A regular ride in Essex.

BigJimmyB

Sent text again but no reply - did you get it OK Muddlylegs?

DC01

Was in thordon today for a few hours. Conditions were terrible. Probably worst i seen. hope it dries up a bit soon. trails are really gatting chewed up.

robertpb

First time out for over three weeks today following an argument between my ribs and a root over at Thorndon.

I broke into singing a few lines of a Flanders and Swann song.

Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud.

I don't think I've seen it as mucky as this in forty odd years of riding there, probably because in the past the usage was considerably lower.

Still I rode for 2 1/2 hours in the rain when the local Met Office forecast at midnight said it was going to be sunny.

DC01

Planning to go thorndon tom morn. any one been in last few days to give idea on conditions?

robertpb

Rode over there on Wednesday late afternoon very muddy in some areas in others dry.

Since then we've had the snow and freezing, that will increase the mud plus the churning.

I've put my Trailracker on the back for tomorrow morning, the Minion was doing pretty well but a few deep patches had it struggling.

I'll be riding out of Thorndon South at about 9am, it usually takes me about 45 minutes to ride to there frorm south of Warley and down through Thorndon North so it's only a rough time.

jkbs1

Anyone have a gps route of Thorndon?

DC01

Not going to be over there till about 1ish. On the football run with the kids.
Will give it a go anyway. Mud and slop all part of the fun.
Had a go on my local loop this morn. River Ingerbourne burst it banks and flooded the trails. Trail was badly water logged anyway, worse now. Even on tow path to get to the bridge at st goerges hosp, water came above BB.

DC01

jkbs1 wrote:

Anyone have a gps route of Thorndon?[/q

I haven t. Tend to just follow my nose over there. But been riding over there a while and stiil missing some decent bits i think. Some of the more regular people on this thread might be able to help.

robertpb

Hi jkbs1,

If you google the area you can see the basic layout of the Thorndon ride.

If you start from Thorndon South there's a few permutations to Thorndon North.

Then there are a quite a few different trails to ride up to the entrance gate.

From there you can ride into Hartswood which has many trails, then cross over into Donkey Lane Plantation again many trails.

Come out the far side of here in front of Fords Offices and go down to Warley Gap, both sides of the road have good downhill trails.

On the way back to Thorndon by the side of Fords there are some more trails.

There is probably 35 miles of trail, I ride from just south of Warley and back and have clocked up 36 miles without riding every thing.

DC01

Is there still a crew of you thatstart from the south car park? been riding there for a bit and didn t know the trails extended that far.

robertpb

Hi DC01,

I ride over there Sat, Sun and a couple of days in the week.

The Sunday ride starts from the South car park at 9am. It was a ride of one this morning, nobody willing to come out and play, still I put in 3 1/2 hours of riding and had a great time.

If you or anyone else wants to tag along I can show you around.

DC01

Sounds good to me. Was went to meet over ther a few weeks ago but was struck with man flu, shortly after that rear seat stay snapped on bike. so touch wood and all being well should be ok within next couple of weeks if thart ok with you.

bazzz

iam off work all week any one up for a ride day or night ?

jkbs1

Thanks Robertpb,

Will ride over to Thorndon over the next few weeks for a look around now that I have an idea of where the trails are. Rode over to the entrance behind the Halfway House (South Entrance?) last year but stayed on bridlepaths as I had no knowledge of the area.

Thanks again,

JKBS

DC01

anyone up for a ride at thorndon on saturday. around 8am.

bazzz

be up for a ride but not that early. work nights so maybe 9am would be better.

DC01

9 ok with me. anyone else?

EppingRich

Anyone up for a ride in Epping Forest this Saturday? Say 10am.. location to be agreed? Not been out this year yet so be kind! Rich

bazzz

epping is still like a bog , more pushing and swimming than biking. come to thorndon on saturday.

robertpb

I rode over Thorndon Yesterday (Sunday) and lots of it was pretty dry but some of it was very slippy even my trailraker was struggling.

I'll be over there on Sat as usual so when a place and time is decided I'll turn up

bazzz

if ok with everyone 9am at the halfway house car park i will park before the width restriction.

DC01

I ll be there. Be in silver mondeo. Might have a couple of newbies with me as well.

DC01

Anyone in Thordon sunday morning.

robertpb

I'll be there Saturday and Sunday

DC01

about 9 ish at usual meet point.

robertpb

I'll be there Sunday at 9 ish.

a17vts

I went out on Saturday morning, I think I go there about 9.50am and left around 12.00 noon. First time I've been up there in months and forgot how good it was. I was all on my own and glad I was as I felt so unfit!

muddylegs

www.mudsweatgears.co.uk

Please look at this race series it looks good. Prices are all on the web site.

Nick Dastardly

I'm definitely up for a bit of that. Had been planning on my first race this year but was going to put it on hold because time/illness/injury have meant I've not been on the bike as much as I'd have liked. can't pass it up being so close though!

Guess you've got a bit of insider info on the Langdon Hills course then Muddylegs? I'll be expecting a podium finish from you!

Yeti_man

Cool, I presume that the third round, the one at Laindon is/was Havoc on the Hill ? I did that last year and really enjoyed it, can't make that one this year as I'll be in Peru biking (a fair swap I think !) but definately going to do the other two.

Any one out over Thorndon tomorrow ? (Sunday 15th)

Usual meeting place & time ?