London Calling

supra-man

thel33ter wrote:

Its one of the ones on the DH tracks, not 100% which one it is but its the really long one that I can never get enough air on.

ah yes, i think the one where you land in a tight left hand berm.

Atz

STW forum rides can be a bit odd if a lot of people turn up. Year or two ago we had 40 or so people turn up. 4 groups, a lot of talking etc. Me I'm riding early Saturday if at all as I've got plans for the rest of the weekend. Depends on the weather really as if it's going to be slushy on the trails I'll dig out the SS road bike again.

Cooldad - You need your post this week, if so let me know how to find you and I can drop it off on the way home, it's only a little out of my way to go to Woking.

Anonymous

The Swinley thing could be worth it for a change. How strange are those STW folk though?

But otherwise Surrey Hills as usual is fine.

supra-man wrote:

so otherwise what dates for Xmas drinks?

I cant the 11th of dec, or only the afternoon friday 10th is good weekend after as well

So far, not this Fri or the 17th, but otherwise looking okay. Saturdays following either of these may be a push for me though but might be over the worst of it by the evening

When's the next tube strike anyway? (if it's "in town"). Though anywhere walk-able from Waterloo or Victoria is good. Can easily walk to central areas anyway. Or somewhere else?

cooldad

I'm easy as well. Swinley or SH. If we go to Swinley and don't fancy a big crowd we can do our own thing, but SH is always fun.
@Atz - thanks I'll text you my address, once you know what you are doing on Saturday let me know and we'll arrange something.

njee20

The Genius was a demo bike, im not going away from my roots, don't worry :-)

Still rode in Lycra too, just for good measure! It rode a lot better than I'd expected I must admit, and I'm sure you're right about choosing rougher lines, would've liked to take it down Wedgy, just ran out of time.

Anonymous

Getting proper snow now in Surrey (as much as you can call it proper snow in this part of the world). Though heavy rain predicted for Sunday so muddy slush perhaps.

Still, if a few mm of snow means I can't get to work tomorrow I may ride over to Tunnel Hill and have a play in the snow.

Atz

Got a few inches here so far. Finally, proper snow.

thel33ter

I'm stuck at Cooldads in Woking, and schools closed for today and tomorrow. Weather is now saying sunny for Sunday.

njee20

just want to convince Njee to come out, I've raced Marines and super duper rich roadies and Richards singletrack speedyness. Now I want to see how I compare to a proper racer

I keep an eye on the thread don't worry. I'll get out sometime, time is my problem, I don't tend to have all day to ride, I usually just go out for 3 hours hard riding. We can have a race sometime though, don't worry! Not really got an MTB currently either, which is a spanner in the works!

Anonymous

Lucky for some. Roads here look passable and if I don't go to work I don't get paid. Still, few cars on the roads as most seem to be bunking off and schools shut.

Ideal for the bike though. Not deep enough to be impossible on the trails I should think. Swinley could be good.

Atz

Depends if the mud under the snow has frozen. I'm not a fan of riding snow with 3 inches of mud underneath it.

njee20

It's been frozen for days, so I'd say the bigger issue is that it'll probably now be really icy under the snow in places!

supra-man

I d agree with njee and then its getting to ride location...i m not sure how clean and easy the roads are though. bkb in snow must be fun.... wedgy hmmm

thel33ter

Getting to Swinley will be OK, as all the roads around there are clear, not sure about getting to Walking Bottom though.

Anonymous

Main roads are fine. Side roads aren't too bad if they're on the flat.

It's fairly similar to how it was before Christmas last year and back then it was possible to get to Walking Bottom in a two wheel drive car with much care. Had to take the main road into Peaslake rather than the back road lanes to Walking Bottom I usually take.

Don't know about Swinley, but Surrey Hills will be fine in terms of frozen mud. It was excellent last week as the mud had dried and frozen. Conditions were almost like summer riding on hard packed surfaces just with a little bit of frost thrown in . With snow on top it should be great.

