London Calling

Andy Dobson

benpinnick wrote:

Your link doesnt work, but a Zaskar of any descriptions should be more than able to handle Surrey Hills and Swinley.

+1. In fact, any decent 120mm full sus will do for Surrey Hills or Swinley.

mar_k

sorry for the bad link,


here is a working link

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.GT-Zaskar-Comp- ... _48537.htm





the one in the link has only got 100mm forks, wouldn't they be suficient?

kenn

Hi, anyone rode these days in Surrey Hills? How mud is there? Yesterday in Swinley it was mud ness, but still I enjoyed it:)

I just heard it is getting drained better in Surrey Hills comparing to Swinley.
We were thinking of tomorrow ride.

thel33ter

Mark, have a look at one of these Boardman Team FS Its a similar price, has a much better spec and they get great reviews.

@Kenn it chucked it down this afternoon around Surrey Hills, so odds are its gonna be quite muddy tomorrow.

Anonymous

Mud was tolerable at Swinley, until the rain came (come on BBC - you said dry day!). Utterly drenched now, the whole place, my bike, bag and myself.

When it's heavy Surrey Hills is the better at draining especially once the swamp factor has set in at Swinley, but the popular stuff is going to be muddy.

Anyway, so plan was to do a Surrey Hill ride tomorrow, but that's as far as the plan goes.

mar_k

Cheers thel33ter , I like the boardman but sadly since Halfords dont offer finance I am only able to buy from Tredz.

Anonymous

Report from Surrey Hills MTBer

"Conditions update: Most trails are now getting pretty cut up and generally mashed. Mud and standing water everywhere and that's before this afternoon's torential rain. Winterfold is best avoided completely. Some parts of Pitch & Holmbury are still reasonable but deteriorating. Best conditions can be found on the last section of Telegraph Row, first section of Champagne Supernova, the bits of BKB where maintenance has happened and the end section of BKB that was "properly" constructed which is still in almost perfect condition - go figure."

cooldad

Chucked down indeed. Only DK and I were tough and dedicated enough to get out today. (He even ran on standard time - weird) No problem until after Labyrinth, then it hosed down all the way back. Hot shower and a crusty bacon sandwich made up for it.
Apart from the cleaning, I quite like the mud.
And +1 on the Boardman. Stick it on credit card

mar_k

ok thanks, ill try to sort something as I dont own a credit card

cooldad

Worthwhile looking around and seeing if you can get finance another way:

Previous year's model, similar spec (Shimano which I prefer) better brakes, £300 cheaper
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _Bike_2011

Similar price, another level up in spec across the board.
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _Bike_2011

mar_k

would you say this is better suited?

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... gory_id=10

Anonymous

Any of them are suitable. What works for you is down to you. Ideally try to get a proper demo ride. Not just in a car park, but out on the trails. Nirvana cycles in Westcott and Head for the Hills in Dorking will do demo bikes you can take for the day around Surrey Hills, or you may be able to find a demo day going on. Pedal and Spoke in Peaslake also if you have the budget for a Santa Cruz!

Will the hard tails, I'd say a lot of it is going to be in the geometry of the bike. Look at the geometry and head angles and have a think about what position would be good for you and the kind of riding.

Anyway, 10 or 11am-ish Peaslake (Walking Bottom car park) perhaps tomorrow. Got a few interests on MTBB forum and Facebook, but most are just unsure about tomorrow. Might be dry in that it's not raining tomorrow, but mud is a certainty.

cooldad

mar_k wrote:

would you say this is better suited?

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... gory_id=10

Depends what and how you intend to ride. Earlier bikes were racier XC bikes, that's a bit more chunky.

mar_k

thanks kenny, sorry for hi jacking the thread.
Once the bike arrives I would love to tag along with you guys if thats ok?

Anonymous

No worries, and tag along. The more the merrier. Never anything formal here anyway, just people post if they're out somewhere and see who comes along.

Talking of which, couple MTBB folk are interested now and suggest 11am Walking Bottom car park tomorrow. That's my plan then.

cooldad

Have fun, I should just about be waking up by then and thinking of a big plate of bacons.

pieman71

happy new year everyone.

apologies couldn't make today, little too much celebrating.
up for tomorrow, DK if any changes from 11 at walking bottom let me know.

see you all soon
Pie

Anonymous

Good ride today. Swampy mud on the trails, fine elsewhere and even dry on BKB.

mar_k

Does anyone ever ride at Epping Forest or Chicksands?

Andy Dobson

mar_k wrote:

Does anyone ever ride at Epping Forest or Chicksands?

I think I remember an "Epping" specific thread here somewhere.

Do a search.

ThePriory1978

Some friends of mine rode Chicksands. Made them whimper like girls. I didnt go of course for fear of showing them up :oops: So now we are planning on riding Cwndown. Cos that'll be easier :roll:

French_Aristo

chicksand
Did a bit of xc type riding (well xc compared to what was happening in the bike park. Definitaly interesting but not for the beguiners... I walked one of the DH run and it had not chicken run so unless you don't mine 10ft jump you are out of luck. The double slalom trails look great and a good place to develop skills and have fun racing your buddies. £5 for the day is cheap but better go weekdays weekend get busy with local that blast the trails and take no prisoners in the process
good place to go have some fun before any alps trips to get you back in the swing of thing if you haven't seen anything bigger than BKB for a while...

Anonymous

Weekend plans - either the usual of Swinley and/or Surrey Hills

or there's some thought of a Welsh jolly.

Afan or Cwmcarn. Possibly leaning towards Afan, but I'm up for either. Got a few who are interested so far, get a few shared cars perhaps.

Mr_B1989

Been awhile, but free both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

Blind Danny Johnson

Defo up for Sunday, Surrey Hills is my preference... But would be up for Swinley though.

cooldad

School on Saturday but up for Sunday. SH probably best for MrB so if that's what everyone wants.....
Not too early though.

Andy Dobson

I'll be out on the weekend (and every oportunity I get) in the Surrey Hills but not planning to ride a set course within a group. I'm starting to research a project involving the trails on the Hurtwood estate and just beyond in conjunction with the head ranger for Hurtwood that will require a whole bunch of study/photography/interviews.

I need to ride each trail and pick out potential photography points as well as making detailed notes on each trail so riding as we did the other Tuesday will be out for the time being. (besides, I'll die if we did THAT again anytime soon :-O).

All this is to help raise the funds required for the upkeep of the trails that we all ride most weeks. I have discussed this with the head ranger and he is in full support of this project so if you see a Marin lying next to a trail over the next few months, it's probably only me scouting (although I might just be dying beside the trail given my present fitness levels).

Right, with all the mystery out the way.....I'll be riding out with anyone who's willing to put up with me on some weekends so I'll see you all soon enough. (Still want to ride Swinley with those that know it well in the next few weeks BTW).

benpinnick

Photo shoot spots eh? Is the ranger looking to supplement the estates income with some Glamour sets? 'FIfi, 21, from Surrey, shows us her best assets while railing the berms on BKB'?

cooldad

Forget Fifi, I'm willing to model my lycra collection.

cooldad

@Andy. That was a bit of an epic. I prefer something bit lazier myself.
Maybe pencil in Swinley for neeext Sunday.