XC riding north of London

pittpony

Does anyone know of any good XC riding north of London - Hertfordshire, Essex or surrounding areas? I'm meeting a mate who's coming down from the midlands so am looking for somewhere roughly equal distance between Leicestershire and East Kent.

I hear Epping forest is worth a look but was wondering what else is out there

Thanks

Bmjboy

How weird is that? - Im doing "almost" the same thing.... Ive asked about Epping on here this week, but also would be interested in other sites for riding with some decent singletrack.

Ideally looking for somewhere equidistant from Flitwick in Bedfordshire and Gillingham in Kent, I think we plumped for Epping although I cannot make this weekend now.

Will monitor this thread with a beady eye....... :shock:

pittpony

Bmjboy wrote:

How weird is that? - Im doing "almost" the same thing.... Ive asked about Epping on here this week, but also would be interested in other sites for riding with some decent singletrack.

Ideally looking for somewhere equidistant from Flitwick in Bedfordshire and Gillingham in Kent, I think we plumped for Epping although I cannot make this weekend now.

Will monitor this thread with a beady eye....... :shock:

I guess being on the outskirts of nowhere we're bound to be looking for neutral places to meet friends!

I'm considering Swinley Forest as its 2 hours from each of us so doable as a day trip if you get a decent morning loop, lunch then a blast in the afternoon 8)

dodgyknees

Bedgebury has a good singletrack trail plus a freeride area.

For more options try the Moredirt website.

http://www.moredirt.co.uk/

Bmjboy

dodgyknees wrote:

Bedgebury has a good singletrack trail plus a freeride area.

For more options try the Moredirt website.

http://www.moredirt.co.uk/

Wrong way matey, I think we are trying to avoid Bedge at all costs(!)

Just had a quick chat with my mate, and it works out that Swinley is equal driving miles between us, although geographically not in our path, its the same driving time/miles so may give that a go.

Seems to be a favoured haunt amongst a few regulars here.

JakeWC

Have you thought of Chicksands (Bedford) with an XC loop and big freeride/4x area? Or for pure xc Thetford is very flat but good fun.

Epping and Danbury are good but you really need to know you way around to get the most out of them.

impished

dodgyknees wrote:

Bedgebury has a good singletrack trail

5 hours and still NO anti-Bedgebury rant from Russ :shock: He must be doing that thing Pittpony keeps doing. Erm... socialising. Or drooling over this months copy of MBR/MBUK

RussAlf

impished wrote:

dodgyknees wrote:

Bedgebury has a good singletrack trail

5 hours and still NO anti-Bedgebury rant from Russ :shock: He must be doing that thing Pittpony keeps doing. Erm... socialising. Or drooling over this months copy of MBR/MBUK

Oh i saw it earlier, it was hard to resit posting. I dont drive 15mins down the road to go there let alone make it the venue for a special event. They are however currently building a new section and from the pics ive seen it has berms and small jumps, could be promising.

Would you like a tour guide for swinley? i do good rates.

pittpony

I'm not sure if Bedgebury fits the bill either geographically or in terms of what's on offer but thaks for the suggestion.

Chicksands looks interesting but is a fair trip for me - but not too far from my parents so i guess i could combine the trip! Thetford seems to have more XC to offer but seems very flat. I hear there is a black route - anyone got any experience of it?

Otherwise i may take you up on the tour of Swinley Russ. Do you accept payment in jacket potato / sandwich form??

Bmjboy

pittpony wrote:

Otherwise i may take you up on the tour of Swinley Russ. Do you accept payment in jacket potato / sandwich form??

Might have to also take up this tour of Swinley, as my suggestion to try Swinley seemed to go down well.

I have some magic beans, and some fluff in my pocket, and a few chewing gums in the van?

deadpool2e

when are we talking about guys? If i have a car and a bike i will join you.

pittpony

I'm looking at either next weekend (15/16th) or the weekend after (22/23rd) depending on what else i have on. Any idea when your bike (or replacement) will come back??

impished

pittpony wrote:

I'm looking at either next weekend (15/16th) or the weekend after (22/23rd) depending on what else i have on. Any idea when your bike (or replacement) will come back??

