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CG - [url= http://candovervalley.org/2014/10/oak-hill-lane-closure/ ]It seems[/url] that Oak Hill Lane will be shut for 6 months.
6 months! Funnily enough I came across another track that's being repaired, t'other side of the A339. Again, I failed to understand why as it was only rutted for a short distance. Can't remember how long it was going to take although horserists were advised not to use it.
Happy to meet up for a rideout, can travel to suit all/best place etc..
I'll get some routes together and post them up, see what happens 😀
First ride out in a over a week tonight and had to borrow a bike from BigShep! I have 2 bikes now and neither are working, this is one problem when you decide to buy a 29er and steal bits off the 26er for the build and then find that the one part that you don't have are forks!
First time on a hardtail for ages and it was rather good, on one inbred was the loan bike and although it felt very different round corners, it certainly was less of a slog on the hills than the FS. Can't wait to get the new 29er up and running now, should get the forks back next week 🙂
Thanks for your replies Cinnamon, Froggy and Flash.
I have ridden with the Lordswood 7.00 pm chaps a couple of times. Lordswood does get very mucky though, with lots of clay and obstacles. It's nice in the summer though.
I generally ride in The Forest or Winchester cos I tend to ride the Newforce trails and mainly with Newforce Members. I did a cracking ride from Fritham today with a couple of guys from the club. We worked our way across Hampton Ridge and way over the the North and Redlynch. Found an excellent route back up to the Fordingbrid/Downton road split and then back down to Eyeworth Pond. Hardly any road sections. Fabulous sunny weather today! 🙂
Timcotic - keep an eye on the newforce forum as there's a regular midweek daytime ride developing (cunningly called the unemployed ride) which might be of interest to you.
As for all this talk of gravel, I think I had my fill last Sunday with a fatty expedition from West Wittering to Selsea. I expect you lot prefer yours a bit more compacted 😀
Tim cotic I was tempted by the new force group what are the rides like? I'm based in winchester so would mainly be heading out from home, is it worth joining? Cheers
Has anyone ridden the BW that runs N/S (or vice versa!) parallel to the B3046 from Farleigh Wallop to Berrydown Farm? And/or the BW running from the bottom of that in to Nutley and then on to Clump Farm outside Dummer?
If so, conditions? Trail surface etc? Am trying to put together a nice spin for Sunday and that could fit in nicely as a grravel section, assuming it's doable!
Yep, sure have. It's a tad harsh due to its compacted stone surface but it's a nice one nevertheless.
Yes to your second q too! Rode that after I met you recently. Nice climb to a gate then a steeper climb (grassy) which then descends to the B road. Cross over, the grassy part is hard doing and improves when you reach the woods (good show of bluebells in here come Spring-time). Nice descent to reach the minor road.
Put some decent mud tyres on your new steed Cap'n and enjoy these pleasant trails. 🙂
Give me a shout if you need more info.
Beesey, there are several Newforce Groups to ride with btw. There's a thursday ride from the Queen Inn and a fixed new forest one and a roaming NF\Winchester one and a few other's too + weekend rides. There's something for most people there in one group or another. I've ridden with them on and off for a long time now, can't wait to start getting back out with them asap once some health issues are sorted.
A lot of the groups cross over and mix, I ride with one of three when I can, just depends what suits
Cheers Keith I'll look into it then
Beesey, any questions drop me an email on membership(at)newforce.org.UK 😀
Edit - anyone's welcome to pitch up and try us out, see if we suit you sir before joining
Well, I did it running southwards, and it was superb. Thanks for your notes on it, CG! Rode along it with a chap I've met out riding before (Ex-Marine, on a Giant Anthem, sorry still haven't got round to names!)
It was pretty jarring, to be honest, but I kept time nicely alongside a full bouncer being ridden by someone who's way fitter than me, so that's pretty impressive! The only real issue offroad is lack of grip as far as I can see. I was impressed, at least!
Earlier on, I'd ridden and chatted for a while with a friendly chap on his roadie (North Waltham towards Dummer) and he was a bit bewildered by my tyres. "They're massive!" he said. I pointed out that the difference between 25s, as he was on and 32s isn't much, but he couldn't get his head around it! Pointed out is was just as fast, but comfy and his eyes lit up a bit!
