yet another cold lonely desperately frustrating walk on the moors with my bike for me today..
It seems that no matter how long I spend poring over maps and meticulously planning my next epic.. I end up pushing up miles of sublime technical singletrack only to descend on the other side along bland featureless tracks..
A trip today in the renowned Bovey Valley and around the moorland in the vicinity had me hiking dejectedly for at least twice as far as I rode.. with fortune dictating that I should push UP the bridleway leading from the valley floor to Manaton via Water.. If you know the area you'll appreciate my sorrow.. I'll probably be better off leaving the bike at home next time..
Obviously I can return at a later date to enjoy the discoveries I have made but the purity will be lost..
Does anyone else suffer from this debilitating syndrome..?
Is there a name for it..?
Is there anything that can be done to combat the problem..?
Riding the wrong way is whats it's called, try google earth and some map reading to figure out what way round to ride stuff.
Or just go an do it again but in the 'right' direction
Learn to enjoy climbing, do the route again but the other way, sure you've been there before, but everything is so different when you do it in the other direction (and pick me up on your way there).
I did once spot a lovely 5 mile downhill singletrack on the map. There was just enough to sucker me into heading down it - it turned into a 5 mile walk with my bike thru heather
So no - you are not the only one
part and parcel of discovering new places, i think you get better at reading maps, satelite data etc etc, but still, it's bound to happen and impossible to avoid at times..
(and pick me up on your way there).
my moaning (although an accurate description of events) is really just a thinly veiled triumphant crow.. celebrating the fact that I have recently moved house so that I am now within 10 minutes ride of the area mentioned in my original post.. sooo.. I'm no longer in a position to pick you up en route I'm afraid..
I'll be happy to give you a tour though once I've finally figured out which way round my bike is supposed to face when I set off..
yunki yhm
where do you live now?
Embrace the exploring - treat it as an adventurette. I did this the other week, checked out a new area and found a terrific techy trail. 8)
fatmuthahubbard - yhm
This sounds very familiar to me. I spend much of my cycling time exploring new areas only to come away disappointed but if I didn't then I wouldn't have found the few bits of really good riding that I have found.
I don't really mind pushing up hills though as the thought of a good descent the other side gives me more motivation.