Conditions at Bedgebury ?

2

Comments

  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    stuart99fx wrote:
    The entrance to the black run is just after the exit from the 2nd section of singletrack , signs are up but they have branches across the entry .

    guess its still closed
    Black run now open - had 3 goes on it today. Quite short and not that difficult - some steeply banked berms and a few jumps, a couple about 2 ft high or so. The entrance looks almost vertical but is quite easy with a bit of speed. Still had to dodge a few peeps who had bottled it and were carrying their bikes :roll:
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • breezer
    breezer Posts: 1,225
    I think the FC policy is if you cant roll it then its classed as black. Shame its taken so long to get it open as I rode it back in Sep 09 but then it got shut down for ages!
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    breezer wrote:
    I think the FC policy is if you cant roll it then its classed as black. Shame its taken so long to get it open as I rode it back in Sep 09 but then it got shut down for ages!
    Definitely not rollable but not big drops. Bit difficult to see the first one when not sunny as the tree canopy is quite thick. The first time in I came out of a berm with a bit of speed and only had a couple of seconds to get ready for the jump, resulting in a few choice words on landing...
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • mickedwards61
    mickedwards61 Posts: 175
    I'm planning on heading to Bedgebury tomorrow, is there anyone that could tell me the condition of the place at the moment? Head it turns into a bit of a mud bath after loads of rain!
  • baser
    baser Posts: 127
    Rode it on Sunday, pretty dry, very fast ground at the moment, dusty when you get right under the trees.

    Enjoy
  • mickedwards61
    mickedwards61 Posts: 175
    Brilliant thanks for that! It's my first time there, have been told its worth a visit, looking forward to it!

    Forecast is rain for tomorrow, so better take the right clothes!!
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    mickedwards61 wrote:
    Brilliant thanks for that! It's my first time there, have been told its worth a visit, looking forward to it!

    Forecast is rain for tomorrow, so better take the right clothes!!
    Post ride report pls :) All this rain in the last few days might have brought the mud monster back in parts.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • mickedwards61
    mickedwards61 Posts: 175
    Well went to Bedgebury today, and the conditions were pretty good I thought.

    It was my first time there, but the only real puddles were on the fire roads, any on the trail were easily avoided. It wasn't too muddy at all, but quite soft so I don't think it will take too much to turn it into a mud bath!
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Not been for a while - anyone got an update on how muddy the place has got?
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Hmm - guessing from the lack of replies that no ****er has been because it's a swamp-fest.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • tenfoot
    tenfoot Posts: 226
    Hi - only registered tonight, so haven't seen your post before.

    I was there last weekend. The majority of the trail isn't too bad. There are a few muddy parts in amongst the trees. I had to tighten my line on a couple of bends to stay out of the gloopy stuff.

    The worst bits were

    1) where the trail hits the fire tracks - very slippy in a number of places - I almost came a cropper at one as I got caught in a rut and almost didn't unclip in time when my balance went.

    2) there is a section of trail about 2/3's of the way through that snakes through an open, low shrubbed area (the bit that has a few berms). I dropped into a puddle that went up to my hubs - water over the top of my shoes, I completed my ride with wet feet.

    Since then, it hasn't rained much, so hopefully will have dried up some more. I am planning on going back on the 8th December, so if you haven't been in the meantime, I'l let you know how it is.

    If you go in the meantime, could you post up on here how it is, please?

    Thanks, Phil
  • CrazySmudge
    CrazySmudge Posts: 137
    I was also down there last weekend

    Not a swamp fest...yet - yes some muddy bits but still fun. "Tenfoot" I to went through that same puddle in the open on the snake and I thought I was going to disappear!!

    On the first downhill they seemed to have built up the edges which makes it a lot easier keeping your speed and makes it more enjoyable and natural flowing - sorry if this happened ages ago but don't normally ride there, maybe every four months or so.

    Also noticed they were building a Black Run, (after first woods with the dry and compact single track came up to the road and black run is opposite) has this been opened and are they repairing it? Or is it new? Has anybody tried it?

    At the end of the trail - two options up the hill to the road or turn left and cycle through the wood and bushes didn’t even bother trying, as it looks very wet!!

