Swinley Forest / The Lookout

cooldad

Keep an eye on the London Calling thread. Motley bunch riding regularly at Swinley Tunnel Hill and Surrey Hills.

ads4

Had a great ride at Swinley yesterday, it's dried out nicely and was so quiet.

Swinley at its best.

flybywire

ace riding and very dry = fast..

rode behind the reservoir yesterday, never been over there before .. excellent natural yumps that you can really fly down and then on to crowthorne wood from starpoint riding bermy singletrack - awesome.

what's the newly laid trail with all the large berms ?(near the tank traps) that's fun also, tyres grip really well around there. 8)

cooldad

That's a new bit of Stickler. Good fun.
There's quite a lot of interesting stuff over the fence.
If those are the same yumps as I think, last winter they were all filled with a foot or so of icy water. The first one was a shock, by the end we were all laughing (and soaked).i

flybywire

stickler, ehh that's rather apt ! was it bob that designed/built that section?

is behind the reservoir usually off-limits? It was only due to following the enduro course signs that I went through a gap in the fence. Been riding over swinley since 1989 & didn't know it existed! would have been sketchy when icy..

Atz

Yes and no. Nobody will stop you but it's not strictly kosher

flybywire

good call - i'll bear that in mind

cooldad

Keep an eye on London Calling, often ride at Swinley. I was riding the same bits as you yesterday, probably passed each other at some point.

flybywire

yeah I'm over there quite a bit at the minute.. .Keen to link up with a group ride if being arranged through here or st.

Anonymous

flybywire wrote:

stickler, ehh that's rather apt ! was it bob that designed/built that section?

The Stickler is named after the ranger* bloke I think or someone like that. The new bit is an extension to it at the beginning (or end depending which way you run it).

BoB did the new bits and repairs as far as I know. They've done a pretty good job this time round and thankfully dry April has avoided the yellow stuff going gunky.

is behind the reservoir usually off-limits?

Through the fence is just outside of Swinley estate that's all. It's MOD land I think, but could be wrong. MOD isn't anti bikes at present on any land that is public access, but they are concerned about the increased presence of them, and aren't happy about published trails on the net or people building trails.

P.S. MTB Britain forums are good also for regular organised Swinley rides. Loads on there do Swinley. Seems to be the one main thread . We know a number of them, and them us, and swap back and forth between forums to arrange rides.


* - If it is the ranger, he's another person I have to thank for helping my folks recover my car and bike from Swinley a few weeks back!

flybywire

Must be an honour having a trail in your name .. the ranger's helpful by the sounds of it , got you out of a crisis - was it out of hours?

I know parts of trails named due to famed comedy crashing or being faved quite a lot.

Thanks for the info re: mtb britain & mod useful to know.

I'm at Swinley next Sat eve with some work buddies but may get a mid-week evening ride in also.. still dry so the yellow stuff is good and grippy but fast!!

Anonymous

flybywire wrote:

the ranger's helpful by the sounds of it , got you out of a crisis - was it out of hours?

One of a number who sorted out the logistics of recovery the day after I was packed off to Frimley Hospital. I was unconscious and it wasn't clear where my car was or the bike, or what the bike looked like. Between friends, family, the ranger and someone at Go Ape, they managed to work it out.

Lesson learnt in the whole adventure is that I need to carry important information, ensure people know where I am (though I was riding with someone that day), ensure emergency contact information is easily available, have some arrangement to get the car and bike back home, and so on.

Atz

Maybe we should set up a shared google doc with who we should phone if something goes wrong?

cooldad

One of you computer type boffins set it up and tell us what to do.

nozzac

Some reasonably major fires in Swinley over the last two days. The brigade were out and helicoptors etc late into the evening yesterday. Smoke was pouring over half of the village. I hope it hasn't done too much damage.

Actually, talking about damage - I was riding the trails in the MTB area last week and I came off as my wheel went into a deep hole - on the Labyrinth as I remember - I find it hard to believe some of these deeper holes are formed naturally. This was about 2 feet deep. Are there trail vandals around or a ranger who doesn't like the bikers or something?

cooldad

The holes just get dug out with use and braking. Adds to the fun?

