Had a bit of an off on Saturday. Ouch! :-(

[prand]

On Saturday we had glorious sunshine, perfect for a good road ride out in the Chilterns.

A friend and I were climbing up a hill out of Marlow, when I got a bit close to a loop of bramble in the hedgerow. This grabbed my handlebars and pulled the bike from underneath me tipping me onto my right side, landing me on my head (helmet has a big dent), shoulder (scraped - hole in shirt), elbow big scrape), hand (ripped glove), hip (torn shorts) then knee(scraped). To add insult to injury my pal, (who was tucked in tight behind) then ran me over, giving me a nasty bump in the rear end.

I guess I was lucky we were going no more than 10mph uphill, no cars were involved, my friend came away unscathed, as was largely my bike. I dread to think what having a similar spill would have been like going downhill, as I'm still very sore, and I can't sit down too well today, due to tyre marks across my behind!

You'll be all pleased to know that after a few minutes breather, we continued the ride and finished the intended 35 mile loop, although I was a bit more tattered and bloodied than when I started!

[Piginapoke]

Which hill?

[zollburgers]

Is it the big hill with the pink house on it that you can see from the A404? Please say it is, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaseeeeee.

[mackie1]

I had a decently big off in at the weekend too. We were riding SE through Sherrardspark Woods near Welwyn and I hit a big rut (must be nearly a foot deep and wide) that traversed the path at about 25mph at had a bit of a tumble. My hydration pack bore the brunt I think so I got away with a scraped knee and a banged elbow and a decidedly buggered wheel. The worst part is that I was forewarned about it and *still* managed to hit it at speed. I'm still very much a MTB n00b.

I'm tempted to go back with a shovel and fill it in. Stupid thing.

[bennyboysvuk]

Ouch! That's one of the potential crashes that worries me when hurtling downhill through woodland. The bars get caught and tugged one way and you go the other at high velocity. Hope your aches fade soon.

[prand]

zollburgers said:

Is it the big hill with the pink house on it that you can see from the A404? Please say it is, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaseeeeee.

I know the house you mean. My wife (and probably many others who pass on the A404 daily) covets that place as the view must be spectacular. It wasn't that hill where I came off (Quarry Wood Road, Winter Hill), but we did go down it on the way out then back up it the way home. The road is a nice challenging double hairpin which is is quite a good test of the legs, but not crazy steep and long like the hill further along and with much less traffic! The woods are good for mountain biking too.

I actually came off on the road to Frieth, just after the Royal Oak pub. We then headed off via Fingest & Turville up the "Italian Climb" (anyone know why this is so named?) to Christmas Common and then looped back to Marlow again.

I can sit down a bit more comfortably today and scabs are healing, so the plan is to be out again at the weekend, so hopign for some more sunshine.

[neilski]

Small world. I did that same route on Saturday as well.

I didn't know it was called the Italian climb. Poor road surface maybe?

[rex]

zollburgers said:

Is it the big hill with the pink house on it that you can see from the A404? Please say it is, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaseeeeee.

I am looking at the pink house as I type from Marlow Rugby Club. Often ride up Winter Hill through the woods with another chap (Bee-Jay) from Marlow. How many of us are there from the area who cycle in and around Marlow?

[Marcellus]

Have you guys gone out for rides with the High Wycombe lot?

When I lived in Marlow they showed me a loads of great routes on their Sunday morning rides....

[rex]

No we haven't. Is there any contact details for them

[Marcellus]

here you go;

http://www.highwycombecc.org/blog/

there's a forum too...... also speak to Simon at Cycle Care or the guy at Safari Cycles as they both support the club.....

Every sunday they meet at 09:00 at High Wycombe market place for a ride and every wednesday night for turbo sessions in west wycombe village hall

[rex]

Thanks for the link. Have contacted them today