London Calling

bruno_m

Hi,

I have recently moved to London and have no idea of where can I ride xc mountain bike here. I have heard about Epping, surrey, but don't have car and still don't know if I can get there by train.

If anyone lives in London and could give a hand with this I would really appreciate it, if you don't mind I would like to meet you and share a ride with you.

Thanks in advance for your help, I am looking forward to riding with you.
Bruno.

pieman71

defo up for sh and need the practice, see you tomorrow at 10.

popstar

It's a bit weird with your posts Bruno.

What part of London do you live in?

This SAT we had a very solid run with Adrian in Swinley, was well impressed how the man rides. Just about ready for Mega. It's all in preparation of mind I say. He has been Jedi'ed! Pfft.

cooldad

@PS see I got a missed call from you earlier. I didn't make it today obviously. Got back a bit late so put on my apron and did some cleaning of the cave.

popstar

I must say this video is very nice. BUT, I want the same helmet as a man wears at 3.33 - Uber class. No one ever will match me in style with that, maybe I need to steal it from him.

arigold

Sweet, see you guys in peaslake. Must warn you I'm new to MTB and have a cheap (compared to everyone else riding there) btwin rockrider.

cooldad

No problem some of our guys have blingy bikes but we are rubbish riders.

bruno_m

@deadkenny

Hi,

Thank you very much for your answer, I need to find out how to get to Surrey by train, I think that I need to go to Waterloo station.

Today I will not be able to join you, I have several appointments to see flats in London. But I will be happy to ride with you next weekend if you are planning to go to Surrey again

Would you mind if I keep in touch with you in this thread?

See you soon!
Bruno.

deadkenny wrote:

10am Surrey Hills @ Peaslake then (Walking Bottom car park as usual, though I expect it to be busy).

All these people about without cars though! :shock:

@bruno_m - Surrey Hills and/or Swinley Forest are the places you want to go to for south side of London. Not sure what's about around Epping but there are people here who are more towards that area and know it. There are places north of London of interest, though many of us here frequent Surrey Hills & Swinley.

Surrey Hills is just massive and full of trails of all kinds, but need to find people to show you where they are really. Welcome to come along tomorrow. Swinley is great too. Large forest near Bracknell containing loads of trails and plenty of singletrack.

SH trains, Dorking or Gomshall are nearest places to get to.
Swinley - not sure, I guess Bracknell is easiest.

bruno_m

Hi popstar, sorry for the duplicated post.

I will be moving near Paddington this week, does anyone of you also live in this area? I would like to join you in you weekend rides and find out if they are suitable for me.

Would you mind if contact you in this thread?

Thanks for your help!

popstar wrote:

It's a bit weird with your posts Bruno.

What part of London do you live in?

This SAT we had a very solid run with Adrian in Swinley, was well impressed how the man rides. Just about ready for Mega. It's all in preparation of mind I say. He has been Jedi'ed! Pfft.

Anonymous

Meant to say, great ride yesterday. Fantastic weather, if perhaps a bit too hot.

A nice little run to Winterfold, play about on Pitch, food then Holmbury.

@bruno_m - feel free to post here. Open to all. This is all very informal stuff, just people saying they're off out somewhere on a particular day/time, and others go along if they like.

bruno_m

Ok, I will try to join you in your next rides if I can get there by train.

Thanks!

deadkenny wrote:

Meant to say, great ride yesterday. Fantastic weather, if perhaps a bit too hot.

A nice little run to Winterfold, play about on Pitch, food then Holmbury.

@bruno_m - feel free to post here. Open to all. This is all very informal stuff, just people saying they're off out somewhere on a particular day/time, and others go along if they like.

mtb crazy

whos up for swinley on sat afternoon at around 1pm? ive still got loads to explore !!

Anonymous

Early in the week yet, but I'm sure I'm about both Sat & Sun, as always.

thel33ter

I'm free on Sunday finally. Then in a few weeks I'm free constantly for 2 months during the week if anyone wants a guide for Swinley.

Atz

Some of us know Swinley at least as well as you but thanks for the offer l33ter

thel33ter

Fine, to meet up and ride around Swinley. Happy?

cooldad

Atz wrote:

Some of us know Swinley at least as well as you but thanks for the offer l33ter

Occasionally new people actually read this stuff. For some inexplicable reason.

Atz

Nah, not possible. They'd hear the ranting of the collected nutjobs from around the corner and never come in

Anonymous

Can't make it this weekend now. Something's come up.

mtb crazy

swinley saturday at 1pm? trying to get something sorted......

cooldad

We have a school ride in the morning then I have to drop thel33ter off at a friend and get some stuff done so we don't starve, so if I do manage it will be quite late.
On for Sunday though.

mtb crazy

ok, well ill be there early afternoon ish all being well. anyone want to meet up let me know. i should be meeting ben up there.

Anonymous

No one out today? Seems quiet here!

Can't do much today (other than having to drive home from Devon), but hoping to get out during the week, probably just an evening session (5 / 6-ish).

Next weekend should be okay. P&S have a demo weekend the weekend after also and I'm tempted to take advantage of that so Surrey Hills that weekend, or at least one day.

cooldad

We are going to pop up to Swinley a bit later - sent you a text but didn't read properly - you are still in Devon?
Did Swinley yesterday with Ben and Sara. Great day for it and did a nice long loop of all the good bits, but Ben's route so a bit different from the way I would normally go so quite interesting.
Ben was playing teacher for Sara, and I quietly picked up some useful tips anyway whilst nodding knowingly.

benpinnick

Lol, clearly playing too much of the teacher. Some woman from some coaching group or other came up to us and started waffling on about their exclusive license or some other nonsense. If I'd paid good money for coaching I would certainly hope they'd be focused on my riding, not bothering other riders, rule breaking or otherwise.

Still, she buggered off soon enough leaving us for a fun ride.

cooldad

Went out this afternoon and retraced yesterday's route but added a bit extra on the way back.
Busy though, lots of families out, including one with a mother on a hybrid, complete with basket and flower, and some spokely dokelys or whatever they are called.
They all had a go at jump gully so fair does.

ThePriory1978

benpinnick wrote:

Lol, clearly playing too much of the teacher. Some woman from some coaching group or other came up to us and started waffling on about their exclusive license or some other nonsense. If I'd paid good money for coaching I would certainly hope they'd be focused on my riding, not bothering other riders, rule breaking or otherwise.

Still, she buggered off soon enough leaving us for a fun ride.

I saw 'her' as well before i bumped into you guys at the Gulley. She was putting down a large stick for her 4-ish students to do bunnyhopping training on the fireroad between Stickler exit and Tank Traps start.
She was busy tutoring the whats and what not to do's.
I came out of Stickler bunnyhopped her stick and went into Tank Traps without stopping and she started hollering 'You cant do that etc' behind me.
Grumpy cow.

benpinnick

Thats even funnier. Earlier in the day when I had met her guess what we'd been doing? Yes, thats right I had sourced a large stick and was demonstrating the finer points of bunny hopping (well as best I can anyhoo). Maybe she thought I'd stolen her lesson plan.

Atz

Surprised they're teaching bunny hopping though. Sure it's a useful skill but I can honestly say that I've not really had to as part of usual riding. Lifting the front wheel over something, yes but not bunny hopping.

Anonymous

'mtb crazy' want's to bunny hop