn it, even the South Downs. All off-road, all full of trails. You don't just have to focus on the tower itself.
I'm going to have a bit of an explore around Ranmore Common on Sunday. It's not an area I know too well - I think the last time I was there was on a fully rigid steel bike in the 90's - but I'm thinking of starting in the woods opposite the Church and then looping round near Polsden Lacey and then back around and drop into Whitedown? Might link it up with Box if the legs are feeling good.
Sound about right?
Deliverance itself which gets a bit forgotten now.
Justifiably so, it's shit 🙂
Beautiful morning in the surrey hills, dry and fast. I love the place..
[quote=teamhurtmore]I enjoy stumbleupon - its great finding new trails just by exploring especially on our own. But have had a few crashes recently late on which does make you think. Deliverance at 5:30ish with no jane around seemed like a bad idea - my excuse anyway!
I feel your pain. I stacked it on Summer Madness, exiting the bomb hole, front wheel nose-dived and I smacked the back of my head on a tree. A proper Tweety Pie moment. Possibly over-kill but I now ride padded up, can't afford to have an off that I can't walk back to the car from.
[quote=simons_nicolai-uk]There is loads of quality riding all the way to the their side of Boxhill and it all links up. The focus on a small number of at rails around Pitch and Ranmore is nuts.
Must admit that I hadn't ever really considered Box, seemed too roadie. I'm very guilty of always going to the same places, purely because those trails are a known quantity. I drive around from Bromley so time's limited. 🙁
[quote=mashiehood]Beautiful morning in the surrey hills, dry and fast. I love the place..
I was going to head down today but a graunchy bottom bracket kept me from playing. 🙁
[quote=muddyground]As above really; with a look at a few maps, you can link Leith Hill easily with Box Hill or Ranmore, and then, with a bit of ambition, places as far away as Westerham, Sutton or Guildford. Darn it, even the South Downs. All off-road, all full of trails. You don't just have to focus on the tower itself.
Ta. Any suggestions on the maps I should be paying attention to? Apologies if that seems a daft question, I'm used to the London A to Z, not OS. 🙂
I suppose I should also get myself on a shop ride or two. 🙂
There is a double bomb hole just N of the obvious drops section to the NNW side of the tower, hidden among the rhoddies that has a hold on me. Should be straightforward but fell on it two years ago and have yet to get over the memory!
IMO Shop rides best way to learn about things around Leith. I would say the area is less anound trails (as per Pitch) but more about named features or sections. its constantly evolving too
Ranmore is my back yard and I know every inch.....but even I suddenly spot a cheeky new trail every now and then that wasn't there a few months back. The wonderful about this area is that (even if you're just walking the dog), you can go on so many different paths and brideways, changing your mind constantly and still get to the same place. Therefore, for someone who doesn't know it, they would struggle to find the best spots or to do a coherent route.
Best to get used to it first by doing the main bridle ways that link Westcott, Ranmore, Norbury Park and Box Hill/Mickleham and once you've got an understanding of those you can explore a bit more.
Night riding is best as we do all the footpaths! 😳
Isn't this thread in the wrong forum, i.e. chat not bike?
Must admit that I hadn't ever really considered Box, seemed too roadie
It's best in the dry/summer - chalk/clay/flint not so much fun through winter or after rain - but there are some lovely trails that can be linked into a good loop now.
I feel your pain. I stacked it on Summer Madness, exiting the bomb hole, front wheel nose-dived and I smacked the back of my head on a tree. A proper Tweety Pie moment. Possibly over-kill but I now ride padded up, can't afford to have an off that I can't walk back to the car from.
Is that your clip on YouTube?!?
I found this today for the first time. Had stopped to look at the big drop on the LHS before the bomb hole. As I started again, I heard an ambulance siren coming up the road from Cranleigh. Not what I wanted to hear as I approached that bomb hole for the first time.