Sadly I made it to work with no problem though and snow has stopped for the rest of the week so work for me . Weekend is a switch to Atlantic wet and warmer weather with possible rain, or at least warm enough to melt.

frogstomp

We had planned a trip to the North Downs tomorrow (Taking It Easy route) - any updated local knowledge as to whether the trail is in a rideable state and, just as importantly, if the local roads are passable to get there!?

Don't think there is much snow forecast overnight so hopefully it shouldn't get any worse..

TIA!

thel33ter

The smaller roads will probably be deadly, trails will be a mixture of snow and ice, cause tonight is meant be be around -7.

cooldad

Trails should be interesting but passable. The bits on your map are basically fire roads connected by roads. Will miss out most of the best bits of singletrack.
Roads might be a bit sketchy, I would suggest staying on a main route - maybe access from the A25 at Wescott which should be clear. Adds a bit to the trip but probably worth it.
That's also quite a long route you have planned if you don't know the area.
And beware of wolves and bears.

cooldad

Sunday - Swinley or SH?

Anonymous

If it's going to be melting and rain at the weekend which they're predicting, Swinley may be crap. Rain may still be snow in Surrey Hills and snow may stick around. But then depends on the road conditions.

thel33ter

Metcheck is saying dry for Dorking on Sunday ATM, Swinley truely is terrible when it get sludgy, everything becomes either a lovely glue like substance, or a mudbath.

cooldad

So SH. 10am, somewhere.

Me DK and thel33ter so far.

AllWhyte

Conditions Report.
Rode Winterfold yesterday afternoon as far as I could see no other bikes where out, 8" deep powder I was the first down the trails mud has thawed, hard word riding in frozen snow ruts where people had walked

Plaisir

Bah looks like another weekend out for me, bike is still in surgery. Amongst the myriad of other problems - a cracked jockey wheel. How the **** do you manage that! Anyway will come back to me 2X9 with bashring, fully bled brakes, sorted rear mech (that log took its tole on the mech + hanger) kmc heavy duty chain and generally all cleaned and tightened up. Can't wait!

supra-man

Plaisir wrote:

Bah looks like another weekend out for me, bike is still in surgery. Amongst the myriad of other problems - a cracked jockey wheel. How the **** do you manage that! Anyway will come back to me 2X9 with bashring, fully bled brakes, sorted rear mech (that log took its tole on the mech + hanger) kmc heavy duty chain and generally all cleaned and tightened up. Can't wait!

Ohh this sounds like a cwm carn test ride: while you are at it get a chain device on, for dual rings.
I ve done cracked jokey wheel, and ripped off a third of a shimano cassette going uphill...

Ill maybe be out depending on roads

Anonymous

supra-man wrote:

Ohh this sounds like a cwm carn test ride: while you are at it get a chain device on, for dual rings.

What benefit do you get for a dual ring set up? Was thinking of a bash and dual ring myself. Maybe even go as far as a single at the front as the granny never works anyway. Not that I "bash" the big ring though, but I just never use it.

supra-man

deadkenny wrote:

supra-man wrote:

Ohh this sounds like a cwm carn test ride: while you are at it get a chain device on, for dual rings.

What benefit do you get for a dual ring set up? Was thinking of a bash and dual ring myself. Maybe even go as far as a single at the front as the granny never works anyway. Not that I "bash" the big ring though, but I just never use it.

benefits:
Ground clearance (big ring bash guard has ssen lots of rocks and logs)
possibility to fit chain device/tensioner
less weight less gears to go wrong ( never been a problem for me tough)

single is hard work, even though i like it.

Atz

When my device turns up, I'm going 2x9

Anonymous

And the bonus of the chain device?

supra-man

deadkenny wrote:

And the bonus of the chain device?

look at this.. http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://ww ... S73NwGTkkw

from min 3. 40
It ll make sense at the end. And if there was a chain device it wouldnt have been jumping all over the place and got where it was. And end up with your cranks jammed.. lucky chain did nt snap.