Three days before we were to do the Lees Valley ride, a southerly storm deposited snow right down to the valley floor.

Then severe frosts on the Friday and Saturday nights kept the white stuff primed and ready for us. Our day was another gem, with crisp air and frigid temperatures. This was not a ride for the bare-legged. It soon became apparent that we wouldn’t be able to drive to the start of the track, so we parked and biked along the road to the upper bridge of the Ashley River. Thus where we had intended to start the ride actually became the mid point. We turned at this bridge and returned to the cars.

It would have been nice to make it to the Townshend Hut (or at least where it once stood). Still, it was a most interesting ride, given the kind Lees Valley, Pure & Simple of conditions that our parents told us that they walked to school in, barefoot.

The crew that made it along agreed that there is some unfinished business in this valley. Watch out for this ride in a future club triplist. Those who want to see the area on a warmer day may wish to join a few of us who are doing our own Lees Valley loop ride. It will be a longish round trip starting at Whiterock and finishing at the Ashley Gorge picnic ground. This is because, alas, the Lees Valley Challenge race/event is not being run in 2007.

Dave Ellen