 Given that we can't go out and about, (and that I'm quite partial to the hair on my legs, thanks ytou very much), I am looking to ride elsewhere. I recalled an artice about a place in Croydon (yes, ok it was in MBUK, I only read it the once, honest, it won't happen again) called Skaterham. I've found the website at http://www.skaterham.com, but it seem to be aimed at the teenies. Now I would not call myself an expert jumper (or even cardigan) by any means, but I'd like to try it without hurting myself very badly. Has anyone been? What is it like? Is there a "beginners" section with small jumps and lots of padding in case I fall off? Or should I go and buy a Bomb-tastic full-on bouncer (with tractor tyre wheels) from Halfords and a full set of Dainese body armour? Or should I just give up and watch telly until it's all over?
ta
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 Hi NBT,
I live in the Croydon area and since the outbreak of F&M, we (Addiscombe CC) have been limiting our riding to areas within the town limits which go nowhere near any livestock, deer or horses. The areas we have started to go to are not exactly littered with trails, but there are enough to keep a smile on your face and more importantly, there are a number of jumps and drop-offs of various sizes which are a real good laugh. We go out every Sunday, meeting at 10 o'clock at East Croydon station and usually stay out for about 4 hours if you fancy joining us. We range in ages from about 15 to 50, have members of both sexes come out with us and concentrate on everyone enjoying themselves, regardless of skill or speed.
If you want more details, have a look on the club website: www.addiscombe.org. The site also contains piccies of one of our recent Sunday excursions, including pictures. You would not have to join the club to come out with us.
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Hi Jason
Ta for the invite - may well join you sometime. I live in Tooting, and I found your club website some time ago but didn't get in contact as I ususally spend weekends in Stockport (girlie lives there). However, one weekend soon I may get her to bring the bike down, Balham to Croydon trains are fairly regular (I thnk!) so shouldn't be a problem, the only consideration is getting 'er outdoors back oop north again in the evening.
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You could always put her on a Thameslink from East Croydon straight after the ride, she can get off at Kings Cross, ride to Euston and get back from there (I hail from Cumbria, so it's a route I use frequently).
Saying that, it'll mean her carrying all her stuff with her whilst out biking. Doh!
Hope to see you out soon.
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 Hi NBT,
I would agree that the ACC Sunday rides are the perfect way to learn to jump/do prop-offs. Learning the afor mentioned skills can be a pride-battering experiance, but if you come out with these lot there will always be someone who fall off more than you do (namly me :-).
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Eh? What the feck are prop-offs? Time for bed, methinks.
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Well, Jason, I was *very* intrigued by your suggetsion of "a number of jumps and drop-offs of various sizes which are a real good laugh" so I checked out the website. http://www.addiscombecc.freeserve.co.uk/off_road_experiments.htm. Hmm, yes, well, looks like you boys had a lot of fun - how's the toe coming along? And how's the leg, slow joe?
Not a chance on earth I want to end up like joe! I had a cleat pop out once when bunny-hopping on a road @ about 20mph, that was bad enough - my padded shorts protected my legs but the friction went though two layers of clothing and burned a huge hole in my forearm (I'll publish pics when I can be bothered to get a website going). I'm fairly impressed by Joe alleged ability to (somewhat) control the bike with only one foot clipped in though.
Well, it looks like my back lawn's growing again, time to cut it. Every weekend through summer. With scissors.
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Oh, those injuries were nothing; this week, one guy fractured his pelvis (although not jumping, he had an off at the bottom of a silly-steep slope) and Joe once again became 'crash test dummy' - no offence Joe!
The toe is okay(ish) now, but it still hurts when I put pressure on it. I still got out the Sunday after though, which is the important thing. The Sunday rides really are a good laugh, and we don't pressure people to do anything they don't want. Anyway, it's fun just watching the carnage - Joe always gets a few good laughs; his 'Superman' along the ground this last Sunday was superb!
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Yes, well, hmmm,....
We'll wait and see shall we? I am what is commonly known as "a complete and utter coward" when it comes to pain - although only mine, I don't mind seeing other people get hurt. I may join you one weekend, but it's looking like it';l be after easter, by which oint we hope F&m will be over <yes, got out of that one nicely....>
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 Jason, I didn't realise that he'd broken his pelvis. That must make the worst injury yet! is he ok? To all, these Sunday rides the Addiscombe organises are not normaly as injury filled as the past few weeks, don't let it put you off coming out for a bit of a Sunday spin, as Jason said they are great fun, just ask anyone who comes out with us.
