Double riding weekend
Great to be able get two days riding in last weekend. I really didn’t feel like riding on Sat due to a little bit of a hangover but we pressed on and drove over to Richmond Park collecting Emma’s cousin on the way. Emma hadn’t been on her bike for a while so she stuck to some of the lower paths whilst Jane and I went around for a few laps before meeting back at the van.
Emma seemed to have a good time and saw a few deer as you might expect, and this one being close enough for a picture.
Having been on and off the bus during the week due to meetings it was great to get a few miles in and stretch the legs. Also so nice to be riding without a rucksack or any kit. All I took was the van key and a phone figuring it wouldn’t be too far to walk if it all went wrong. Emma was fairly impressed with the park and I think we’ll pop back for a walk there when we have Gina to stay again. So glad we got out as it cleared the hangover nicely.
Sunday I headed out to Swinley, collecting two friends from work in Camden on the way. The roads seemed to be completely empty so didn’t take long to get there. The trails were in superb condition with just enough moisture in the soil to hold it all together but not enough that it was a total UK slop and grime-fest.
We spent quite a bit of time at the jump gulley. Confidence was at an all time high by the end so thought it best to move on before I came a cropper. We also had a bit of a play with Darren’s GoPro which I think has provided some good footage from mounting it on the bars with me riding down the gulley.
After walking back up one of the trails Darren and I came round the corner to see a woman getting kicked up waaaay too high on a small table which then sent her nose diving into the gravel in front. She didn’t have time to put her hands out and took the full force on her head and shoulders. Unfortunately she wasn’t wearing a helmet and I found her with her eyes rolling around in her head gurgling. Terrifying to see. After keeping her entirely still and trying to work out if she had damaged her spine she got up and moved off the trail. She was heavily concussed and took a few moments to come round. She was talking complete gibberish for a while too. Once it became clear she was ok, off the trail and with friends, we moved on.
Our appetite for riding was somewhat lost after seeing this so followed the trails back to the jump gulley and then back to the centre for much needed cake!
And also a quick timelapse of us packing the van by Darren. The lady in the next car knocked on our window to say we had left our toolbox with camera on.
Hoping to squeeze another ride in next weekend.