Haldon Ridge Ride-Time

chili85
chili85 Posts: 68
edited June 2011 in Routes
Hi,
Just got back into regular riding and tried out Haldon. Can anybody tell me what is a decont time to get around the red ridge ride trail? I ride on my own and want to push myself for something to see how i stack up at the moment. Dont think the black route is open at the moment but if anybody knows different......
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Comments

  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    I can get around it in around 25 mins....30 if I do the berms at the bottom.

    That's cafe to cafe...but to be honest I very rarely push it up there as it can get quite busy with walkers etc coming back up the trails. Although a load of the red run is boring so I'd suggest skipping the first part and pick up the trail just as you come back upto the road (by the gates to the posh house).

    And check out the blue runs (keeping an eye out for the unofficial trails as they are brilliant at the moment).

    We're up there every wednesday and ride in a small, mixed ability group...you are more than welcome to join us. PM me if you'd like to tag along.
  • chili85
    chili85 Posts: 68
    Cheers, i was up there today and did the red and then checked out the blue as you suggested. Noted several 'unofficial' but no time to explore today. Would like to be shown about a bit more. What time do you ride wednesdays?
    Thanks
    Rob
  • jonnyashworth
    jonnyashworth Posts: 547
    WoW doing the full rifge trail in 25 is practically superhuman!!! I'm a 11.5 stone whippet (and pretty fit) and I only pull a 34 on my xc bike. The guy I ride with used to be the mechanic at the cycle hire up there and is a seriously fit roadie with good mountain bike skills and he only pulls a 33. I know Haldon pretty well these days and tend to park down at the lay arms in Ken to get the big DH on the way back down. I'd be happy to show you around some time..... Maybe Mr 25 mins could come and meet up with a group of us we would love to see where he is shaving over 8 mins off us on the trail!! lol
    Yeti SB66c 2013
  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    Mr 25 mins would be more than happy to meet up. Although you'll need to give me a couple of runs to remember it as we tend to ride the unofficial trails and avoid the family trails.
  • camerauk
    camerauk Posts: 1,000
    Maybe we could get a big meet up there and do a timed session seeing who can get round the quickest with me coming in very last at around 45/50 mins :oops:
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  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    Sounds like a deal! And to hot things up we'll give away a free skills coaching session to the person with the quickest time.
  • camerauk
    camerauk Posts: 1,000
    Herbie The Dog wrote:
    Sounds like a deal! And to hot things up we'll give away a free skills coaching session to the person with the quickest time.

    should that not be a free skills course to the slowest time :lol:
    that way they(Me) could improve :D
    Specialized Camber Expert
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  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    Maybe we can negotiate a discount for some coaching before the challenge...that way you can increase your winning chances!
  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    I'll give it a few days to see what the interest is then we'll sort a date.
  • camerauk
    camerauk Posts: 1,000
    lol good call not sure I will have any spare cash at the moment waiting for a new bike
    maybe that will make me faster as it will be my first full suss :D
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  • Beanhead Bucko
    Beanhead Bucko Posts: 98
    I've never timed myself around the red run but i would be amazed if i managed below 40 mins.

    I might get up there a few times this week for some practice before we all meet up. I still need to get around the unofficial stuff but i've been busy exploring Dartmoor recently.
    2011 Lapierre Zesty 314
  • chili85
    chili85 Posts: 68
    Hell!! I need to seriously lose some less useful body parts to get my arse round there in anywhere near those times. As that stands i'll be happy to do the timing for you guys if you meet up :wink: Gives me something to aim for though. I'll give myself a timed run tomorrow and see if i'm not too embarrassed to post it!!!
    Interested as to where a good place to start from on of the unfcial trails as i saw a few crossing the blue trail. Anyone PM me some tips?
  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    Was up there last night and did a just sub 30 minute run...so I need to work on it a bit to hit the 25 I've done before.

    For those of you practising we need to set some markers:

    Start at the crossing across the road by the wooden pen/gate type things. When you come off the fire road take either the blue or red paths.

    When you hit the bottom by the black run carry on up the fire road climb going all the way to the top to pick up the red trail (no shortcuts!)

    Follow this section upto the road (again...no shortcuts!)

    Follow the red run by going straight over at the trail crossroads just after the cattlegrid.

