London Calling

ThePriory1978

benpinnick wrote:

ThePriory1978 wrote:

benpinnick wrote:

I think if I re-did it with these additions I could stretch it to a 13mile loop, which would be respectable in Swinley. Now I have figured out how to get Trails App to map to 5yrd waypoints perhaps I will go and GPX the full route. This is the old stickler too so that needs redoing. Maybe I will do that weekend after next if anyones up for the big loop?

I'd be game for doing the big loop. Maybe less pauses between trails, more speed. A little more hardcore. Altho I probably still would avoid a few of the larger drop offs.
Lately I'm thinking I need to challenge and push myself a bit more without going to the extremes of getting ghey and going down the lycra clad power ranger route.

Sounds good. Maybe we can meet up for a loop on Sat morning after next? We can avoid any drops over 6 feet. :shock:

Is it Sat after next yet? 13 miles, easy. First one to stop for a breather gets the saddle removed for the next 2 miles?!

benpinnick

Yep, this Sat is good for me. As for stopping, I figured we go for first one to drop below 15mph.

ThePriory1978

Hmmm, what idiot came up with this idea. I only like challenges I can win.
Need to set a time and date and gauge interest I suppose?

benpinnick

cooldad wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

I'm going to stick to the smaller one on my current set up. Looking at Rock Shox Relevation forks for the front but no idea what I should get framewise to complete the full sus upgrade. Won't be for a while anyway...

Does anyone have any experience of rock shox revelations?

You could do worse than to take a look in benpinnicks sig. I see he's selling a Stumpie FSR frame and bits. Nice bikes, and pretty much perfect for a combination of ggnarly XC and not too suicidal AM.
And I know he looks after his stuff nicely.

Cooldad, you are too kind. You're not looking for some commission are you?

thel33ter

I'll try get out this Saturday, but it's unlikely, and I'm doing 50 miles a day this week as well, so I may be unable too move

cooldad

benpinnick wrote:

Cooldad, you are too kind. You're not looking for some commission are you?

Just my standard 90%. Plus 10% for expenses of course.

benpinnick

thel33ter wrote:

I'll try get out this Saturday, but it's unlikely, and I'm doing 50 miles a day this week as well, so I may be unable too move

50 miles a day? Does Cooldad have you on the electric generator bike again?

cooldad

No but he has pinched mine to use this week, so just hoping it's being well looked after and not jumped over everything in sight.


Or else....

thel33ter

benpinnick wrote:

thel33ter wrote:

I'll try get out this Saturday, but it's unlikely, and I'm doing 50 miles a day this week as well, so I may be unable too move

50 miles a day? Does Cooldad have you on the electric generator bike again?

He wishes . They're gonna all be pretty boring, which lots of cyclepath type stuff, but it gives me something to do for this week. And we get cake.

thel33ter

cooldad wrote:

No but he has pinched mine to use this week, so just hoping it's being well looked after and not jumped over everything in sight.


Or else....

Only several small animals, a lake, and a 64ft chasm filled with lava.

popstar

You people talking about scary stuff this n that. What happened to the spirit of adventure? Where is romance of MTB crazyness and exploration of unseen land? Go back to train XC and we must conjure up some epic riding on other lands with wild camping!

Anonymous

Just add Banjo.

popstar

DK you should know about Dartmoor etc, need to get some info aboiut Lakes.

ThePriory1978

Pictures remind me of Brokeback Mountain.

Atz

popstar - How are you going to have the time to ride around dartmoor if you can't get to swinley? :P For the lakes and the NW, talk to Bungalistic.

Blind Danny Johnson

cooldad wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

I'm going to stick to the smaller one on my current set up. Looking at Rock Shox Relevation forks for the front but no idea what I should get framewise to complete the full sus upgrade. Won't be for a while anyway...

Does anyone have any experience of rock shox revelations?

You could do worse than to take a look in benpinnicks sig. I see he's selling a Stumpie FSR frame and bits. Nice bikes, and pretty much perfect for a combination of ggnarly XC and not too suicidal AM.
And I know he looks after his stuff nicely.

Thanks for the tip off on Ben's frame I'm going to buy it, it looks perfect for what I want.

Are there any maps of the trails of Surrey Hills online that you know of? What's a good start point for a ride there?

Anonymous

Only official maps you'll find will cover Barry Knows Best, Yoghurt Pots and Summer Lightning. They're the only official trails.

The rest of everything within The Hurtwood controlled areas is pretty much open area to roam due to a special arrangement with the landowners to make the whole lot public to everyone. See www.friendsofthehurtwood.co.uk for the area it covers.

There are loads of trails around but being less official they're not supposed to be mapped. However just wander about and look for trails off the side of fireroads and you can bump into them, or ask anyone about (loads about at weekends), or ask in the bike shop in Peaslake for some pointers.

Typical starting points are

Peaslake to climb up to Winterfold, Pitch and Holmbury hills.
By the Youth Hostel other side of Holmbury hill if you want to session Holmbury and cross over to Leith.
Any of the public car parks around Leith for Leith (the one by High Ashes farm is good)
Or over by Coldharbour for the other side of Leith which is nearest to Summer Lightning. Also nearby is Redlands which some gnarlier stuff (that we're not supposed to ride;)).
Or Westcott is another good starting point to climb up to Leith or maybe head off to Ranmore common (can loop that back to Surrey Hills)
Or even in Dorking and head up to Box and/or Ranmore.

Basically loads of places. It's a big area. Peaslake I'd say is a good place to start off though as it has access to a fair amount and good facilities.

Other than that, can check out my trails in my signature for GPS routes but no trails marked. Some won't show up as they're a bit more sneaky so they're not public (generally the better ones unfortunately).

Oh and there's this guide also: http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/ ... _downs.php

cooldad

Nothing useful that I know of. Both Nirvana in Westcott and Pedal and Spoke in Peaslake do rides and I think they have maps.
Problem is it's a big area, and trails tend to be spread out.
Not many are marked, so it's easy to miss them and just roam around on fireroads for ever.
Best thing to do is go with people who know the area initially. There are normally plenty of people in Peaslake who can point you in the right general directions.

cooldad

Forgot to hit enter so DK beat me to it.

Blind Danny Johnson

Thanks guys.

Anonymous

And feel free to join any of us out there, or just post here saying if you're off somewhere and others can come along if they wish.

Nothing formal here, just a means of arranging rides, and no one expects anything of anyone.

Atz

Turning up on time would be a good start tho

Anonymous

Talking to the wrong man there. Not sure I've been on time for anything ever.

Blind Danny Johnson

Thanks for the offer, I've been meaning to join you guys for a ride for ages and definitely will do as soon as I can. This Sunday I'm visiting my girlfriend's Grandma, with my girlfriend obviously, and her home just happens to be near Surrey Hill so I'm going to sod off on my bike for a couple of hours so unfortunately not a proper ride and I don't really know when I'll be able to get away.

The weekend after though I'd be very up for joining you guys. I guess it's too early to plan for then but I'll keep my eye on this thread for news.

cooldad

Atz wrote:

Turning up would be a good start tho

FTFY
Think Supraman, Helter and other assorted alkies.

Blind Danny Johnson

Any idea where to find these trails at Surrey Hills? They look amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDXlQ2Ng ... re=related

Thanks.

cooldad

Redlands. But must be quite old as the northshore stuff is gone.

cooldad

Head out of Coldharbour, on Coldharbour road about a mile? Fireroad off to the left.

Atz

Or the right :P

Anonymous

By that crossroads, near that tree, the one that's green, but not that one, the other one.