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Marco E-mailed me ealier and told me - apparently it's fractured and he'll be off the bike for at least six weeks!
The way things are going, I dread to think what will happen this week; at this rate, someone's head will probably explode! Still, it'll make a good picture.
p.s. are you up for beers in the Builders on Friday, say 8:30? Pete Adams is up for it, and i'm sure Marco can be persuaded.
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Six weeks what a bummer. I may be out on Friday, but I'm probably working Saturday, so I might stay in and take it easy (light weight!)
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 Hello everyone in South London.
Skaterham does indeed sound like a good location but I too was concerned when I read about the 'youth workers' that are there!
Is anyone interested in going up there one saturday afternoon en masse? That way we wouldnt get shamed up by all the local kids as we would all be crap together.
I guess we could check that mtbs are ok there beforehand.
I also heard of a bmx park somewhere near Elmers End / Bromley. Don't know if it is still around but perhaps someone would be kind enough to provide directions.
For those that want to go offroad during the f&m crisis over the next 6 months well ADDISCOMBE.ORG are still riding. Using some local knowledge of urban trails it is possible to put together some half decent dirt riding with a smattering of road work between followed by a jump / downhill session afterwards for those that should know better.
Don't worry about getting a train down to us. We have a few people who ride down from Balham/Tooting/Kingston for extra training seeing as our rides are more about fun than fitness its the only way they get knackered!
marco
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After Jason's kind invite I aksed a couple of pal's if they be interested in joining me in joining you - if you floww me. anyway>
"Re. that biking mob - we obviously haven't got what it takes to be hardcore bikers - or more correctly... we have got what it takes (brains - alledgedly) to not be hardcore.."
nuff said ;o)
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NBT, you wont die, honestly, as long as you don't try to keep up with Jason going down hill or Sylvain going uphill, and remember to check you wheel QRs before you jump :-).
Go to http://www.crossup.freeserve.co.uk/trail1.htm for a slightly more posative overveiw.
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 Marco, Joe Jason et al - is there a guy in the Addiscombe club called Dave Sinclair still? I used to go circuit training with him in Mitcham. I learnt to ride on rollers at your club too, but ended up racing for De Laune over in Peckham, coz the club sec at that time (from what I remember) wouldn't order us any BCF licenses.
Glad to see the wasps are still going well.
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Off topic message sent privately!!!
Sundays ride was a blast by all accounts with plenty of tracks still open around Croydon. Join us next week for some of the only off road in the south !
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Tony - just realised I cant email you direct! Oh well here goes:
Yes Dave Sinclair was indeed Addiscombe but for some reason moved to Old Ports (I think). I can well beleive all the old crap that used to go on between road racers and timetrialists. Its funny cos when me and 20 mates joined as juniors on mtbs in the late 80 there was absolutely no qualms raised about not being 'testers' etc. Luckily at that point John Smith was in charge of leading the rides at the time and taught us all we needed to know about clublife!
It has worked out really well now. We have a huge amount of mtbers who come out to play offroad and DH, a lot of them do 10s on mtbs (and one recorded case of a bmx 10 - 34.30ish in Addiscombe colours!) and some of them also buy road bikes and road race - infact we had 10 4th cats racing at Hillingdon the other Saturday in the first Surrey League event.
If ever you want to come out for a spin on a saturday road ride we leave Cycles Unlimited Brighton Road at 9.00am / Coulsdon South Station 9.15am and head down through the lanes to Charlwood where we stop for elevenses! We normally get in excess of 20 people out so we now split it for the fast group to go a bit further and the steady group to have a laugh and a chat on the shortcut. It doesnt matter if you are in another club. We just want people out on bikes enjoying themselves whatever the circumstances. Hey , we'll even keep your trouble making history in the club secret!!!!
for more info check www.addiscombe.org
regards
marco
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Thanks Marco. If I ever get a chance I'd love to come along. I have to say that the BMX rider really is a hero.
p.s. That's a vicious rumour - it was Richard wot dun it! (whatever it was).
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Marco, why is "that bloke who did a 10 on a BMX" always mentioned in the third person??!!
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