The "Photos From Today's Ride" thread...
Discussion
yellowjack said:
Whereabouts are they?
Last week I was out and about on local MOD training areas, and although they are no longer well defined, and have trees growing around them where it would have been open land when they were dug, I get to ride through a WW1 era training trench complex. In fact there are two of them that are incorporated in some way into MTB XC race laps that have used the venue. There are a couple more too, more 'hidden away' so to speak. Some even have the odd original piece of support metalwork, or barbed wire posts still in place. Strange, thinking about all the lads who trained in them before being shipped to France 100 years ago, and that many of them would never come back. Now it's no longer obvious what they even were to most people who pass through. They make for great trail features, too...
Would love to know where they are YJ. My wife is a history teacher and we're always dragging the kids off to look at old war stuff...Last week I was out and about on local MOD training areas, and although they are no longer well defined, and have trees growing around them where it would have been open land when they were dug, I get to ride through a WW1 era training trench complex. In fact there are two of them that are incorporated in some way into MTB XC race laps that have used the venue. There are a couple more too, more 'hidden away' so to speak. Some even have the odd original piece of support metalwork, or barbed wire posts still in place. Strange, thinking about all the lads who trained in them before being shipped to France 100 years ago, and that many of them would never come back. Now it's no longer obvious what they even were to most people who pass through. They make for great trail features, too...
Daveyraveygravey said:
Would love to know where they are YJ. My wife is a history teacher and we're always dragging the kids off to look at old war stuff...
If you're on Strava, you'll be able to find this one... https://www.strava.com/segments/1440665 ...which I think is probably the best, most trench-like of them. It's a shame so much of it is partially infilled, and the sides so sloping now, but you can clearly see the form of the trench still.There are quite a few more dotted about the place, one or two of which I've crossed or ridden along and not realised what I was riding on the first few times, but when you stop, and take a step back you get a better idea of what you're looking at. This, though, is the only one I KNOW has got it's own Strava segment.
There's a really odd pre-WW2 concrete tank training/testing feature on Hazeley Heath, near Hartley Wintney too... http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/gazeteer/hom... ...along with a whole load of pillboxes and other defences along the Basingstoke Canal and adjacent defensive lines. I should probably try to get some pictures really...
If anyone has ever ridden up the road from the coast at Sompting towards Steyning and the Bostal, you'll have ridden Tich Hill which is the main hill here, the road obscured here.
Monarch's Way is a great off road trail from Steyning Bostal towards Cissbury Ring and Findon. Trouble is, there's a long flat bit to get to or from it, which just doesn't drain...
First time back on an MTB and doing any offroad for about 15 years.
10 miles round Bedgebury, my legs were like jelly at the end! It's perfect for someone like me getting back into the sport, although the Whyte 905 hire bike had the stock semi-slick on the back which didn't inspire much confidence in the gloopy mud that was on a lot of the trails. I was taking the berms at 2/3x the speed towards the end vs at the start, just a shame I was done in at the end, need to get my fitness back up!!
Oh and dropper posts are brilliant!
10 miles round Bedgebury, my legs were like jelly at the end! It's perfect for someone like me getting back into the sport, although the Whyte 905 hire bike had the stock semi-slick on the back which didn't inspire much confidence in the gloopy mud that was on a lot of the trails. I was taking the berms at 2/3x the speed towards the end vs at the start, just a shame I was done in at the end, need to get my fitness back up!!
Oh and dropper posts are brilliant!
Sa Calobra said:
theboyfold said:
Out in SF at the moment. Managed to find a place that hired road bikes. Happy days!
I had a great ride at Cannock Chase today, the weather was perfect and away from the car park the trails were really quiet. I also seemed to be riding well (for me at least). I'd go as far as to say that it was my best day on a bike yet!
Over the Rainbow Panorama by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Four at Cannock Chase by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Pine trees by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Over the Rainbow Panorama by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Four at Cannock Chase by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Pine trees by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
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