London Calling

popstar

After checking YouTube AH looks about allright, should have kept lousy mouth shut about SWales. Still insist on trying it though, not to mention that I don't know what is 4X and proper gnarly rooty DH.

Thanks for info Smallred, are the climbs really that steep and big?

bungalistic

Glad you decided Aston as that's where I plan on heading too, short xc loop as a warm up followed by some downhill and 4X action

Atz

Now that's sorted, anyone need a lift up (DK or any of the west london gang)? There's always the coming weekends for Wales anyway. Given what smallred says, time to break out the cooler so there's something cold to drink between runs.

cooldad

I still have rib issues, so nothing heavy for me, need to be sorted out for our week in Wales at the end of the month.
I couldn't even support my weight for the little bit of Redlands I did last week
Will probably try a bit of SH, Swinley, and maybe the Tunnel Hill bit that DK showed us last week.
At lady type speed.
Don't think I'm up to anything remotely heroic - every time I try anything I wrench them again and feels like I'm back to square one.
Excuses over, if anyone's planning something more gentle this weekend let us know. Off Friday and Monday as well so nice long weekend.

Atz

If you've done what I did, I'd keep off your bike for a week or two to heal up properly.

popstar

What time people shall we meet? ... gates are open from 9.00

XC Loop only 5 miles it seems, the rest some kind of downhill.

Atz

well we can always do more than one lap of each. How about 9 or 9:30 meetup?

supra-man

ok aston it is. 4x track looks fun on the vids. Rooty DH.... hmm I think I ve seen enough roots for a year up in the alps, roots are worse than rocks...
good idea for the drinks.

cooldad

Atz wrote:

If you've done what I did, I'd keep off your bike for a week or two to heal up properly.

Have Thel33ter with me for a month. Not going to happen.

Anonymous

smallred wrote:

There's nothing on site except a portaloo - I've heard rumours of a caff somewhere round about but I've yet to find it.

Found this on Google Maps nearby...

http://www.cafeinthewoods.co.uk

p.s. Is Aston just one part of the forest around there? Looks like FC land the rest of it. And if it's not all part of Aston, are there any other local trails about? Just thinking if Aston is enough for a day there, especially those who aren't going to session the 4X (I doubt I will if the 4X is what I think it is, unless it's got tame beginner stuff I can practice on).

Atz

Chicksands isn't that far away for the afternoon if we're bored.

supra-man

I dont think you will make a day out of aston... if you really want a whole day in same spot, SH and wales are your location...

Atz

Couple of runs of the 5 mile XC trail... few DH trails a couple of times... 4x. Then retire to the pub!

smallred

supra-man wrote:

ok aston it is. 4x track looks fun on the vids. Rooty DH.... hmm I think I ve seen enough roots for a year up in the alps, roots are worse than rocks...
good idea for the drinks.

The roots aren't too bad (in the dry!)

The red DH run is part of the XC loop, by the way. There's a noticeboard with details in the carpark and signposts for each run too.

Let us know what the 4X track is like! I did a little bit of MX before and it looks the closest thing in mtbing, want to try it...

smallred

supra-man wrote:

I dont think you will make a day out of aston... if you really want a whole day in same spot, SH and wales are your location...

That's true - it's not a big place. XC isn't long.

How does Chicksands compare? It looks a lot more serious than AH from the vids I've seen.

JonniOne

Harrow guys, Popstar said you guys were going to Aston Hill! What time you guys heading/meeting down there?
I'll be there on saturday aswell if anyone fancies a weekend run .

Plaisir

Hmm not sure about Aston hill, don't want to injure myself before trip and it looks like a very good way of achieving that. Not sure what my mates think I'll ask them this afternoon

bungalistic

I spent a full day on sunday at Chicksands and I reckon Aston has more stuff than there so it'll be easy to fill a full day up. A short xc loop means it can be super quick and you could always session section to work skills.

4X is a big bmx track basically, yes it has jumps but they can usually be rolled.

supra-man

Well cwm carn hmm i d avoid if i were you seeing number of crashes we had. lol

even though its a fab track 8) cant wait to go back and try out the lyriks there

Atz

What Supra said.. I know YOU didn't crash Plaisir but Supra, DK and I all had our moments out there which makes about half of the total number of people who went

JonniOne

SmallRed - HARLO SANDY XD. Just realised it was YOU!

crash-test-dummy

I can't stop dreaming about getting back to Chicksands! New crankset fitted tomorrow. Must get back to that log drop and see if the Saint M810 is bendable!

Jedi

chicksands is fun. woburn is better

Atz

For you or for mortals?

Woburn is even closer than chicksands so if we've had enough of Aston, could move onto there.

Jedi

woburn has jumps/dh runs and miles of singletrack

Jedi

an ickle bit is here http://vimeo.com/9359895

Atz

Looks pretty good... I see a multi-spot Sunday on the horizon

smallred

JonniOne wrote:

SmallRed - HARLO SANDY XD. Just realised it was YOU!

Ahhh it;s YOU!!!

smallred

crash-test-dummy wrote:

I can't stop dreaming about getting back to Chicksands! New crankset fitted tomorrow. Must get back to that log drop and see if the Saint M810 is bendable!

And: aha! It's the fern-eater!

popstar

People, meet up at Aston Hill, Halton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5NQ at 9.30 this Sunday. If some of you didn't buy pass online, can do so there on the spot, it will cost £7 instead then. Hope I am not wrong about that.