Mountain Biking

Megahurtz400 · 29 Apr 2019 at 21:44

Beerbaron said:
I noticed a crack on the chain stay part of the swing arm on my Canyon Strive (2013 model) the day before i was riding FOD I managed to borrow a bike from a mate luckily.

I've just ordered a Giant Trance 1

Very nice!

Can anyone recommend me somewhere to ride this Sunday?

After somewhere with some decent elevation as going to wales end of May and want to get some practice climbing! On a hardtail so proper DH is out of the question but after something enduro-ey, and don’t have GPS so thinking best to stick to a trail centre, but open to anything!

Ideally working 2-3 hours of Essex, as there is no hills here

bloodiedathame · 29 Apr 2019 at 21:47

Peaslake, Surrey is my local, plenty of good trail and climbing on the hills.

TallPaul_S · 29 Apr 2019 at 22:44

Megahurtz400 said:
Can anyone recommend me somewhere to ride this Sunday?

After somewhere with some decent elevation as going to wales end of May and want to get some practice climbing! On a hardtail so proper DH is out of the question but after something enduro-ey, and don’t have GPS so thinking best to stick to a trail centre, but open to anything!

Ideally working 2-3 hours of Essex, as there is no hills here

bloodiedathame said:
Peaslake, Surrey is my local, plenty of good trail and climbing on the hills.

Yeah, Surrey hills and no way to find trails don't go well together!

Trailforks would be good enough, and there's some cracking trails and no shortage of elevation. You'll still get horribly lost, though.

Friston Forest near eastbourne has plenty of trails and elevation, and there's QECP which is pretty hill too, and a trail centre with marked red and blue trails. Friston doesn't have marked trails but trailforks is very accurate, they mostly start around the same area. And there's a nice ride along the south downs way for some extra elevation.

Megahurtz400 · 29 Apr 2019 at 23:07

bloodiedathame said:
Peaslake, Surrey is my local, plenty of good trail and climbing on the hills.

TallPaul_S said:
Yeah, Surrey hills and no way to find trails don't go well together!

Trailforks would be good enough, and there's some cracking trails and no shortage of elevation. You'll still get horribly lost, though.

Friston Forest near eastbourne has plenty of trails and elevation, and there's QECP which is pretty hill too, and a trail centre with marked red and blue trails. Friston doesn't have marked trails but trailforks is very accurate, they mostly start around the same area. And there's a nice ride along the south downs way for some extra elevation.

As @TallPaul_S has said, I do want to get over to Peaslake soon but am a bit overwhelmed by the navigation side of it, fancy showing me round one day?

QECP looks good, I think it's a coin flip between that and Cannock Chase. Cannocks been on the list since I was a kid, however it is a bit further, worth the journey do you think?

bloodiedathame · 30 Apr 2019 at 06:35

Fair enough, it can get a bit bewildering.

I usually ride there with a colleague who knows it like the back of his hand, by he's just moved. Might actually have to learn for myself!

Beerbaron · 30 Apr 2019 at 08:09

Surrey Hills would give you the hills or just go to Wales; Cwmcarn or Afan

Megahurtz400 · 30 Apr 2019 at 08:22

Beerbaron said:
Surrey Hills would give you the hills or just go to Wales; Cwmcarn or Afan

Came so close to just driving to Afan Saturday night and sleeping in the back of the van but it’s a 5 hour drive and I’m already away for two weekend this month. Would have to take 6 weeks off the bike after the Mrs neuters me

_tucker_ · 30 Apr 2019 at 11:09

Megahurtz400 said:
Came so close to just driving to Afan Saturday night and sleeping in the back of the van but it’s a 5 hour drive and I’m already away for two weekend this week. Would have to take 6 weeks off the bike after the Mrs neuters me

Hahaha poor sod. Surely hills is a good one for a climb I second that. Failing that do the beast of a burden at bike park wales that’s a nice long climb

bloodiedathame · 30 Apr 2019 at 11:16

On the Surrey Hills MTB facebook page, I'm sure you could ask to tag along with a rider or group.

_tucker_ · 30 Apr 2019 at 12:01

TallPaul_S · 30 Apr 2019 at 12:20

The pedal & spoke shop ride is a good one to go along on, you'll see a few decent trails but you'll still have no idea where you are most odd the time! Strava the ride and you'll be able to follow it afterwards.

Beerbaron · 30 Apr 2019 at 19:40

Looks like the first ride on the new bike will be at Penmachno. Another new trail for me.

kefkef · 1 May 2019 at 07:35

Penmachno is good, the last section is a blast.

_tucker_ · 1 May 2019 at 07:36

Beerbaron said:
Looks like the first ride on the new bike will be at Penmachno. Another new trail for me.

Where abouts is that I’ve not heard of it?
My mates currently just having a new standon full suspension made, 2 weeks left before they finish it so a months time I’ll be back out on some trails at last.

rhysduck · 1 May 2019 at 10:21

North Wales.

The end section of Cli-Machx is brilliant if you're in the area.

Beerbaron · 1 May 2019 at 19:12

_tucker_ said:
Where abouts is that I’ve not heard of it?
My mates currently just having a new standon full suspension made, 2 weeks left before they finish it so a months time I’ll be back out on some trails at last.

Gwydir Forest Park, which is North West Wales.

_tucker_ · 1 May 2019 at 19:28

Any of you chaps go to chicsands bike park by Bedford?
Love that place! Not very big but everything you want from a local park

Beerbaron · 1 May 2019 at 20:47

_tucker_ said:
Any of you chaps go to chicsands bike park by Bedford?
Love that place! Not very big but everything you want from a local park

I live cycle distance from it but not my type of riding. I rode there probably 15 years ago before it was fenced off and you had to pay.

GuruJockStrap · 2 May 2019 at 12:53

Beerbaron, have you used the trials at Rushmere and Aspley Wood?

I used to do a lot of road cycling 10-12 years. Stopped due to general life and then looked to get back on the bike (purchased a mountain bike for change of scenery) about 4 years ago. Illness put a stop to that but now thankfully all good to go.

Popped my bike into the local bike shop for a general once over and getting it back this week, so keen to get out.

Had my regular road routes but struggling to think of any decent off road trials!

nocash168 · 2 May 2019 at 23:39

nocash168 said:
So I've had my bike for a few weeks now just been riding canal paths and around parks with my son. Got a helmet this week so went to Southampton bike park this morning.

Not jumped a bike for around 15years so I stuck to the line of 5 tabletops. Wasn't doing to bad then, had a crash.

Hit the last jump a little sideways and went OTB on the other side. Winded myself and hit my shoulder pretty hard, did a few rolls with the bike.

Young lads came over to see if I was OK and all I could do was make a stupid noise until I caught my breath.

Gutted as I was having fun, hopefully my shoulder will feel fine in a couple of days.

Helmet did it's job and saved my face from the floor and the pedal from hitting the back of my head.

Good times

Forgot to update this. Fell off bike Friday, thought my shoulder was just badly bruised. Still felt dodgy on Monday, went to get it checked Tuesday morning. Had an Xray and turns out I broke my Clavicle, snapped right on the shoulder.

Now stuck in a sling. Gutted! Been signed off work for another four weeks. Been off a week and I'm bored already! Can't ride bike, can't game with kb&m.

Nice to do school runs and see the wife a bit more tho. I work 4 days, she works 3 nights so don't normally have this much free time together. Can't even take advantage of that