PH mini MTB meet, Farnborough area, Tue 21 Oct 2014...

PH mini MTB meet, Farnborough area, Tue 21 Oct 2014...

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yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
...over on Strava, a plot has been hatched for a few of us to meet up for a MTB ride next Tuesday. Three of us so far from Pedal Powered, and an 'outsider' from Strava.

None of us has met any of the others before, it's a chance to meet and put faces to the (user)names. We're provisionally hoping to meet around 1230hrs, at the cafe/tea room next to the Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre, Mytchett Place Rd, Mytchett, Camberley GU16 6DD.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Basingstoke+Ca...

The plan is to ride for about an hour, maybe 90 minutes, to get back to the cafe before they stop serving food at 1430hrs. There's parking, toilets, and the aforementioned cafe, and there's direct access from the Canal Centre onto the Tunnel Hill MOD training area, which is a bit of a mountain biking hotspot locally. It also seems to drain pretty well and there's plenty of wide tracks to allow group riding at a 'conversational' rather than competitive pace.

Anyone who's interested, feel free to turn up and join in. There's a couple of fit lads in the group, but I'm no whippet, so don't let fitness, or a lack of it, put you off. I'll be hard to miss, as I'll be wearing my PH jersey, and like I say, the intention is to meet up at 1230hrs, so just head to the cafe around about then, and introduce yourself!

Gren

1,947 posts

251 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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If I wasn't at work. I'd be there.

I rode Tunnel Hill yesterday morning and apart from some puddles on the Old Guildford road (fire road that runs along the crest) it was all running quite nicely. A bit muddy but nothing more. Nasty wet roots will be the worst of your troubles.

Don't forget to turn around if you see any squaddies. It's all a bit touchy with mtb access on MOD property around there. Don't want to piss them off!

yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
Gren said:
If I wasn't at work. I'd be there.

I rode Tunnel Hill yesterday morning and apart from some puddles on the Old Guildford road (fire road that runs along the crest) it was all running quite nicely. A bit muddy but nothing more. Nasty wet roots will be the worst of your troubles.

Don't forget to turn around if you see any squaddies. It's all a bit touchy with mtb access on MOD property around there. Don't want to piss them off!
These puddles?




I'm not too worried about the army using the area. It's unlikely that they'll be using all of it, so there'll be somewhere to ride. I remember the top part of the training area, around the Old Guildford Road, from my time at the School of Logistics in Deepcut. We used it for 'notional' logistics exercises, to train fresh 'Resources Specialists' in the planning and reconnaissance phases of logistics operations. Back then, I don't recall there being any issues between soldiers using the area and MTB access. I suspect most of these "issues" are either caused by a very small minority of "extreme view" idiot MTBers or they are a construct of the MOD's fervent imagination. I take the view that if the MOD are happy to take money from event organisers to sanction the use of these areas for competitive events, then they ought not to be surprised when local riders want to access the area too. After all...
the MOD said:
The overarching access and recreation policy of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a presumption in favour of public access across the estate wherever it is compatible with military and operational training needs, safety, security, conservation and the interests of our tenants
At the (fairly) recent (June 2014) public meeting in Fleet, the subject of a review of the current (1976) byelaws was raised. One man asked if it meant the end of single track mountain biking, which has been enjoyed for the last 40 years.

Lt Col Ludlow training safety officer for DIO said:
Mountain biking is a popular sport within all three services and it’s something to be encouraged but as the bye-laws stand it is prohibited.
http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/mod-...

yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
The weather forecast for Tuesday afternoon is now more pessimistic than it was at the weekend. Showing a couple of hours of light cloud and sunny intervals around midday, after heavy rain in the morning, then moving into 'light showers' for most of the afternoon. Doesn't sound too bad, but might require the digging out of some form of water resistant jacket?

Gren

1,947 posts

251 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
These puddles?
That's them. Still got memories of trundling through one, getting my front wheel stuck and falling slowly sideways...up to my elbow in it and spluttering filthy water!

I've never had a problem with the army there either and I ride there twice a week and have done for the last 4 years. There are though more and more reports of Landmarc turning people away and the byelaws being enforced a little more strictly than in the past. I've chatted to officers/NCOs in the past month though and they are happy to let you know where they are not using and where to go that day to avoid them.

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
The weather forecast for Tuesday afternoon is now more pessimistic than it was at the weekend. Showing a couple of hours of light cloud and sunny intervals around midday, after heavy rain in the morning, then moving into 'light showers' for most of the afternoon. Doesn't sound too bad, but might require the digging out of some form of water resistant jacket?
It's a shame we're not out today, its a cracking day so far!

