Rode round that way today – at least 20cm of snow everywhere, in places up to the hubs, fire roads pretty much unridable, singletrack a slog but ridable.
Great fun today at Swinley forest… car park still closed but parked across the way… very deep snow in places and only just rideable…. 4×4 track in the snow help as packed down 😉
Does the Toboggan Run start at the same place as the Baby Maker and Deer Stalker? If you are at the top it's Baby Maker on the right Deer Stalker in the middle and a third on the left – is that the Toboggan Run?
Just curious if I've got the names right!
Actually another question for Swinley peeps; in which direction do people reckon is best to do the Seagull?
Well, what I forget to mention was the feeling of walking through snow then suddenly hearing a "crack" followed by another "crack" 😯
Funny thing was that this was happening on tracks where there isn't necessarily much standing water in normal conditions. So certainly on The Stickler you had to be a little careful!
I really really want to ride Deer Stalker and Toboggan Run but just can not be bothered with walking/riding/slipping repeat again and again.
c_g, it hasn't changed much from yesterday, although the Deer Stalker now has tyre tracks, there are a few fallen trees & branches on the way down so doesn't flow as well as normal. Overall hard work on the single speed, but do able, although expect to be pushing when the gradient points upwards.
Well as of 10am this morning they were only my tyre tracks, maybe others have ridden it later in the day? You will be fine with gears, the snow is still very dry so I wouldn't imagine it would cause gears to freeze up, not that I would know as I was struggling around on the SS.
Think I 'll be giving Swinley a miss tommorrow, after reading the other Swinley post. Not too concerned about the actual trail conditions, rather the travelling and parking situation.
I'll give it a shot tomorrow bright and early. I need to get some sort of riding in and the roads around here are way too icy for it given the stupidity of drivers today.
It's fine today. There's some untouched snow on some trails 4-6 inches deep but for the most part there's a ridable line everywhere. In fact in places, it's had enough traffic to totally rip up the snow and churn the mud underneath. Crappest part is parking over the road. I only fell a few times and one of those was in the slush over at Coral Reef.
Would be a great time to learn how to cross country ski there. That would be great fun!!I would love to try the trails there on XC skis(Not the Labrynth!!)
CG – I'm intrigued – what do you call the Toboggan Run? I'd assumed you meant the DH that's to the RHS of Babymaker as well, but you've dissed that one above. I'm guessing it could be the one that goes SWish from behind the reservoir down towards wishmoor cross? A bit rooty & steppy but a fast blast in the dry?
thepurist – yes, it follows the perimeter of fence by reservoir then leads nicely for the ascent to the ridge eventually leading to Deer Stalker 8)
Speed was definitely curtailed, not least by a "fallen" bit of tree. Managed eventually to move it off the trail. I love the Toboggan Run, no matter which bike I ride it's always such fun!
So that's the name of that bit. Is there a proper way "out" of it because usually I end up climbing over or under a fence to get out and then ride back up the hill to the jump gulley.
Anyway, as maligned as crank bros pedals are, I had no problem with snow or ice buildup yesterday at all.
atlaz – if you stay on the trail, following the main left bend as it were, that's another way of climbing to the ridge. When you get to the t junction, turn right and shortly bear left. At crossroads turn left heading towards the fence. This brings you to the ridge where Deer Stalker etc is.
That description is probably as clear as mud!
Agree about Crank Brothers, my Egg Beaters were certainly brilliant in the mud but now use flats.