    Finish at the 'Cyclists Dismount' warning

    Good luck!
  • Beanhead Bucko
    Beanhead Bucko Posts: 98
    So we're not including the black section. I'm heading up there later this afternoon so I'll time myself but I'm not expecting anything under 35 minutes.
    2011 Lapierre Zesty 314
  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    No black section...just burn down the hill and straight back up.

    Good luck with the time!
  • stardude
    stardude Posts: 255
    who here walks up the huge fire road hill or cycles up it?
    2006 Giant TCR Team

    2006 Giant XTC SE & 2009 Exodus Blade
  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    Ride it...it's quicker than walking.

    Although god it's boring!
  • camerauk
    camerauk Posts: 1,000
    Yeah ride it for me as
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  • Beanhead Bucko
    Beanhead Bucko Posts: 98
    It's boring enough as it is, the last thing I'd want to do is walk it. In fact it's probably easier to ride.

    When parking at the Ley Arms does everyone ride up the old Haldon Hill? I know St Andrews lane is a great way down to the pub but I've always wandered if people know a better way to get up there?
    2011 Lapierre Zesty 314
  • chili85
    chili85 Posts: 68
    Ride it for sure, its not that bad compared to some quantock fire road climbs. In saying that i dont race up it, just spin away.
    Anybody thinking of a date yet?
  • Beanhead Bucko
    Beanhead Bucko Posts: 98
    31 minutes, better than i expected. I reckon I can improve on it if i don't start at the Ley Arms.

    We need to sort a ride out, it would be nice to ride with other people
    2011 Lapierre Zesty 314
  • camerauk
    camerauk Posts: 1,000
    Hi Beanhead Bucko are you coming out with us this Sunday? (OTH group)
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  • Beanhead Bucko
    Beanhead Bucko Posts: 98
    No i'm working Sunday but I'm off for the first few Sunday's in June so I'll definitely be getting out with the OTH guys
    2011 Lapierre Zesty 314
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Makes me chuckle the definition of the tiny bottom section as 'black'. Would be a tame red in Wales. I'd call the Ridge blue myself, but then they're lumping it all in with the other trails for families to potter around with kiddie bikes or buggies and label them as blue.

    Whole thing is a farce compared to what it used to be, but it passes the time.

    Last time I had a chance to get around there though I explored around looking for the unofficial stuff. Much better. Next time I'm down to see the folks I may have a further play around but may look further afield.
  • itsmygame
    itsmygame Posts: 277
    to be fair to herbie .... i came down from south wales in feb and done 2 laps in a row in about 29 and 31 mins approx.

    nice little course and theyve done well with what theyve got fair play (if only you had mountains) :lol::lol::lol:
    RockHopper Expert ---- (the bike not me)
  • Beanhead Bucko
    Beanhead Bucko Posts: 98
    I'm heading up there sometime this afternoon/evening, probably start at the Ley Arms, Ridge trail and then was planning on doing the newer blue run and spotting some of the unofficial stuff.

    If anyone wants to join me then just let me know ASAP

    Bucko
    2011 Lapierre Zesty 314
  • delaxm
    delaxm Posts: 180
    Not timed myself for a single lap but I did Ley arms up the old A38, the red, long blue, red, long blue, including doing the black twice on each red lap & back via St Andrews in 3H47M @ just over 34 miles.
    When parking at the Ley Arms does everyone ride up the old Haldon Hill? I know St Andrews lane is a great way down to the pub but I've always wandered if people know a better way to get up there?

    I've ridden up via Holloway lane BW (about a mile south of St Andrews) which is a good challenging climb but you still have the boring road bit past the hippy camp to get to the trails & back again to decend St Andrews.

    I've ridden up from Marsh Barton via Shillingford St George - nice way to gain height on quiet roads.
  • King Nuts
    King Nuts Posts: 47
    God, I thought I was doing quite well, but :cry: today I timed it at 52mins- mind you, that did include a 5?min cigg stop!
    "I"m over the hill so I"m not over the hill" !
  • Herbie The Dog
    Herbie The Dog Posts: 343
    I'm up there this evening of anyone fancies tagging along. We'll be in the main car park from 6.30.

    Just look out for a Whyte 905, Spesh Enduro and a Cotic Soul.
  • focusrider
    focusrider Posts: 47
    Have not done the red route for 3 or 4 months (quite cut up now in places AND lots of small short cuts which cut off bends)

    Times: 30.25
    28. 03
    26. 05
    31.30

    Specialise on enduro riding really but saw the post and thought I would share (have gps logs of route/times)

    Would be more interested in a 10 lap challenge!

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