PH Swinley Ride - 2016
Discussion
***Weather permitting - its going to be 21st Feb***
Seems ages since we had a PH Swinley ride. Now that its cold, wet, and the trails are a mess, it sounds like the ideal time to go again!
If you’ve been before, you know what to expect. If you haven’t, we’ll be doing the full Blue & Red routes (less any diversions in place due to repairs or forestry) and possibly a few bits off the designated trails, depending on what the MOD are up to on the day and how we’re feeling. Swinley Red is what other courses might call Blue, so theres really nothing that is too technical. There are, however, some nice downhill sections and fun and fast berms, so something for everyone.
Distance would be ~12-15 miles, and would take ~2 hours. Mostly hard-packed trails, connected by fireroads, and with a few short but sharp climbs. Aim is to have fun, so we’ll be pausing after each section to allow slower riders to catch up.
Start time would be 10:10am (the lookout opens at 10am, in case people need access to the loos)
I think the outside kiosk at the lookout is closed now, but there is an inside cafe if folks wanted a coffee afterwards.
Bit of drizzle is ok, but if its properly pissing down and a mudbath, I would probably suggest aborting.
How does Sunday 7th or Sunday 21st February sound? Discounted the 14th as I thought you’d all want to stay in bed having adult cuddles.
Anyone up ferret?
Seems ages since we had a PH Swinley ride. Now that its cold, wet, and the trails are a mess, it sounds like the ideal time to go again!
If you’ve been before, you know what to expect. If you haven’t, we’ll be doing the full Blue & Red routes (less any diversions in place due to repairs or forestry) and possibly a few bits off the designated trails, depending on what the MOD are up to on the day and how we’re feeling. Swinley Red is what other courses might call Blue, so theres really nothing that is too technical. There are, however, some nice downhill sections and fun and fast berms, so something for everyone.
Distance would be ~12-15 miles, and would take ~2 hours. Mostly hard-packed trails, connected by fireroads, and with a few short but sharp climbs. Aim is to have fun, so we’ll be pausing after each section to allow slower riders to catch up.
Start time would be 10:10am (the lookout opens at 10am, in case people need access to the loos)
I think the outside kiosk at the lookout is closed now, but there is an inside cafe if folks wanted a coffee afterwards.
Bit of drizzle is ok, but if its properly pissing down and a mudbath, I would probably suggest aborting.
How does Sunday 7th or Sunday 21st February sound? Discounted the 14th as I thought you’d all want to stay in bed having adult cuddles.
Anyone up ferret?
Edited by daddy cool on Tuesday 26th January 22:04
Herman Toothrot said:
Nope, nowt. One nice fast swoopy section about 20 seconds with jumps and berms, one section with a few table tops if you can hit them fast enough in the wet. Think blue XC and it's more along that theme, it's good if you approach it as an XC ride.
Be patient, young man.Work in progress, but unlikely to be ready & open by next month.
daddy cool said:
Be patient, young man.
Work in progress, but unlikely to be ready & open by next month.
Please tell me there's a 'chicken run' option for those sections. I'm all for building trails with gaps, drops, and jumps, just so long as I don't have to get any 'air' when I ride them.Work in progress, but unlikely to be ready & open by next month.
I'm too old for that kind of tomfoolery, and am very happy with an XC and tight, techy singletrack mix thank you very much...
yellowjack said:
Please tell me there's a 'chicken run' option for those sections. I'm all for building trails with gaps, drops, and jumps, just so long as I don't have to get any 'air' when I ride them.
I'm too old for that kind of tomfoolery, and am very happy with an XC and tight, techy singletrack mix thank you very much...
No chicken runs I'm afraid! For some reason they trashed the jump gulley because of the accident rate but are now building 3 "black" runs where blue 2 is. They will have a qualifier drop at the start to stop most people attempting them. I'm too old for that kind of tomfoolery, and am very happy with an XC and tight, techy singletrack mix thank you very much...
Black run 3 will start with "a road gap jump of some 10 foot /3 metres across and about a 15 foot/4.6 metres drop in elevation"
nessiemac said:
No chicken runs I'm afraid! For some reason they trashed the jump gulley because of the accident rate but are now building 3 "black" runs where blue 2 is. They will have a qualifier drop at the start to stop most people attempting them.
Black run 3 will start with "a road gap jump of some 10 foot /3 metres across and about a 15 foot/4.6 metres drop in elevation"
That does seem very strange logic, that jump gully was out of the way enough that only those who actively wanted jumps found it. Putting gap jumps where there used to be blue runs sounds a recipe for disaster.Black run 3 will start with "a road gap jump of some 10 foot /3 metres across and about a 15 foot/4.6 metres drop in elevation"
Herman Toothrot said:
That does seem very strange logic, that jump gully was out of the way enough that only those who actively wanted jumps found it. Putting gap jumps where there used to be blue runs sounds a recipe for disaster.
It's probably deliberate in order to put the jumps closer to the ambulance access point...
So long as it's an area separate from the Blue and Red trails, and not within one of the loops, I'll be happy. I'd like to be able to take a trip up there confident that I'll be able to complete a lap or two without having to make a death-defying jump over the "jaws of death". I was more than happy to get my breath back while watching the young'uns smash themselves to bits all over the old jump gully, but I've got no interest in partaking in that element of MTBing.
richardxjr said:
I'll try and make this if it's fairly dry. Had enough of mud now. Bought that Bird yet then YJ?
No, not made my mind up yet. Still considering going with the Trek Superfly or X-Caliber if I spend the big money, or alternatively repairing the GT (finally) or going the lower end route with a cheap (lightly used) Saracen currently available in a local shop...
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