London Calling

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  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    Next weekend I am doing late shifts, so wouldn't be able to join in Surrey hills. Swinley forest on the other hand is possible. But then, there are very few early birds to ride in the morning.

    Supraman, I am no racer for those events ... really compromised by various shifts at work for that.
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • Atz
    Atz Posts: 1,383
    My house guests for the weekend appear to have bailed so should be up for something on one of the days.
  • CrazySmudge
    CrazySmudge Posts: 137
    Hi guys

    down at bedgebury this weekend for a change if anybody is interested in tagging along?

    Al
  • jimgeorge
    jimgeorge Posts: 6
    bedgebury is my usual haunt, but have a party on the Sat night in Marlow & since i'll be driving back along M25 past Reigate it makes sense to stop in at Surrey hills. Up for Bedgebury another weekend though.
    guess i'll keep an eye on the thread & see if any thing comes together, if not I might just persuade the GF to join me & go explore.
  • Atz
    Atz Posts: 1,383
    Jim - If you're interested for the Surrey Hills and have a preference on day, let me know and if we're organising something we'll try to make it fit.
  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    Kona mashup eh... pity I'm not quite old enough :cry:

    Can't make anything for next week, and probably not for the next two cause of school and races and parents and stuff :? Maybe the 2nd or definately the Sunday after that.
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Sunday after is the Woking Bikethon I think (9th)

    2nd should be fine, and the Monday is a holiday
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

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    Parktools
  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    thel33ter wrote:
    Kona mashup eh... pity I'm not quite old enough :cry:

    Can't make anything for next week, and probably not for the next two cause of school and races and parents and stuff :? Maybe the 2nd or definitely the Sunday after that.

    What is Kona Mush-up? Is it kinda XXX stuff with beers after the race? I would be worried ... but never mind, Supraman does like french stuff :D .
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    Hmmm, after googling Kona mush-up ... it is really tempting. But I need to build my fitness even more, wouldn't want to lose to some kind of teenager on uphillls! But then, after 7pm as they state ... there is a drinks and food party!!! Thel33ter, think a bit of make up and mustache from 118's would do the trick.

    Jimgeorge ... Bedgebury idea sounds interesting, but not sure if that is based near Brighton? If it is, its quite a far distance to drive, but then its suitable for people who lives in Kent. Is it really worth a trip, or Surrey Hills is a better bet?
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Will probably do Surrey Hills again this weekend, maybe Sunday which is looking to be the (even) better day. But could do Swinley as well on the other day or vice-versa. Assuming I'm not spending Saturday still fixing this creaking bike.

    Bedgebury is in Kent (according to their web site, just stick TN17 2SJ in the map). A bit far for me really unless it really is worth it. Isn't Kent rather flat? ;)

    Also it's Forestry Commission and they accordingly rip you off on parking (£8 !!!).
  • CrazySmudge
    CrazySmudge Posts: 137
    Bedgebury is in kent but not as far as Brighton. Its a 15km ride - through trees, over bumps, burns etc great ride! car park is 8 squid but think there is free parking that only the locals know so will check that out this weekend.

    where is your sense of adventure??
  • jimgeorge
    jimgeorge Posts: 6
    Bedgebury is about 20mins down the A2 from the M25. No idea on the free parking bit as i just pay up; it's not too bad between a few. Only 1 single track loop there that shares some parts with a wide family track. It's pretty flat but good fun at pace. Not sure it's worth a big journey to, i go because it's the closest place & tame enough that the girlfriend can enjoy it too.

    There's also a downhill place called viceroys wood a short drive away back up towards London at the other end of the scale.

    I think i'll be getting to Leith about noon this sun if Atz or anyone else is keen. Think i'll have the gf with me again though so maybe not a good idea if u want to go fast.
  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    Popstar wrote:
    Thel33ter, think a bit of make up and mustache from 118's would do the trick.
    It's not even that, they hid that you have to be over 16 down in the small print somewhere :(
    I could work on the beard though :lol:
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    Well, £8 parking fee... I am keeping quite, even more quite than a Welsh sheep! Have been charged £3 for the whole day in Coed y Brenin , but then it's a classic trail centre. Makes Swinley forest £20 a year look absolute bargain!
    Adventure wise, would love to explore Brighton-Eastboune-Hastings, but my wife would slaughter me if I took her with me on that route.
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    The parking fee is a bit of a rip, but it's a fun ride, if missing some of the lunatic elements. Worth an occasional trip though, especially if you do the loop twice so it ends up being around 18-20 miles.

