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QECP was obviously the place to be today. This evening I had the pleasure of meeting up with Mark who's STW name I cannot remember but pretty sure it's something to do with Shep? We headed off to the red route and were met with numerous obstacles created by the forestry work which meant I missed my favourite section 🙁
Funny moment of the day was when I picked Mark up in the Fiesta and I had my bike in the boot. This is generally ok because I am normally either alone or with one of the children, but today I picked up a 6ft 4" bloke who had to travel for 30 mins with his knees round his ears, sorry Mark, big car next time 🙂
It turns out I am really unfit in comparison and every climb saw Mark shoot ahead but despite this humbling experience it was great to have good company rather than travelling and riding alone.
Cheers Mark.
So, finally met up with John for a trip up to QECP. Great little ride around ruined by the forestry works, but hopefully they will be gone soon and all routes will be re-opened.
The Fiesta episode was funny as John says, fitting my 6'8" frame into his front seat which was mostly forward was uncomfortable to say the least 😆
I think Johns paid me too much respect as our bikes are vastly different, needless to say I couldn't keep up with him on the downs.
Good time though and fingers crossed I'll be able to meet up for a few more rides as and when the Guv'nor gives me the time off.
Cheers John
Yes, he is correct, it was the bikes fault nothing to do with pie eating 🙂
will be there for the at least 1 more month, plus there will be time need to repair any damaged trails.forestry works, but hopefully they will be gone soon and all routes will be re-opened.
I wish they had chopped down the tree that I hit! My shoulder is complaining today
I hadn't ridden in the park before and didn't realise just how bloody steep it was!
as for the Midweek Mincers at Afan.. the 9th of July should be good for me too...
Just back from a stonking ride in the Cheesefoot Head vicinity. I worked bloomin' hard on those climbs for a super single track woodland descent. 😀
All is well with the world. 8)
Where did you find the Singletrack CG? I used to ride a lot from cheesefoot doing out and backs mainly of around 20-30 miles, I mainly remember bridleway but guessed there would be some Singletrack out there somewhere I was missing 🙂
Glad you had a good ride and ended with a big smile.
It's actually a bridleway but a good one.
Not sure whether that works so, if it does, you need to turn left, ie head South. You can really get some speed but watch out for others on the trail.
Loads of riding around the area. 🙂
I was also blowing a raspberry to my recent diagnosis of osteoporosis. 😀
Yup it worked, so you came off the SDW? Did you get a loop in rather than out and back? I am thinking it is past the big pub on the short road section which is about 5 miles from cheesefoot?
No, I headed down the stoney track from C/H to Longwood Warren where there's a waymarked bridleway off to the left. Follow that downhill but you need to turn right just before the immediate tree line. Follow that all the way to a junction of tracks where you bear left to go uphill. There's a few more hills to climb along that track (Piddles Plantation and Ganderdown Wood) and eventually you'll come out to the minor road where the fun bridleway is opposite.
I don't know how to post up a snapshot from my mapping software, sorry!
Let me know if directions make sense.
I have a old skool map of the SDW and surrounding area in the garage somewhere, will find it and track down where you mean.
Would some grid references help John?
They'd help me as I'm a stones throw from that area but that ones slipped past me 🙂
SU 530 274
530 269
531 269
531 265
534 262
538 262
541 259
544 257
549 256
Takes you to the minor road. Cross road:
550 258
548 254
545 251
546 248
548 243
Give me a shout if that's not clear. 🙂
I'm sure that'll be spot on, I'll grab an OS map an have a look ASAP.
Many thanks
Thanks CG
So who is going to post a marked up map of GC's ride ?
You're welcome chaps. 🙂
jambalaya - any idea how that can be done from my mapping software?
One of my favourite Tuesday night rides that bit CG.
Particularly fun in the dark.
My description would be start at the gravel path at CH where the water tank is, head down the hill and about half a mile is on the left there is a BW, think there is a finger post or maybe jsut a stumpy post with a blue BW square. That goes down to the tree line and turns right then follow that up a steep hill after a steel portacabin (shooting lodge) past another water tanker, down and up, down and up to the road. Straight over there then follow the BW but look out for a left turn and take that and pedal for all your worth and enjoy the ride..
Then at the end turn right, go over the A272 and follow the road round to Upham for a pint of Punter in the Brushmakers arms....
i'll be there tonight 🙂
Having just sat down with my os map and a pencil, it's suddenly dawned on me where that was- I think a long time ago you did a group ride and I nabbed some of the route to explore, lovely bit of track - tailed an owl flying down it once.
In return I'll post some dh style trails that some of you might have not had a play on, they're in military training land 'danger areas' so check for the red flags before going
[b]503275[/b] head n
Follow trail across field to tree line head right heading along field edge to right and wooded area to left
Approx [b]506276[/b] there will be an obvious chalk ramp up and over the fence. The trail starts in the copse to your right and terminates back on the bridle way you were originally on. There's a couple of options on way down and nothing harder than you'd find at qecp, just shorter.
I've not been for about 3 months but I did a bit of trail clearance then and apart from them being chalk they're good to ride.
Test valley tour this weekend, what are the conditions like in collingbourne woods at the moment. I still using trail rakers on the hard tail and as I'm local to the route so I'm assuming the woods are a little sticky too. Would like to get the full sus out but it has summer rubber that's prone to clogging.
