WHO IS TOTALLY BANANAS????
This Saturday’s ride was to my knowledge the first ride where we actively split the ride into 2 groups before the off. This came about following a couple of difficult weekends where the size of the group plus assorted skills & fitness levels presented problems in holding the group together. The intention based on previous experience was to compose 2 groups , a fast group and slightly slower one. ( A reasonable plan given the structure of previous weeks turn outs).
However, this week saw a total absence of inexperienced riders & a surprise visit by the SAS MTB group.
This unfortunately resulted in a fast group and a “Death before Dishonour group”, I should know, I nearly died trying to keep up. Super fit Craig who found it easy to keep up described the pace as not particularly fast but constant. I felt “relentless” was possibly a better description. The only stops I remember making were to remove small children & dogs that had become trapped in my chain. Despite the blistering pace the group was well led by Kim who certainly knew his single tracks with very good back marking/caretaking from a big bloke in a red & yellow shirt. I apologise for forgetting your name big fella but I was beginning to lose cognitive function by that time. However, I must say nothing dangerous was attempted & back marker man went to great lengths to get us to hold formation & call out hazards to following riders. But by the time of the 1st tea hut stop I realised I had bit off more than I could chew & sought an immediate DD (Dishonourable Discharge) so that I could join the WRNS (Womens Royal Navy Service) MTB Group. Yup, give me the relaxed pace of the girlies group over the barnstorming of the Totally Bananas group any day.
Lee led the second group faultlessly through an interesting collection of single tracks at comfortable but brisk pace that certainly brought the enjoyment back into the ride. The texture of the forest was quite unusual in that in many places the dry leaves concealed thick mud that was both power sapping & gave the impression of riding on flat tyres, weird. Interspersed with the single track we took in dips & rises (barrels to the skiers) plus a rapid but safe descent. Even so I managed to fall off (blame my crap new continental tyre for that).
Lee, like Elly, seems to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the forest & it’s multitude of routes. On Saturday he seemed to pull off the impossible in that until almost the end of the ride I don’t remember any long nasty ascents to compensate for the descents. How does he do that? I think he’s part Indian tracker which was quite bizarre considering we also appeared to have a descendant of General Custer in the SAS Totally Bananas group.
I think we need to respect the professional & safe way Kim conducted the SAS group. However, the relaxed but still reasonably challenging pace of Lee’s group brought into sharp focus the main benefit of Epping Forest Social MTB’s which is indeed the social aspect. The opportunity to improve the members physical fitness safely & at an enjoyable level whilst having fun. It’s like hiking versus marathon running. Actually that’s a really bad comparison, I hate those miserable selfish killjoy hikers. Hikers sounds just like w&*%ers, is that just a coincidence?
Hope this helps and that you’re not a hiker.
BFN
Neil Hooper
