[Closed] The woods today: Re-finding one’s off-road mojo.

Just thought I’d share.

Sun was shining, trails should be dry so thought I’d nip off for an hour or two to my local woods to stretch my legs (did a century road-ride yesterday and got a hilly time-trial tomorrow, but can’t bear to stay off a bike when the sun’s shining).

I started my cycling life as a mountainbiker and for many years it was all I did. I still consider myself to be one although for the last few years I’ve taken what you like to call ‘the Dark Side’ very seriously. And my fat-tyred bike has – quite literally – gathered dust and cobwebs. But today I think I may have rounded a corner. Or berm.

Thought I’d travel light, so no camelbak. Stuffed the bare essentials into my jersey pockets, wedged a waterbottle in the bar-mounted bottlecage (no bosses on the frame) and headed wood-wards.

Took my singleated, retro ‘Cross bike. It’s an old Dolan steel frame-and-forks (1” steerer) I bought off the classifieds a while ago for £30. And then built it up from spares I had lying around. All I had to buy for it specifically were some old cantis, brake levers and a saddle - £25 of expenditure. So the whole bike cost me £55. By God it rides sweet. And fits me so well. Can’t remember riding such a good bike that cost so little.

iPod was banging out some ‘phat choons’ (as I believe the young people say), I had the woods all to myself, the sun was streaming through the trees, the rooty trails were dry and dusty, I zipped through the twists and turns, nailed all the climbs, and descended with alarming élan.

Deep, deep joy.

Rarely have I had such good fun on a bike. Today I sampled the unique delights that only a 42x18 gearing, 32mm knobblies, and a steel frame/rigid fork combo can provide. Singletrack and trails I’ve ridden a hundred times (and therefore probably exhausted) were re-invented today. Fantastic stuff. This was good for the soul.

I paused for breath atop a climb and from nowhere another rider appeared. I rarely meet anyone else on a bike in these woods and I’ve [i]never[/i] met another singlespeeder, but there was this guy was aboard a beautiful Singular Hummingbird. We had a lengthy chat, agreed to meet up for a ride at some point, and continued on our separate ways.

Bit further on I forded a rocky, hub-deep, stream in front of a host of on-looking farmers. I generally can't perform with an audience but despite getting wet feet, I successfully negotiated it without dabbing or falling off and, to resounding cheers, climbed triumphant up the other side. Godlike.

Paused for breath again a bit further on when suddenly a massive hare bounded up to me. So big I thought it was a muntjak deer at first. He stopped and sat about 10ft away and stared me out for a full two minutes before lolloping off into the undergrowth.

Another quick loop of the woods – stopping occasionally to drink in the scenery – and it was time to call it a day.

As I pootled home I had one resounding thought:

“I really should do this more often”.

I think I’m back 😀