London Calling

Atz

I took a Finn to Swinley at the weekend. He wanted more downhill bits

Anonymous

I find it varies who you're with. Some prefer "proper" XC which is all girly flat stuff, fire roads, bridleways, and climbs, but ridden hard and fast (which is a different level of fitness to mine!). Motorway riding really. It's okay, but not much more interesting than road riding which bores me to death.

I prefer general trails, ideally singletrack, with a preference for technical and things in a downhillish direction but speed and endurance isn't a key for me. I don't do "proper" DH (at least I don't ride it like a DHer, or do stuff that requires a DH bike). I kind of class my stuff as all mountain but I'm not sure that's what all mountain is technically known as.

Some people seem to swear by Swinley as being the best thing in the south east, saying it's way better than Surrey Hills! I don't get it, but I guess it comes down to whether you want to play or just get fit

(although to be fair, Swinley has it's moments and you can have some fun there, but no way is it better than Surrey Hills).

Jedi

surrey hills beats swinly hands down!

cooldad

Agreed. Swinley is convenient, and good fun for a few hours, but SH is excellent, varied riding. The real thing.

Jedi

woburns way better than swinley too

milfredo

When is the next vist to SH?

Atz

Jedi wrote:

surrey hills beats swinly hands down!

Took them there as I had one person who'd last ridden a BMX 20 years ago and another who'd never ridden anything more rutted than the average UK sideroad. They enjoyed it though.

SH run, I suspect at the weekend. If nobody else is doing it, at the very least I'll be out either Saturday or Sunday morning for a few hours. Flexible on starting in either Peaslake or Coldharbour though.

Anonymous

I'm up for SH at the weekend.

Some guys on MTB Britain are doing Swinley on Saturday early morning which I've been invited to. They're the kind who seem to love Swinley so much . I can't keep up with them on the XC stuff though!

SH is my priority anyway this weekend.

cooldad

@Atz look back a page or two, but seem to remember that someone mentioned that the orientering event is on Sunday. Runs out of Peaslake, so would suggest Coldharbour a better place to start, and stick to Leith side. Event covers the whole area, but not many get as far as Leith. I know, I've tried.

Unlikely to make it this weekend, school ride Saturday, and thel33ter has a parade on Sunday.

Buckaroo

+1

May be venturing in for a Sunday afternoon sesh only

cooldad

Sunday afternoon we may be able to make.

thel33ter

A 2 30pm or so start will probably be possible. Hopefully wih my Enduro

@Cooldad, can you get some of that mineral oil stuff, and did you take the enduro into the shop today

popstar

As Jedi suggested on STW for my trip to Scotland, I am torn between Inners+GT vs Kirroughtree vs Laggan. Haven't decided yet which route to take. Richard told me, if I take on Kirroughtree I should be carefull to do it alone. If he says, then most probably I should listen. Setting on my epic trip for a week to Scotland this Sat don't know when will come back. Have 2 weeks holiday, don't know how to make the best out of them.

Those who juggling with idea in SH, Go do Leith+Redlands Richard's style. You will get plenty of KNARR for sure. Holmbury+Pitch+Winterfold hills are better for socializing rides but seems not this weekend due to Trail-Quest or some sh@t like that.

cooldad

thel33ter wrote:

A 2 30pm or so start will probably be possible. Hopefully wih my Enduro

@Cooldad, can you get some of that mineral oil stuff, and did you take the enduro into the shop today

Doesn't look like it. Ebay shop I bought the BB off kindly phoned me to tell me when they checked on of the bits was missing, so they refunded my money. However when I checked, I saw they re-listed it at twice the price. Am now waiting for them to tell me why I shouldn't post nasty feeback.

Have ordered another one from CRC.

Your blingy gold bolts have arrived though.

Don't you need a whole service kit to go with the oil?

Atz

I'm basing my weekend around test riding some possible new bikes. Road bikes that is. Got some cycle to work money I want to spend so need to narrow the choices down a bit as everyone I talk to just increases the choices.

Not sure which day I'll get out to SH though... Sunday AM would seem most likely, from the Leith side.

Buckaroo

Aaah the age old dilemma when wanting advice on new bikes... Two rules come to mind:

1 - Ask everyone you know (and everyone you dont) to get as much info as possible.
2 - Ignore it all and do what you want



S

Anonymous

Road bike :shock:. Such talk is forbidden!



Anyway, so maybe Leith / Redlands Sunday? Meet at crossroad? thel33ter has the pics/map of where to meet

Where's Helter? has he hit Redlands yet on the new bike? (well, not literally hit, at least not the tree like last time).

PM or AM is okay. Want to see thel33ter's new rig though, and cooldad on the Kona!

supra-man

deadkenny wrote:

Road bike :shock:. Such talk is forbidden!



