Four Miles Playing Out

Last weekend Four Miles Fighting Traffic went to play at Redbridge Cycling Centre. The Centre is newly built with exciting Olympic money and designed to replace the Eastway which has been bulldozed for the 2012 site. We wanted to see what it was like, and also had dreams of hiring BMXs and getting some phat air.

The day was beset with problems. We both struggled to leave on time and then, with an utterly lame reliance on technology, managed to get lost, nearly ending up at Offset Music Festival by accident. By luck and a little judgement we found the place eventually and set about unloading the mountain bikes and buying permits to ride. With permits not actually in hand, but certainly paid for we made some last minute adjustments to the bikes and were off.

Although we weren’t actually going anywhere as one valve tore out of an inner tube, another valve snapped internally leaving me with a strange small screw thing, as found in the top of a presta valve, in one hand, and a confused expression. Settling down on the gravel carpark to fit new tubes I think we were both wondering if the day was doomed. We’d already found that there was no BMX track and so we were going to be relying on the mountain bikes. With tyres inflated and a bit of hope applied that the broken valve would hold through air pressure and pure luck, I turned my attention to the final mechanical problem, which was a mangled link in one of the chains. Some twiddles on a chain tool and some swearing and I’d got the offending link out and replaced the problem with a stiff link. Knowing that around half of the time stiff links just ease themselves out (the other half of the time they never do and you’re annoyed forever), but mostly because this wasn’t my bike I assured everyone that it’d be ok and we set off, with me in front so I didn’t have to hear and feel guilty every time the link clicked and bumped through the rear mech.

The cross country loop at Redbridge was short but fun, designed to be ridden by all abilities and increasing in difficulty as your speed builds up. It’s made up of big bermed corners dropping you down the first hill, then a fairly flat run through to a low boardwalk (spiced up by a drop-off opportunity), followed by a steep, but switchbacked climb. The route then offers the chance to barrel down “The Descent” or roll out along the “Pump Track”, both are filled with berms and jumps and let you roll or get airborne, depending on your speed and skill. Both are also enough fun to keep you entertained for hours picking the right lines and testing your nerve and ability on the slippery gravel top layer. We stayed there until lunch called us away, and would have stayed longer if the café had been open. Unfortunately we were also having too much fun to remember to take pictures, but we’ll be back soon, I’m sure. A challenge has been put down and a race around the loop is in the offing for pride and the title of Four Miles Fighting Traffic Redbridge Loop Champion. I will be defending my title hard.

Oh, and the stiff link did work its way loose, just like I said it would.

A