Discussion
Do these happen? I've been on plenty of hoons/car meets with the PH lot, do the cycling community from here get together for a bike ol' ride?
I went up to Gizburn trail centre at the weekend with a mate and had a blast. Thought it would be fun with a whole bunch of riders all attacking the trail.
Is there enough of us in any given area to make it worth while? I know there would be a big difference in skill/fitness but it doesn't have to be a race, just a fun day out. Head off if your fast, wait for the group if you like, re group, head on again kind of thing. I'm definiitely not fast up the hills and just like to enjoy my riding rather than trying to get all kinds of knackered riding for the best time (last time round we cycled to the hope line, pushed up and rode down for a few hours then just hit the last bit of the red route back to the car park).
Not exactly organising an event here, just testing the water to see what you all thing.
I went up to Gizburn trail centre at the weekend with a mate and had a blast. Thought it would be fun with a whole bunch of riders all attacking the trail.
Is there enough of us in any given area to make it worth while? I know there would be a big difference in skill/fitness but it doesn't have to be a race, just a fun day out. Head off if your fast, wait for the group if you like, re group, head on again kind of thing. I'm definiitely not fast up the hills and just like to enjoy my riding rather than trying to get all kinds of knackered riding for the best time (last time round we cycled to the hope line, pushed up and rode down for a few hours then just hit the last bit of the red route back to the car park).
Not exactly organising an event here, just testing the water to see what you all thing.
garrykiller said:
we tried to arrange a cycling weekend but very little takers.
A weekend is a totally different ball game though IMO. I probably wouldn't sign up to a weekend away because a) it's a much bigger commitment in terms of time and money, and b) it would mean lots of times off the bike making small talk with stragers from the internet 
. If it's just a day, people can come and go as they please and you won't run out of things to say on a ride as we'll just be laughing at people falling off, and laughing at me sweating and knakered as I push up the hills.I live less than a mile from Swinley, so if anyone fancies a meet there im up ferret. Might want to leave it a few weeks though - several sections of trail are still under repair.
Not exactly a days ride though - usually less than 2 hours with a group and frequent stops.
Been meaning to work out a route down to - and around - tunnel hill, which WOULD be a fairly decent ride when you include Swinely - somewhere between 30 and 40 miles i suppose.
Not exactly a days ride though - usually less than 2 hours with a group and frequent stops.
Been meaning to work out a route down to - and around - tunnel hill, which WOULD be a fairly decent ride when you include Swinely - somewhere between 30 and 40 miles i suppose.
daddy cool said:
I live less than a mile from Swinley, so if anyone fancies a meet there im up ferret. Might want to leave it a few weeks though - several sections of trail are still under repair.
Not exactly a days ride though - usually less than 2 hours with a group and frequent stops.
Been meaning to work out a route down to - and around - tunnel hill, which WOULD be a fairly decent ride when you include Swinely - somewhere between 30 and 40 miles i suppose.
I've recently become a Swinley local as well. Not ventured down towards tunnel hill yet, but would be interested in learning the area Not exactly a days ride though - usually less than 2 hours with a group and frequent stops.
Been meaning to work out a route down to - and around - tunnel hill, which WOULD be a fairly decent ride when you include Swinely - somewhere between 30 and 40 miles i suppose.
Matt Sketch said:
I've recently become a Swinley local as well. Not ventured down towards tunnel hill yet, but would be interested in learning the area
Ive never been to tunnel hill, but have been meaning to for ages. The most ive done is download a GPX file for a ~12 mile route around the area.Just need to work out a decent link between there and the bottom of swinley forest, might have to be a road section.
daddy cool said:
Ive never been to tunnel hill, but have been meaning to for ages. The most ive done is download a GPX file for a ~12 mile route around the area.
Just need to work out a decent link between there and the bottom of swinley forest, might have to be a road section.
I think I may have a GPX file for linking up Swinley and Tunnel Hill/Deepcut.Just need to work out a decent link between there and the bottom of swinley forest, might have to be a road section.
I've been shown a decent Deepcut loop which is about 10 or 11 miles and you can go down through parallel to the Maultway to get between the two.
I'll have a look for the file and post it up here.
I'm also reasonably local to Swinley and ride there fairly often, I was there Friday and most of it was open and running fairly well.
neenaw said:
I think I may have a GPX file for linking up Swinley and Tunnel Hill/Deepcut.
I've been shown a decent Deepcut loop which is about 10 or 11 miles and you can go down through parallel to the Maultway to get between the two.
I'll have a look for the file and post it up here.
I'm also reasonably local to Swinley and ride there fairly often, I was there Friday and most of it was open and running fairly well.
Cheers, that will be good.I've been shown a decent Deepcut loop which is about 10 or 11 miles and you can go down through parallel to the Maultway to get between the two.
I'll have a look for the file and post it up here.
I'm also reasonably local to Swinley and ride there fairly often, I was there Friday and most of it was open and running fairly well.
This is the tunnel hill route i found online, and saved into garmin (hope its visible to other people):
http://connect.garmin.com/course/4937841
I was at Swinley Sat & Sunday, but only did the blue - and not Stickler as thats still closed. Im actually up there this weekend with TrailTeamSwinley doing repairs, so i assume thats one of the sections that will be focused on.
daddy cool said:
Cheers, that will be good.
This is the tunnel hill route i found online, and saved into garmin (hope its visible to other people):
http://connect.garmin.com/course/4937841
I was at Swinley Sat & Sunday, but only did the blue - and not Stickler as thats still closed. Im actually up there this weekend with TrailTeamSwinley doing repairs, so i assume thats one of the sections that will be focused on.
