Had a great ride yesterday ([url= http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=8429 ]bikehike map, riding anti-clockwise[/url]). I need to refine the route though as the climb up from Stonor was hideous!
Blimey, that was some ride! Well done.
Don't forget there is a STW Chilterns Forum Ride on Sunday 21st June. All welcome.
The Stonor Climb is waaaay better as a descent... 🙂 And next door, there's a even better "cheeky" version
Ooooh, I would be interested to know where that is!
No chance.... 😆
We did a grea long ride aroudn Turville and Ibstone area ending in a top pub lunch, awesome riding with some wicked descents. Can't make the Chilterns ride on 21st June.
Yup, you should ride down that Stonor bit. Its steep enough to make your sphincter blink. Usually covered in leaves so it looks smooth, but hides the odd hidden branch / log / rabbit hole.
I chose the route because I love the desents from Hailey Wood and Christmas Common. The bit through Great Wood and back via Kimble fm was brand new for me and worthy inclusions. I did wimp out of the gnarly drop-off at the bottom of the Roundhose desent (no bottle these days since a mate had a bad crash a few years ago).
A bit of refinement and I should have a half-decent ride 🙂
Nice route - may have to try some of it myself.
Can go round there without do this little gem:
[url=www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=8565]The Nuns Gully[/url]
Thanks greasystain I'll give that a try sometime.
C_G - will your Chilterns ride be near that one?
greasystain - that link doesn't work for me 🙁
Dez - see above! I hope you and singletrackmind are coming to the Chilts then? Been busy trying to work out which tracks to ride - spoilt for choice 😀
Could I have a grid reference please? And what does a gully have to do with nuns?
Quba, when you say 'I did wimp out of the gnarly drop-off at the bottom of the Roundhose desent ', do you mean where it pops out of the trees at the end of the wood before the grass hill down to the track where you turn left to head back up?
I can't say I had noticed a drop-off when going down there, but can't think where else you mean?
[i]Dez - see above! [/I]
Which bit above??
Yeah, hopefully Rob will be able to make - I have a mate who lives nearby too, so it'll be good if he can join us.
TheGingerOne - yep that's the bit, doesn't look much does it?
By Reservoir Hill? Where it's rooty then a chalky gully?
[i]rooty then a chalky gully?[/i]
I like the sound of that 🙂
[i]Nun's Gully[/i]?
I guess this is the descent of Hatchets Woods? Starts at the Parmoor Convent? Spits you out on the road above Skirmett?
Phew! At long last I have MTFU'd and ridden that twice ... but it was in the dry 😯
The descent is brilliant but then it's a real slog afterwards to climb out of the valley 🙁
The above is assuming that I understand where is being discussed!
Dez - the more the merrier!
nickc - I did notice a little sign there asking for cyclists to be cautious ... but does anyone take any notice?
I'm totally confused now anyway 😳
Yep, there are signs there. I did ask the ROW officers about them, they didn't say directly but I think there's a pretty vocal grumpy ald ****er that lives along there somewhere how really really hates pretty much every-one as far as I can tell, as I've seen him yelling at horse riders too... :D, and I think they're a sop to him.
and nope, I take no notice of them either 😉
I can't say I would call it either gnarly or a drop-off myself!!!
quba, you could bolt on a good little addition to the loop from Christmas Common (assuming anticlockwise loop)down thro Greenfield Woods, pick up the road to Cookley Green, head off left down a fast descent down thro the nature reserve at Upper Maidensgrove, then up a cheeky climb that takes you up to the common at Maidensgrove. You can then either bomb down the road to Stonor or pick up the bridlepath across the common and go down an equally fast descent that comes out at Pishill. Agreed, that climb out of Stonor is damn near impossible.
[i]Agreed, that climb out of Stonor is damn near impossible. [/i]
This time of year it's doable in a "saddle up yer arse instant red line sort of way" come winter, it's a technical dab in the middle for sure
Yep there is some good stuff round there - some of it "cheeky" & not totally legit..But Id be happy at some time to show folk if anyone is interested. Total route is about 20 miles - say 2 hrs riding ish?
ps Nuns Gully is fave plus if you climb out upto Xmas Common having come down from Ibstone there is a great "cheeky" run down to Turville..Which I think has already been alluded to... 😉
Last 'rode' that climb two weekend back in the pouring rain and howling wind...didn't even bother trying to get up it, was hard enough walking! If you can get up it in those conditions with a 'dab', hat's off to yer!
It is a tough one Ive done it in the dry but then Im running a 34 on the rear! As for the wet I cant remember but I may have..But for sure not every time - its a b1tch! If you dab its soooo hard to get going again! Where did you go after that?
RepacK - I'd be very interested in some of that. You wouldn't be in the area this Sunday morning would you?
No Im in the US till the end of July but would be happy to do something say early August?
Repack...at the top, turn left onto the road, follow it down there basically on quba's route through Kimble Farm, but instead of heading up to the M40, head over to Ibstone Common, going down a chalk/flint chute which kind of rejoins his route. (Beware, that one is a tyre shredder..I've punctured beyond repair on flint down there). It's about a 40k loop with a ride too and from Wokingham either end.
Blimey, that climb beside Stonor ... you actually ride UP it 😯
Respect indeed!
Getting a bit worried about this Forum Ride on 21st June, reckon I'll end up riding on my own 😳
If anyone fancies riding around the Chilterns drop me an e-mail, last Sunday there was about 15 of us out riding around Turville all people tha have "met" through Singletrack. I can add others ono our mailing list ify ou interested.
franwhyte AT hotmail DOT com
Aye,
I agree about the Stonor climb! I've been really chuffed that the past 2 tries I've managed it! But know that'll change come winter and more wet weather!
Feldo, you've alluded you're based in wokingham, ne too! Get in toch if you fancy a ride sometime!
Mark
Will do Mark, not sure how to get in touch 'off forum'...e-dunce. Always up for some company going in that direction. Can stick the bikes on the back of the car and drive over there if laziness overtakes!
Feldo,
Click on the green 'member' bit after my name and it'll show you my profile which has a link to my email address... without all the (DOT) and the (AT) stuff replaced with . and @ respectively!
cheers,
Mark
you actually ride UP it
Echo that respect - I didn't make it as far as the corner of the fence 🙁
Definately going to work round that one.
BTW: Nearly everyone I passed was very pleasant and chatty (except 1 solo rider and the dog @ Kimble Farm), must have been the fine weather. That includes Sunday when we did a family stroll round Wormsley Park - may have seen your group Munqe-chick.
Well cheers for the respect guys but Im sure we are all capable of getting up it! Feeling embarressed now cos of all the praise & the expectation upon me to clean should I ever meet up with any of you guys on the trail..
Is anyone riding the Chilties this weekend? Usually ride there on my own, be nice to have some company. 😀 BTW in I've never managed that Stoner climb either ever!
Local ride for me this weekend (Woburn woods). I don't get chance to get to the Chilterns often which is a pity, should try to do more.
Thanks for all the route suggestions, if I put it all together it would be a mega ride :D. I'll put my next version on the forum when I get round to it.