Worth bringing mtb to Southampton uni???

Alexgillespie
Alexgillespie Posts: 5
edited July 2009 in MTB general
i'm going to be moving down to southampton in september.
i mainly ride road, but like xc riding too, and was wandering with the new forest on my doorstep if it's worth taking another bike down with me.
are there good trails in the woods there??
by the looks of it there's a good train link from the city to the forest (ashurst station)if i didn't fancy the ride along the roads on my xc bike.
but will that get me near to some good windy trails??
any help apreciated
Alex

Comments

  • XxxBFGxxX
    XxxBFGxxX Posts: 1,355
    i ride in the new forest and other trails mate. there is lots to ride round this way. just make sure you get a good lock. i can also piont you in the right direction of a good shop
  • RealMan
    RealMan Posts: 2,166
    I've heard of some good riding that way, theres Lords Wood as well.
  • GHill
    GHill Posts: 2,402
    Worth thinking about where you'll keep it. When I was at Uni there wasn't anywhere to keep a decent bike.
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    GHill wrote:
    Worth thinking about where you'll keep it. When I was at Uni there wasn't anywhere to keep a decent bike.
    Your room..?

    And don't say 'it was too small...' because it wasn't! I live in a 3m X 4m room, for all my wordly possestions, AND a shower / toilet / washroom too. PLUS all my military kit, PLUS all my motorbike kit... And with 3 bikes, it is cramped, but meh, that's how 'the way of the bike' sometimes has to go...

    Still, not complaining really. Feels... Homely!

    :lol:
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • Naveed
    Naveed Posts: 728
    When I started Uni I brought my bike, then I discovered birds, booze and (censored) the steed got put into storage and didn't get used until 2 years after my graduation.

    True story. :wink:
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    Nah. Not for me! I don't drink (EVER!! And haven't in over 3 years), don't, and wouldn't do drugs. And have a steady GF of 2 years ( :shock: lol). But, she knows that she's AFTER the bikes... I've trained her well, so she understands the 'pecking order'. Lol.

    That said, she cycles (but only road stuff), so is beginning to understand on my level, how addictive, and how GREAT bikes are! YAY!!! :D 8)
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • Naveed
    Naveed Posts: 728
    Who said anything about drugs? (censored) meant watching French movies. To be honest Uni was the best time of my life. Met loads of great girls, got laid, learned about mateship, got drunk every day and then got a 2:1!

    Obviously I've got a GF now and have hit the booze on the head (only drink couple of times a month) into my cycling with a renewed passion and am fitter and leaner than ever.
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    So you never once had a toke on a spliff...?

    Man, that's some pretty staight-edge stuff! I guess chapeau if you didn't, but i wouldn't blame you if you had the occaisional smoke. Each to their own! And lifestlyes, as long as you don't end up either - a raging alcoholic / drug user, smoke-a-holic, or 20-tonne fat b@stard, then I don't mind what life you lead.

    And I only care that you don't end up one of the above, as they all take precious hospital beds away from those that really need them for no fault of their own. That, and ALOT of taxpayers money...!!! :evil:

    8)
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • Naveed
    Naveed Posts: 728
    So you never once had a toke on a spliff...?

    Man, that's some pretty staight-edge stuff! I guess chapeau if you didn't, but i wouldn't blame you if you had the occaisional smoke. Each to their own! And lifestlyes, as long as you don't end up either - a raging alcoholic / drug user, smoke-a-holic, or 20-tonne fat b@stard, then I don't mind what life you lead.

    And I only care that you don't end up one of the above, as they all take precious hospital beds away from those that really need them for no fault of their own. That, and ALOT of taxpayers money...!!! :evil:

    8)

    I did my final year dissertation on the predisposition of latent schizophrenia amongst casual drug users :shock:
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    Would most likely go, at least part-way to explaining why you never had a smoke then! :lol:
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • Naveed
    Naveed Posts: 728
    BigHAazard - must be difficult not drinking when at Uni. The pressure in England to drink is immense.
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    Never went to Uni, if I'm honest! I'm in the Army... And it's even worse than I imagine uni to be! (I've been out with my friends who are at uni on freshers weeks - never seemed too bad to be honest).

    But some of the Army guys.. All this bollox about ''you're not a real man 'till ya' drink this **insert either yard of ale / yard of mixed drinks (ale, beer, sprits, human bodily fluids, animal bodily fluids.. NOT nice) / pint of p*ss / 20 shots... Etc etc** and man up by not throwing it straight back up''...

    They ALL feel like they have a point to prove to you, and that to you WILL be made to consume vast amounts of alcohol...

