Swinley Forest fatality

[daddy cool]

Very sad news...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-336...

From the FB page, it sounds like he was riding alone, and came off on Red 25 ("Kevlar", or "Rollercoaster") - thats the 2nd of the main fast downhill sections, though i always think of that one as the safer/easier one as its much wider and more open, and feels like theres less to hit. Mind you, i dont have the balls to go down without braking.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SwinleyforestMTB/

Thoughts go out to the family, and also the riders who tried their best to save him before the medics got there.

Edited by daddy cool on Monday 27th July 08:15

[daddy cool]

joema said:

Is Red 25 the one that starts by the reservoir? Or the one that got altered after it opened - it was a jump line with a left hander mid way and had a decent sized jump just after the left?

No, the one starting at the reservoir is the 1st of the fast downhill sections (14 or 15, i forget). That one is actually the harder one technically, with off camber routes down, and lots of opportunity to mess it up. I always take that one slow.

The one the chap died on is later on - its a lovely descent and one of the few places in Swinley that my wheels leave the ground, simply because by the end you are going a fair pace, and absolutely no effort is required over the bumps (and when i say leave the ground, im talking a few inches - though the cool kids can get big air)

On FB, people are already calling it an "accident black spot" and calling for it to be made safer. I ride Swinley a couple of times a week usually, and think the entire trail is safe enough considering the classification (of either Blue or Red). Lets face it, a flat gravel path is dangerous if there is one tree at the side and you ride into it at 25mph.

[daddy cool]

Sure most of y'all will be at work tomorrow anyway, but Red 25 is closed tomorrow between 10.30 & 12.30 for his family to pay their respects.

Theres talk of a memorial ride sunday 9th Aug, but not confirmed yet (too many people and it could be bedlam I guess). If it happens it will probably be a walk through that section. If you are riding in the next couple of weeks be extra careful for anyone stopped on the bottom of that section leaving flowers or tying a ribbon.

[daddy cool]

Would've been nice for the Wail to give a bit more credit to the riders that looked after him initially.

[daddy cool]

Bump - only posting this here, as there is some cruel irony afoot, but ive never heard of anyone dying on the beloved Jump Gully. But yesterday Crown Estate levelled it, because its "too dangerous". Its gone.