London Calling

cooldad

I could probably do a bit in the afternoon. Or late morning.
I don't do early.

thel33ter

Most likely afternoon then, send us a text.

cooldad

Arranged. Swinley, 2pm, Go Ape. Should be quite hot, lots of water needed. Something about mad dogs and Englishmen...

cooldad

Three hour ride in the baking sun.


Although there is a rumour that only one hour was actual riding and two were spent talking. Very exhausting conversations though.

And DK was only 8 minutes late, which is not really late at all. A new record anyway.

ThePriory1978

Bank Holiday weekend.
Weather, Average.
What where when?

Anonymous

Up for whatever.

Nomad needs some fixes though and dependent on CRC (ha!) in part. Hard tail is rideable though.

cooldad

what have you broken now?

Anonymous

Just needs servicing really. Chain keeps dropping off front, is slack and clattering, checked and it's fairly worn so replacing that. Whilst at it slapping on a shimano cassette which hopefully works better with the swiss cheese CB freehub. Reverb to fit, depending when it arrives. Finally got a puncture after 4 years! Was thinking of using the oppourtunity of going tubeless, but then again a tube will get me riding. And front mech cabling needs overhaul if not replacing.

Hard tail on the other hand is running smooth. Took it out round Surrey Hills last night, really nice, very quiet.

ThePriory1978

Saturday is looking like sunshine and heavy showers. Sunday is looking perfect, sunny and dry. Monday is looking horrific, rain and gales.
My vote is for a Sunday ride.

Anonymous

Hmm, and we were having thoughts the other day of Afan on Monday! Maybe not then.

Fettling should really just be an hour's job so that means it will take me a day or more, so maybe that's Saturday's job though want to get out if I can.

Well, Reverb is stuck in Germany at least as of midnight. Chances of it hitting a van over here today is slim. Maybe tomorrow as DHL claim they'll do Sat but not sure (so could mean I'm waiting for delivery anyway).

Oh and CRC have yet to break their record with me. 3 days though and ordered Sun, shipped Tue is not bad for them. Still baffled as to how people get anything next day.

cooldad

Sunday is good.

benpinnick

As long as you dont use next day, and order in the morning, most of my stuff arrives next day. Using next day on the other had usually means a 4-5 day lead time. Go figure.

Anonymous

Yeah, learnt that one. Think the problem here was ordered Sunday which obviously they aren't working so gets stuck in the system Monday before they catch up on Tuesday. If I'd ordered Monday they might actually have shipped it Monday. Though I've never had them do that before.

Still, all turned up Wed. Just to be sure I bulk ordered 3 KMC chains (made it slightly cheaper) so I don't have to faff around ordering chains in a rush later.

ThePriory1978

I hope you went for KMC's Titanium Nitride Gold coating for the bling factor.

I'm also considering doing what you are doing with MRPs Bling Ring (i have the same crank as you so am reading with interest), the gold chain and Bling Ring would look uber cool on your SC. Just saying.

njee20

If you do get X10SL chains make sure you get them from eBay, there are various Taiwanese sellers doing them for £21-£22, much cheaper than in the shops, seem pukka too.

milko9000

super-tired after a shitty week, nay, fortnight, of work AND I have to work in Stoke on Sunday. But I intend to get out 'n ride at some point Saturday/Monday somehow.

benpinnick

Sun is beginning to break through now. Hopefully get out to Swinley for a couple of hours today.

lugsey2k5

Hello.

Just recently moved to staines are am looking for people/ places to ride, Iv rode swimley a good few times but thats the only local place i know of.

Was wondering if anyone knew of any other local ish (within an hours drive) places to ride or wanted to ride on sunday the 26th? I ride xc/am, as long as its not mile after mile of fire road im happy:) Reasonable fitness but am happy to ride any any speed faster or slower. Going stir crazy not having a choice of places to ride like i did up north.
Thanks
Ian

Anonymous

Surrey Hills is the main place round this way. Think Swinley but 10 times as much to do if not more, but with big hills. Not mountains like up north, but involves a fair bit of climbing.

Problem is, there are 4 main hills, plus other bits that extend from it and along the North Downs, and the whole area is large and riddled with mostly natural trails that takes a fair bit of finding. There's a bit of everything from family pootles, to XC to DH and freeride. No epic long descents, just a lot of trails. Finding the trails is tricky, best if someone shows you, though the signature trails are easy enough. If we don't meet up ourselves, pop into Peaslake and ask about. There's a little bike shop there that can point you in the right direction or just ask any one of the hundreds of riders you'll bump into round there. I'd aim for the car park at Walking Bottom for parking.

Beyond that there are other little spots around Surrey/Hampshire/Berkshire. There's actually surprisingly a lot about but you need to get to know it. What there isn't is a trail centre, but I don't mind that. I like natural. (Swinley isn't a trail centre, though it has a lot of managed trails).

Probably going to be out Sunday but not sure where yet.

lugsey2k5

Thanks for that, think ill head over there tomorrow and have a little explore. Im guessing park on the road at walking bottom then just head into the woods?

If you decided to ride tomorrow id appreciate a guide if you wouldn't mind a tag along.
My other riding buddy is being selfish and having knee surgery.

Anonymous

Big car park at Walking Bottom (from Peaslake centre, straight on past the bike shop on the left and pub on the right). Don't park on the streets round there, the locals get annoyed. There are plenty of car parks about. http://www.friendsofthehurtwood.co.uk/i ... rparks.pdf

lugsey2k5

Thanks, couldn't see them from google maps. Is it like swinley where most of the trails are two way trails which i find incredibly annoying, or are most trails good in one direction rubbish in the other so every one goes one way?

Anonymous

Most are descents in some way so tend to be one way. I've rarely found someone coming the other direction. But the place is open to the public for general use by all and isn't a trail centre so you can find people walking on trails some times. The main ones are fairly obvious they are used by bikes and at a fair speed, but still a few do walk them. Not often, but be prepared to find a family walking up the likes of BKB (or Yoghurt Pots as we found the other week). They're perfectly entitled to do so, though not a good idea.

Usually bikes and walkers mix fairly well there though.

lugsey2k5

Sounds similar to my old local riding spots. The man made trails round swinley forest really annoy me, although there is no one direction that is better than the other i still think they should be one way.

Assuming the weather is reasonable i think ill head over to walking bottom and go for a little explore.

cooldad

There is definitely a right and wrong way around Swinley, even if Seagull is a bit schizo. Plenty of natural trails linking everything up as well.
Anyway planning on going up there at some point tomorrow, easy on the when, providing I've had time to wake up and load up on bacons.

lugsey2k5

Depending on the weather i might just pop there. Would you mind me tagging along?

cooldad

More than welcome. Planning on 11 at the Go Ape gate.

lugsey2k5

I think i can manage that, How far you usually ride?

cooldad

Until we've had enough - no real plan, just decide on a rough route and go. Normally about three hours or so but in distance depends on who wants to stop and play/rest/chat where.
Kind of casual.

lugsey2k5

Sounds good, cya there. ILL be on a zesty 514