Riding in the Southeast
Alright guys,
I've just recently moved to london and need to get out on my bike out of the city this weekend!
So i'm looking for places to ride within a 2 hour drive or so from london. To give you an idea of what kind of riding i'm into, trail centres such as brechfa are pretty much my ideal, decent length route with fun trails.
Any advice much appreciated, and if anyone fancies a ride this saturday would be good to meet some others.
I've just recently moved to london and need to get out on my bike out of the city this weekend!
So i'm looking for places to ride within a 2 hour drive or so from london. To give you an idea of what kind of riding i'm into, trail centres such as brechfa are pretty much my ideal, decent length route with fun trails.
Any advice much appreciated, and if anyone fancies a ride this saturday would be good to meet some others.
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Swinley Forest is ok for a blast, some very nice singletrack over there. You'd be best off having a guide though.
Surrey Hills - Leith, Pitch and Holmbury Hill are very good (Probably the best riding in the SE imo). Again, you'll need a guide to get the best out of it though.
Aparently the Chilterns are ok too, i've only ever ridden Aston Hill down that way though, so can't really comment.
I have had some very good riding memories over Swinley and the Surrey Hills 8)0 -
Another vote for the Surrey Hills here, too! You may need a local to show you the best stuff, or Nirvana Cycles do some guided rides and route maps.0
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Ideal cheers guys, anyone who knows the area fancy a ride on saturday?0
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LarJones, have a look HERE. I rode with a few of these guys a few years ago. They know the area very well and are also a good bunch. Some of them are bound to be riding Swinley or the Surrey Hills this weekend. Failing that, try STW, i think that there's quite a few Surrey Hills riders on there.
Of course i'd join you myself, but it's a bit of a trek
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No worries, cheers for the info, looking foward to a good blat in the woods.0
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I'd be up for a ride most Saturdays and Sundays, just can't do this one. I'm just getting back into biking so could do with a riding partner to train with and find out some good routes. Drop me a line if you're planning anything later on.Always Aim For Puddles0
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I went to Swinley last night and it was fantastic.
I have heard (never been) that Swinley can get very busy at the weekends.0 -
Wildfire - I'd be fairly keen for getting out most weekends, along with a friend from work i think so drop us an email or message something when you fancy it.
I'l be giving swinly a go on saturday, if it's crowded i shall have to deal with it i guess!0 -
+1 for Surrey & Swinley
Have a look here for info about loads of our favourite riding haunts in and around the SouthEast
You're more than welcome to come say 'Hi' if you see us out and about.0 -
Swinley is brill. need to look for the good techy DH stuff, but single track simple to find. Leith Hill is brill also. there every week, new trail every time I go. I'm there most sat/sun and after work in week if you up a blastsuperowl17..**0
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Cheers for the info guys, headed to swinley on saturday and found some pretty cracking trails, was real good, until we decided to call it a day and didn't know where we were! Was all good though.
Will be looking to explore other spots, leith hill seems to have cropped up a few times so shall be sure to check that out soon, i'l give you guys a shout probably.0 -
Where in London do you live? i live in Ealing
Swinley is good, you should also try out PORC and Aston Hill.0 -
I live around Watford would any of you would like to let me tag along for some mtbing in Surrey? Can normally make saturdays and/or sundays!0
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paul_k wrote:vrapan wrote:I live around Watford would any of you would like to let me tag along for some mtbing in Surrey? Can normally make saturdays and/or sundays!
What type of riding do you do?
I am a newbie really, prefer single track to deep drops or hard core MTBing but did Permancho and Marin trails in Wales a couple months ago and loved it.
I have been looking for people to explore the Chilterns with but without much success so I am hoping to find a couple of buddies to ride with elsewhere.0 -
vrapan wrote:paul_k wrote:vrapan wrote:I live around Watford would any of you would like to let me tag along for some mtbing in Surrey? Can normally make saturdays and/or sundays!
What type of riding do you do?
I am a newbie really, prefer single track to deep drops or hard core MTBing but did Permancho and Marin trails in Wales a couple months ago and loved it.
