NEWS

Redlands devastation

I didn't have much time so I thought I'd go for a quick & exhilerating blast over Redlands. 'Wave of mutilation' was first & I should have recognised the bad karma when I rode over the big tree at the start & confronted by some logs right in my path went right over the bars for the first time ever! Now here's a thought, you know the saying 'if a tree falls in an empty wood does it make a sound?' well if Jackie goes head first over the bars & there's no-one around, did she really scream? Calmly & gently moving the small logs out the way (no really, I didn't swear & chuck them) I dragged my bike back over the tree & came in for a 2nd attempt- success, just about. The rest of the trail was as good as ever. I carried on & not having been to the woods for about 2months was surprised to see all the woodland at 'punch the clock' gone, where it was dark now, it was bright sunshine


Thinking that was handy I wasn't riding that bit I carried on to 'foot & Mouth' I love the first drop,success, came in for the next LH turn & there was a large tree branch blocking the trail. Rat's, I jumped off & tried to move it but it was very secure, never mind, pushed my bike over it & not thinking for a moment that maybe it was there for a reason I carried on & aaahhhhhhh

Foot & mouth was no more. There's nothing quite like the sight of once there was forest & now there isn't. I carried onto 'White Jam' but that looked like it might have been decimated too so I didn't bother beginning it.

We have very fond memories of Redlands wood. We first started building there in the year 2000. Simon along with Chris W, Richard N, Mark A, Dom, James, Jon W,  Becky M, Stuart & Giles built White Jam. Then George H & his son Jake began wave of mutilation & Simon, Chris W & Giles joined in & helped finish it. Then very poignantly for us Simon & Iain H built f & M during foot & mouth when all the trails closed down, it was a very difficult time for us, as it was for lots of small businesses throughout the country. We survived & Iain & suicide Dave did some finishing touches to F & M when everything reopened. These are three main trails which we used for our race series, but there are plenty more built by others & more which we built. All these trails were such fun to ride that we contacted the forestry commision to see whether we could run a race series on their land, which of course it was & to their credit they & the land owner agreed. We had to pay of course but it was worth it. A fun time was had by all. We then asked Becky, who helped out part time in our shop to approach the FC about maybe making the trails legitimate with us maintaining them etc. But this wasn't possible for this piece of land. However, they did agree to some land on Leith Hill so Becky formed Redlands Trails & helped finish off a trail Simon had begun & Summer lightning was born.

The end product

It's a shame to see so much of it gone, but it's a little bit like mountain biking, always evolving. The forest was there for a purpose & that has now been fulfilled. New trees will be planted & who knows maybe our sons & daughters will be building there in 20years time. So thanks to the Land owner & FC for the great times.

........Now where's the spade?

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