Lovely ride around Farleigh Wallop/Dummer/Preston Candover/Micheldever sort of area. Got utterly pissed on by a massive rain shower at one point, but otherwise, a lovely, lovely day out.
Bike keeps on impressing me. Am still struggling to find what it [i]can't[/i] do!
Long shot but would anyone know how to get from Mottisfont/Dunbridge to between Redlynch and Nomansland off road? There seems to be loads of tracks between which may or may not be suitable.
keep them updates coming CFH, missed out on a ride today
[b]Dobo[/b]
Don't think there's a direct off-road route.
Could take the road into West Dean, climb up onto the ridge to the south, head west past Pepperbox Hill, straight over the A36 and follow the tracks south to Downton/Redlynch. The byway running south east of Lover is mainly gravel and will take you towards Nomansland.
[b]CFH[/b]
Must have just missed you today! Rode Northington, East Stratton, Micheldever Station, Hunton and back to Winch.
Managed to dodge those showers too 🙂
UTW, what were you riding/wearing? (Was in a bright red jacket, black helmet, black tights on a rather lovely Spesh Diverge*)
*Though I say so myself! 😀
UTW, Thanks for that, looks like a good place to start
Red helmet, blue gilet, (colour co-ordination huh?), black 3/4s.
And riding my All City Nature Boy which is kinda bright!
Don't think I saw you.
Whereabouts are you based? Could fit in a similar ride some day if that works for you! Am based at the top of the Test.
Winchester local me, so based half way down the Itchen 🙂
Often ride up that way, be good to meet up.
[b]dobo[/b]
No worries. Thinking about it, there's a track that runs west from the Lockerly/East Tytherley road (opposite the pub!) to Frenchmoor that may be worth looking at. It won't shorten the trip but it's more off road!
Location via rivers. Classy!
Of course, we have the best trout. 😀 (Also very good for brewing! I collect it in barrels for homebrew!)
Is your bike a gravel type thang? If so, fancy joining the soon to be formed Hampshire Grrravel Collective Thingy?
Still buzzing from a superb day's ride on my Stoater, one of those rides where you want to keep on going forever and feel like you could, or at least until tea time. Crossed the border into West Sussex, up and down off the Downs back to Butser Hill then along the Meon Valley and home via some hills and a pub. It's the perfect machine for hacking along the lanes though with the mulched-up leaves I'd have preferred my CX tyres instead of my slicks.
CFH you must habe been unlucky to get rained on I was in Kings Sombourne and it was a lovely late morning and afternoon, I was sad not to be riding. A303/M3 junction shut by police so we ended up on an excellent "say nav" special detour around the lanes to Dummer.
I've just ordered some Clement X'Plor MSO 40C's for my CX'er. Intention is to use them for gravel/road/fire trail/farmers lanes as the deeper winter sets in. Haven't got them yet, hoping this week.
Anyone thought about these tyres for their bikes ?
I'll let you know how I get on with them, they look good and get some great reviews.. 😀
Have been looking at Clement, so will be interesting to hear about your experience of them.
The stock Roubaix tyres seem very good so far. Am keen to explore tubeless options, however.
Re the rain, it was one big cloud, the sort where you can see the straight edge of rain approaching. Only lasted about five minutes, though.
Cap'n - thanks for reporting back. Sometimes the edges of that track can be used but, as you say, it's jarring. Glad you enjoyed your ride!
As regards those tyres, Somafunk is your man.
This might be of use to a lot of people
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/maps/surrey-interactive-map
It's only Surrey based but it's an interactive map that can be printed, and you can specify bridleways, tracks, cycle routes etc to be highlighted on it. Very useful IMO.
as you say, it's jarring.
Says you with your big fat tyres and suspension!
Good fun, though, and a nice little link to add in to any pending grravel routes anyone has. Nicely false flat downhill, so you can keep the speed up to try and stay on top of the bumps. It's a little like driving a fast boat, you try and keep on top of the waves, rather than sinking in to the troughs.
Surrey based
We'll have none of that foreign muck in here, thank you very much! 😉 (Pretty cool, though!)
Hants, well all Councils, have one....
[url= http://maps.hants.gov.uk/rowreporting/default.aspx ]Hampshire ROW's[/url]
I use this a lot, helluva lot also the North Yorks one that include Harrogate.
Just go to the Councils website and search ROW and you'll find they all have the "definitive" Map..
