Newbie in Basingstoke area looking for rides

ciducantcme

After 7-8 years out I am now back into riding, and it feels great.

I took the plunge a month ago and bought a 2011 Cinder Cone which was a bargain at Evans in Woking. Now, I have the bike but I don't know where is good to ride in the area, or if anyone out there is hitting the trails at the weekend.

Ability wise I am re-learning pretty quickly, and my fitnesss is picking up. I am Desperate to ride but none of my mates are interested any more.

Would love to do some XC/Single Track or whatever. If there is anyone out there how is looking to ride. give me shout!

tenfoot

Welcome to the forum.

Google Swinley. That's not a million miles from you, I believe.

sandy hill

I'll be out on Sunday somewhere near you with a regular ride starting around 930am. If your free send me a pm.

Atz

Look at the London Calling thread from time to time. We tend to ride with a diverse gang of people that sometimes includes Sandy as well and are at Swinley regularly enough.

Shotsaway

Here are links to the MTB Rides forum. The 2 links below cover Basingstoke.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12766761
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12753727

The following link is to the Hampshire County Council website, with lots of trails near Basingstoke.

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/cycling/cyclin ... aflets.htm

Atz

Basingstoke and Andover are close to each other? I wish someone had told me, it'd have saved me a MASSIVE commute.

ciducantcme

Wow.

Turns out there is loads to do out there! Gonna do a loop around Dummer today at about 1500-1600 if any of you guys are out and about. Taking the Mrs with me, I just bought her a Boardman and she is keen as mustard.

Thanks for all your posts, they have been really useful.

If peeps are still doing evening/weekend rides in the area please PM me as I wanna get involved.

Nick Cod

Hi ciducantcme

I normally ride out on the Southdowns Winchester area most weekends, you're welcome to join me if you're about

Beardface

You've also got miles of Military ranges just down the road in Aldershot/Fleet, Tunnel Hill, which is pretty good, and Caesars Camp for general blasts

The Surrey Hills are local (ish) to you as well, and a bit further toward Southampton is Queen Marys Park. Never been there, but it's supposed to be pretty good.

Buckshee

You dont mean Queen Elizabeth Country Park?

hurstg01

Stav wrote:

You've also got miles of Military ranges just down the road in Aldershot/Fleet, Tunnel Hill, which is pretty good, and Caesars Camp for general blasts

I do the Caesars Camp and Aldershot/Fleet routes about once a week If I can as well as a few routes during the week on-road on my off-road MTB I last did Caesars Camp yesterday and did about 20 miles offroad with a couple of mates - had a cracking time, the hills are arduos (for me anyway) but the off-road routes are just enough for my talent (!) and the scenery at the top of Caesars Camp Hill is amazing, as was most of the rest of the route, especially as we went and came back long the Fleet Canal past the Fox & Hounds that has a waterfront to the canal...very handy

Beardface

Buckshee wrote:

You dont mean Queen Elizabeth Country Park?

:oops: Yep, that's the one!

Apologies, was in a bit of a rush when I typed that, and the name slipped my mind!!!

Nick Cod

QE Park is alright, good base to start from if you want to ride on the Downs and some alright trails in the park. Bit up and down though