I don't need to go up the Malverns to tell you riding up there currently is likely to end in unpleasantness of some kind, bearing in mind that the snow we had before Christmas had all melted in Worcester on Christmas Day, and there was still plenty of snow and ice (in some interesting places!) up the Malverns 4 days later…
Was up there this morning. Where people have tramped down on the paths, not too bad but hard work as it is still powdery and the front occasionally digs in slowing to almost a stop. Where fewer people have walked even harder work cycling through 6-8" of soft snow- takes some getting used to pedalling quite hard to go downhill. Put it this way, we did about 7 miles in two hours and were knackered at the end
In Norton. Normally night rides on the hills in the week to fit in with wife and kids!
Gotcha
I'm other side of Worcester, just off the Ombersley Road actually. Trying to possibly find more locals up for more regular evening rides soon to be fair, so if you fancy it, drop me an email (in profile)… Not quite sure what the plan might be yet, particularly as everywhere is covered in snow and ice at the mo, but surely there's gotta be something in a regular evening ride in/around/just outside Worcester perhaps?
Met Paul from BoT up there today – I was on skis so have no personal experience of what it's like for biking.
He reckoned it was now rideable in places where it had packed down, and not that bad for a ride – something I'd tend to agree with from what I've seen skiing. It's very different to what it was.
Any guesses where that piccy (frame grab from head cam video) is?
Managed to fit 2 rides in over the weekend. Pretty much as described as at Sunday night…we were pretty knackered after regular 9-mile route. Very draggy on some of the lesser used paths south of The Wyche, other areas pretty good and fast but affected by walkers tracks. Mega-strong and cold westerleys when you're high up.
Intend putting some flats back on just to help on some of the post-stall hill starts! Bstrds!
Any guesses where that piccy (frame grab from head cam video) is?
At the split / stone circle on Beacon Drive where you either drop to West Malvern, Earnslaw Quarry, ride the ridge to Wyche, do the zig-zags or carry on up the Beacon?
Given reports of 3" of new snow yesterday from somebody I know who lives high up the hill (where it hasn't thawed at all) I should imagine riding conditions are rather more difficult again. Not to mention that forecasts suggest we could get up to another 6" tonight (very dependent on the weather system reaching that far NE – from my reading it's possible we could get none).
Was going to suggest the snow will go after Saturday – forecast heavy rain. But then realised that with a Malvern max temperature of +3 that will also be falling as snow higher up!
Link bottom? Coming from where? Should be surprised if roads were totally impassable, but I'd allow at least 5 times as long as normal because of all the idiots with "essential journeys" out on the roads. If our work's told us not to go in by car it must be bad.
Link's not too bad, just watch out for the purple rinse brigade. Avoid Spring Lane, as usual the Council haven't gritted around here and it just gets packed down. Which is really ironic considering they use it as a cut through.
Just come down from Hollybush, lot of fresh snow over ruts, not a lot of fun. Gave up half way up the land rover track. Pub is calling me, & it is still snowing very fine snow.
out riding there last night.
good conditions up the zig zags and to mid way point towards beacon but found big, un rideable drifts from there. the drop back to car was ace and well worth the slog!
Fair play riding up there BS! I really can't be ar$ed to drive to Hollybush.
@aracer – Dymock Woods. Not superb riding in there but it's 20 mins ride from my house and I've found some good stuff and am making some more. Not really meant to ride off the main tracks but the woods are big and pretty deserted and all I'm doing is "buffing" some of the animal tracks.
Haugh Woods are better, loads in there and West Wood but too far for me to ride to really.
Friend took some shots of snowboarders on the Malverns last week! Bet its good up there today, I was told not to drive to Malvern to work today as too hazardous.