Trail Break Southern Trail Ride - Oct 11th - Dunsfold Surrey

[Akers]

I've just signed up for the TrailBreak.co.uk 'Southern Trail Ride' this weekend, starting (and finishing I hope!) at Dunsfold in Surrey. Wondered if any other pedalling Ph'ers were going?

It's my first one, so if anyone has been before and has any tips they'll be gratefully received. .

[JPJ]

I'm intending on going along with a few friends.

The events are well organised and the route marking usually very good, and the Bramley one was one of my favourites. Historically the long routes had a section which wasn't marked and you had to map read, but not sure if that's still the case.

I think we're planning on an early start and then hopefully off to the bike show in the afternoon.

[Gazzab]

That was my old hunting ground - some good muddy single track round there. You will probably do my old rides I am sure!

[spdpug98]

I was going to do the ride, but as they have changed it to Dunsfold I won't have time to complete the ride and get back

Hopefully be there for the next one

[DanH]

Tempted, but very new to cycling. How much effort is the short trail likely to be for someone not conditioned to bike riding nor terribly fit? Will I die?!?!

[Gazzab]

Just go at your own pace? The hills are ok, can get muddy? How far is the ride? 12 miles?

[DanH]

Gazzab said:

Just go at your own pace? The hills are ok, can get muddy? How far is the ride? 12 miles?

Yeah its only 12 miles. Got a bad cold at the moment though, so thinking it may not be the brightest idea.

[JPJ]

So how did you guys get on? Gorgeous day for it, particularly once the mist lifted. A good route with some reasonable climbs, although it would have been nice to make more use of the singletrack in that area, as it was annoying to ride past some of the known trails to realise we weren't going to get a go!

[Gazzab]

would love to know what route you took.

[Akers]

JPJ said:

So how did you guys get on? Gorgeous day for it, particularly once the mist lifted. A good route with some reasonable climbs, although it would have been nice to make more use of the singletrack in that area, as it was annoying to ride past some of the known trails to realise we weren't going to get a go!

We did OK, 3hrs 36 mins meant we scraped Silver by the skin of our teeth, though in our defense the minimal route marking in some places meant we lost time looking for the right path to take. I agree that it would have been nice to do some of the best trails, riding past the top of 'The Yogurt Pots' without getting to to down it was disappointing, but I can uderstand why they chose not to use some of the narrow singeltrack as they would have been potential bottlenecks.
Last 5 miles was a killer but it was worth it in the end!

I look forward to the next event and hope the weather is equally as kind as it was on saturday....

Gazzab said:

would love to know what route you took.

http://tinyurl.com/4sn9cp This is a download containing GPS and Google Earth data of the routes.

Edited by Akers on Monday 13th October 09:17

[JPJ]

We managed 3hrs 15 for the long route, which wasn't too bad given we got lost right at the beginning and did a 3km detour (don't ask!), plus one of my riding buddies managed to end up in the stream where the 'sleeper bridge' was. Annoyingly I missed it, but he looked pretty wet when he caught me up.

[jellison]

Akers said:

JPJ said:

So how did you guys get on? Gorgeous day for it, particularly once the mist lifted. A good route with some reasonable climbs, although it would have been nice to make more use of the singletrack in that area, as it was annoying to ride past some of the known trails to realise we weren't going to get a go!

We did OK, 3hrs 36 mins meant we scraped Silver by the skin of our teeth, though in our defense the minimal route marking in some places meant we lost time looking for the right path to take. I agree that it would have been nice to do some of the best trails, riding past the top of 'The Yogurt Pots' without getting to to down it was disappointing, but I can uderstand why they chose not to use some of the narrow singeltrack as they would have been potential bottlenecks.
Last 5 miles was a killer but it was worth it in the end!

I look forward to the next event and hope the weather is equally as kind as it was on saturday....

Gazzab said:

would love to know what route you took.

http://tinyurl.com/4sn9cp This is a download containing GPS and Google Earth data of the routes.

Edited by Akers on Monday 13th October 09:17

We did lose 10 - 15 mins due to crap signage though. But yep last 5 miles - my aching balls - must have less pressue in tires next time or get a bike like Akers (like a magic carpet!).