Quantocks 2012

Quantocks Day 1


Thursday Night ride:
21km
710m of climbing




We arrive at the B&B (Bashfords Farm) at 7pm and straight to the pub 30m down the road for a Pint then back to the B&B For a meal. 10pm time for the evening ride!! Only me and Bob were man enough for the night ride.


The ride starts with a 160m road climb from the B&B to the top of the hill, by which time it is dark and hot! We rode along the top of the hill for a mile or two till we hit the woodland, the first down though the woods was "half brick" a very fast straight single track full of half brick size rocks, welcome to the Quantocks at night.


In Greatwood was hot and no wind, after a short climb to the top of commando fast fireroad top half in to a tight singletrack, then a long climb to the top of the chimney, Singletrack with a deep gully on one side with rocky sections and to loose rock corners.


Then we climbed back to the top, Black hill trig point(to get attached by moths) from there we rode down Rock Farm, Fast loose with Drops and a chicane, half way down bob wheel picked up at log that twisted his chain and smashed his rear mech in to 4 bits. Free wheeled to the bottom and had a short 1mile stroll to the B&B. We got back at 1.30am my head hit the pillow and I was out like a light.





Quantocks Day 2


Friday ride:
46km
1423m of climbing



Wake up in B&B still shagged from the night ride ready for the hardest ride of the weekend. Have a great breakfast and the go out side to find bob fitting spare mech (Lucky he put one in last minute).


5 of us head out on first half of the ride is the same as the night ride but i could see where i was going not just follow Bob , From Black hill trig point we continued along the tops of the hills to hit up some combes. First was Weacombe and wow, fast bumpy grass start in to flowy/rocky singletrack. Now at the bottom of the Quantocks time for a Pub lunch and two pints.







After lunch it’s got up to about 30deg and it time for the biggest climb of the day back to the top of the hill. From there we go down Smithscombe and wow as fun as Weacombe if not more. It starts with the same fast bumpy grass start in to a loose rocky section, then flowy/rocky singletrack with 5 river crossings.



Back to the top and time to head back as we get near to the final decent (rock farm) I split from the group to check out a DH run I saw earlier in the day, it was very fresh Rocky, rooty, loamy & technical. This is the point where I am regretting the HardTail. At the bottom I nip back to the top of the hill and down rock farm decent to the B&B. Time for some well earned beers.


Quantocks Day 3



Saturday ride:
41km
1310m of climbing


We all meet at the top car park today, so time for the 160m road climb to meet the 17 others. We all headed for the Triscombe DH trail. Hard rocky/rooty DH with drops, jumps & a road gap, short but Fun. From there we head to the Chimney to see if i could beat my strava time from the past to days.


Back to the top of the hill for some combe action again! First we went down a long fast down to Holford for a pub lunch. Back up Lady's edgecombe to the top then down Weacombe and Smithcombe again.

Ones again back to the top and time to head back as we get near to the final decent (rock farm) I split from the group to check out a different Triscombe DH run I saw earlier in the day, this one had more jumps and was a bit faster, bit of a play on a small double and then i headed back to the top for the rock farm decent, B&B and the Pub.






Quantocks Day 4


Saturday ride:
21km
750m of climbing

DH day!!! Again we were all meeting at the top car park, so time for the 160m road climb to meet the others (9 or 10 i think). We head straight for the Triscombe DH trails and did the one I had done on my own yesterday which was even better the second time round. Then try a new one which was a bit faster than the others Still rooty/rocky but with less jumps and drops. As we were waiting at the bottom of that trail we saw some DH types (Stormtroops in pyjamas) descending in the wood land behind us and so we check it out.

We finally found the top and there were 2 unknown DH run and set of down run 1, Long, rooty, rocky, steep & technical. By the time we got to the bottom my legs were shacking. After that run everyone called it a day and head back. Apart from me and Bob we start alone and we ended alone! We check out unknown DH run 2, similar to run one but faster with more flow (my favourite trail of the Hols!!)

Ones again back to the top and time to head back to the final decent (rock farm) B&B and then home!