London Calling

Andy Dobson

benpinnick wrote:

Looks like we might get a few inches of snow Sat night. Should be fun!

By the time that arrives I'll be dead from riding with Jedi all day. It's a shame that all I learn on Saturday will have to stay in my head for at least a week before I put it into practice as I'm busy all day Sunday :-(.

Fun could be had in the snow Sunday morning but alas, not for me. Enjoy it while it lasts guys.....

BTW Ben, I still want those wheels off you. Cash waiting my friend ;-). Ring me tomorrow. I'll be around the Guildford/SW London area all morning and can travel to you if needed/conveient.

Anonymous

If the roads are clear enough, Surrey Hills in the snow can be great fun if it's not too deep. Previous attempt at Swinley in the snow was hard. Was deeper and wet.

Think most the snow will be further east though.

Edit: just seen the bbc weather, big snow blob over whole south east. Bring it on!

Anonymous

@pieman Nav and Nick are up for SH, but looking like mid day. Peaslake.

milko9000

I'm gonna be in Peaslake for about 1030 with my friends, maybe we can meet up later when you lot arrive.

pieman71

Afternoon,

DK, might have to postpon saturday as need to head down to kent by 2-3 so meeting at 12 might be a bit tight.

Milko9000, hiya, you guys starting around 10.30 or just happen to be around there then? might be around for a bit.

milko9000

We're aiming to meet in Pond Lane car park (just behind the hurtwood inn - map) at 1030. Usually that means a good 15 minutes or so of faffing about unloading bikes, buying sandwiches etc before we actually get moving.

I gotta be clear that we don't know the area super-well. Can find the main trails on Holmbury Hill, plus Summer Lightning, plus last week we found what I believe is called Clawhammer over on Winterfold. Aside from that I'm hoping to be able to tag on to DK or somebody in the hopes of learning more routes and better ways to link them. You're absolutely welcome to join us or lead us!

Anonymous

Well, discussions on Facebook (London Calling - MTB group) were shifting towards 11ish and sounds like we may make 10.30ish now. Guess by the time everyone's done with faffing about we'll can all meet up.

Usually in the big Walking Bottom car park just round the corner. Will send PM with number. Pieman has my number I think also.

milko9000

Brill, thanks!

pieman71

DK,

Always forget the FB, must check it more often and your quite right I have got your tel no. will assume 10.30 - 11.00 at wlaking bottom, would rather nearer 10.30 as its too bleedin cold to be standing around, if changes drop me txt

Milko9000, maybe see you tomorrow

milko9000

Thanks guys, had a blast today. Am limping a bit also, which I take as a sign of a good ride!

Anonymous

Yeah, great ride. Somewhat chilly! Trails are running really well in these frozen conditions. Best since summer. Hope it stays cold as once thawed it will be mucky again.

Aching a bit too. Blame that on the cold. More effort required .

One nice crash by Tom (one of them), but he's okay and gives thanks for helping out.

Kept getting technicals myself. May invest in a chain device to deal with the chain issues.

Sussed out

Are people meeting at 11 at swinley tomorrow? I was meant to be going for the first time with a mate but he has bailed. I still really want to go and know from experience of other places that going with someone who knows routes is essential.
Is it ok if I tag along? Where are you meeting?
Ben

JaiRo

Any groups out tomorrow in Surrey Hills.

Ill be with 1 mate, first time there so would be good to follow someone and learn the trail a bit quicker.

Thanks.

benpinnick

Sussed out wrote:

Are people meeting at 11 at swinley tomorrow? I was meant to be going for the first time with a mate but he has bailed. I still really want to go and know from experience of other places that going with someone who knows routes is essential.
Is it ok if I tag along? Where are you meeting?
Ben

Yep. Meeting at 11 by the gate next to Go Ape. I've got a black Santa Cruz blur/fox forks. See you there?

Sussed out

benpinnick wrote:

Sussed out wrote:

Are people meeting at 11 at swinley tomorrow? I was meant to be going for the first time with a mate but he has bailed. I still really want to go and know from experience of other places that going with someone who knows routes is essential.
Is it ok if I tag along? Where are you meeting?
Ben

Yep. Meeting at 11 by the gate next to Go Ape. I've got a black Santa Cruz blur/fox forks. See you there?