That route's pretty easy to link up with Swinley, if you're doing the red route at Swinley. Once you get to the top of the climb before Deerstalker you turn right through the fence which brings you onto Carcrash Moor. Follow the trail across, bearing left and it brings you out at the end of the Maultway by American Golf. From there you can nip through a gap in the trees which brings you onto some singletrack which can then be followed parallel to Maultway down to the top end of your route at Guildford Road.This is the tunnel hill route i found online, and saved into garmin (hope its visible to other people):
http://connect.garmin.com/course/4937841
I was at Swinley Sat & Sunday, but only did the blue - and not Stickler as thats still closed. Im actually up there this weekend with TrailTeamSwinley doing repairs, so i assume thats one of the sections that will be focused on.
Stickler, Tank Traps and Seagull are still closed and from what I've heard need quite a bit of work doing on them. The rest of the blue and red seem fine.
I'll probably head there later in the week if it stays dry and see how it's looking then.
Coolio good call. Now you mention it, i have been down that area near american golf on one extended ride we did.
Well, thats tonight sorted then: find a way to take two gpx files, combine them while at the same time adding in the route between the two, and saving as a combined output file! Should make a pretty decent day ride.
Well, thats tonight sorted then: find a way to take two gpx files, combine them while at the same time adding in the route between the two, and saving as a combined output file! Should make a pretty decent day ride.
daddy cool said:
Coolio good call. Now you mention it, i have been down that area near american golf on one extended ride we did.
Well, thats tonight sorted then: find a way to take two gpx files, combine them while at the same time adding in the route between the two, and saving as a combined output file! Should make a pretty decent day ride.
I've just emailed you a route. Well, thats tonight sorted then: find a way to take two gpx files, combine them while at the same time adding in the route between the two, and saving as a combined output file! Should make a pretty decent day ride.
Matt Sketch said:
I've recently become a Swinley local as well. Not ventured down towards tunnel hill yet, but would be interested in learning the area
Loads of swinley locals on here!Tunnel hill is great for natural single track and the odd short DH course with some nice jumps!
Myself on Saturday at tunnel hill!
I think one difference between Roadies and MTB guys is that Roadies know how good they are and can set a reasonable bar you aren't going to rock up for a 100mile ride with an average speed of 15mph if the best you can do is 50 at 15mph. How do you set the same bar on a MTB? one trail centres blacks are anothers reds some are roll able and easy (llandegla) others would do you a major mischief (Monkey Trail Cannock Chase).
I'm a Swinley local too and would def be up for a group ride Also interested in exploring other areas like Tunnel Hill (has anybody got any GPX routes for there? I have a hopeless sense of directioN!)
However I don't think I'm as fit or experienced as you boys!!!!!
I did a blue & red loop last night - most of it's open now and dried out. Still a few closures on both red and blue --> including riding there and back from home (I live close!) it was 22km. Probably worth letting it dry out a bit more still.
Also interested in exploring other areas like Tunnel Hill (has anybody got any GPX routes for there? I have a hopeless sense of directioN!)However I don't think I'm as fit or experienced as you boys!!!!!
I did a blue & red loop last night - most of it's open now and dried out. Still a few closures on both red and blue --> including riding there and back from home (I live close!) it was 22km. Probably worth letting it dry out a bit more still.
I wouldn't describe Swinley as my 'local' MTB area, as I live virtually on the doorstep of Hawley and Minley, with Fleet Pond/Long Valley/Caesars Camp all within striking distance without having to hit much tarmac at all.
On the other hand, Swinley is within riding distance for me, and I could work a route to Tunnel Hill via the canal towpath.
To ride to Swinley directly costs me about 8 miles of mostly road riding (terrible for tyre wear
) to get there, so in order to ride a single lap of the Red Trail, I do about 24 miles total, most of it, sadly, on tarmac. I am up for a meet at Swinley, or at least will be, once I get back on a bike again after this bloody shoulder injury.
The idea appeals a bit more than an organised road ride, as it's possible to drift away, or sit a run out, on a Trail day or to stay for an extra lap or two if you want, and it's not too far from home. The whole 'club run' scene has never appealed to me either, with nominated ride leaders etc. I'd rather join in if it were more of a 'loose collective' type of arrangement, where we follow a leader simply because he knows the local trails better than the rest of us.
I fear I would have to start at the back of any group though, as I'm neither super fast, nor super gifted, when it comes to riding anything technical. (One lap of Swinley's Red Trail takes me over an hour
)
On the other hand, Swinley is within riding distance for me, and I could work a route to Tunnel Hill via the canal towpath.
To ride to Swinley directly costs me about 8 miles of mostly road riding (terrible for tyre wear
) to get there, so in order to ride a single lap of the Red Trail, I do about 24 miles total, most of it, sadly, on tarmac. I am up for a meet at Swinley, or at least will be, once I get back on a bike again after this bloody shoulder injury.The idea appeals a bit more than an organised road ride, as it's possible to drift away, or sit a run out, on a Trail day or to stay for an extra lap or two if you want, and it's not too far from home. The whole 'club run' scene has never appealed to me either, with nominated ride leaders etc. I'd rather join in if it were more of a 'loose collective' type of arrangement, where we follow a leader simply because he knows the local trails better than the rest of us.
I fear I would have to start at the back of any group though, as I'm neither super fast, nor super gifted, when it comes to riding anything technical. (One lap of Swinley's Red Trail takes me over an hour
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