I met my brother cycling back from school the other week down by the canal and he decided to take me a different way back home.

Rather than going up Mill Lane towards Croxley Met station, we headed into Long Valley Wood and then Croxley Hall Wood, where James had spent many a happy weekend when he was younger with his friends.

He showed me some great routes and both of us almost fell off our bikes into deep ravines several times as the going got more difficult.

We also found a large clearing, with a big dip and a jump that one day I will have the courage to attack at full speed. On that particular day I kept on heading for the jump's lift-off point but then wimped out. I gave myself a good talking to when I got home.

These woods are a part of Croxley that not many people know about. A lot of the area is actually owned by London Underground and there is some concern over their future. I hope that common sense prevails and the place is kept as it is for future generations to come and enjoy.