Oh, I really should've cleared my cold by then :roll: So as long as you don't mind my verbal-dioherria, I'll be able there.

deadpool2e

pittpony wrote:

I'm looking at either next weekend (15/16th) or the weekend after (22/23rd) depending on what else i have on. Any idea when your bike (or replacement) will come back??

hopefully this week

RussAlf

I could do next weekend but i dont want to be intruding on your meet up with your mates Nick and BMJ.

deadpool2e

RussAlf wrote:

I could do next weekend but i dont want to be intruding on your meet up with your mates Nick and BMJ.

yep didnt think about that, dont want to be a gooseberry.

pittpony

deadpool2e wrote:

RussAlf wrote:

I could do next weekend but i dont want to be intruding on your meet up with your mates Nick and BMJ.

yep didnt think about that, dont want to be a gooseberry.

No not at all - as always everyone is very welcome. As soon as i sort out when we're riding i'll let you know. The more the merrier!

Bmjboy

I can go for a few weeks anyhow, plus Afan has pretty much shaken every nut and bolt loose on my bike as I found out this week, so my ride needs some TLC before it gets out again.

My new brakes are now on, but until I get my cones tightened front and back I cant test them.

My missus in her wisdom has since made a great comment:

"Youve got a mountain bike right? - so why is it knackered after going down a Welsh Valley?"

I made a comment about handbags and shoes and she soon shut up!

deadpool2e

Bmjboy wrote:

I can go for a few weeks anyhow, plus Afan has pretty much shaken every nut and bolt loose on my bike as I found out this week, so my ride needs some TLC before it gets out again.

My new brakes are now on, but until I get my cones tightened front and back I cant test them.

My missus in her wisdom has since made a great comment:

"Youve got a mountain bike right? - so why is it knackered after going down a Welsh Valley?"

I made a comment about handbags and shoes and she soon shut up!

I have a wife like that as well... I call her my loveable emilda marcos

RussAlf

Bmjboy wrote:

I can go for a few weeks anyhow, plus Afan has pretty much shaken every nut and bolt loose on my bike as I found out this week, so my ride needs some TLC before it gets out again.

My new brakes are now on, but until I get my cones tightened front and back I cant test them.

My missus in her wisdom has since made a great comment:

"Youve got a mountain bike right? - so why is it knackered after going down a Welsh Valley?"

I made a comment about handbags and shoes and she soon shut up!

My grilfreind trys to be my wife, as far as she is aware my bike costs about £600 she also didnt understand why i had to buy a new frame, surely all mountain bikes are designed to go down mountains and they all do the same thing?Bless em

Let us know when you get it sorted it would be good to get a ride in together.

Bmjboy

Its weird isnt it? - Us men need to keep our bikes in good condition, mine was about £500 brand new.

But since spent about the same on clothing, shoes, spares, helmet, camelbak, bikerack, gps, tools, workstand, tyres etc etc.... all to keep it running smooth.

This to her, is a waste of money. That £500 should ensure the bike runs perfectly for 5 years!

Now when I see about 12 handbags in the cupboard and shes sporting another one because its a bit different from the others, I dont understand.

And then the shoes!..............

Thats why men and women are different I guess, but then I wouldnt want to be with a woman who made 1 pair of shoes last a year and that spends all of about £3 on hair product a year! God bless 'em!

stumpy4ever

you could also try the chilterns :
if on a weekend there is aston hill which is not far from M1
http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/Home.html
next door is wendover foresty commission place with good cafe, very tame cycle routes and a go ape!
oh and some good pubs nearby at marsworth or thereabouts on the canal.

or look on here - these guys have bunch of routes
www.sillygrin.co.uk

andyturner28

pittpony wrote:

deadpool2e wrote:

RussAlf wrote:

I could do next weekend but i dont want to be intruding on your meet up with your mates Nick and BMJ.

yep didnt think about that, dont want to be a gooseberry.

No not at all - as always everyone is very welcome. As soon as i sort out when we're riding i'll let you know. The more the merrier!

In that case, mind if i tag along too then I'm off next weekend as far as i know.

deadpool2e

i Can do next week sunday or the week after saturday or sunday. let me know.

pittpony

I'll have a word with my mate and see if he fancies Swinley on Sunday. I'll let you know

pittpony

My mate can't make it this weekend but wants to ride Swinley on the 23rd Nov. Russ / Mark are you available for guide duties?

Anyone else welcome as always but bear in mind my mate doesn't ride as much as us so you'll have to go a bit easy on him.

deadpool2e

Should be ok for then aswell, but will let you know nearer the time.

You still up for this Sunday?

guilliano

Go explore the Chilterns! Some great natural riding around the Princes Risborough area, as well as Chinnor, Tring/Wendover, Woburn Sands, Chicksands........