London Calling

popstar

Yea, we were the adventurers. Luckily, I managed to ride 3 different bikes on the day and appreciate them all. Think I fancy giving Nick's Bootleg a go too. Wonder how those short travel bikes behave. Wolfridge was handling like a go-kart, but guess there is a bit more adjusting play around shocks to be done, GT wasn't rattling at all, it felt like a little BMX with weak breaks ... good solid grip on sliding though.

Think, I may join Nicholas this Monday evening ... hope Playsir will sort out his studies too. And next weekend supposed to be good dry weather, would be just about right to hit Surrey Hills. Man, I miss our epix uphillls ... especially would like to give a lethal climbs a go! Pitch and Winterfold somehow got overlooked by us.

Playsir,Dkenny ... you lot are overbiked !!!

/polishes new bike in anticipation of BKB

popstar

Plaisir wrote:

deadkenny wrote:

P.S. Special thanks to popstar for having a light last night after our misadventure with a snapped chain

+1

Many thanks chaps for the help! Certainly raised my interest in the concept of night riding!

We might need to rush with Night rides, 'cos Days getting longer now you see?! It was awesome to have 1 torch for 3 riders. I felt special ... aha-aha-ha! Seriously ... P7 + C1 cree opens new horizons into night riding (especially as a whole set up is around £50-£70), never mind silly crashes. Next time me thinks, will bring all my torches ... just in case, :oops:

supra-man

ah popstar next sunday we go for an all day epic and we will see what the zesty is made of .. 8)

popstar

Well, it's not as advanced as Playsir's Wolfridge ... with U-turn clicks and pro-pedal business, shocks are very like plain-jane really ... was a bit dissapointed. Certainly robbed me of all feedback from the trail, the Rockhopper was better in that respect, but after testing other bikes, only then, I dialled into the bike and XXX happened. Yea, just like that!

So, speaking of other coming weekend ... are we doing all day epics with all 4 hills? Would have to be around 8+hours of riding, and an early start too. Of course the route will be very well organised, and people if need be could pull out from any 4 particular stages. Talk race-style?!?

thel33ter

Can't do next weekend sounds like a good ride.

Who's going to lead the ride this Monday?

thel33ter

Oh yea, I'll be up for a night ride in Swinley sometime if it is planned a way ahead so I can get an MTB to the right house.

popstar

Swinley Ride for evening could be me, nicholas, playsir** + ...

Would be quite short ride of Surrey Hill downhill trails, Labyrinth(upto 4 trails), Yog pots style trail leading towards Corckscrew then some random trails leading back to car park. Ride would be shortish in around 2+hours only.

Start time around 17.30 - 18.00 at the car park, maybe earlier if needed. Meeting point would have to be at the Visitors Centre near bike shop.

If there are some riders who can't make morning-afternoon ride, plz feel free to drop a line for evening ride.

Anonymous

Need to show you where The Stickler / Tank Traps is too. Though maybe you have done it as it's a Yog Pots style trail in parts (but then if you haven't found the bridge over the big tree, then maybe not). Anyway, you need to do Tank Traps (the 2nd section) going towards the traps in my opinion to end dropping into the sweeping gully which just seems to make more sense in that direction.


Should be able to make some 6pm rides okay if I can get out of the office early enough.

Must invest in lights too, just in case

Plaisir

deadkenny wrote:

Must invest in lights too, just in case

Yes I think that might be a good idea for me too. I have also taken the trouble to invest in some spare powerlinks so next time I might not be stuck for so long! Mon. evenings sounds good for me, I finish uni at about 2 so any time in the evening would be fine

supra-man

popstar wrote:

Well, it's not as advanced as Playsir's Wolfridge ... with U-turn clicks and pro-pedal business, shocks are very like plain-jane really ... was a bit dissapointed. Certainly robbed me of all feedback from the trail, the Rockhopper was better in that respect, but after testing other bikes, only then, I dialled into the bike and XXX happened. Yea, just like that!

So, speaking of other coming weekend ... are we doing all day epics with all 4 hills? Would have to be around 8+hours of riding, and an early start too. Of course the route will be very well organised, and people if need be could pull out from any 4 particular stages. Talk race-style?!?

