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Wow, Dartmoor today was like a silky smooth bowling green at times - pics

80 posts & 23 voices | Started 2 years ago by simonralli2 | Latest reply from Si

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simonralli2 - Member

Well, this ride ended in a very sad way for Jim (Shinythings), but what a ride.

Started out at Hound Tor then crossed, via Jay's Grave to Hameldown Tor

We then crossed I think to Grimspound, descended "Psycho" (a tad too steep for me in places) and then down some amazing singletrack in the "Golden Triangle" ending up at Warren House Inn.

Then it was Hookney Tor and down another mad decsent.

I am not too sure of the route we took to get back to Hound Tor, but there was some lovely bridleway with some yeucky climbing too!

Unfortunately, when we got to the car park, Jim rode down this innocuous looking dip. In what can only be described as a freak accident, he put on his front brake, and his back one too but the back one did nothing and right inbetween the cars he went over the handlebars and had a really awkward landing, really damaging his arm.

As you can see, Rich was taking this very seriously. We went back to Jim's house and he decided not to go to hospital. But hopefully it wont be too serious, although we think he could really be uncomfortable for the next few days.

Rich will be along on this thread tomorrow with some more pics, including a very embarrassing off for me, but it was more a case of the bike trapping me on a steep and loose uphill canyon but at least I gave it a go and didn't bottle it in the end.

Hope everyone else had amazing rides this weekend.

Si

Full set here although it was one of those rides where you just wanted to ride the amazing stuff and not faff with too many pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/sets/72157623619106688/

Posted 2 years ago #
knottie8 - Member

looks lovely on the moor.

Posted 2 years ago #
simonralli2 - Member

Ah, Rich has loaded his pics up

It was very steep hence me needing a bit of help getting my bike off me!

Posted 2 years ago #
sharki - Member

Aw! Mr Hill has changed his pink helmet

*waves at Si Hill*

Posted 2 years ago #
slugwash - Member

Ah, Rich has loaded his pics up

I certainly have but Flickr was slow this evening and I've only got ten or so of them up so far. Great ride and nice dry, unspongey trails, unusual for Dartmoor. Shame about Shinythings's accident. Glad he missed my car though and the carpark at the end of the ride's not a bad place to come a cropper Hope you are OK Jim

You seem to have posted up my piccies for me, but here's a couple more.....

Posted 2 years ago #
simonralli2 - Member

Ah Rich - there are some good pics - i didnt think you were meant to be on your computer tonight

Posted 2 years ago #
slugwash - Member

i didnt think you were meant to be on your computer tonight

Nor did I but I'm taking advantage of a sudden, unexpected hour of free time gifted to me by way of something called the 'Lark Rise to Candleford Phenomenon'

Posted 2 years ago #
Si - Member

Well im alive. Made a damn good effort to kill myself on the second loop. 40km in total. Need to be stronger....

Posted 2 years ago #
simonralli2 - Member

Has anyone heard from Jim? Is he OK?

Posted 2 years ago #
tim41 - Member

Had a text from Jim at about 6pm saying that he was thinking of going for an x ray, but not heard any more.

Shame to hear about Jim's accident. Equally devastating news is that the lower part of the Bowerman's Nose bridleway, below the gate, has been sanitised with hardcore everywhere, and all the rooty steps gone.

We were out from Yarner around to the Hound, Bowermans, Easdon, back via Black Death. Looks like you guys did Bowermans so you probably saw the 'damage' there! Looks like Easdon in the photos too. The singletrack there was almost too dry - very hard bumpy dried out mud, but the wet bit in the trees was as bad as ever. That section really needs a substantial diversion.

Oh yes, nearly forgot, Jim was blaming octopron brake pads for his car park incident

Posted 2 years ago #
simonralli2 - Member

Tim

I think one plan may have been to do Bowerman's, but our legs didn't want to carry on so we called it a day around 3pm. I think Simon may have continued, but yes, the guys did speak about that bridleway.

Yeah - Jim did speak dark words about checking to see if the pads were "Super**** Comp*****" but I will let the man speak for himself on this matter once he is back with us.

Si

Posted 2 years ago #
foxyrider - Member

My mate and I were out then - I think we may have seen you over by Haytor, by the spoil heep by the disused quarry? Howel Tor?

Map Linky

BTW they are taking down the chair along from Jayes Grave as its been refused planning permission

Posted 2 years ago #
slugwash - Member

Jim has broken his arm and cannot ride a bike for up to six weeks

Posted 2 years ago #
tim41 - Member

Yep, just heard the news from Jim too.

Healing vibes to shinythings.

Posted 2 years ago #
simonralli2 - Member

Broken his arm! Dang, that's really bad news.

Just so people know, Rich and I went back with Jim to his house and to help consider if he should go to hospital. Although he was in a bit of pain when moving it in a certain way, I am surprised that he wasn't in a more obvious type of pain given that it was broken.

Rich - can you send a get well soon message, from me and everyone? The other thing is that Jim had thought about wearing elbow pads but decided against it. Maybe a lesson for people here in that the most innocuous of places to ride can result in something like this. I am deffo padding up for Wednesday!

