London Calling

nick.j

I really enjoyed my explore of Pitch Hill last week so I'll head to Peaslake for 10.15 too if it's ok to join you guys.
nick

Mr_B1989

also heading for peaslake this morning.

Jedi

i used to ride tunnel years ago when there was loads of north shore all over the place

pieman71

morning all, which car park yopu guys meeting at this morning, the usual walking bottom one?

pieman71

cooldad.

you still heading out over tunnel this morning?

pieman71

sorted, will give tunnel hill a go, it's been a while and bit of a change.

hope you all have a good one whereevr it may be.

Richard2118

Atz wrote:

I thought Redlands was okay but some trails were cheeky or is it the whole place is cheeky?

In any case, I don't go anywhere near it unless the weather has been good for a while. As for next weekend, almost certainly out.

It was a problem a few years ago and again now . Think its due to forestry work ie they don't want riders getting hit by falling trees.

Richard2118

popstar wrote:

I find it difficult to justify spending good part of £20 on fuel on a promise of ploughing through mud. Tough times these days with monies.

Boxhill Ranmore adventures sound awesome!

There were few signs erected on Leith hill as if riding with permits only, WTF? Thought it was directed at MX's.

The signs are about sticking to the trails that are allowed ie fireroad etc ie those tracks you are permitted to ride.
Know what you mean with the cash but I have got loads quicker down hill in the wet this winter and I think it will seriously help come summer .

supra-man

Richard2118 wrote:

popstar wrote:

I find it difficult to justify spending good part of £20 on fuel on a promise of ploughing through mud. Tough times these days with monies.

Boxhill Ranmore adventures sound awesome!

There were few signs erected on Leith hill as if riding with permits only, WTF? Thought it was directed at MX's.

The signs are about sticking to the trails that are allowed ie fireroad etc ie those tracks you are permitted to ride.
Know what you mean with the cash but I have got loads quicker down hill in the wet this winter and I think it will seriously help come summer .

Fantastic ride today mud wet roots and speed fab combination... real great fun with the guys especially that trail that launchs of the top of holmburry with those 2 drop offs in deep mud real sketchy riding.
though i think a crank are has died....

Atz

I did 30 miles on the road instead. The gearing on my SS is a bit too spinny for the flat and a bit too hard for the hills but I guess if it was good for either of them it'd be awful for the other. At least I overtook some roadies on the climbs which made me feel better about my awful pace on some of the hills

thel33ter

Rule 1: Never, ever listen to Cooldad when he says he knows where he is going.

Apart from getting lost at the end, and going back on the road it was quite a fun ride in TH.

cooldad

Yeah I suppose getting lost within the first 100m must be a record, but at least I got us lost offroad (just), unlike your road trip back.

Good ride though, pity about the rain. Which obviously stopped 5 minutes after we got home and washed the bikes.

Atz

I went out after the ride for a hike with the Mrs. Unfortunately it started raining so we were "forced" to go shelter in the Plough Inn in Coldharbour for a couple of drinks and a late lunch. Tragic

shaunlfc1

Evening all,

Anything being arranged for the coming weekend, I'm finally free to come up from the South coast to broaden my knowledge of the SH's, as I seriously need to learn some new trails up there?

Saturday and Sunday is perfect for me.

Cheers,

Shaun

Atz

Probably. Check in late this week and chances are we'll be mincing around in the SH somewhere.

Anonymous

Richard2118 wrote:

It was a problem a few years ago and again now . Think its due to forestry work ie they don't want riders getting hit by falling trees.

I wonder also if the fuss over the trail near BKB has rallied some of the locals into having a bit of a moan, so the old contentions come to the surface again.

Though it's going to be an increasing problem as the sport is getting rapidly more popular, and as more people look to ride somewhere other than insurance friendly trail centres.

But I've been doing as advised, and keeping clear of Redlands just due to the conditions this time of year.