Next weekend I can do sunday all day... and all 4 hills. Sat Im picking up my car so cant ride.

going to need to plan a trip in wales at some point... with all these bouncy bikes 8)

thel33ter

Me and cooldad are going to Surrey Hills tomorrow at 10am, Anyone else coming?

Atz and Deadkenny, are both of you still coming, and do either of you want to lead if you are, cause I'll get probably get us hopelessly lost.

Anonymous

10am tomorrow sounds good. Don't know about lead as I get lost at the best of times , but yeah I can't point in the right direction hopefully. If it's Leith then less so as it's still fairly new to me.

Where do you want to meet? Depends I guess where we want to go. If Pitch / Holmbury, then I suggest the car park at Walking Bottom. If the plan is to go over to Leith, then don't mind. The Youth Hostel car park maybe, though I can go from WB if it's a long enough session. Ending at Walking Bottom is good as you can end on Barrys though .

Atz

Sorry to be a flake but not totally sure if I'm going to be out yet as I've got a load of work to do. Currently bashing as much of it out as possible but will post up if I'm likely to make it.

thel33ter

We know the Youth Hostel Carpark, is this bit Walking Bottom http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=walking ... =en&tab=wl

I don't really mind where we start.

thel33ter

Just thought, I'm also in Woking so we could meet up somewhere around here the we'll follow you to make sure we get the right carpark. PMed you Cooldad's mobile no.

Atz

That's about right. Carpark is slightly down the road (so down and left a bit down the road), hard to miss it though.

Anonymous

The car park at Walking Bottom is basically about where you posted.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 9&t=h&z=17

Can't miss it really once you go along that road. Fairly big and usually loads of cars & bikes there.

It's a good place to start for Pitch and Holmbury hills, so I suggest there.

Otherwise as you suggest, can meet up somewhere. I'm over Old Woking way.

Anyone else? fatfreddyscat is a maybe, atz not so sure.

thel33ter

I reckon we'll be able to find it, we'll meet at 10 at Walking Bottom carpark.

thel33ter

supra-man wrote:

going to need to plan a trip in wales at some point... with all these bouncy bikes 8)

Not all my bikes are bouncy, but I have wanted to go to Wales for ages.

popstar

For those who may fancy some trail centre riding, we could organise something from 27th of May onwards. Coed Y Brenin, Cwmcarn, Afan, Langdella ... any of them. 2 days of riding is a must, so would have to figure out accomodation too.    

popstar

This Monday evening there seems to be a little group of me, Nickswansea, NicholasYiu,Playsir ... any more riders?

thel33ter

I'm up for the trail centre thing

Great ride with Deadkenny today around SH, found some new bits, and finished with Barry's. Absolutely exhausted at the end after 4 - 4:30 hours in the saddle.

Anonymous

Yeah, great ride with thel33ter and cooldad. Did turn out a bit epic in the end. Bit of Pitch, bit of Holmbury and bit of Leith.

Look forward to further rides. For now I'm aching all over so will veg out on the sofa

Monday. Possible, but all depends on what's going on at work. Mondays tend to get busy after the weekend. Really should just leave whenever I want, but then I'm paid by the hour and can't resist a bit more dosh

cooldad

Pair of wimps. I could do it all over again. Although my couch and a pizza feels pretty good.

And I don't think you know what 'bit' means.

popstar

Glad to hear you guys had a nice ride, 3 hills? Your fitness improved a lot! Playsir, me, Nickswansea had a play this evening in Swinley Forest. Sessioned Labirynth 5 times! Those jumps and berms do hypnotise you into more riding. This time no reliability issues, so fInished quite early without night-riding.

Planning to visit SH this Thursday for some fine-tuning, and get ready for Sunday Epics. All 4 Hills anyone?

Plaisir

Count me in for the SH rides and the wales trip sounds interesting...

Atz

Sooo... this coming Sat or Sun?

supra-man

Only sunday for me. but ready to attack the trails... and finally do the leathal climb 8)

maybe we can arrange transport Plaisir, as I live in ealing also.
plaisir = good french word

popstar

Sunday for me too, need to go to cinema with me wife on Saturday ... women.

Plaisir

Just thought of something regarding sunday - I could come out but I need to be in fulham by 4pm to watch chelsea win the title. When were we thinking of going down to SH? And Supra, what is your travel situation? I have a car but its teeny and I have no rear rack or roof bars but there is a possibility I will have one by sun. Will keep you updated