    For convenience, variety and cost (free is always good) the Surrey hills take some beating.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Atz
    Atz Posts: 1,383
    jimgeorge - Not sure just yet. Will drop you a PM if I'm likely to be there as I tend to prefer earlier sessions if at all possible but it all depends on tonight and Saturday night
  • bungalistic
    bungalistic Posts: 543
    I'm not able to ride this weekend the forks are broken and being sent back to shop for repairs
  • Atz
    Atz Posts: 1,383
    Got to love the "fit and forget" Marzos :)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I'll be hopefully out some time tomorrow SH way. Working on the bike today after finally getting all the kit and tools I need and cracking that damn crank bolt at last :D. Bike's in bits though, and beers tonight so not sure when I'd be out tomorrow. Probably going to be a test run.

    Also got those B54 pedals which arrived today but haven't attempted to fit them yet. I expect like everything else so far it will take me an age to get the old pedals off.
  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    Good luck with changing pedals, couldn't change them myself last time. Gave few cookies to LBS to do that for me. May visit SH this Monday, and pay a relaxing visit to Swinley on Wednesday. Think I may need to team up with someone who knows Swinley better, cause all areas there I ride -Surrey Hills, Labyrinth, Corkscrew ...
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Pedals done. Just soaked in some 3-in-1 penetrating stuff and came off. Great stuff that :D.

    B54s on. It's just about ready to go. Only thing left is to get some decent shoes but that can wait.
  • Atz
    Atz Posts: 1,383
    popstar - how about we do a Swinley session in the next couple of weeks rather than the usual?
  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    Every time I rode Swinley, somehow I 've found something was missing on the ride. Guess that's because don't know the place that well, or trails are short. It is a good idea to ride variety of places, and not only Surrey Hills. So Swinley and Tunnel Hill on cards? Think Dkenny knows those places well . I might even guess, there are not many long steep uphills?
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    No where near the amount of uphills that Surrey Hill has, but there's a lot there hidden away. Been doing it for a few years now on and off and still manage to find something new. Mostly short little sections now aside from the longer well known stuff. There are things still to explore outside of Swinley itself I think. It's not really a place for epic rides though, more just an hour or two bit of exercise.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Should be able to make Swinley some weekday evenings, maybe late afternoon if I can get out of the office early enough.

    P.S. Got a loop I did a while back here that I posted on the Swinley thread:

    Covers Seagulls, The Stickler, Tank Traps, Whole Nine Yards, Babymaker(maybe)/ Labyrinth, plus a bit going on from the bottom on Labyrinth which hits a recently refurbed section with a couple of very short bridges (over a stream? well, ditch), and a couple of tiny bits out on the Crowthorne side (near Seagulls) which were new to me.

    http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/work ... id=1637943

    Though I always end up getting lost when trying to find it all.
  • nickswansea
    nickswansea Posts: 28
    hi guys, is anyone going for a ride on the bank holiday monday?
  • Atz
    Atz Posts: 1,383
    Monday is the only day I can do so quite possibly.
  • armymankin
    armymankin Posts: 213
    hey all,
    i am new here. I live in the docklands... wonder if I can tag you lot to swinley (which I havent been)

    problem is I cant drive. would be pleased if someone around offer a lift

    cheers
    Charge Duster
  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    Well, at the moment as it stands...from Docklands to west London on train, then from Station I could pick you up. Think there are few people around East London, but not sure if they would ride in Swinley.

    On the other part, I may part with my trusty steed Rockhopper ... a bit scared of loosing it, but think it's a time to get new affair with FS. There were few fuel ex's snatched under my nose, 's been tough on my nerves ... but hey, I found a couple of 5s and a zesty!!!
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • supra-man
    supra-man Posts: 358
    popstar wrote:
    Well, at the moment as it stands...from Docklands to west London on train, then from Station I could pick you up. Think there are few people around East London, but not sure if they would ride in Swinley.

    On the other part, I may part with my trusty steed Rockhopper ... a bit scared of loosing it, but think it's a time to get new affair with FS. There were few fuel ex's snatched under my nose, 's been tough on my nerves ... but hey, I found a couple of 5s and a zesty!!!

    Ah popstar, there is only one you can get.... its the Zesty.... If you get an other one you ll always be wandering whats its like to ride.
    get the one you talk of all the time.. you know it . :lol:
    five would be next best choice as you ll keep it longer most probably.
    specialized enduro 06 gone snif
    RS Lyrik U-turn sold
    Mondraker Dune XR


    My Megavalanche qualifier : http://vimeo.com/15094020

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