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There is a nice little loop about 2 miles from my new home which I have been meaning to try. Having had a knee op I thought it best to warm up gradually to it. The loop can be split in two so I had done the bumpy half a couple of times (once clockwise and once anti). This morning I was monitoring the weather to see if the freezing fog would blow past and it did.
So I put some more sealant in the tyres on my bike (it has been ages since they last had some and the tyres on another bike had gone dry) and I set off. It was fresh, but I was adequately dressed and the hills and country side melted off into the mist. The loop goes via a few small villages and is predominantly on relatively quiet roads. Most of the drivers were really considerate, slowing down and making eye contact.
I need to find out more about ornithology, saw 4 or 5 birds of prey, a couple flew along overhead, probably trying to decide if they could take down 15 stone of human. Thankfully none tried.
I had thought the recovery from the operation would mean I'd have to take it very gently, so I was not pushing myself too hard. I hope to make the loop my simple training ride, its just over 30 miles from my house, the actual Newent Loop is 28 and looks like it will be a comfortable sub two hour workout. Am hoping to use it as my yardstick for fitness - have a load of weight to shed from the months prior to the knee operation when I had to do as little riding as possible.
I did have a couple of "oh shit" moments caused by the red clay they call soil round here. I was convinced I was going to hit the ground but managed to steer into the skid just in time to right the bike.
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BBNew-ent
come and stay for a weekend, it's fucking lovely here
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Sintra is everything it's cracked up to be for mountain biking. An amazing day out. The singletrack here is so varied, from dusty red hardpack, to loose rocky scrub, granite-studded dirt, loose loamy soil and sandy pine forest. Unfortunately I fucked up the settings on my gf's cam so I have no good riding images, but hey ho.
Early morning pickup from my guide and riding partner for the day, Duarte, and we head along the coast from Lisbon to the beach to park and kit up. To start is the long climb up, a mix of fire roads, tarmac and doubletrack, with a quick stop to take in the view.
We head down some easyish fast trail with a few small half-metre or so drops and some techy, rooty bits while I get a feel for the hire bike, then continue climbing to near the top proper. The climbs at the summit get really steep, and really loose, so pushing may have been involved. At this peak is a small, abandoned monastery, Santuário da Peninha, well kept and with amazing views.
Another trail heads down the other side, this time with some nice rocks and tight trees to keep you on your toes. I get distracted as Duarte nose-manuals around a corner and I nearly get caught out on the soft edge of the berm, just managing to save myself from an off-piste excursion. Climbing once more and we're back at the top. We park the bikes and trek up to the top of the monastery so I can savour the views as Duarte points and describes all the different trails and terrain we can see, all along the coast to Lisbon and Ericeira.
The long descent from here back down to the beach starts off extremely loose with big rocky roll-downs. The grip on the rock is good but I'm struggling like hell at this point as we initially set up the bike with far too much sag (recommended was 30% front and 35% rear - later we adjusted it to 22% - 25%). I had been blowing through the travel from the off, and I struggled to get down this first section as I would inevitable scrape a pedal or get hung up, struggle to get my position back on the bike and would dive into the fork travel while the rear kicked up, losing confidence every time. Came a-cropper about three times and narrowly avoided a nasty off down a particularly steep roll-down, essentially riding the top tube. At this point I was questioned on my belief in God, because my survival was a near-miracle.
The rest of this trail though was beautiful. Fast, tight singletrack over open terrain, views for days, including an amazing section through close, scratchy shrub along a valley. The trail turns rockier and wider again as you pick along the coast and then summarily dumps you right at the beach.
A quick chocolate milk recharge and we put the bikes back in the van and drive further up the range and stop in an old cantina, Refugio do Cyclista, for lunch. Dourada grilled whole in salt, olives, bread and wine.
The important bit taken care of, we head back out and park halfway up the the next area. This part of Sintra is generally sandier, with huge granite boulders and outcrops, perfect for rock climbing. We head out along the fire roads and hit the trails. Much happier now with the suspension sorted, we hit a steep trail and I try my best to follow Duarte through the dog-sized smooth rocks that dot the trail, without a hope of matching his style, but I'm pretty pleased with myself.
The next trail is good all-round riding, with short technical climbs, flatter rock fields and north-shore style boardwalks leading on and over big granite slabs. We check out an amazing, somewhat-secret bouldering spot and pass on some encouragement to a group of climbers there before more trails on boards that dive through an ancient-looking property.
The last trail of the day was my favourite. Almost ten minutes of calf-burning bliss heading down beside a creek in a steep valley, with tight gaps through saplings and roots and rocks and drops a-plenty. We break back out onto the fire road where a dam floods the path to the other side and take a well-earned rest, remove pads and chat shit about bikes and riding, after the all-important instagram setup
The climb back up to the van is horrific after that, but just manageable and I'm properly knackered. The drive back through the mountains is the icing on the cake. Already making plans in my head to come back
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You're in my neck of the woods. you got lucky with the weather, sunshine but cold. You could do also a similar ride but on a road bike. Going from the train station to the Pena Castle, and then descending to Malveira, always on the coast line.
If you can, go ride in Arrabida in the South part of Lisbon. Way tougher than Sintra, not as beautiful but lovely as well -
First non-solo ride out in ages, what a difference company makes! Rode out around some familiar Cheshire lanes with my old housemate who's also the guy I got into cycling with and the miles flew by. Fuelled far better than last week when I had a horrendous bonk, and even saw a bit of sunshine. Only downside was that him being fixed was a little restrictive at times.
Fingers crossed he's been re-bitten by the bug! -
Out and back ride to Jodrell Bank - one of those rides where you don't know there's a tailwind on the way out and turn around and have that horrible realisation. Cooled down a bit too much at the half way stop, which made the return leg pretty tough, and then my mate's skewer came loose in a town. In his determination to stop it happening again, he tightened it so much the thing sheared off, so he had to get the train home. Luckily we were all of 200m away from the nearest station. All in all a fun ride! Disproportionately knackered now.
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Today I did my usual loop from Greenwich out to Biggin Hill / Downe and back.
Was a bit humbled on Jail Lane to realise that the Hell of the Ashdown was on, and yet again I wasn't in it.
On the way back I stopped for some food at the Pizza place in between Lee and Blackheath - Luciano Pizza.
It really is very good - ideal for a quick post-ride refuel.
More to the point, if it was in Stoke Newington, there would be a line of Hipsters queuing round the block, instagramming the shit out of the place. But as it is in Lee, I was the only customer the whole time I was there. Come on South-East Londoners, eat up.
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Tell us about your weekend ride
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An amazing place, also visited on various 'Deepest, Darkest Essex' rides led by Fox.