Is it still on? Gilles? Anyone?
(Metaphorically stands on top of Silbury Hill waving, trying to attract attention). 😛
hello,i would be interested in going on this ride(i live in devizes).where are you going to ride?(i am unfit though at present,so if i will hold anyone up,i can leave it!!!) 🙂
T'was a ride starting from Pewsey led by Gilles, originally down for 28 June, IIRC. resceduled for 9 August. I've not seen any updates lately, so just trying to get some info as to whether it's still going ahead.
ah!!!i'll have a look at your forum later,when you get a reply!!!would def like to ride with you,if that was ok?
It's in my diary - it HAS to go ahead 😉
raceface - at the back is MY rightful place!
If any current or future posters are driving past Andover that can offer me a lift it would be greatley appreciated. Mrs MM has the car that weekend. I can offer petrol money, sweets and cakes. 😉
Should be able to Mulletus but you know what they say about women drivers 😯
???
i apologise cinnamon_girl.would it be alright if i could cycle with you all?as i say,i live in devizes,but could cycle to pewsey.where do you all meet?do not know pewsey that well,(although i did work at the salmon factory,doing agency work.never again!!!)hello mulletus maximus !!!
Ah...Pewsey....happy memories of a delicatessen's daughter....! 😉
What start time and location? I might be tempted....
might be able to make it (providing my collar bone get's pinned back together as planned!)
might take it easy if i am back together
Is this the 6th or 9th? If its Sunday 9th, i'm probably up for it.
Scurries off to look for map to remind himself where Pewsey is.
Well, a bunch of people seem to be interested, trouble is we need Gilles 'cos he knows where the flinking blip we should be going, I don't know the Pewsey area at all. Earth calling Gilles, Earth calling Gilles, come in please, over?
Hi C_G, how are you doing? Looking forward to riding with you, in fact it'll be nice to meet some new faces to ride with. I get bored with me own...
Well, what an eclectic gathering - two Captains and a Count 8)
Does anyone have an email for Gilles?
Cap'n Bastard - you're a local aren't you? Could you take over the helm if needs be?
Of course the legendary Captain Flashheart would do a splendid job of taking charge ... but I just get the feeling he is avoiding me 😥
And as for Silbury Hill, can we really launch ourselves off there?
And as for Silbury Hill, can we really launch ourselves off there?
Well, I've often looked at it and wondered if it was do-able, but the transition at the bottom's a bit sharp 😯
You're not s'posed to go up there now, sadly, English Heritage are worried about erosion, though the path up doesn't seem to have changed much in the last 300 years or so, if you look at the old Stuckely engravings. I've been up it, great view, bl00dy windy on the top when I was there. West Kennet Long Barrow's got better views, tho'. Sorry, getting carried away with the local knowledge thing. I'll dig out my OS maps in the meantime and see what's in the area, and mebbie figure out a route with drinkies somewhere, just in case Gilles doesn't return from the saucer where the Greys are holding him for experiments. 😉
Hi
is this on and on the 9th ??
email = forumname<aaaa><notcoldmaildotcom>
thanks
is this on and on the 9th ??
Umm, well it should be clear from the above posts that as far as we're aware it is but Gilles who originally mooted the ride is currently incommunicado, so all is not certain at the moment. Failing Gilles appearance then between us we're going to try to sort out a route. [i]Please[/i] don't ask for further info, just read the whole thread, and you'll see there is none at the moment. Thanks.
C_g, if you're around, I've found a route around the Pewsey area which [i]might[/i] be ok, I'll have a shufti at the 25k OS and see if there's any more interesting stuff to be had. The route I found is about 16 miles.
Count - if Gilles isn't about then there are other areas of Wiltshire to be explored. Might have to ask for more volunteers!
I've done a little bit of riding around the Plain/Chitterne/Stockton Down/Stonehenge including a killer loop from MBR mag a few years ago. Such an under-rated county - love the big skies 🙂
Count - I am happy to help with route recce'ing/suggestions. If you have any gpx routes, that would be useful. E-mail is in my profile, thanks.
