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I nicked a couple of hours yesterday to have a ride in my local hills.

We have hills called Hangers - steep wooded hills - there are a few sections sooo steep I have never managed to climb it without getting off and pushing for about 50 meters.

Every now and then I decide to test myself on them and see how far I get this time. I didnt manage it all the way this time either but had fun trying.

I then went in search of a route I had gone up years ago and struggled to not walk it. I thought it might be a blast to go down it then I would learn where the entry point for going up it is, having tried to find twice and failed.

Well I found the route easily enough but the problem "natural" bridalways is the hammering the weather gives them in the summer and plant growth reduces the pathways to tricky obstacles. I had to duck low branches and got ripped by overgrown brambles a few times as well as navigating the tricky ruts that water courses cut into the path. I was determined to ride the sections as fast possible but i was becomming aware of the storm clouds gathering and distant thunder not to mention the fact that I was alone in place few people visit on weekends never mind a stormy Thursday evening.

Anyway I avoided performing an endo a couple of times by luck rather than skill and reached the bottom with my legs and hands shaking from the adrenaline (fear produces adrenaline too you know). The ground was every muddy with pools of water everywhere I had to rev up the legs again to escape a few sticky puddles. I also discovered why I had missed the route up before - there is two routes going right the second is hidden from below by bushes and a twist in the path.

Here are some pictures from my first trip up this section years ago on my first mountain bike. I got that bike for £25 from the local paper classified section.

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