    Summary - Through the trees it can get muddy but still enjoyable
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Thanks Lads,

    Will let you know if I do go soon, need to get my half bald Racing ralphs changed first! Will keep an eye out for the small lake in the bermy section, no fun getting feet soaked with another lap and ahalf to go.

    BTW the black run has been open since summer - I first went down it in July. Not bad but too short really.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    PSA: conditions are improving (i.e. the gloop is drying up) and the black is open again :)
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Thought it was worth resurrecting this thread as I went there today and conditions were really good (and a lovely sunny day to boot). Almost no mud on the singletrack, just a few softish bits but mostly fine - didn't even need the cycraguards apart from stopping the odd bit of horse sh1t getting on me.

    Get there before it rains!
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • tenfoot
    tenfoot Posts: 226
    Been over there a lot in the last few months, including doing Insomnia in September. It is holding up remarkably well at the moment, and a fair proportion of the single track has had a resurface.

    The black run, I've tried a few times, is fun but short. Shame there's not a bit more of it.

    Hoping to get back over on the 2nd December.
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Went there this morning before the rain came over and its getting muddy in places: mainly the parts that have no tree cover like the bridleways/fireroads that link the singletrack together and the entrance/exits to the sections of singletrack. I reckon nearly 90% of it is OK but you can't avoid a lot of the slop as it usually goes across the full width of the track: I got nicely coated.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • tenfoot
    tenfoot Posts: 226
    Lots of rain last night = massive puddles and very boggy conditions today.

    Probably only 30% ok now :-(
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    tenfoot wrote:
    Lots of rain last night = massive puddles and very boggy conditions today.

    Probably only 30% ok now :-(
    Thought so - may have to head elsewhere for a while unless I fancy some proper mud plugging. it was good while it lasted.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • tenfoot
    tenfoot Posts: 226
    I guess I was probably overdoing it a bit. It's probably more like 60% ok. It had rained flipping hard the night before, in it's defence.

    I'll be back again soon, no doubt.
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Has anyone been in the last week or so? I know it will be muddy now but the question for me is how bad it is/whether it's worth going.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • tenfoot
    tenfoot Posts: 226
    I haven't been in the last week, but went on the 19th December for the BOARS christmas nightride.

    It was muddy in places, with quite a few puddles, but still rolling pretty quickly.

    With the amount of rain over the last couple of weeks, I can only guess it's got stickier.
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Thanks - I've tried to subtly persuade a mate to go as scouting party before I do :-)
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Update from a mate who went today: "Muddy in parts but not the quagmire I expected". It's forecast not to rain down this end the world for this week so will give it a shot in the next few days.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    Public Service Update: get over there while it's still cold and dry ! Had a top day out there today including a play in what's left of the freeride area. The mud is frozen solid, so it rolls really fast, but there is no ice apart from the odd easily avoided frozen puddle.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • tenfoot
    tenfoot Posts: 226
    Wondered if it would be good at the moment. Shame as I'm not likely to get over there anytime soon.
  • grawp
    grawp Posts: 46
    Anyone been round in the last couple of days? I need to get some outdoor training in but don't want to be crashing due to ice. I'm particularly thinking about those kind of polished MOT stone sections and corners.
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    grawp wrote:
    Anyone been round in the last couple of days? I need to get some outdoor training in but don't want to be crashing due to ice. I'm particularly thinking about those kind of polished MOT stone sections and corners.
    When I was there it was cold enough to freeze things but no problems with ice - all the cold weather did was freeze the mud which made things better :-) There might have a been a dusting of snow last night according to the weather forecast but most of the trail has enough tree cover not to be affected by that much. I think you're better off going while it's still cold and mud-free. (I'll be there tomorrow if all goes to plan).
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • grawp
    grawp Posts: 46
    Thanks.
    Could you do me a favour a post on this thread if it's ok when you ride tomorrow. It doesn't have to be perfect, just not a total nightmare. I don't want to clear time, arrange friends, make up 6 bottles of drink etc if it's going to be a 'mare.
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,834
    grawp wrote:
    Thanks.
    Could you do me a favour a post on this thread if it's ok when you ride tomorrow. It doesn't have to be perfect, just not a total nightmare. I don't want to clear time, arrange friends, make up 6 bottles of drink etc if it's going to be a 'mare.
    Aye, will do.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]

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