C_g, I've had an email from Gilles, he's been on holiday, and the ride's still on so I'm relieved of my reluctant duties of leader when I don't know where I'm actually going. Winging it's ok on yer own but not when there's a bunch of others expecting the leader to have a clue. 😳 He should be along some time soon.
Bugger. 6th I could make 9th can't. Maybe next time
Count - good news then! Gives you plenty of time to recce another Wiltshire ride, October could be nice and Autumnal 😉
Thanks, yes, I'm a little relieved not to have the responsibility when I don't know the area. I'll bring the map along, there's a ride I do regularly out of Avebury, which can have an extension into Marlborough. The usual one I do is around seventeen miles, and takes in Silbury Hill, The Ridgeway, Fyfield Down, Rockley, Barbury Castle then back onto the Ridgeway. Nice ride, big open views, couple of steepish climbs, tea stop and beer at the end, do-able on a singlespeed.
You can let me know what you think.
sounds like the ride i do CountZero,but i cycle on a farm track from devizes to get to the ridgeway(it cuts out the road bit).don't have a ss though 🙂
I had a good wee blast today
Count - yep, sounds good - my singlespeed hasn't visited Wiltshire yet 8)
Do you want to throw up some dates?
I would guess probably any Sunday through September into October, really. I don't have any particular commitments. I've had a look at Metcheck, [url] http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/14days.asp?zipcode=SN14%200AP ][/url], and it's actually looking fairly positive, so keep your fingers crossed! 8)
Sounds like one of my local rides as well. Usually start from home, make my way long the Kennet Valley, pick up the cycleway to Swindon then onto the Marlborough Downs at one of the Ogbournes. Do you go up or down Smeath's Ridge?
I'd be game for a ride- this still planned for the 9th?
I will represent the 29er massive. 🙂
Hello,
just back from holiday in wet North Wales, sorry to not be back ealier. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still going for it and I can lead it as I did offered a while back. The route is as follow:
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30k toward 40k if people are happy to carry on a bit further. The date is Sunday the 9th of August (2009) and I believe a start at 10am from the knapp hill car park, SU 116 637 will be good and hopefully not too early? If you bring some food, we can have a quick lunch half way, top of Cherhill down. Depending of the speed, I don't expect to be back to the car park later than 1-1.30pm.
Hope you can all make it!
Cheers,
Gilles
Sounds good to me, be nice to ride over different trails. See you there.
Welcome back Gilles, you had us all on tenterhooks 😉
Bad luck with the rain in Wales but hope that it stays away from Wiltshire next weekend.
Are niche bikes allowed? I might have to get a new one!
Looking forward to meeting everyone.
Niche is nish. Sorry. Don't tell me, you're getting an off-road unicycle? No? Ok. Anyway, having looked at Gilles route I've decided gears are probably a good idea, now it's just deciding on hardtail or full-sus. Decisions, decisions. 😉
Polite request - could the Wiltshire riders post up on Friday/Saturday with latest info on trail conditions please?
No unicycle Count, just doesn't appeal! Can't even ride with two wheels, let alone one.
i'm afraid i wont be able to make it on sunday.i haven't ridden my bike,for over 2 weeks(motivation issues!!!).so won't be fit to do the distance.i apologize!!!
Weather is improving for the next 3 days, so it should be perfect for Sunday. raceface, the only way to be fit again it's going riding! We are not going to race on that day, so don't be shy!
Raceface, it's not any further than the ride we did a couple of weeks ago and the speed will probably be slower as well. Come along, you'll be fine.
Raceface, judging by previous get togethers the pace will be pretty slow, so the distance shouldn't be an issue. What better motivation than laughing at mulletus crashing (oh sorry, that was last weekend).