As for the police, I'm not sure they'd have the powers to confiscate bikes. It's a tort law situation, i.e. trespass. It's something for the civil courts between you and the landowner really. They can get involved in getting you off the land if they request it, but not sure they can do much else.

kenn

Hi to all,
is anyone riding on this weekend at swinley? I am looking for a crew!

can be other venue as well, providing there is an easy way to reach there by train from London.

bungalistic

Won't be out this sunday (6th) as im away snowboarding but will try get out the following sun once back, might go local to chicksands though

cooldad

Probably time to try and arrange something.
Me - maybe, Swinley or SH. Swinley is nice and easy for me at the moment, and I have managed to trash my BB trying to open it up to get at the bearings, so might disintegrate. But have blingy new wheels on, so want to try them out.
Atz - ?
shaunlfc1 - ?

Looks like most people are skiing or playing with babies.

Hi Kenn - keep watching.

Atz

If it's a quagmire this weekend I'm going to spend it fettling (got the jedi thing next weekend) and riding the road again. If it's decent conditions, will be out. Flexible about where we go though.

kenn

cooldad wrote:

Probably time to try and arrange something.
Me - maybe, Swinley or SH. Swinley is nice and easy for me at the moment, and I have managed to trash my BB trying to open it up to get at the bearings, so might disintegrate. But have blingy new wheels on, so want to try them out.
Atz - ?
shaunlfc1 - ?

Looks like most people are skiing or playing with babies.

Hi Kenn - keep watching.

don't mind about surrey hills, and afaik there is a train station near so could easily go there.
i have just bought a new bike here in UK and so keen to try some MTB with it.

and the weather is seems to be good, cold but dry.

Atz

If we do Swinley, might just bring the HT out for a run

cooldad

How about Swinley then, 10ish Sunday?
@Atz no use having a blingy bike if you won't get it dirty.
@kenn your original suggestion was Swinley so assume you can get thereabouts?

@the rest.catch a wake up.

Atz

It's more I would like a bike that doesn't sound like it's been ridden in a sandstorm or a swamp when I go to Herts. Reminds me, HT needs new pads.

kenn

cooldad wrote:

How about Swinley then, 10ish Sunday?
@Atz no use having a blingy bike if you won't get it dirty.
@kenn your original suggestion was Swinley so assume you can get thereabouts?

@the rest.catch a wake up.

sure, i've already ridden there before last saturday, with 2 guys from mtbbritain,
quite easy to get there from putney or barnes station(2 miles from me each).
and from Martins Heron I think it is 10 minutes riding to parking area, last time was lifted by guys from rail station.

is there a bike washing utility at swinley anybody knows? cause if it rains and there will be a mud, i can't take a bike to a train , it is shame for me

Atz

There is but whether it's open is anyone's guess. Last time I used it was 2 years ago and the guy charged me 50p for the water.

thel33ter

kenn wrote:

is there a bike washing utility at swinley anybody knows? cause if it rains and there will be a mud, i can't take a bike to a train , it is shame for me

Nope.

Cooldad has a massive weed sprayer/pressure washer thing if he can get it in the car, but it doesn't really fit.

cooldad

I've got a sprayer. Really for insecticide but it gets most of the gunk off. Might be able to pick you up from the station.
Left a message on MTB Britain as well.

thel33ter

Specially for Popstar - OFFICIAL Swinley (SEXYPARTY) all-welcoming First-day-of-spring FUN RIDE!

Summing it up, 20th March @11:30am, two rapid groups and the "The It's not how fast you ride its how much fun you're having (but secretly jealous of the extra confident healthy people) Team"

Sounds like a laugh if nothing else.

Timothius is already going, anyone else up for it? I'm going if I can escape. May have to be on the SS though 8)

Atz

Last big STW ride I went on was too big tbh. Even the split groups gave like 15 people in each group which, if you're dumb enough to be a sweeper, means you get to do a lot of waiting.