Autumn has been hanging around for a long old time here in the South West of the UK and has been definitely overstaying its welcome. Riding in shorts and a teeshirt on dry trails in November is a strange feeling indeed. Just in the last week however it seems that it’s just about showing signs of moving over and letting the winter have its turn.
Last weekend we took a short drive down to the Mendips – a local range of short, sharp limestone combes that split Weston Super Mare and Frome. Our choice of ride took in everything from recently built and hand carved downhill lines to the more ‘traditional’ sheep trail singletrack that has been enjoyed by tyres, hooves and boots for decades. For the first time in weeks we saw the golden orange shades of autumn make way to the earthy blacks and browns of winter.
I wouldn’t say it was any less fun and by the time we had wobbled up or first winter climb, slithered down our first festive downhill, shed some layers and began to sweat out the previous night’s celebrations we were well up to speed and in the swing of the winter.
So goodbye autumn – you’ve hard your turn. Time for Winter!
Thanks to DriftHD for the camera and to Ragley for the excellent Piglet hardtail that I was riding. Thanks also to the Swan pub at Roeberrow for the best (and first) Smoked Mackerel and Pea risotto I’ve ever had.
If you liked this post why not check out these?
