London Calling

Anonymous

Slushy, heavy wet kind of snow (or was that the rain that came). Roads clear. Melting here.

Disappointing really. If you're going to snow, do it properly or don't bother!

Probably SH will be better being a little higher and the riding may be quite nice. Depends on roads, but bet they're fine.

Swinley - could even get muddy I bet.

Anonymous

For SH, just seen this on twitter:

"HOLMBURY ST MARY, SURREY - RADNOR LANE BOTH WAYS - Radnor Lane both ways closed due to overturned vehicle at Three Mile Road"

That's Radnor Lane, not Radnor Road I assume, so not the big hill out of Peaslake. Think that's the lane up to the youth hostel.

cooldad

Stop making excuses see you at 11.

Anonymous

Should be no problems.

diy

Got up early saturday morning and did holmbury and LH, my garmin was showing -4.9 on saturday, though it felt colder coming back in the wind at only -2. Conditions were perfect. dry, crisp and firm.

Jedi

Andy Dobson wrote:

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/).


Andy

cheers andy.

cooldad

Slippery slidy snowy ride today. Good fun.

benpinnick

Yeah, and Knackering too.

cooldad

Yeah, a bit of that too. But had a big smile when I got home and that's the only thing that's important.

milko9000

My hip/ass is still slightly swollen and I'm still hobbling about from Saturday's mishap. Still got a bit of a grin thinking about the ride though, can't wait to hit those trails again. Just put my Facebook group request thingy in.

cooldad

That must have been you I added then. You can see how selective we are.

JaiRo

Hi guys, I got to Peaslake yesterday and parked round the corner from a pub. Is that a good place to start or are there any other better starting points.

Due to the snow, I couldnt really see any trails to try and follow apart from tracks in the snow from where bikes rode by earlier.

milko9000

cooldad wrote:

That must have been you I added then. You can see how selective we are.

Yeah, the selection interview was pretty gruelling I must say. Thanks for ignoring my faux-pas about the thing.

JaiRo, I park there usually although the guys in here seem to go for the one up Walking Bottom' - drive past Pedal 'n Spoke and it's on your left as you go up the hill. Finding trails can be tricky in the snow but your best bet is either joining a ride from here (did this on Saturday and learned loads of new ones) or just wandering about and seeing where people are going. There's lots to discover just by seeing a bit of trail through some trees and finding out where it goes.

JaiRo

Thanks milko. I did see a few bikes locked up by the pub and thought, why not stop here.

This is after being stuck on ice part way up 'Hoe Lane' and reversed all the way back out!

Will try going past pedal and spoke during the week.

milko9000

It's all of a 30s ride from one car park to the other anyway, I wouldn't worry about it!

Anonymous

The Walking Bottom car park is pretty big. Can get *very* full at weekends though but they prefer you park there than jam up the roads in the village. At the moment the cold weather has finally cleared off a lot of people . Used to be full just with the fair weather bunch, but it's been full even on soggy muddy days recently. Very similar with Swinley which is overflowing now.

There are car parks up the hills as well which are usually fairly empty, but then you have to plan to avoid ending with a climb.

benpinnick

Cold weather? What cold weather....

Andy Dobson

Nice pic Ben.

Looks positively warm compared to Hertfordshire on Saturday. I was thinking it had warmed up enough to start shedding some layers while we had a bite to eat just after midday, but then saw the temp gauge on the van was bouncing between -1 and -3 without the windchill! And believe me, the wind was blowing a bloody hooly down the valley.

Curious Yellow

Rode round Dorking way over the weekend and did some random trails and Summer Lightning. They were good, but the days do get dark early which is a bummer.

Also happened upon the Nirvana Bikes shop where they advertise group rides for free. Has anyone been? Would you recommend it?

Anonymous

Simon's Bottom Fancier rides?

http://youtu.be/feQyJeJgIw8 (at the end)

Never been on a Nirvana ride, but bumped into them as they were going past. Seem a decent bunch and informal looking ride.

Anonymous

Weekend plans?

Surrey Hill conditions currently:

https://www.facebook.com/MBSurreyHills
"Trail Update | At least 15cm of lying snow currently in The Surrey Hills and North Downs, however the fire trails are not too rutted and icy and the trails are rideable if a little like bob sleigh runs. If we don't get too much more snow before the Friday, it should still be a lot of fun to go riding in The Surrey Hills this weekend. Not ideal conditions for breaking Strava records though!"

I guess Swinley is frozen mud.

ThePriory1978

That would be correct. Last night Swinley was like concrete with solid tyre ruts everywhere and the odd ice cold puddle thrown in for good measure. The trails around Clubhouse and your drop were/are the only nicely running trails at the moment.

Anonymous

I'm hearing Surrey Hills is really quite icy on the trails advice being spiked tyres may be best!, and there's snow tonight possibly.

Anonymous

1cm or two here, all melting. Guess it's topped up the hills and Swinley.

Anonymous

Roads to Peaslake are fine apparently. Conditions now are:

"Trail Update | Another 3-4cm of snow fell last night. No sign of significant melting so still plenty of snow around. The Surrey Hills are still worth a visit; speed records might not be possible, but you'll leave grinning from ear to ear. As most of the car parks are full of 10-20cm of snow, make sure you pack a shovel in your car if you want to get home at the end of your ride."

Thinking of a SH ride then, just a case of who's up for where/when.

cooldad

My bike's in tiny pieces at the moment, have new bearings hoping to get them fitted tomorrow. So I might make Sunday, but probably just a Swinley pootle to make sure everything works. Once I put it all back together.
Going to give it a spring clean at the same time.

Sarpullido

Hi, I think I'm up for SH on Sunday 10am
Is this the meeting point?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Unk ... s&t=m&z=17

Anonymous

Arrangements on Facebook (these people don't do forums any more!) are for a Saturday 10am Surrey Hills ride, Walking Bottom car park, as in that link just posted.

Feel free to arrange anything/anywhere else too. Will see who's where for Sunday and how I feel after Surrey Hills in the snow/slush/ice on the hard tail.

Sarpullido

Yes, I'm following the threads on FB. I'll keep an eye on forecast for Sunday and possible feedback from riders going on Saturday

cooldad

Bearings sorted relatively easy except for two spacers? left over. Bugger, remember to note the order things come out. I blame Wiggle, and Ben. (Thanks for the help, would have been impossible without an additional brain and your gear). Seems to work OK though.
Spent the rest of the day on and off cleaning all the bits in the bath and putting everything back together. Nice shiny bike, needs some mud.
So now ready for tomorrow, I know it was me and probably DK (when did he ever say no? Trail slut). Can't remember if anyone else was coming.
11 at Go Ape.