Garage dweller- I have been staying clear of the red first section as it’s tough enough going up in the dry never mind the wet. May give it a go this weekend based on your experience, I normally start on the blue and then do a cpl of mini loops round the central red/blue section and then finish on the 2nd half of the red which is a lot less prone to bogginess.
Had a ride at Avon Tyrrell this afternoon, pump track was fun but the red loop wasn’t up to much, definitely not worth the drive (lamb pie and a beer in Burley was though).
I think I’ll be able to make it to the New Force ride on Sunday, I’ll be on a black On One Lurcher, so say hello if you see me.
Early morning road ride for me tomorrow. Need to be back for breakfast and then try and get 4-5 hours of studying in as well as some time with the children. When I finish these exams I will not know what to do with myself!
Local loop through Bere Forest today with my daughter. First time out for her on a 26er after moving up from 24, she did great. Probably helps that it’s a carbon frame and she weighs a lot less than me but she sailed through the boggy stuff whilst I trudged through it. Really enjoyed it, lng ride with BigShep tomorrow, I know not where.
QECP & Head down yesterday were riding well.
Was going to be a downs CX bike ride today but QE was in such good condition yesterday we’re going there again, session some of the Head down stuff with the wife to get her eye in on the steeper stuff ready for the D&N Enduro.
JohnJ, there are some really nice little bits of singletrack in Bere/100 Acres running parallel to Rookesbury Park caravan site. I tend to avoid the place in the winter as its so muddy though! Nice loop or two in there for a cheeky evening ride once the dog walkers are gone though.
I did the CX SDW sting today over Duncton and the SDW is running hard and dry, forests too but in some of the bomb holes it’s a bit gloopy.
Lovely hack has to be said.
8)
Really pleased that this thread is still going. 🙂 Alas I’ve moved out of Hampshire and haven’t been on a bike for 5 weeks, or is it 6?
Just on the off chance that anyone’s interested, Imber Church (in the middle of Salisbury Plain) will be open over Easter and guess who’s been accepted for volunteering again. 8)
Evening ride with BigShep today, last time we tried this route his crank arm kept falling off so we had to knock it on the head after about 10 miles. Tonight we set out full of hope and after 3 miles my rear mech started playing up, eventually we fixed it and 2 miles later I got a massive thorn in the tyre. Fixed that, then spent the rest of the ride with a slow puncture, third time lucky maybe?
It’s a fabulous event (I don’t take part but pop over to watch) You see so many folks improving their technique and lines that it’s worth going over for that alone. If you get a bit wobbly just watch someone else come through the same section and watch what lines they take, and the speed.
I’ll be there to watch again, the CX’er useless for this sort of thing 😆
I know that I shouldn’t be posting here any more but am feeling quite left out! Here’s a pic of today’s little pootle – it’s Knapp Down taken from the Shaston Drove in Wiltshire:
That area still counts! Hell, my rides often take me over the border in to Wiltshire and even (Shudders) Berkshire!
Are you over that way now, CG? Shall have to meet in Sarum some day! (Am often in a well known velocipede establishment on a Saturday morning as well….)
Are you over that way now, CG? Shall have to meet in Sarum some day! (Am often in a well known velocipede establishment on a Saturday morning as well….)
Dorset to be precise Cap’n. You really must find an lbs!! 😉
Niiiice pic, you need to post more like that. Discover the area, post back
Thanks bb. I enjoy exploring the countryside although I’ve ridden this drove road before.
Stunning pic CG, you are allowed here with pics like this no prob,em :-). Anyway, you’ll be back in Hampshire at some point won’t you!
Thanks john and of course it’s thanks to you that we have this excellent thread. Has been great to share routes and local info. 8) Not sure where I’ll end up though!
nope bermy was/isn’t ‘official’ it was part of stage 2 at the last day night, the bit with a series of bermy chutes that led to the steep roll in and then at the end the chalky rock gardens before the slog back to the top.
The ‘transitions’ had a fairly generous time for completing. You could either thrash yourself up to the stage start and then rest before your start time, or pace the winch back up. Sadly I exploded after transition 3 and missed my fourth stage start time so I’m not really I a position to give any advice on that.
I think the best advice would be don’t stop on the transition and try and pace yourself so you’ve got some legs for the timed bit.
So when we speak of transitions I think of the changeover between run and ride in a duathalon. Would I be correct in assuming that the transition in this case is the period of time between reaching the bottom of one hill and returning to the start of the next?
Would I be correct in assuming that the transition in this case is the period of time between reaching the bottom of one hill and returning to the start of the next?
Yes and no. You have a start time for each stage. You need to complete the preceding stage and get back up to the start of the upcoming stage within the time between the preceding and upcoming start times, so if you have an epic crash/mechanical whilst racing a stage you may struggle to make the transition. As long as you don’t stand around talking all the transitions are pretty easy – I pushed the uphills a lot on the day/night to keep my legs fresh for pedalling the stages.
Looking forwards to the race – only seem to visit QECP for enduros!
In Wiltshire again, this time the Wylye Valley which is one of my favourite places.
If you look just above the gate, between the trees, there is the end of a terrific piece of single track.
In the middle of the pic is a chalky double track, long long climb that brings you out almost to a fun gully descent.
Only 11 miles that included Snail Creep Hanging Wood, what an amazing name. Twas good to be out except the place where I’d hoped to get a cuppa was closed, boo.
Great Pics, is that some blue sky right there ? Well we had loads of that too on the Coast 8)
I hacked up into the Hills for some early climbs and all went rather well. Nice to be out in short legs and L/S top and a cheeky grin. As my ride went on more and more bike’ists came out to play and I hooked up with a fast bunch heading back to Wickham… did my turns then turned South for home, took in the Coast road to ogle at Warsash Spring Series competitors bob around in 5knts and bright blue sky.
Ended up at QECP late this afternoon just for an hour of riding. Saw some of the collective coming down the final decent as I started the ride, were you one of them Singletrackmind? Trails were indeed running well and I bagged myself some Strava PR’s on the downs, none on the ups because I am rubbish 🙂
CG, re my choice of LBS….
They’re local enough! Have always spent time in Salisbury, and often pop over on a Saturday morning en famille. Lovely little city, so very much worth the trip.
They’re excellent. FACT.
I’m very loyal to good people, and they’re very good people.
I knows wheres they ryde, I knows where’s thys stop fer kake. 😆
Short legs now the Suns out, tan lines need topping up. We must have had 13C down yer, that yeller thing in the sky kept me back warm and pacing on kept me blood flowing.
No pics from me, too fast, too head down, too introvert fer glamorous landscapes 😆
Qecp again this morning, very different from last weekend, wet and slippy and fell off twice. Also got shown up on the hills by two others, but they do say that you only get better by being ritually humiliated hill after hill!