Misty Mountain Hop

Has summer gone or is this sunshine sprinkling on my helmet? Standing at Devil’s Dyke visibility is poor as the cloud base touches the top of the Downs. From now until next April, evening rides will mean wet, windy and cold conditions. I turn on my lights even though it is light in order to test the battery charge. One of these tasks we should all do but normally forget until the batteries die and the lights extinguish on a steep downhill just before a rock. The rain is clinging so I pull on my Paclite and disappear into the shroud heading west. The track is still dry so I continue to Truleigh hill only passing one women cycling east.

Turning southwards, I wind my way towards the bypass. It is still dry here but this will become slippery before too long. I turn back down the hill looking out for grumpy bulls coming up and switch through the gates for the climb back up. Apart from the horses, there is no sign of life. Reaching the top track I turn towards the north and push harder up the narrow thread of hardpack that will not stay firm much longer. I roll over the top of the hill and back to the Dyke.

An evening ride of an hour is the loneliness of the winter mountain biker. Roll on summer.