[Closed] Piccies from my Malvern ride today.

Nice 🙂

Was it really that quiet up there today geologist?

Its only that quiet in my dreams 😉

Would have thought Malvern be crawling with 'em today

Clent hills were (plenty of avoidance cheeky trails though)

No Ski, It was'nt that quiet unfortunatley. Just well timed photos 🙂

It was my first ride on the Malverns for 12 years since I left home properly. Nothings changed, a beautiful area, that could be so good (riding wise). For me it has never lived upto its potential. Whats with all the new gates that have appeared?

Oooh nice! Bit 'Jel' I hafta say 😀

looks great, the Lickeys were packed today, but everyone seemed friendly, absolute mudfest though 8)

^ True - no grumpy ****ers around. Even got a smiling nod from a roadie 🙂

HI, Where is the best place to start at the Malverns?

Nothings changed, a beautiful area, that could be so good (riding wise)

It is good, very good, riding-wise.....

....you just need a local with the current knowledge to show you around the best bits 😉

It dosent really matter where you start as most of the 'classic' routes are circular.

My preference is too start at the Clock Tower carpark, (just up from back on track bike shop). Go upto zigzags, at top make way upto Worcs Beacon, down the side track to the Wyche cutting along the east side of the hills to British Camp, cross over road, make way to Giants cave and Gullet Quarry. Reverse route to get back, however if its peopleless go back over the ridge to the Wyche. At the end dont go down zigzags, but carry on there are more 'sneaky' fun ways back to to west malvern to be found.

The trails are all over , you can see alot of them from a distance, and you cant really get lost. Just explore.

Back on Track bikes, are worth a call.

Seems that way everywhere other than the trail centres!!

littlegirlbunny, it is very good riding, My parents house backs onto the hills at west malvern, and I lived and rode there for 15 years. I know it quite well.

I just think that more trails could be opened 'legally' that would make the whole experience a little more challenging. I have been spoilt abit though, in the 15 years I have been away from home, I have lived just north of Aviemore, Hope in Derbyshire, and now I live at the bottom of the LongMynd!

It is true however I have not ridden there for a few years, and have lost touch with all my riding mates from the area. Are you willing to shed some light on the sneaky newbits 😉

Geologist, "a bit spoilt" is an under statement.

I am indeed willing geologist, as, funnily enough, that is the exact same place as I live 😉

How long you about for? Do you have lights?

I only rode there today as we were dropping my mum back at home after xmas with us. I got a pass out for a few hours, as the wife wanted to look round Malvern. Normally my visits back to my parents house are just short and sweet asshe needs to keep in touch with my 3 year old, and she cant be bothered to get the train to Ludlow where I live.

So unfortunatley Im back in Ludlow now. Now I got a willing guide however Im sure I can tempt the wife to let me have another passout when we visit the my mum in the near future. It would be great to see whats developed in the area.

Ill post on here, when Im back down, or my email is on profile. Thanks for the offer. Its extended to you, if you wanna have a guide to the best bits of Bringewood or the Mynd 🙂

No worries geologist - just give us a shout (email in profile too 🙂 )....I've lived in Malvern for 4 yrs and even now come across trails near home I never knew about. If you are very lucky we may even have completed a wee bit of secret stuff away from the hills by the time you get back 😉

I always enjoy the Mynd, although even now don't really know my way around without a guide. It would also be great to see some bits of Bringewood away from the main lines (I've always assumed there is a fair bit of hidden stuff there??)

Excellent, cheers 🙂

Always good to meet new riding buddies.

Theres loads at Bringewood/Mortimer forest. you can get a 3 hour ride purely on singletrack.

When you are up for a ride in this neck of the woods let us know.

lbg - of you ever find yourself south of Camp, happy to show you some trails down here.

geologist - the gates are part of a [i]controversial[/i] grazing management programme run by the conservators. There's a rather sentimental approach to land management that wants to preserve a victorian view of the hills rather than a "natural" one.

Further south it's a bit more rough and ready. Its Ye Olde Tea Shoppe stuff up the top end that's mostly interferred with.

Where were you on West Malvern Road (and you lbg?) I used to live opposite the Clocktower before coming down to the flatlands @ Welland.

Whats the location of the third shot ? if you please 🙂

switchbacks above Clock tower car park
at arrow marker: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=377188&Y=246666&A=Y&Z=115

it looks reasonably well drained.are there boggy bits?

a loamy patch# above Holy Well can be a bit squishy and once you get down to Swinyard*/landrover tracks there's clay patches that make it a bit squirmy, but the main Bways on both sides are generally hardpacked quartz & granite gravels that drain brilliantly. It's all-year-round riding round here if you pick your trails.