PM or AM is okay. Want to see thel33ter's new rig though, and cooldad on the Kona!

Need pics of the new bike in action.
Road bike??? or something else???

Atz

Me? :P

Road bike in the next few weeks, new bouncy bike some time during winter, ready for spring.

milfredo

Atz wrote:

I'm basing my weekend around test riding some possible new bikes. Road bikes that is. Got some cycle to work money I want to spend so need to narrow the choices down a bit as everyone I talk to just increases the choices.

Not sure which day I'll get out to SH though... Sunday AM would seem most likely, from the Leith side.

I just bout a Piraello FP1 on the CTW. Not the highest speced bike for it's price range and the frame is a mix of carbon and Ali but it rides likes a beast and looks amazing + bonus points: it's not a Boardman.

Atz

I said NO MORE CHOICES :P

supra-man

Seems many people are changing bikes now days... hmmm

cooldad

supra-man wrote:

deadkenny wrote:

Road bike :shock:. Such talk is forbidden!



PM or AM is okay. Want to see thel33ter's new rig though, and cooldad on the Kona!

Need pics of the new bike in action.
Road bike??? or something else???

No his 'new' Enduro - just got BB today, but probably only get fitted next week.

popstar

I want a road bike too, it's good winter training. For me that would be Spesh allez, if wife allows to by it after upgrade of a car. I could mash up pedals on road on HT too.

popstar

Supraman LOOK no further ! This is your solution ! Don't miss out !

Didn't hear a word from Gregsd, wonder if a man iz allright. Same as IAmmike and Nick+NickolasYu.

Mr Peri Peri

Hi all,

I made a thread about getting a ride together on the north downs and was pointed to this thread by cooldad

Would be interested in getting out for a ride anytime from next weekend onwards if people are going. Watched a few of the vids from this thread and looks like a good laugh.

Recently bought a Rockhopper and started getting out around box hill way, doing about 20 mile loops in just under 3 hours. Not sure what that pace is like compared to others but hopefully I won't hold you up as i've just started biking and working on the fitness :?

Looking forward to getting up to Leith Hill soon and would be good to go with someone/a group that know the trails :P

Cheers,

Phil

popstar

Hey Phil, seems as if you wouldn't struggle at all fitness wise. Think this Sunday some geyzers going to ride Leith-Redlands. Most probably on climbs you would leave some riders in dust, going down however is a different story. 20 miles under 3 hours is impressive. Group rides usually take longer than that, when Cooldad starts talking and giving advice on style, it takes few cups of tea to listen.

Even then, groups these days are quite small **(some riders with broken bones or bikes)** so you would have a very nice -intro- . Suppose if Cooldad-DKenny lead the ride most probably you would end up riding Gentle XC.

**Bungalistic how your healing? Get well soon!
**Buckaroo you ought to recover now.
**Naveed its time to get your rigid and put some heat in your legs!
**Helter didn't pay a visit to a forsaken place, revenge is awaiting.

Somehow Redman and Gregsd, Dubcat, Milfredo Co are missing from group, not talking about improved Plaisir ...

Buckaroo

popstar wrote:

...it takes few cups of tea to listen...

There's Tea!?! I'm deffinately in.

If I am able to get out for a blast on Sunday it will be lunchtime or after. There was talk of an afternoon meet? Would be happy to join the back of the group if someone know where their going. Have only done Pitch and Holmbury once and never to Leith/Redhill.

If nobody's about will prob just hit Holmbury solo to leisurely explore, not sure yet.

S

Anonymous

popstar wrote:

Suppose if Cooldad-DKenny lead the ride most probably you would end up riding Gentle XC.

You haven't seen us recently. We're doing massive gnarly death drops and 6 foot gap jumps, with cooldad leading the way .


Anyway, yeah 20 miles in 3 hours was the pace I did with the other guys last week and I struggled with that. But that was mostly XC and little that was technical. I think our rides only have a few flat bits (e.g. Radnor Road and the odd fire road) the rest is more technical or at least singletrack a lot of the way.

But we do stop for chats and photo calls. And when Popstar gets the video out, well... !

P.S. Anyone up for Swinley at 8.45/9ish tomorrow morning? I'm not sure myself given I'm out on the beers tonight but meeting up with a different group and would be interested to see what they do. Thread: http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/forum/index ... 67&st=2500

With all the rain it could be a bit of a bog. Mud tyres and wet lube time.

bungalistic

Hey all.

Thought i'd drop a quick message in to say healing up well, arm is out of the sling (except when I want sympathy vote or a tube seat) and I can even drive me car now. How much I hate public transport.

Strength and movement is increasing every day but it's unlikely i'll be back out until november sometime as it is still far from what it was.

Is everyone really buying new bikes, I thought about it but i've decided to go on a snowboarding holiday instead and I can happily keep up with you all on me trusty hardtail.

See you soon