London Calling

thel33ter

njee20 wrote:

As an aside, my Top Fuel is the first Trek race bike I've had in years, after 4 consecutive Spesh, so my Trek allegiances aren't that strong. Although the new one's turned up now! :-)

Saw your bunch last weekend or whatever, the amount of carbon Spesh S-Works's was rather intimidating

You racer types ain't that oringinal though, apart from a steel SS and an Orange 5 they are the only brand I saw.

thel33ter

njee20 wrote:

That road opposite could be interesting to park on, nice little hill to get back onto the A25!

There is also parking by the church on the other side, and probably some spaces a bit further along.

Stan Leigh

thel33ter wrote:

In absence of Richard saying something, the bus stop in Wescott opposite Nirvana Cycles is a decent place to meet.

5 Guildford Road
Dorking, Surrey RH4 3NR

Yeah , that's cool by me . I don't mind parking a mile or two away if needs be . I've seen that shop , so see you there . 8)

njee20

You racer types ain't that oringinal though, apart from a steel SS and an Orange 5 they are the only brand I saw.

The club is Beyond Mountain Bikes/Specialized :-)

There was a Felt, a Scott and a Turner there too, otherwise yep, virtually all Spesh, they subsidise all the bikes, it's not a difficult choice for most people to make!

cooldad

Suggest a 'meeting' on here around 9am. My problem is going to be getting to a clear road. Without any major hills. RWD, hills and ice are not a great combination. Bloody council never grit my road, although walking down into the town centre this morning looks like they didn't grit anything. The snow must have surprised them, not like there was any warning or anything.

Anonymous

Haven't seen a gritter in days. The only reason the main road here is clear is by the weight of traffic.

Will see if I can park in Wescott. I expect every side road is covered and don't fancy the hill by the church (though last time they were chasing people away saying it's for church users only).

Stan Leigh

I'm setting off now . Any change of plan , I'm pm'ing my number to CD & DK . Thanks :?

Shmikuk

Out now!

njee20

How did you guys get on? I rode up the Downs Link to just beyond cranleigh, then up through Willinghurst to Winterfold, down into Peaslake, up onto Holmbury, Yoghurt Pots, back down BKB and back on the road, the singletrack was fine, but the fireroads were a nightmare! Hard going for sure!

French_Aristo

it now seems that I have t oremain in UK until at least 25th so it there anyone wanting to ride Swinley tomorrow?

thel33ter

One of the best rides of the year today, spent nearly three of the the hours we were out riding. Ended up doing 15 miles.

We went from Wescott up towards Summer Lightning, rode that, the DH side was untouched till I rode it. Then we rode it again. Then up to the tower, ride a trail all the way down, got lost and went back to the tower. Down the Play trails near deliverance, down Summer Lightning a third time, down that fun trail next to that road and barbed wire, and back home.

Stan Leigh

Spectacular ride out today , possibly the last Sunday ride of the year.

Thanks to the133ter for the above description of where we went as I just followed the bloke in front !

Did we see any other MTBers at all ? I think we had the whole place to ourselves !

thel33ter

Turns out due to my epically Knarly riding, one of my poor little spoke nipples couldn't stand the heat, so it gave up and self destructed, so can't do tomorrow



I remember seeing one guy on a hardtail with tinsel on it, and two others doing Summer Lightning when I was playing around on that drop, seeing only 3 people over 5ish hours is pretty rare.

njee20

We saw a bloke on his own and a group at Peaslake, but no one else, I thought it'd be busier actually.

cooldad

Me too, weird no one was out as it was really a lovely day (for snowy winter, I do miss 30+ degrees in December), the snow was nice and fresh in most places, and there was loads of grip on the trails.
Anyway their loss.

Anonymous

We stuck to Leith so not really any fire roads. Just paths to link up the trails and all fairly good to ride. A lot of barely touched snow and that was better to ride than rutted up mushy/frozen bits. The singletrack was mostly smooth going. Summer Lightning was great, even all the way along the end and down the bank of the lane.

A few photos







and one scenic photo

popstar

Thel33ter congratulations on finally riding that drop! What made you think you can ride it in the snow but stopped you riding it in good n dry weather?

It looked as if there were very few riders around. Stan as always looks most cheerful of the lot. I take it you lot stuck on Leith hill, what about Richard? No where to be seen on pix.

Anonymous

Don't know what happened to Richard. Maybe he was out with a shovel clearing Gatwick runway.

thel33ter

popstar wrote:

Thel33ter congratulations on finally riding that drop! What made you think you can ride it in the snow but stopped you riding it in good n dry weather?

It looked as if there were very few riders around. Stan as always looks most cheerful of the lot. I take it you lot stuck on Leith hill, what about Richard? No where to be seen on pix.

This is a different, slightly bigger one, but doesn't have a tree in the way.

Snow hurts less to crash on too

thel33ter

deadkenny wrote:

I surprised at just how bad my colour co-ordination is, I seem to have a nice red and green christmassy effect going on there.

Atz

I thought you'd encountered an elf out for his Sunday ride.

thel33ter

Good thing I had black tracksuit over my green tights

Mr_B1989

Bah missed some nice riding due to work ( been taking the long offroad route home though which made up a little bit for my lack of rides these past few weeks.

Stan Leigh

Just in case anybody is considering it in the next couple of days , trail conditions in SWINLEY are absolutely SUPERB , up the top & over the back ( tv mast ).

Snow is smooth , firm & amazingly grippy . Was there for a few hours this evening , pretty mild as well - so long as you keep moving !

bungalistic

Hopefully the snow will be gone next year and i'll get out again, I didn't fancy getting stuck on them wee roads if the snow came down

Atz

I had stuff to do yesterday PM and I didn't think it was going to be a short trip out, back and ride. Going to try to get an extra day off work this week and head out as the snow looks to be carrying on.

French_Aristo

Stan Leigh wrote:

Just in case anybody is considering it in the next couple of days , trail conditions in SWINLEY are absolutely SUPERB , up the top & over the back ( tv mast ).

Snow is smooth , firm & amazingly grippy . Was there for a few hours this evening , pretty mild as well - so long as you keep moving !

Stop trespassing on my play ground!!! ;-)

cooldad

@atz If you get out Wednesday or Thursday I'm off and thel33ter is here as well.

popstar

THU Popstar itching to get out and train !

cooldad

popstar wrote:

THU Popstar itching to get out and train !

THU? Do we take that to mean you may be available Thursday? Or is it random Popstar saying?