I was in Collingbourne on Sunday, I didn't do any of the singletrack but the bridleway was very wet and there is more rain predicted for Saturday. With the logging in the top of the woods and the windfall in the bottom I don't suppose this year will see it at its best. I would still be riding it but the date clashes with the Durrington triathlon my wife is in.
Does this help?
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Got out along the Harroway to Basingstoke and back this evening.. things are starting to dry up a bit!
Had a bit of an explore of Bull's Bushes Copse - some nice bits of singletrack (bet they're great in the dry!), didn't fancy the 'dirt' jumps though!
Anyone regularily leave their bikes at Farnborough Main? you reckon it'd be reet over a weekend??
Anyone regularily leave their bikes at Farnborough Main? you reckon it'd be reet over a weekend??
I wouldn't risk it. Plenty of thefts from there unfortunately.
safer at Waterloo you think? safety in numbers?
No idea about Waterloo, sorry.
What sort of bike are you talking about? A non-descript commuter well locked-up will probably be ok at Farnborough unless you are unlucky (my cheap Pinnacle hybrid has been for the past year or so, but that's Mon-Fri).
But if it's anything nice, I wouldn't. Found a girl searching folornly for her bike a couple of months ago, couldn't do much to help her except make sure she had an alternative method of getting home safely.
Likewise a poorly secured bike, even if it is plainly an ancient wreck (like my Dawes MTB, which probably injured whoever stole it from the station).
Judging by the number of police information leaflets, notices, frame-stamping campaigns etc at Farnborough station, its clearly a big problem there.
Lots of bikes left at Waterloo, lock-up areas inside and on the platforms (safer I suppose). Most bikes I see there are pretty cheap and nasty though.
its an aging but pristine cannondale road bike, with a few shiny new bits and fresh wheels so have decided against it...ive managed to lend it to someone at work for the weekend. found an article where some bloke lost two bikes in week at Fboro main! and he snapped the lock key for a third bike one day so turned up with an angle grinder to free it - says nobody batted an eyelid!
Well I'm not at home again this weekend so have fun in the Downs you lot.
I'm hacking the Nocturne in London then off to do Raphas "Hell of the North" on Sunday..
Woooflippinhooo
And MrsBouys away for a whole week too! Yay!!! 😆
I predict a week of beer and curry rehab
Test valley tour this weekend, what are the conditions like in collingbourne woods at the moment
It's a mudfest. Logging ops earlier this on the usual route meant most of it resembled a skate park once it'd dried out. It'll be wet now!
I got around OK on Racing Ralphs Wednesday evening, but it was still very wet all around the area.
Still at least the rain will have cleaned up what the flooding left behind on the barbecue/parking field 🙂
Well that rain will certainly have returned various wooded areas to the mess that they were a few months ago. Let's hope it all drys up quickly, I want to get the darn mudguards off the bike once and for all.
Went for a pootle down wickham railway and into Bere Forest this afternoon with my daughter. I was amazed how muddy it was, went out in my non riding denim shorts ( hot pant style obv) and my new Morvello tshirt stayed reasonably clean due to mudguards until trying to load bikes back onto car and got the new shirt filthy 🙁 when will it all dry out??
Ooooooh, getting behind!
Steelsreal - spot on. 🙂
Lummox - yes, we did that section on an excellent Forum ride.
HantsNightRider - yes, thank you. 8)
Excellent ride today but, blimey, it was really muddy in places. 😐
Spent a good part of the day sorting the garden out and doing tip runs. The boy decided he wanted to help and was so funny as he spent all his time telling me about the value of hard work etc etc and how good we would feel when we had finished all this hard work 🙂
Persuaded the family to join me at QECP late afternoon and I had a couple of runs down the section of th red which hasn't been destroyed by the logging activity. Still really muddy in places unfortunately but enough dry sections to get some speed up and have some fun 🙂
Just been out for a gentle 10 miler with mrsvader... first time she has been out on her bike in over a year... she is already feeling it in her leg muscles 😈
The rocket is being dropped off at the bike shop tonight to have its new dropper seat post fitted! Exciting times:-)
@john back in time for the weekend ? I should be riding Saturday and up for a quick trip to QECP, early is OK.
I had a quick spin on Sunday, actually quite fun in/around woods near Netley. I do think I need to get out more as I was quite easily pleased, anything remotely downhill was a joy. Strange mix of mud and suffering from the heat.
Does anyone know any good bits around Lyndhurst way? Is there anything other than boring bridleways?
Plython, I think you are close to Moors Valley so you have a single track section I. There which is twisty and fun if you give it some we'll but almost totally flat. There is the skills area there as well which has a load of berms and jumps with some north shore, that's a bit more fun. Other than that I am afraid I don't know anywhere else sorry.
Jambalaya- yes will pick it up Friday evening or Saturday morning depending on what time I get home from Brum. If I am home to pick it up Friday evening then I am available sat am early. Failing that I am free sat evening and Sunday am and evening.
Plython, I think you are close to Moors Valley so you have a single track section I. There which is twisty and fun if you give it some we'll but almost totally flat. There is the skills area there as well which has a load of berms and jumps with some north shore, that's a bit more fun. Other than that I am afraid I don't know anywhere else sorry.
Yes you are right, i've ridden both a few times, but it's a 20 min drive from where I live. Lyndhurst is a short cycle away which is great to get out for all day XC rides but it's all so flat and boring!
Lordswood up the road is good fun, but again about a 20 minute drive.