London Calling

Anonymous

Hard to coordinate between here & FB, plus I'm keeping an eye on MTBB and getting texts off people saying they're doing X or Y.

So, currently going for SH tomorrow 10.30/.45ish @ Peaslake (Walking Bottom car park as normal). Though beers might change things.

Sunday therefore, might be Tunnel Hill with the MTBB guys, or QECP, or maybe even just rest! As said, we were offered a guide for QECP. Need to sort out time and where to meet up etc though.

Blind Danny Johnson

Sunday I'm up for whatever, SH or QECP. It'll be nice to ride with you guys again, seems like ages. I'll check back here tomorrow to see where we're at. Have a good one tomorrow guys and see you Sunday.

arigold

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Sunday I'm up for whatever, SH or QECP. It'll be nice to ride with you guys again, seems like ages. I'll check back here tomorrow to see where we're at. Have a good one tomorrow guys and see you Sunday.

Sounds good! if I'm still alive after tomorrow I'm up for some surrey hills or this new place on sunday

cooldad

Gets too confusing for me with FB etc.

MrCubeLtd

Nothing like advance preperation for my first proper XC ride out. As if the nerves aren't bad enough I get hardly any sleep kipping on the sofa as got my kids staying over before dropping them off first thing this morning. What time to they decide to wake up? 5.35am!

2 x Coffee and 2 x ciggs and I'm starting to feel normal again

Is it possible to have mid day sleeps on the trail?

benpinnick

Yep, all you need to do is bang your head on a tree real hard. Instant sleep.

Looks like its me, thee and arigold this morning, which is cool. I will try and take us on a new loop, which will be obviously no different for you, but more interesting for Ari....

This afternoon, depending on how we feel Ari and I will probably head to Tunnel Hill if anyone's interested in joining us.

MrCubeLtd

Ok mate nice one.

benpinnick

On a another topic. Dinner tonight. If I know you you're welcome to come. So far I think CD, Thel33ter, Ari, DK Maybe?

MrCubeLtd

Really appreciate that mate but I've sorta made plans already for tonight. Defo up for next time or I could do a BBQ for everyone next time round

MrCubeLtd

Absolutely knackered, but absolutely buzzing. Really nice to meet Ben, Mark and Serge. Thanks to Ben for giving the bike a once over. I finally got to use the dropper for what it was designed for, cut my right calf up, smacked my b*llocks on the stem. Experienced downhill for the 1st time, went over table tops, rode round burns. Near the end I was so tired and I was so glad to see the car park, it was my new best friend.

Actually put the bike to use for what it was designed for, ok at a slow and nervous pace, but I felt alive!

Defo up for a ride out again, need to build my stamina up as I got to the stage where some of the climbs I had to push the bike up, just didn't have anything left in my legs.

2hrs of pure fun, thanks gents defo made my weekend. Absolutely buzzing WoooHoooo!

cooldad

Sounds like a fun ride. No deaths.

milko9000

Droppers are designed to cut calves up and smack b*llocks? Yikes, been doing mine all wrong!

More seriously, what is the plan for tomorrow, anyone? Me 'n Dan are out... somewhere.

MrCubeLtd

No my mistake meant to be on another sentence

MrCubeLtd

cooldad wrote:

Sounds like a fun ride. No deaths.

I left after 2 hours and let the others carry on at their own pace.

Blind Danny Johnson

Still unclear on the plan for tomorrow? Surrey Hills is out for me unfortunately, my rear wheel on my Stumpjumper is still not back with me so I'm on the Status, descent then push up is the only real option for me. Apparently the QECP trails are mainly descent then fire road back up so I might still join you guys if that's the plan otherwise I might just Aston it up.

On another note Rogate today was good fun but it's seriously intense! The runs are really short but they're pretty steep and tight and the ground is really loose so unless you get the corners bang on it's easy to slip out. Had a few nice drift moments, though I didn't mean to drift just started going and saved it, also has a couple where I didn't save it! Some nice drops and fast sections, overall fun but so far the most challenging DH runs I've done, the 2 spot runs (as in orange bike park grading things) were more technical and tight than the 3 spot sections at Cwmcarn but they are way shorter so you're able to session the sections that are giving you trouble easily.

benpinnick

Whats the plan for Sunday? Im still keen on QECP then Peaslake.

cooldad

I fancy QECP as a change, then probably rest.

Anonymous

Shattered from a SH spin. Not sure why. Burnt out on the first climb I think, thanks to having to bypass the messy climb up Pitch which meant going up one of the steeper routes.

A lot of dry trails now, the odd wet spot. Loose stuff and kept screwing up on my cornering. Doesn't help it's loose but with bucket loads of roots.

Epic lateness, an hour late!, yet everyone else seemed to turn up about the same time. Good group, bit of fun. A few tumbles. One cracked helmet. No deaths or A&E trips though.

ThePriory1978

Really really good ride today round Swinley, good to ride with Ben and Arigold again and nice to meet super enthusiastic MrCube. Ben and Arigold riding a fast pace really felt good, forgot how fun Swinley can be...

My head and body is saying yes to QECP tomorrow. My knees are saying f£$k that!

What time are we talking for QECP?

benpinnick

10:30 at QECP is the plan. Then onto the SH later.

Blind Danny Johnson

benpinnick wrote:

10:30 at QECP is the plan. Then onto the SH later.

I've decided on Aston Hill tomorrow guys. Hopefully see you all soon. Have a great day tomorrow.

benpinnick

ThePriory1978 wrote:

Really really good ride today round Swinley, good to ride with Ben and Arigold again and nice to meet super enthusiastic MrCube. Ben and Arigold riding a fast pace really felt good, forgot how fun Swinley can be...

My head and body is saying yes to QECP tomorrow. My knees are saying f£$k that!

What time are we talking for QECP?

You know you want to

Anonymous

Where's the meet point for QECP?

bartimaeus

Hopefully you'll get in the main carpark, then you can rendezvous at the front of the Visitor Centre (marked in red), or round the back in the cafe. The trail runs into the park where you will see some of the QE Cyclefest tents set up, and then it hangs a left up the hill just before you hit the road that climbs up to the top-level car parks.

bartimaeus

For satnav... use PO8 0QE. It's a turn off the A3 as you climb up through the South Downs - Butser Hill is on your right with a massive great mast on it, so it should be like your obvious as you get past Petersfield.

MrCubeLtd

Good luck everyone today and enjoy your ride out.
Being unfit I'm on a day of recovery, going to hit Swinley again hopefully Tuesday and ride around on my own and try and get a feel for the place again.

Have a good one.

benpinnick

Bartimaeus wrote:

For satnav... use PO8 0QE. It's a turn off the A3 as you climb up through the South Downs - Butser Hill is on your right with a massive great mast on it, so it should be like your obvious as you get past Petersfield.

Thanks Bartimaeus.

ThePriory1978

Overslept. Bugger.

MrCubeLtd

At least you don't feel like you have been on one of these!

Anonymous

Missed Bartimaeus in the end. We just did one loop of the red with two demoing stuff (clown bike and a full sus for a hard tailer), lunch and went off to Surrey Hills after.

Not sure I'd be down at QECP often just for that trail. A *lot* of climbing for my liking vs the descents. If there was a lot more there, other trail options, maybe make that trail much longer with more pay off with good descents it could become something really good.

Didn't help the trails were claggy. Chalk/clay or whatever and slippery roots make it slow going climbing. Surrey Hills by comparison is relatively dry.

Still, the new work is nicely done. Good berms. End was nice (is that old or new?).