Phone fixed, so here are the pics!
This is 7/8 of the group, (not me obvs). The only three who's username I know for sure is
@Ontherail (left) and
@myapes (3rd from right), and
@markfitton in thr middle. My apologies to the rest of that fine bunch of riders.
This one below was taken at the top of a very steep loose climb to what looks like an old railway line. You can see the desert in the background to the right. An estimate of the angle of the embankment is close to 45deg. It's about 50 feet high.
@Ontherail is determined to conquer this one. He tackles it head on and has got half way up. I cheated and took it an angle, but I still only got half way up! Everybody else either pushed up, rode and pushed, or went round it. Very difficult to push up, even with walk mode. From there the group went to the left down the other side of the embankment. Equally steep but deeply rutted and rough. I've done it once, but not that day. Not all attempted it and of those that did not all cleaned it.
This next feature is a short but intimidating descent. Angled roots, mud, rutty, sticky out bits, a big log to divert around and a big bed of brambles and nettles to fall into if you get it wrong! Again, not all attempted this one. I have done it once and considered myself lucky to have escaped in one piece. I got injured just taking the photos! There was blood and everything!
And again from a different angle,
@Ontherail this time. (
@myapes in the background leaning on my bike).
And one stout-hearted soul (
@markfitton) had a go at climbing it. Several attempts. 10/10
Here is a shot of
@Ontherail in the fishbowl. It's a gulley with a steep entry and exit from the sides (this shot) and the ends. The objective is to ride in then out. Everyone did this. Some did other more challenging ones, but I don't have any photos of those.
This last one is a picture of the start of the half-mile long trail at the edge of the desert. It is wiggly through the trees, lots of up and down stuff, stumps and roots, short climbs, short and steep descents. It is really high speed fun! No other pictures. And we know that pictures rarely do justice to that sort of stuff anyway. (Use your imagination). But it's a real hoot. We all did it twice.
I was expecting that when the group was going over the styles(three of them) that there would be an opportunity for a proper clusterf**k shot. But everyone was actually so well-mannered and organised that they passed without incident. Not worthy of a pic.
I know several Forum members wanted to come to this, but timing and circumstance prevented it.
@Ontherail and I will organise another soon.
got a great pedal scrape as well. Thanks Steve and Jim for organising the day, it all went really well.
