It's the first week of January, rain is falling steadily, and I'm ankle deep in mud, in the middle of a forest, in pitch darkness. Why then am I smiling uncontrollably?

I'm riding in Wareham Forest with about 25 other people on a soaking wet Wednesday evening and we're all having the time of our lives. "Exhilarating" doesn't come close to describing the sensation.

Within a bike length of rolling into the forest, my senses have been heightened to levels unimaginable just two hours earlier when I was sat at my desk.

The mundane realities of urban life seem a world away as I'm thrown back on my instincts. Have you ever driven somewhere, got out of the car, and not been able to remember a single thing about the journey? This is the polar opposite.

A narrow ribbon of trail unfolds about 10 metres ahead of me in the small pool of luminescence thrown from my bike light.

I weave my between treacherous tree stumps and slippery roots, shifting my weight instinctively to guide the bike among the hazards that litter the forest floor.

Thick sand and a steep incline ahead means a change of position, out of the saddle, pumping the pedals hard to build momentum into the climb.

Now I've got wheelspin, so I'm downshifting, bum back on the seat, redistributing my weight to eliminate the slipping of the rear wheel as I crest the summit.

Someone shouts out "Left!" and we turn in single file onto a narrow trail that takes us down a swooping descent abruptly terminated by a park bench!

There's something magical about this too. As I look over my shoulder, all I can see of my companions are small discs of bright light. As we stop to regroup, the riders become silhouetted against the trees, their cloudy breath visible on the night air.

The rain now is cooling and welcome. Chests rise and fall as the riders suck in oxygen. Impromptu clothing changes take place; mid layers are taken off and stuffed into back packs as body temperatures rise with the effort.

Gulps of water are taken from bottles and bladders carried in rucksacks, and there's a tremendous feeling of togetherness, which I suppose comes from depending on each other to find our way home.

It's difficult to put into words just how much fun riding a bike with a group of people can be. Do you remember being a kid, coming home from school, getting changed, and then racing out on your bike to be with your friends?

Imagine those days, but without the curfew, parents, or homework. To think - while we are here, there are people in gyms pounding their knees to dust while the brutalities of N-Dubz assault their senses.

Ritchie from Ride led us on our journey around Wareham Forest and sent in this link to the data from his snazzy GPS cycling computer.

Check out the stats by clicking the link. There's lots of interesting data including a map of the route we followed, as well as speed, temperature, and elevation.