Ridgeway Loop Saturday 26th April

bren_gun

I'm in for Tuesday, probably not Thu though as its the Bontrager Twentyfour12 this weekend

strodey

I'm up for it! Any suggestions? Could start at foxhill, but i'm fairly easy on where we go!

bren_gun

I'm happy with Fox Hill (the small car park where the Ridgeway meets the road?) I don't really know that neck of the woods so someone who knows the trails would be a bonus

forgotrafe

OK here's a plan... BossAngel's not coming. So it's just three of us. Meet at 7.15pm at White Horse Hill car park as before. I sort of have a route in mind - head down towards Foxhill, taking in woods by Waylands Smithy, over towards Lambourn, send Strodey homeward when we're NE of Lambourn, finish route back to White Horse Hill car park. Be about 15mi or so.

Only 80% sure of the route, but I'll have a map and may have GPS with route loaded. Sound ok? 7.15 is tight for time for me so I'm driving from home to WHH - and bear with me if I'm a few mins late.

Next time we can meet at Foxhill and head west. Not cycled that way before but there's plenty of rights of way. Other options are meeting at Barbury Castle, Lambourn (with Strodey navigating) and Watchfield (with Bren_gun navigating).

strodey

Sounds good to me, i'll be up there for about 7.15, any probs i'll let you know!

bren_gun

Have you guys seen this??

http://www.singletrackworld.co.uk/forum ... &t=3681312

We need to go and check that out!!

dirtbiker100

argh blocked at work,
can someone quote it in a post here?

strodey

Woohh now thats looking like it will take up my thurs night!
See you guys tonight!!!!

lexiekay

argh blocked at work,
can someone quote it in a post here?

Its a bit long to quote the whole thing! Basically about a trail he found in the woods near Nationwide in swindon with some shore, and lots of dirt jumps.
Theres quite a few photos too

dirtbiker100

hot damn that sounds good. will make sure i check back here at home. sounds like my type of riding!

lexiekay

It actually looks really good...
Im going try find it this week, specially after i managed my first ever jump last night

dirtbiker100

ah man, just realised that i can use some of my daily "quota time" to look at the site so can see what the fuss is about. that looks really nice actually - especially with that mini shore stuff and what not. i can see me taking both my mtb and bmx so i can hit the jumps properly.
lexie fancy skipping birdlip tonight and finding this place? ha ha better not actually as there are a couple of guys from cheltenham who are expecting birdlip...
I might head over wednesday night at some point to try and find it quickly.

forgotrafe

Awesome stuff - and not heard a thing about it until now - hats off to Bren_Gun.

As Strodey says, that looks like Thur night is sorted! Just need to get a better idea of where it is.

Englishsid

Does anyone know where this is?

My planned route on Thursday was to go back into Swindon via Coate water and up to Old town to pick up the old railway... this has to be en-route doesn't it?

dirtbiker100

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 32444&z=16

its somewhere in the woods south of that placemark.

forgotrafe

I emailed original poster to see if I can get better directions to track. Will let you know if I find out more.

lexiekay

http://www.swindon.gov.uk/latestnews/latestnewsheader/news/newsitemdisplayv2.htm?itemid=106731

The official opening is today...!
I'm liking the bit about 'plans to extend the existing route...'

forgotrafe

HeHe, well done lexiekay. At least we now know why we've never heard of it!

Anyone up for meeting there Thur evening?

Englishsid

I plan to return via there on Thursday...

but have no clue about what sort of time...

leaving west Swindon at 6:30, so I'd guess about 8:30/9ish by the time we complete our route.

Bossangel

I may be missing something, i was all looking forward to doing the trail, untill i read its 1km?? how can i get excited about that. I have never ridden a man made trail before so thats why i'm asking whats the fuss?

dirtbiker100

If you're only used to riding the ridgeway and around the lakes i do feel you need to try out a man made trail. Try out Cwmcarn sometime
I'll be heading over one evening to see what its like (when my "£%£"^ bike's fixed ) 1km prob won't be worth it unless you live in swindon but worth going to see it anyway.

forgotrafe

Well, knowing that the trail in Swindon has the potential to be extended by another 5km, I'm going to go there tomorrow night and show my interest/support.

forgotrafe

Scrap that... Just seen this:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Cr ... on-swindon

Been to look at it. Car park just NW of above (off Pedlars Way/Nationwide roundabout) is perfect. Turn right when you enter car park and you should see a little white square with a blue bike on it. Follow arrow to find trail.

Trail itself looks fun and on a hillside so even though it's short it should be quite a workout.

Hopefully see some of you there tomorrow? Probably be there from 7.30pm ih in the yellow Land Rover as usual and, for those that don't know me, mustard coloured shirt, black camelback, trek 6500

forgotrafe

A friend and I went to Swindon Trail tonight. It has lots of potential but does need lots more work, though that's happening... I walked round it at 9pm last night and a bit more had appeared when I turned up at 7.30 tonight!

The bit they've finished is extremely well done, fun, quite technical (at least compared to the Ridgeway it is) and I can't wait for more to appear. My friend is reserving judgement for the time-being though I think this might have something to do with his bike playing up rather than the trail itself.

I think it will be an excellent venue for when you want a quick blast and/or something different. We'll have to wait and see but because it's on a hill and man made it might shift the water in the winter months. Could be perfect for a bit of night riding!

In short, I think much credit is due to the trail builders and it will be an excellent resource for local riders.

supercarl

thanks for the update forgotrafe, I'm going to pop over there at the weekend.

My main problem with Swindon is that I get lost with the various cycle paths :oops: is there a map anywhere that can help? I would rather cycle there than drive seeing as I'm not far from there!!

forgotrafe

Entrance to the trail is here.

supercarl

Thanks!

Englishsid

lol, I went straight past it on the way down from old town to coate at about 7pm last night

maybe next time I'll take the detour.

Bossangel

Saturday 26th July 5-6 pm i'm looking at starting from the shepherds rest and doing a 3 hour ride, i anticipate it will be 25-30 miles. Any takers???

supercarl

would love to, but need to build up fitness first!! :oops: