Amazingly, depsite people going on about it, i went to Surrey Hills for the first time ever yesterday.
Must admit, it was an absolute blast, thoroughly enjoyed myself.
The trails are sort of ‘old school’ Swinley, which are not the structured and defined hard-packed terrain of Swinley, but the older trails that are cut out of the terrain and the roots/rocks and trees sort of blend into the trail to become features.
It was tough at times not having any idea where any of the trails go, because at times they’re a little tight and lacking in vision, so makes it hard to carry any speed as you have no idea where you’re going on them. You can say “follow the bloke in front”, which is often easier than you think, especially when Beancounter has upped his game massively from the bloke i rode with previously, he’s a far far better rider on the stuff than he was.
At times on a couple of the trails off Pitch Hill, i felt slightly under-biked, they’re steepish, rooty and techy.. .but i got down them and survived OK.
I was laughing lots at Beanie when we did Barry Knows Best as he was telling me about the braking bumps at the bottom… which to be honest i’m still trying to find.. He’s going to have his eyes opened to braking bumps when he gets over to the Alps, he’ll then learn the true definition of that… just has he comes into a massive cavernous hole where there should be a berm.
We bailed after only 2 and a bit hours as my knee was giving me a bit of pain, i seem to be struggling a little with it at the moment… not sure why…. But i certainly worked hard and had a lot of fun. !
Some of the trails have jumps in that are not massively hard, but the sort you’ll jump better 2nd time of asking as you get to know the trails, but some have good vision and you just launch yourself off as you’re carrying speed and land nicely on the other side.. Top top fun.