HTH
Cheers BB very handy. 🙂
That hampshire ROW website isnt very user friendly, also not that accurate as shows the entire test way as a footpath when large sections you are allowed to cycle on.
Also when you come to a county border it gets fun.
A quick PSA for anyone riding around North Hants over the next couple of days -
The hedge murderers have been out and about on Waltham Lane over the last couple of days, and it's a thorn strewn hell out there. Many punctures await, I suspect.
Very OT but if anyone knows of a 2/3 bedroom house/bungalow with garage available for rent to a house-trained lady, e-mail in profile. Needs to be in Hampshire and available within the next few weeks. Thanks. 🙂
Email sent CG
Thanks hammy. 🙂
Just to add that it's short term.
Think there may be a couple of places on the market around the 'Hood, CG. Will double check for you.
Anyway, cracker of a ride today. Much the same loop as before, but with a bit more "ooooh, let's have a nose up there" bridleway action.
Thankfully, not one puncture!
"Timcotic - keep an eye on the newforce forum as there's a regular midweek daytime ride developing (cunningly called the unemployed ride) which might be of interest to you."
"Tim cotic I was tempted by the new force group what are the rides like? I'm based in winchester so would mainly be heading out from home, is it worth joining? Cheers "
Sorry it's taken a while to get back to you guys. Yes I have been of a few of the 'Unemployed Rides' and they've been very good. They are approximately 20 miles (I think today's was less but it was rather muddy and hilly). If you are a regular rider you'd be fine but not reccommended for mtb 'newbies'. The Dorset Roughriders' Saturday Socials form Broadstone Leisure Centre at 1.00 p.m. are good for everyone. (by which I mean - everyone gets do to some riding they enjoy - Last Saturday's was lead by a splendid chap call Robin and was a case in point). Tim 🙂
Another Sunday, and a wet, wet, wet ride! Dummer, Farleigh Wallop, the Candovers etc.
Off the bridleway at Farleigh Wallop and up the hill, I heard tchk, tchk, tchk, followed with tchk-pfff, tchk-pfff, tchk-pfff. Flint puncture! ARGH!
Fixed and off I went, need to check the tyre out when I clean the bike tomorrow, though.
As an aside - If anyone wants some super-toasty winter gloves, these are surprisingly excellent;
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Mine are black, obviously!
Heading out of Hampshire this Saturday to give the new Sherpa it's first proper outing. Going into the North Downs somewhere near Washington apparently. Some runner friends are sorting the route and they run while I ride.
Ok it's not the North downs it's still the SDW. Going to see if I can find my way to Steyning Forest/woods
QE was the venue this Saturday, had a last minute call from a running friend who wanted a run then a coffee so off I went. First time with the Sherpa off some small drops, have to say I prefer the Rocket on those sections, everything else was lovely until I lost the back brake. Bit hairy at times on the 2nd half of the red route with mud and no back brake. Fun though.
I've forgotten what riding in the daylight looks like... Even rides on the weekends start in the dark now... Was out on Saturday evening for our xmas beer and bimble, it was so cold the mud on everyone's rear direlliure froze so no shifting for a while! Good ride tho.
Almost forgotten what riding is! Silly busy.
Well I've been hacking Hampshire hard for weeks now. Have to say it's been bloody excellent as always. When you work away it's just the best tonic to come home and play in your own back yard.
I've found some more (for me) routes for the CX'er up near the Wallops and can link them up with the SDW creating a 60k route that I can ride from home from, which is ace.
It's filthy dirty on the lanes, recent routes on the roadie have meant washing kit every ride, some lanes are just mud fest as farmers bring in winter veg and others moving cattle indoors. There's a particularly bad lane from Fairleigh Wallop Manor down to Lasham that's just awful, but then that's part of the fun.
I've stuck the X'plors back on the CX'er for a couple of long distance gravel hacks planned with a couple of Lads from B'mth Jubilee that I used to rideout with a few years ago, be good I'm looking forward to some Dorset action..
If anyone's out over the next few weeks and fancies meeting up (road or CX'er) then I'd love to meet up.
8)
If my Tripster ever turns up, I'd love too. Not that I an get in the garage to build it either, full of the detritus of a new kitchen build (now thankfully in the last stages).
Though I have sort of promised myself doing the Combe > Overton run this year, so I really ought to start running again...