PH MTB meet at Swinley Forest (Bracknell) - interested?
Discussion
EDIT - we're locked on Sunday 25th Jan now
EDIT #2 - we're pretty much locked on 9.00 meet at the trailhead, for 9.30 start
So, who's up for a Pistonheads Swinley meet up in the next few weeks?
Im thinking the earliest date could be weekend of the 24th/25th Jan (the previous weekend is a local XC race so im avoiding that) and either day works for me.
Route would likely be the standard Blue & Red routes, with an extra diversion i do through the MOD sections (past the FOB William camp) which is mostly fireroad and nice for a breather but does have a bit of a climb at the end. Thats about 17 miles total, which with regular stops/chats would take about 2.5 hours. We'd be going past the tunnel that leads to Crowthorne woods if anyone knows/wants a further extra loop on top (though i dont know my way around there).
We'd be going past "The Gully" if anyone wanted a few goes on that (a natural gully that has been exaggerated into a series of jumps that Da Kidz go wild on).
Finally (assuming theres no families on it) i'd suggest a time trial on the Green Route. My PB is 2m:43s and never have i felt so close to throwing up in Swinley as doing that! Reckon some of you pro riders can beat that easily.
New to Swinley/not particularly skilled/fit/brave?
Nothing to worry about really - theres basically one steep climb halfway through the red route, and a smaller version in the Blue, and a climb at the very start that is actually quite shallow but always hard on cold legs! Techically theres no jumps that cant be rolled. The Tank Traps section tests your balance a bit but again, can be done slowly, and finally the Deerstalker downhill section is daunting the first time but can be done with the brakes on.
(For reference, while i can get around fairly quickly i cant do jumps and get scared of hardcore downhill sections!)
Conditions: if we're lucky we'd have a week without rain. The main trails are well drained but the fireroads link-ups can be pretty nasty. The newly created "Newt" trail seems to stay permanently gloopy. Swinley soil is very sandy, and you'll need a thorough chain clean afterwards as it eats components for breakfast. Wet lube is a good idea this time of year, and mud guards will be de rigeur!
Aim would be to go as fast as the slowest rider, with plenty of stops for breathers and chinwagging etc. Finish back at the lookout for coffee and cake?
Logistics: Its just outside Bracknell, a few miles from the M3. Car parking costs a few quid (something like £4 for 3 hours? Not sure right now).
So, anyone interested? No problems pushing the date out.
EDIT #2 - we're pretty much locked on 9.00 meet at the trailhead, for 9.30 start
So, who's up for a Pistonheads Swinley meet up in the next few weeks?
Im thinking the earliest date could be weekend of the 24th/25th Jan (the previous weekend is a local XC race so im avoiding that) and either day works for me.
Route would likely be the standard Blue & Red routes, with an extra diversion i do through the MOD sections (past the FOB William camp) which is mostly fireroad and nice for a breather but does have a bit of a climb at the end. Thats about 17 miles total, which with regular stops/chats would take about 2.5 hours. We'd be going past the tunnel that leads to Crowthorne woods if anyone knows/wants a further extra loop on top (though i dont know my way around there).
We'd be going past "The Gully" if anyone wanted a few goes on that (a natural gully that has been exaggerated into a series of jumps that Da Kidz go wild on).
Finally (assuming theres no families on it) i'd suggest a time trial on the Green Route. My PB is 2m:43s and never have i felt so close to throwing up in Swinley as doing that! Reckon some of you pro riders can beat that easily.
New to Swinley/not particularly skilled/fit/brave?
Nothing to worry about really - theres basically one steep climb halfway through the red route, and a smaller version in the Blue, and a climb at the very start that is actually quite shallow but always hard on cold legs! Techically theres no jumps that cant be rolled. The Tank Traps section tests your balance a bit but again, can be done slowly, and finally the Deerstalker downhill section is daunting the first time but can be done with the brakes on.
(For reference, while i can get around fairly quickly i cant do jumps and get scared of hardcore downhill sections!)
Conditions: if we're lucky we'd have a week without rain. The main trails are well drained but the fireroads link-ups can be pretty nasty. The newly created "Newt" trail seems to stay permanently gloopy. Swinley soil is very sandy, and you'll need a thorough chain clean afterwards as it eats components for breakfast. Wet lube is a good idea this time of year, and mud guards will be de rigeur!
Aim would be to go as fast as the slowest rider, with plenty of stops for breathers and chinwagging etc. Finish back at the lookout for coffee and cake?
Logistics: Its just outside Bracknell, a few miles from the M3. Car parking costs a few quid (something like £4 for 3 hours? Not sure right now).
So, anyone interested? No problems pushing the date out.
Edited by daddy cool on Wednesday 21st January 15:24
Cool - looks like we could have a decent bunch!
So, lets say its Sunday 25th then - unless there is some significant adverse weather either on or in the days leading up to that date. (ie, torrential rain, or heavy snow, or other reasons to close the trails to protect them as per last year)
Meet up ~10.30ish?
Hopefully the current diversion towards the end of Red will be over by then, as it misses out the uber-exciting "Rollercoaster" section - they have been removing Rhododendron bushes all over the forest in the past weeks as they have been getting out of control.
So, lets say its Sunday 25th then - unless there is some significant adverse weather either on or in the days leading up to that date. (ie, torrential rain, or heavy snow, or other reasons to close the trails to protect them as per last year)
Meet up ~10.30ish?
Hopefully the current diversion towards the end of Red will be over by then, as it misses out the uber-exciting "Rollercoaster" section - they have been removing Rhododendron bushes all over the forest in the past weeks as they have been getting out of control.
Greenish said:
Could be interested. Mountain bikes?
