Lazy Saturday Ride

Saturday 31st March 3 of us had a relaxed ride from Whiteways, our intention was to seek some singletrack that we had been told about during the Muddy@rse ride at Leith Hill.

After the climb to Rewell Wood we decided not to seek singletrack but to ride a couple of newly designated 'open access' areas to see if there was anything worth exploring. Low and behold we found singletrack, and one very nice descent through some trees dropping across a large root and into a quite swampy area that thankfully was dry enough to ride through. A tree was newly fallen across the singletrack in Houghton Forest - lift the front wheel- kick the back and we were over.

In total we had covered approximately 18 miles, not too far but we had to cut short to meet wives, girlfriends and children etc. A steady relaxed ride and the search for the singletrack is justification to return another day.

From Whiteways carpark we headed directly into the woods and down across the rooty singletrack followed by the climb up through Rewell Wood to Yew Tree gate. From here we took the singletrack that heads directly south east to the dissused quarry at Slindon. Across Slindon common and into Eartham woods via a detour past 'The Folly'. The slog of a climb up onto the South Downs Way carpark on Bignor Hill was ended with a sudden strong wind straight into our faces. From here it was back to Whiteways carpark taking in the Houghton Forest singletrack and the rooty section that emerges immediately behind the cafe.