# http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=377123&Y=242592&A=Y&Z=115
* http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=376071&Y=238360&A=Y&Z=115

Hey Stoner,

I lived (my mums house is) just 200 yds up the road from where yours was, on the sharp left hand bend.

up above the road or on the downslope?
Did the winter's without direct sunlight get to you too? 😉

thanks stoner.always wanted to do those hills.stayed at malvern showground with the camper on many occasions and wondered how good the riding was.who,s up for showing us the good bits?

As Stoner said, really dry today, except for a slightly boggy bit around Holy Well.

Above the road, well i was out on the bike everyday when I was there so soaked it up when i could. I really dont know how my parents could bear it there. I couldnt live in one of those houses.

Paul's shop can give you some route advice, and there's stuff on their website
http://www.backontrack-bikes.com/home.html

or post on here when you have an idea when you're in the area. Id be happy to show you around if Im free.

I couldnt live in one of those houses.

we managed about 5 years. It was blissful in the summer, but we had no direct sunlight for 3 months of the year. The views are fantastic though and to ride out of the door at 500' up is v nice 🙂

Your right about the riding, theres not many places where you can leave your door, ride on tarmac for 5 meters and then ride for hours entirley offroad or just have a 1 hour quality blast.

I now live down at 150' so have to start each ride with a 550' climb 🙁

Which on the SS certainly warms you up 🙂

But I front the common so can ride from the front door over 3,000 acres of off road land.... it's not a bad lot 😉

Haha, nice one, thats a hell of a climb to have to start every ride with, esp on a SS.

You are Liam Kileen 🙂

I havent got his foppy hair....

Seen him out once or twice. Really smooth rider.

Me, Im more your sweaty beer hunter 🙂

When I lived in Malvern, I was out with Paul from B on T cycles, and Ed Moseley. His sister joined us, she was playing second fiddle to Ed back in those days. I thought that she was crap.

Just goes to show eh! Shes now one of the quickest riders on the planet from male or female, and im just a fat old knacker. 🙂

Ive never seen her out, but would be great to follow her down a good drop one day...as far as I could keep up anyway 😉

Been into Pauls lately? It's all change in there, with a downstairs show room and new workshop. Still some nice bits in there - except I think he's still not sold on 29ers 😉

or post on here when you have an idea when you're in the area. Id be happy to show you around if Im free.

ok will do.thanks stoner.i,ll post up a few weeks before so plenty of time.

Geologist,

I think I know you. I may well have spent my summer in between collecting samples for my undergrad out on them thar hills, must have been around 1995?. Your folks literally just around the corner from North Malvern as you head to west?

Glad to see you're still at it 🙂

Hey,

Quite poss? It would have been 1995/96. I dont remember any other people collecting samples though? (apart from the guys with me). It was for my undergrad project too.

Is this too much of a coincidence? I dont think I know you, but you know too much 🙂

Can you shed more light, are you from Malvern too?

Summer 1995, yep, from Malvern, early evening rides from what I remember. I had 'worked' previously at Spokes and Saddles down the Link, sort of...I say worked..

christ knows what I was riding then though, can't remember what you were either. We'd tend to meet at clock tower and head up past Ivy scar etc...

I think you disappeared not long after that to go Scotland way..

could be...

🙂

There has not been a hotter Summer since the one of 95. Brown scorched grass everywhere

from what I remember there was a large hill fire that year too, between wyche and the camp.

sorry mate, im useless I really dont remember?

I have seen your email addy in your prof and dont recognise the name.

I used to regularly ride with a guy called John from Suckley, Paul from B on T bikes and a guy called Sam who was in the Marines.

You seem to know my history a bit so it is likely its just my memory that has gone? Can you jog my memory some more?

yeah it was just that summer I think. I first met you heading up the track toward ivy scar. My folks stayed down Malvern Link, er, starting to struggle now....

Don't think you rode much with Paul et al then, but if you see him, tell him Nik with the long hair says Hi! he should know who I am, sort of.

I think it's safe to say I know who you are in any case..:-)

John from Suckley? used to lurk around here a bit and used to work in Spokes and Saddles when he was about 18 or so?

Haha, I know you now! It was the nik with the long hair bit that sparked a long lost memory 🙂

How you doing, blimey, bit of a blast from the past. Yeah it was John from spokes n saddles.

Any chance someone could stick this route on to memory map or similar? Looks like a nice bit of riding for a mid week jaunt!

Stoner - Member

lbg - of you ever find yourself south of Camp, happy to show you some trails down here.

Thanks Stoner 🙂

Always good to find local riding buddies!

Theres loads at Bringewood/Mortimer forest. you can get a 3 hour ride purely on singletrack.

When you are up for a ride in this neck of the woods let us know.

Will do 😀 Ta!