Posted 2 years ago #
tim41 - Member

Spam alert

Posted 2 years ago #
Shinythings - Member

Cheers for the consolations all (apart from that git Si, who's probably still taking the P**s!)
The brake is across the radial head which explains why I couldn't feel it by hand and why I felt a tad sore driving and this morning (not at all exacerbated by the radiographer asking me to "just lay your arm flat with palm up"....Yeah,right!) .

This should be a notable warning about the pads that dare not speak their name. Yes, that's the make that delaminated on my rear! I've not had a problem with them in 2 yrs because I was mindful of not letting the back plate corrode which seems to be the usual problem. But, you don't expect failure in barely used pads!! The one side that's left in the rear indicates hardly any wear.
Unfortunately the lever went straight to the bar just as I was heading towards the car and instinctively I grabbed a handful of front with no room to maneouvre... straight to the scene of an awkward landing!

Otherwise a brill day and a good Dartmoor Swansong for Herr Ralli.

Posted 2 years ago #
jam bo - Member

they have been taking the chair down for about three years now.

Posted 2 years ago #
foxyrider - Member

they have been taking the chair down for about three years now.

I heard they had to re-apply for planning permission last year and were refused - the last permission was for 5 years?

BTW sorry to hear about his broken arm - hope it heals quickly

Posted 2 years ago #
delusional - Member

We're riding up around this way next weekend, quite interested to know where this "psycho" descent is around Grimspound? "A little too steep in places" sounds great

Posted 2 years ago #
simonralli2 - Member

(apart from that git Si, who's probably still taking the P**s!)

Ah Jim, to cheer you up I have uploaded this little video of you cleaning the canyon and showing Si (the otherone) how to do it!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/4434748411/in/photostream/

Delusional - I think Psycho is the Bridleway that goes west down of Hameldown Tor? maybe some can verify that. It is a fast descent with lots of drop offs and jumping off boulders, but even the chicken run bits proved too steep and twisty for me. I am sure someone of your talents though would love it, and then immediately after you have some very fast, dry, twisty singletrack to play on.

Posted 2 years ago #
sharki - Member

Healing vibes from the edge of the tox Jim.

IIRC, 'Psycho' i believe drops down to Grimspound from the top of Hameldown, as you head up Hameldown fork left to pass the memorial stone and continue to the left eventually heading south, you'll reach a large barrow, 'Broad Barrow' here you need to find the NW trail and head to the cairn/trig and continue NW down to Grimspound from there, it's at this trig, Si hucks off that rock as seen in the pics.

IMO. It's not too steep, just rapid and rather rough going if that's how you like it...

Posted 2 years ago #
sharki - Member

*misses the moor*

Posted 2 years ago #
foxyrider - Member

Cool - I havent been down the pyscho before - I'll do that the next time I'm up - cheers

Posted 2 years ago #
bobbyspangles - Member

i miss the 'moor too! really need a fix soon-do you know of any group rides?

Posted 2 years ago #
delusional - Member

Great, thanks for the directions. I think I've spotted it and will try and work it into our ride on Sunday

I'm glad you've already heard of my talents Simon!

Posted 2 years ago #
bagpuss - Member

*misses sharki*

Posted 2 years ago #
tim41 - Member

Riding 'Psycho' isn't actually allowed, for Rights of Way reasons, so of course any reference to riding down it must be purely imaginary

Posted 2 years ago #
adam0bmx0 - Member

Looks like a fun day out apart from the injury.

Im new to this forum and XC bikes but live just outside Plymouth and am hoping to get out on Dartmoor soon, hopefully next week once my Juicy 5's are fitted.

I'll make a post as i dont know anyone that rides XC so would like to go out with a group for a day, you chaps seen a friendly bunch! haha

Adam

Posted 2 years ago #
foxyrider - Member

Like riding the two moors way down to widdicome - tis a blast APARENTLY

Posted 2 years ago #
tim41 - Member

Yes Hameldown Ridge does look rather interesting *on the map* doesn't it?

Posted 2 years ago #
foxyrider - Member

Well I SAW someone ride it yesterday - it was lovely weather and HE was going rather fast with a big grin on his face whilst he blasted (carefully) past the kids practising for the Ten Tors He said 'its soo lovely up here and dry trails are fantastic'. I said do you realise this is not bridleway.... I think he was riding an Orange Five which aparently was created for descents like that IIRC

Posted 2 years ago #
simonralli2 - Member

Well I of course did not ride it, either actually or theoretically so did nothing untoward

Posted 2 years ago #
foxyrider - Member

He sent me a link to his Garmin tracklog

Posted 2 years ago #
slugwash - Member

Si did not ride it either 'cos he took so much air at the top that his wheels never touched the ground! (and that family of ramblers at the bottom knew it was a cheeky trail 'cos they were very reluctant at returning our good morning greetings)

BTW, more bad news about Jim. His brand new handlebars are fooked as well

Posted 2 years ago #

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