    NOT my style, and have got into a few fights over it too... Wankers. That said, not all squaddies are like that. Just the vast, VAST majority...
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • Naveed
    Naveed Posts: 728
    Never joined the army myself but I always quite liked the idea of applying. My mate Mike is in the French army and he's been all over the world. He's crazy about mtbing as well (funny that)

    It would definitely teach you some life skills, but to be honest, I'd hate to be away from home and be stationed at a barracks. I'd find all that really tough.
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    It's tough out on tour, when you can't see, or speak, or contact in any way, loved ones at home. Especially when it get's a bit 'exciting'. But all-in-all, I love it.

    Yes, there are (alot) of sh1t times, but the good times out-weigh the bad times for me at the moment. It pays me to travel all around the world to some good, some bad places, but paid nonetheless. It's a secure job (rare in the current economical climate), with GOOD promotion prospects (even more rare!). Whats more, I have a HUGE (I'm 'only' on £20,000/year) disposable income (no bills, so what I get paid in the bank is MINE!).

    But it's certainly NOT for everyone. Most folks would probably hate it, but it's not so bad. Another good thing is injuries. I get paid regardless of whether I'm able to work or not, which includes if I'm injured out doing my own MTB, or whatever.

    Good times! :D 8)
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • Naveed
    Naveed Posts: 728
    I think the army needs good people like yourself Big Hazard. :wink: Stay safe comrade
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    Cheers mate! The Army is... an ecclectic bunch alrite! It needs a wide range of personalties to stay interesting. Otherwise, we'd all be WELL boring if there was an Army of me!! :lol: :oops:
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • GHill
    GHill Posts: 2,402
    GHill wrote:
    Worth thinking about where you'll keep it. When I was at Uni there wasn't anywhere to keep a decent bike.
    Your room..?

    And don't say 'it was too small...' because it wasn't! I live in a 3m X 4m room,

    A bit too small to be comfortable (a bike would block either the wardrobe or the desk/bed), but the real issue would be that the cleaner would have a fit and report me.
  • XxxBFGxxX
    XxxBFGxxX Posts: 1,355
    RealMan wrote:
    I've heard of some good riding that way, theres Lords Wood as well.

    +1 the guys in my lbs are always riding up there may give it a try somtime my self
  • XxxBFGxxX
    XxxBFGxxX Posts: 1,355
    GHill wrote:
    Worth thinking about where you'll keep it. When I was at Uni there wasn't anywhere to keep a decent bike.
    Your room..?

    And don't say 'it was too small...' because it wasn't! I live in a 3m X 4m room, for all my wordly possestions, AND a shower / toilet / washroom too. PLUS all my military kit, PLUS all my motorbike kit... And with 3 bikes, it is cramped, but meh, that's how 'the way of the bike' sometimes has to go...

    Still, not complaining really. Feels... Homely!

    :lol:

    i keep a susser and a road bike in a box room with my bed a freezer and a wardrobe lmfao. still rommy as well
  • boogercj
    boogercj Posts: 316
    Do it! I went to Southampton University (albeit 9 years ago now) and used to ride up Lordswood all the time. Some cracking singletrack there as well as some other interesting stuff;)
  • jojo90
    jojo90 Posts: 178
    Lords wood is amazing when it is dry :) PM me if/when you come up and we will show you the trails! (Not at the uni but close by - I move in Jan/Feb tho!)
  • pirwin1
    pirwin1 Posts: 248
    Definitely bring your bike!!!!!

    I'm at Southampton uni and the mtb club is brilliant.

    Here's the website: http://www.sumbc.co.uk/

    Lordswood is about 15 mins cycle from uni and has some really good trails. The club also runs trips to Wales every so often.
  • skullthaw
    skullthaw Posts: 321
    join the university mountainbiking club mate il see you there!
    we go riding iin robins wood most of the time and thats pritty good
    2 Broken fingers broken again... F@$%^£g hell that hurt!!!

    92% of teenagers have turned to rap. If your one of the 8% that still listens to real music put this in your sig.
    METAL!!!!!
  • skullthaw
    skullthaw Posts: 321
    a quick correction lords wood not robins

    the halls have got secure bike sheds but have a good lock!!
    2 Broken fingers broken again... F@$%^£g hell that hurt!!!

    92% of teenagers have turned to rap. If your one of the 8% that still listens to real music put this in your sig.
    METAL!!!!!
  • pirwin1 wrote:
    Definitely bring your bike!!!!!

    I'm at Southampton uni and the mtb club is brilliant.

    Here's the website: http://www.sumbc.co.uk/

    Lordswood is about 15 mins cycle from uni and has some really good trails. The club also runs trips to Wales every so often.



    that sounds ace.
    i'll definately bring it then,
    cheers for all your help guys