London Calling

bungalistic

Afan isn't too hard so your skills will be just fine, I just can't afford to go that far this weekend, but do want to go there again sometime this year.

Anonymous

FYI, just spotted this about getting to Afan...

Due to essential maintenance on the A4107 taking place from the 6th of April 2010 a section of the A4107 will be closed. This means that you will not be able to access Afan Forest Park from Junction 40 of the M4. There will be diversion signs in place (see below) that will take you through Cwmafan so please follow these signs. The diversion is likely to be in place for at least 30 weeks.

hackters

okie.....whose intrested in next MTB Race.?For cheap Zhu Zhu pets please see theZhu Zhu pets video hamsters site where you can buy Zhu Zhu hamsters at low prices.

supra-man

hackters wrote:

okie.....whose intrested in next MTB Race.?

What kind of race??? where when??? need more info 8)

popstar

Hackters ... you digged bee's nest!

Dkenny, I am sure you won't be dissapointed by our small group antics in Afan! Put it simple ... 6km uphill, LUNCH, then ride! Think, you better be a video and photo man.

After today's Swinley forest warm up ride, I became very concerned about dusty dry trails...came back home with full mouth of sand! Boy it was a difficult ride endurance wise. 3hours felt like 9 we did the other day! Will make sure I have good good sleep and tonnes of pasta.

popstar

deadkenny wrote:

FYI, just spotted this about getting to Afan...

Due to essential maintenance on the A4107 taking place from the 6th of April 2010 a section of the A4107 will be closed. This means that you will not be able to access Afan Forest Park from Junction 40 of the M4. There will be diversion signs in place (see below) that will take you through Cwmafan so please follow these signs. The diversion is likely to be in place for at least 30 weeks.

Well, I have an off road MTB, and that small diversion wouldn't put me off!

gregsd

supra-man wrote:

hackters wrote:

okie.....whose intrested in next MTB Race.?

What kind of race??? where when??? need more info 8)

This is right up your street, supra-man - grass roots downhill racing Not too far away and something a little different

Atz

I quite like the look of that Greg.

Bungalistic and I are exploring a bit more of Leith in the morning as neither of us are making the Wales run.

Atz

We found a bunch of new stuff over Redlands way (with assistance from a friendly guy we bumped into). Pretty techncal riding that side but it's good stuff.

gregsd

Atz wrote:

We found a bunch of new stuff over Redlands way (with assistance from a friendly guy we bumped into). Pretty techncal riding that side but it's good stuff.

Sounds good. Look forward to be shown them and attempting to ride them!

popstar

Wales trip, ... we made a very good use of hot weather. But managed to ride only Whites Level. The climb itself wasn't really a leg killer, kind of gentle uphill with technical surprises thrown in. Surely the hot sun raced our hearts, but legs were fine.
Dkenny made some sexy shots and finally justified carrying his heavy camera. Lots of photos would come in from him.

thel33ter

Now you need to plan another next week so I can come How were the downhills?

Atz

The heat does strange things. Bungalistic and I didn't really cover massive miles but without any places to get extra water/food over where we rode today, it was about the worst I've felt for a while. Mind you, the lager top in the pub in Coldharbour went down really well.

supra-man

Wales was Fab, trails I loved, big down hill were fast bermed single track, a bit sketchy with a slick on the rear. favorite part was the Dark side on whites level.
fast very fast reminds me of alpine single track. flowing under trees along the side of the hills with nice jumps of rocks landing lower down the trail... My head is still over there..
I was fine with the heat used a lot less water than usual, with that sun and those rocky trails i felt at home...

we also had a nice try at north shore trails which are infact good practice for step downs ect.



but now is time to change bearings and chain... a bit too old all that and made a lot of noise

Anonymous

The initial climb killed me a little, but as popstar says it wasn't leg burn. I was just overheating. Thankfully the climb zig zags up the hill in and out of shade.

Liked the downhill-ish black run. The stretches of north shore here and there and the black and the reds made it interesting, though they're reasonably wide. Many many rocks! Finally exercising the full sus.

Great day and really like the place. Fantastic views. First I've been the Wales though so I have nothing to compare it with.

Distance we did was actually less than we do in Surrey Hills, but there's a lot more vertical and the trails are more technical.

Will have to do it again. Though driving there and back in a day is exhausting.

When I've got the energy I'll sort through the photos later.

Plaisir

Just finished exam

Had a great day yesterday, bike screaming to be pushed and chucked around, felt right at home. I will certainly go back and probably soon, but dkenny you are right, driving there and back in a day takes it out of you! My fave section was the same as yours supra, the end of dark side. Lets get organising the next!

johnnyfiasco

After some advice from this forum, I tried out Swinley forest this weekend.

It was pretty sick, but being that it was my first real mountain biking experience, I don't have much to compare it against! It took us about 3 hours to get there from Clapham, as we hadn't anticipated the hordes of people going to Twickenham for the Rugby 7's.

Everybody seemed really friendly and the downhill runs were pretty sweet. Highlights were the 'Baby maker' and the 'Deer Hunter' (I think that's what they're called?)

Anonymous

Swinley is a great place to start (if somewhat sandy in the dry and boggy in the wet). Spent ages there before moving on up to Surrey Hills. Still go back now and again and find little bits of new stuff, and there's enough there to make a different ride each time.

johnnyfiasco

I've heard Surrey Hills is great, I think that's next weekends plan.

thel33ter

johnnyfiasco wrote:

I've heard Surrey Hills is great, I think that's next weekends plan.

I've just started there after doing Swinley for years, and it is fantastic, but you need someone to follow around or you will miss pretty much everything.

There will probably be a group ride around there next weekend.

popstar

+1 to Dkenny and Thel33ter. They don't lie.

Movie on the way ...

johnnyfiasco

thel33ter wrote:

johnnyfiasco wrote:

I've heard Surrey Hills is great, I think that's next weekends plan.

I've just started there after doing Swinley for years, and it is fantastic, but you need someone to follow around or you will miss pretty much everything.

There will probably be a group ride around there next weekend.

Thanks for the advice. How would I find out more about the group rides? Like what time they start, where to meet?

supra-man

Keep an eye on this thread, and in mid week usually location and time gets decided.

usually it is 9 am at peaslake , and we ride 2 or 3 hills...
and we are 3 to 8 riders....

popstar

Johnyfiasco just keep in touch here.

Wales trip What could have been ... teaser.

thel33ter

They normally get posted here around wednesday and start at start between 9 and 11ish.

The ones I've been on started here

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=walking ... =en&tab=wl

or at a carpark here

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&cli ... =N&tab=wll

thel33ter

I'm always too slow posting on here :roll:

popstar

Slowest thing in here is Vimeo.

Atz

If we want to do Redlands this weekend, best to leave from Coldharbour (plus pub stop at the end)

popstar

I see what you mean Redlands* /cough. Did you guys session it? Was it as awesome as video's suggested? ... Dkenny, first time ever I am faster than you in production!

thel33ter

I'm up for this weekend and free until the Wednesday after that if anyone wants to meet up for an evening ride in Swinley next week.