Hopefully the weather will hold for us tomorrow, fingers crossed!

nessiemac

1,525 posts

240 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Would love to make this, especially at conversation pace, as i ride there all the time but night shift all week!

yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
neenaw said:
It's a shame we're not out today, its a cracking day so far!

Hopefully the weather will hold for us tomorrow, fingers crossed!
Is that you, Graeme T? I thought you were the 'outsider' as you don't have the PH club badge on your Strava profile. Sorry for the presumption.

It's not too late to ride out today as well?



wink

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
Is that you, Graeme T? I thought you were the 'outsider' as you don't have the PH club badge on your Strava profile. Sorry for the presumption.

It's not too late to ride out today as well?



wink
That's me thumbup

I would've been up for today but I've been busy studying, doing housework and putting bikes back together so it was just a quick spin on the turbo for me this morning.
At least the bike's ready for tomorrow now.

yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
Forecast has improved once again. Now 'light rain' for the early part of the morning, then sunny intervals from about 1100hrs, with 'light showers' predicted from around 1400hrs.

Hopefully that means the ground will drain a bit before we hit the trails, and we'll get lucky and sneak back in before the showers. Although the BBC weather forecast is quite fluid at the moment, so things can easily change.

yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
Forecast now less favourable. Light rain, getting heavier early on. Dying away into light showers toward mid-morning, and giving way to cloud with sunny spells around midday. Heavy showers returning around 1400hrs, then clearing once again. Winds up to 23mph westerly.

Anyone else up for this?

Greenish

209 posts

117 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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I am based in Basingstoke and have tomorrow off but I fear the other half has other idea's. Out of interest who on pedal powered have consigned an interest?

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Having just got up and looked out of the curtains, I think I'm going to wait and see how it's looking weather-wise about 11:30 before I decide whether or not I'm going to be out today.

It's not looking promising here at the moment!

MadDad

3,834 posts

260 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Currently have extremely high winds and sideways rain in Binfield at the moment, you could drown standing up! The weather actually seems to be getting worse at the moment.......

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
MadDad said:
Currently have extremely high winds and sideways rain in Binfield at the moment, you could drown standing up! The weather actually seems to be getting worse at the moment.......
Great, it's just started brightening up in Staines so your weather is probably heading our way next eek

MadDad

3,834 posts

260 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
neenaw said:
MadDad said:
Currently have extremely high winds and sideways rain in Binfield at the moment, you could drown standing up! The weather actually seems to be getting worse at the moment.......
Great, it's just started brightening up in Staines so your weather is probably heading our way next eek
You're welcome! It brightened up for about 10 mins but is hammering it down again now. The wind has really picked up now as well, at this moment in time I wouldn't walk the dog let alone jump on a bike!!!!

yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
The forecast for later is mainly cloudy, with sunny intervals and a few light showers. That, I can cope with. Wind is going to be the issue, with speeds peaking at 23mph around midday. I presume that's average speed too, with bigger gusts.

What's the consensus at the moment? I'm still up for going, but I'd probably bail if I was going to be the only one out.

It's a shame, as tomorrow is looking (at the moment, at least) to be a far more suitable day, weather-wise.

What say you, Dizeee? Go ahead today, or try to find another date? Or ride today and look for another suitable date?

The other pair of lightweights can stay at home if they like... wink


If I do go, I may bin off the PH jersey idea. I'll probably end up looking like a refugee from a sportswear sweatshop explosion in whatever waterproof jacket I can find, and a random mish-mash of Aldi/Lidl gear.

MadDad

3,834 posts

260 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
I am OK to ride, just the wind that will be the issue - and the torrential downpour forecast from 12:00-14:00!!

My only issue is that I need to ride over, so will need to leave here 10:30-10:45-ish - wife needs the big car and a dirty MTB 'aint going in my mini!

So, we need to make a call now!!! smile

yellowjack

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

165 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Where do you see the downpour forecast?

http://www.accuweather.com/en/gb/farnborough/gu14-... - no rain at all.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecas... (and BBC Weather) showing 'chance of showers'.

If you are willing (and bonkers enough) to ride down in this wind, then I'll commit. 1230hrs at the cafe?

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
I'm out.
Just been out to walk the dogs and it's pretty breezy out there!

I don't mind the wet muddy trails and the rain doesn't bother me too much but I hate riding in windy weather.