I have been looking for people to explore the Chilterns with but without much success so I am hoping to find a couple of buddies to ride with elsewhere.
I only really ride Aston Hill in that area. Ill give you a shout next time we are going swinley or aston etc0 -
That would be very cool Paul! Thanks0
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oooo!
i was thinking about heading up to swinley at some point... i's still a beginner though i would say. Ideal place to find something new and different to improve on?
How do you go about getting a guide? and do you get the permit things when you are there on the day?0 -
yep something for everyone at Swinley if you know where to look.0
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Alright guys, to who asked i live in leyton, near stratford, which is a pretty dull part of london but convenient for work, so it'l do for now.
Been to swinley past couple of weekends and enjoyed it, thinking of trying somewhere different this sunday, leith hill or aston.
Am i right in thinking guides are required to get the most out of these places? Also, hints on where they are? Anyone up for a ride sunday to meet around 11/12ish probs give us a shout, i expect we'll be going to explore somewhere either way!0 -
Here are a couple of links to a lot of the singletrack over Swinley, courtesy of Gruff of www.mtbuk.co.uk
http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~spr00lrd ... BArea.jpeg
http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~spr00lrd ... lRoute.jpg
http://www.personal.reading.ac.uk/~spr0 ... etrack.pdf0 -
They don't check the permit thing at all. i tbh do get it but not all the time every now and then since its not fair to avoid it all the time plus i make donations to it some times is well so it makes up. Find someone there and ask them to come along everyone is super friendly.
When are you looking to head up if i m there i don't mind helping you.0 -
Probably not until winter now... need to start getting back on my bike properly first. ive only been riding a year but on and off. want to give myself a chance to get into prperly again
my frined and i would need some sort of guide so that would be a great help! be warned, im still slow on a lot of uphill! my legs often surprise me though! lol!0 -
LarJones wrote:Alright guys, to who asked i live in leyton, near stratford, which is a pretty dull part of london but convenient for work, so it'l do for now.
Ha ha, not too far from us! East London is OK, not as bad as everyone thinks...for MTBing, if you don't want to travel too far away, pop over to Wanstead, you can cycle from the Green Man Roundabout onto Leyton flats (not sure that's what it's called, anyway the old gravel pits btwn Whipps Cross Rd and Hollybush Hill), then you can cycle through forests all the way to Epping Forest...just basically head north and you can't go far wrong (see satellite images on google maps)...When you go under the A406, turn left under the A104 otherwise you will miss the forest and end up on the A104.
Alternatively, take the tube to Epping forest (theydon bois/loughton), you're allowed non-peak on the overground bit without having to wrap it up in parcel-form
We're only just getting into MTBing but will probably get to know the area quite well, because we stupidly bought a sports car without thinking about it's inability to carrying bikes....oops :oops: Will let you know if we find any good bits!0 -
LEYTON??
Ha ha, not too far from us! East London is OK, not as bad as everyone thinks...for MTBing, if you don't want to travel too far away, pop over to Wanstead, you can cycle from the Green Man Roundabout onto Leyton flats (not sure that's what it's called, anyway the old gravel pits btwn Whipps Cross Rd and Hollybush Hill), then you can cycle through forests all the way to Epping Forest...just basically head north and you can't go far wrong (see satellite images on google maps)...When you go under the A406, turn left under the A104 otherwise you will miss the forest and end up on the A104.
Alternatively, take the tube to Epping forest (theydon bois/loughton), you're allowed non-peak on the overground bit without having to wrap it up in parcel-form
We're only just getting into MTBing but will probably get to know the area quite well, because we stupidly bought a sports car without thinking about it's inability to carrying bikes....oops :oops: Will let you know if we find any good bits!0 -
Any of you guys fancy riding Swinley tomorrow (9th)? I ride there quite alot, but don't know many people that ride down here as i'm mostly away at uni.0
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WildfireS3
Hey Wildfire
What standard are you? I've got general fitness but not skill on MTB. I just posted that I was looking to ride with people, are you interested at all?
Thanks, ANna0