Atz

If I'm right, the fire was/is over by the crowthorne end? Such nice weather, it'd be a shame for fire to spoil a sneaky evening ride

flybywire

Sorry to hear about the 'off 'Kenny & subsequent complications whilst unconscious.. the bike was ok was it?

An identity database for local mtbers.. A wrist band for services to refer to is easy to manufacture. Something like the Steve Cram idea or actually using one of those bands.

nozzac

deadkenny wrote:

Lesson learnt in the whole adventure is that I need to carry important information, ensure people know where I am (though I was riding with someone that day), ensure emergency contact information is easily available, have some arrangement to get the car and bike back home, and so on.

That's a sensible idea. I ought to do the same. i go riding on my own a lot.

Last year, early Sunday AM, I came off a jump in Swinley. I was knocked cold and when I woke up I was in terrible pain in my chest and side. Turns out I'd snapped 2 ribs off the sternum and broken some at the side too. I had cuts and bruises all down that side too.

I had to get home with my bike. It's only a couple of miles but it took me 2 hours because any kind of exertion made me breathe heavier which was agony. My chest still pops when I stretch!

Anonymous

flybywire wrote:

the bike was ok was it?

Yep. That's the important bit

cooldad

NozzaC wrote:

deadkenny wrote:

Lesson learnt in the whole adventure is that I need to carry important information, ensure people know where I am (though I was riding with someone that day), ensure emergency contact information is easily available, have some arrangement to get the car and bike back home, and so on.

That's a sensible idea. I ought to do the same. i go riding on my own a lot.

Last year, early Sunday AM, I came off a jump in Swinley. I was knocked cold and when I woke up I was in terrible pain in my chest and side. Turns out I'd snapped 2 ribs off the sternum and broken some at the side too. I had cuts and bruises all down that side too.

I had to get home with my bike. It's only a couple of miles but it took me 2 hours because any kind of exertion made me breathe heavier which was agony. My chest still pops when I stretch!

I did some riding alone this weekend (because my so called friends are either injured (you know who you are DK) or living it up in Wales).
Was over the fence with no one around and wondered what would happen if I came off.
Whether I'd die of exposure before the wolves got me?

Anonymous

If you did, the fires would wipe out all evidence.

flybywire

deadkenny wrote:

flybywire wrote:

the bike was ok was it?

Yep. That's the important bit

yes intended humorously -

Anonymous

cooldad wrote:

I did some riding alone this weekend (because my so called friends are either injured (you know who you are DK) or living it up in Wales).

Lacking my weekend socialising by not being able to ride also. May have to come along to the rides if only to observe. Might need a motability scooter to keep up though.

Either that or I start frequenting the pub.

cooldad

Git thel33ter this weekend, catch up the weekend after and I'll buy you a beer.

Stiff_Orange

cooldad wrote:

The holes just get dug out with use and braking. Adds to the fun?

Going to disagree with you a bit on this, The holes are "braking bumps" and they are caused by over braking and skidding, this rips up the surface. They've only just appeared over the last couple of years
None of the descents on the labyrinth area require that much braking, just a quick feather to regulate the speed. Unfortunetly the braking bumps make the whole course slower because they drag the bike, even if you flying over them at speed.

Remember Skids are for Kids.

cooldad

I don't skid and was making a joke. Notice the question mark? You may have also noticed I said they were caused by braking.
The whole area is just really heavily used now. Not much that can be done. BoB do what they can - as per new Stickler bit and relaying of Seagull.

ollie_lucas1985

If anyones doing a weekend ride I would be up for joining.. I cant look through 100's of pages of "londons calling" thread..

cooldad

Some of us riding Sunday Surrey Hills 9am at Walking Bottom carpark.

Soul Boy

Anybody got any information re. the fire? Is it in the part of the forest with the MTB trails? Really quite concerned with this. Swinley is such a good place to ride.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13277476