I've done all my riding at Cannock Chase this year, and thought I'd seen every kind of mud there, from Chicken Tikka Masala up at Castle Ring to pongy gloop along Sherbrook Valley.
But last night I had a ride out with Sideways Tim's bunch (Hi Ag!) at Hanchurch Woods and it made the Chase feel like the M6 in comparison. I've never seen anything like it, except in old films of the Somme.
It was that nasty, you even looked forward to finding some soft sandy gravel on the climbs. But at least when we stopped, you didn't need to rest the bikes against a tree - they just stayed standing up.
Roll on Spring.
Takes me back fella, used to rag round there in my uni days....never been anywhere like it for tracks that change every time it rained...big gulleys used to wash out literallly overnight!
I'm from Lichfield originally and to say you have seen "thought I'd seen every kind of mud there" suggests you actually have only seen fairly sandy mud that drains quickly.
Have you tried riding in the chilters ? Any where down south ?
Have you ever done mountain mayhem (ledbury) when it rains ?
That is proper mud.
Have you ever done mountain mayhem (ledbury) when it rains ?
What do you mean 'when' it rains? It's rained every year we've been at Eastnor except one. Granted, last year it didn't rain much while the race was actually on, which I guess was a bonus.
You didn't see the mud that fired out of my arse this morning after that dodgy beer in the Mainwairing.
By heck it was grim.
But that's the Chilterns in summer.....!
Chilterns = twinned with Flanders. Made me buy a singlespeed. I'll never forgive the entire area just for that. If you don't clean your bike the same night, you'll be chiselling the mud off.
Ledbury = Clay 😉 The woods round here can get a bit grim in the winter. Malverns tho, big sponge.
Makes me laugh when mags say things like "Why would you ride in thick mud?". If you live round this way you have nooooo choice! I think there was a week last year mind when I didn't have to pedal down some hills.
Pah!...
I'll see your Staffordshire mud, your Chilterns mud and your Ledbury mud and raise you [b]Tanzanian Block Cotton Soil[/b] during the rainy season...
Mud so thick and sticky that the bike won't move after less than 5 minutes because it has picked up half the hillside, and car wheel arches get completely full so that the wheels just stop going round...
hello hanchurch mud riders, did any of you lose a cateye velo 5 last night, if so i found it this morning.
I ride Hanchurch 2-3 times a week and love it,20 mins from my house "winner" ! It featured in ST a few months ago, Chips did it with the Goldtec boys,lets face it where is'nt there mud in UK winter... 😀
I remember Tim dropping some of his own 'mud' on one ride..... 😯
I must call your bluff John. Having lived near and ridden the cotswolds, mendips, Brizzle etc for several winters we in the Stafforshires really have it easy. Thigh deep in cow shit and clay, thats the below the M6 way.
I've set up an informal counselling group for people affected by winter mud. People up and down the country are struggling under the burden of caked on clay slurry mixed with dead leaves, and cow shit, and puddles the size of small inland seas. You can help by donating, cake. Even rational grown men can be turned into gibbering wrecks muttering:
"Look at that clearance, bloody Californians", and "I'll be washing this for longer than I've ridden it..."
If you, or others around you are affected by this thread, then don't hesitate call now on 0800..M T F U
I knew there were a few wine afficionados on the forum, but mud-snobs? The place is full of them!
Yes, Snakey, I remember that. We went to inspect it last night - it's still steaming.
hanchurch is my local spot and is looking a bit worse for wear at the mo after the logging in the lower part of the woods hence why the mud is worse than normal.but hopefully in the next few weeks trail building will start again so all is well for the midlands race in april