Mountain bikes would certainly be the most appropriate vehicle for the terrain!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83uahlmjrU
Okey doke - we'll see nearer the day exactly who's coming and how early we can all start. I live exactly 1 mile away so I can start as early as possible and finish as late as required! Suppose we just need to make sure everyone coming by car puts enough on the parking ticket as they can be quite hot on that.
Herman Toothrot said:
Went again today, they have opened some more bits of the red loop up from last weekend. On my own I did the full red / blue in 1hr 35mins, 7th overall for that course on Strava.
Got a link to that particular segment? Reason I ask is that at 1hr15m, im 104th on the old Blue/Red layout (last years, before we built "Newt") - the really quick guys are doing it comfortably under an hour!That said, that's a decent time considering the mud at the moment...
Herman Toothrot said:
Cool, only my 3rd visit to Swinley, I imagine when it's all hard packed dry it'd be a lot faster. I've just gone single chainring and not quite used to pushing the bigger gears up hilsl yet, off to Cwmcarn tomorrow to do Twrch and Cafall so think that'll learn me :-). Swinley does have some great downhill sections that have been built really well, don't know what any of them are called, but two of the steepest sections stand out really flow very well and the jumps / berms transition really well. Got some skilled trail builders there.
yeah, swinley in the summer is lovely and fast! the berms towards the end of Blue are a nice finish - the really big one just before the zigzag climb, and the collection of 4-5 of them just after it. The biggest climb on Red always gets me sweating...Yonex - "not very good"?! Your performance at Brass Monkeys would suggest otherwise! Anyway, the more the merrier. lets hope the weathers holds out for the next week...
Edited by daddy cool on Friday 16th January 21:52
Specifically we'll meet at the start of the Blue & green trails. If you havent been there before, you park up somewhere in the carpark, and if you are standing looking at the "Lookout" centre, you should see a kids playpark to the left, and the bike hire shop to the right. You get to the start of the trails by going right (past the Bike Hub) and follow the path round behind. I'll wear my PH top and will be on (one of my) Boardman bikes!
The bike hire opens at 9.00am, so if anyone is hiring its unfair to start at 9.00.
http://swinleybikehub.com/
What if we say meet at 9.00am, for a prompt 9.30 set-off? With some stops we could do Blue & Red in 2 hours, or 2.5 hours if we add the extra loop down to the Army base.
Best put 3 hours on the ticket (at least) - never parked there personally so dont know if its per hour or a set time.
Bring a few quid if y'all fancy a coffee and cake afterwards (i assume the cafe is open on a sunday - dont shoot me if not) otherwise we can all tootle off!
The bike hire opens at 9.00am, so if anyone is hiring its unfair to start at 9.00.
http://swinleybikehub.com/
What if we say meet at 9.00am, for a prompt 9.30 set-off? With some stops we could do Blue & Red in 2 hours, or 2.5 hours if we add the extra loop down to the Army base.
Best put 3 hours on the ticket (at least) - never parked there personally so dont know if its per hour or a set time.
Bring a few quid if y'all fancy a coffee and cake afterwards (i assume the cafe is open on a sunday - dont shoot me if not) otherwise we can all tootle off!
yonex said:
So true to all laws of sod my forks didn't get picked up and are now due back Saturday, hopefully. Typical she therer is something organised.
Worst case you could always hire a bike? £15 for 2 hours, then £5 per hour afterwards. Almost worth it to save the post ride cleaning...Herman Toothrot said:
Is that on the closed off bit? Ridden the red / blue 3 times in the last 2 months and if there's a rock garden it's not memorable even for someone riding a hard tail
Hes being hilarious... in the middle third of Stickler theres a large rock in the middle of the path which (if you choose) makes a little jump (its just after the 3 dips) - or you can go around the side of it.Trail-Team-Swinley hat on for a moment - whats little known is that almost every inch of the trails has to be built around natural features and even the most insignificant-looking ditch on Stickler is probably marked on the Crown Estates map of historical geographical features as an "ancient ditch", and the digging work we do has to be very strictly approved and checked that its not impacting these. Its a source of frustration for TTS, but its a necessary evil to be allowed to ride on the Queens property...
Im biased of course, but im eternally thankful that i have such a fun place to ride for free (it was only about 18 months ago they removed the permit to ride - instead charging car parking) and im not bothered about lack of rock gardens*
- i did one once at Cannock Chase, nearly soiled myself
DeuxCentCinq said:
Really hope I'll be over the man flu in time for Sunday.
Now, should I bring the modern Cube (LTD Race) or the retro Cannondale F700?
Deffo the Cube, just because i like Cubes and im fantasising more about lightweight hardtails than sexy F/S bikes now.Now, should I bring the modern Cube (LTD Race) or the retro Cannondale F700?
As for the man-flu, its scientifically proven that being out in cold, damp conditions builds up your immune system and gets you over it faster. Or something.
Yonex - bad news dude. But you could have come anyway with the forks locked out - Benji is fully rigid and hes faster than you in the Merida races, yak yak
yellowjack said:
I'm still keen to come along, but cannot yet commit. There's potentially a day out in the planning (by the wife) so I might not be able to make it.
Also, I'm really nervous, as I bought some Northwave boots and SPD pedals today, and Sunday may well turn out to be my first ride in them. First time clipped-in off road at a trail centre? In the company of others?
What could possibly go wrong?
I'll be bringing my gopro.Also, I'm really nervous, as I bought some Northwave boots and SPD pedals today, and Sunday may well turn out to be my first ride in them. First time clipped-in off road at a trail centre? In the company of others?
What could possibly go wrong?
Nothing will go wrong.
But if it does, everyone will be able to rewatch it in glorious 1080p HD.
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