Sweet, I've got a blue specialized, see you at 11!

benpinnick

I'll pm you mobile incase you're late.

benpinnick

Any one else for tomorrow? Tentatively me, Cooldad, ari, bdj, DK if the weather holds (which it won't but if he were snow delayed would we know?), Sussed out...

cooldad

Looking forward to the snow. Thel33ter is with me as well this weekend, and a friend should be coming out from London, maybe.

Anonymous

Should note that if there's a fair bit, the Look Out car park may be closed. Can usually park across the road in Coral Reef though.

For those going by car. If they can get there. i.e. me.

Looking okay so far. Slight dusting.

Sussed out

Fingers crossed I can get there, quite a bit of snow here!

benpinnick

where are you coming from?

Andy Dobson

Have a good ride tomorrow guys, where ever you end up.

I want to ride but looking out the window, it's not going to happen. (Bear in mind I live just 5 minutes drive from Peaslake). I want to get out and put the new stuff I learned today with Jedi at UK Bike Skills into practice but I'm not sure I'll make it to Peaslake in the van and I won't have enough time to ride there and back.

Mentally knackered after today but if any of you have ever thought about some coaching to bring out the best in your riding, go and see Tony. It's the best thing both my friend James or I have ever done. I was just about to throw 2K at a new frame......Now, I'm just going to tweek what I have 'cos it works already, it was ME that didn't. (http://ukbikeskills.blogspot.com/).

For those heading this way rather than Swinley, I'll give a last update just before going to bed and tell you all what the local roads are like. If it's really bad where I live, TRUST ME, you WON'T get to Peaslake unless you have a 4x4 and snowchains!

Laters

Andy

benpinnick

Sounds good Andy, look forward to hearing about it.

Weather update for the Swinley forest area: Snowy. Its about an inch now (10pm) but the snow is still falling. I reckon we'll be about 3 inches by the time it stops. Some rain is forecast later, but its still very cold out there, so I think it might stay as snow. Its not terrible though, easily driveable right now. Hopefully will stay that way for those driving, myself, I just have to decide on tyres for the ride to the lookout

cooldad

Just took my 'snow' tyres off, put on some nice soft summer tyres. They can stay.
Are you bringing your 'new' spiky tyre?

Andy Dobson

Weather update for the Surrey Hills.

Please bear in mind when I say this that last year during the heavy snow fall, I made it to a call out in Ashford in Kent and back on a day when 3 of my other engineers failed to make it from one side of Guildford to the other!!

If it carries on snowing like it is right now (and it's forcast to get worse), Peaslake will be out of bounds to anyone not fitted with chains or snow tyres!! They gritted the road past my house for the second time at about 9PM and already the snow is laying to a degree that would make me think twice about going out.

We all know that getting into Peaslake involves at least 1 steep hill by car whichever way you go. You have been warned!!!

At least Swinley has relativly flat approach roads that are busy and therefore likely to be ploughed or heavily griited.

I'll be up and about by 8 in the morning and will update again then.

Have a good one.

Blind Danny Johnson

Unfortunately guys I'm going to have to cancel my participation in the Swinley ride tomorrow, not due to the snow but other things I have to do which I put off today due to a bitch of a hangover. I'm going to Australia for a couple of weeks on Thursday so won't be on the forum or riding for a couple of weeks. See you all when I get back.

Anonymous

Spanking new gritter was out round Peaslake earlier. Sometimes the main road in is passable with care. The back roads are usually no go but they did grit them also. Don't think grit will be enough though given the main road outside. Stops by morning so my even be lucky and they get a plough out.

Swinley probably okay as A322 should be clear, if slushy. Just parking can be a problem.

Failing that, I can ride to Tunnel Hill or Newlands Corner from Woking, though the latter can involve sliding off the tow path into the canal on the way.

benpinnick

roads round swinley should be fine. About 1.5 - 2" of snow, but the rain passed through and slushed it up a little, so its not as bad as it could have been.

JaiRo

Morning all, how does SH look atm please?

Andy Dobson

It obviously stopped snowing not long after I went to bed.
2.5 - 3" and the roads don't look too bad.

Would I risk Peaslake? Not from Craniegh side The hills from here over Winterfold are too steep but from Shere it could be OK.