Having had motivation problems myself, one of the better things i did was to go out with this lot, as it opens up a load of new riding opportunities and drags you out of the house on a Sunday morning.
hello. it's not that i don't want to ride with you all.i've just thought of the distance, to get to pewsey and back (before the ride with all of you.i think it's around 10/12 miles to pewsey from devizes!!!)i'd be dead,by the time we had all finished the ride.i think you were planning on a 20/25 mile route?that is the reason,to be honest. it is so frustrating having this motivational problem,as i really enjoyed the ride,with mulletus maximus,and his friend.but my bike just sits there,gathering dust!!!sorry to have gone on,about my problems(that was what my other forum post was for!!!).but had to tell you all the truth.adam
Maybe someone could give you a lift. Ask someone, you never know and it might help a little towards your problems. As rusty said, it has helped him.
I'd offer but i'm getting a lift myself as Mrs MM has the car this weekend.
thanks mm. yes if anyone would be able to give us a lift(can pay some petrol money!!!)i would be very grateful.i can meet you in town centre or wherever's easiest in devizes. my e mail address is:- adamibanezcunningham@hotmail.co.uk thank you very much!!! 🙂
no problem, I can give you a lift,I will pass Devizes probably around 9:30. We can meet on the way out of Devizes,along the A361, there is a Total(?) petrol station on the lefthand side with probably any space to park and load my car with your dusty bike. I'll send you my phone number.
gilles.that's brilliant,thank you very much.i will give you my mobile number as well.p.s the total garage is less than 3 minutes from where i live!!!thanks again.adam 😀 look forward to meeting everyone!!!
Numpty map question, grid reference doesn't mean a lot to me, what road's the car park on?
Knapp Hill looks to be out Marlborough direction, passed Alton Barnes, is that the right place?
Sorry, haven't been over this way for ages.
Yes, that's the right place. The car park is quite big, at that time of the day we should all be able to find a place. See you there!
Hi Gilles / All,
going to have to sit this one out, still waiting for my titanium arm upgrade, that'll learn me for riding into a tree ;o)
Lightweight, got another arm haven't you. When it's better, i may be arranging a Purbecks ride for September if interest is there.
if I ride one armed, i go around in little circles!
too bad captain! We are too old for some killer downhill. Looking back at the thread, I try to work out how many people are expected. Look like I have: rusty trowel, raceface, mulletus, tootallpaul, uponthedowns, c_g. Am I missing anybody? any leaver? joiner?
Cheers
Hooray! I've just been leant something shiny and bouncy to ride on Sunday. Never ridden a full-susser before, so look out, it could all end in tears.
😯
No Captain Flashheart?
Perhaps he is not at his country estate this weekend ... or getting ready for the glorious twelfth 🙂
Rusty - is this a demo bike then? Do tell!
Tis indeed a demo bike, must try not to bin it. The guys from the shop buried me tonight on a road ride as payment i think.
Am I missing anybody? any leaver? joiner?
Well, there's me, who actually started this thread going! 🙄
apologies, was coming but had a sudden minor emergency op yesterday, so off bike for about a month, hope it goes well. Cheers
Sorry countzero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks gusamc for the update.
Roland (Mister Mouse of these here parts) and I will be joining you.
10am at the Knapp Hill car park...
Does anyone have any idea what the conditions will be like?
Had a bit of a tumble last weekend in the wet and want to make sure I have the right tyres on. I'm guessing it won't be too bad.
The Downs tend to drain fairly quickly, and apart from occasional puddles it shouldn't be too bad. I don't know a lot of the route, but if it's tracks that the 4x4's stay clear of then shouldn't be a problem.
Cheers, as I thought.
Look forward to meeting you. See you tomorrow.
Could someone do streetmap type linky thing to the start point?
I can't work it out from the map earlier in the thread. Having a dumb day!
P
captain_bastard - oh, that's bad news. Get well soon 🙂
gus - healing vibes to you too 🙂
tootallpaul - is that Ro of THT infamy?
Really looking forward to this BUT it sounds as though I will be the only girlie 😯
I'm terrified!
Depends on my Saturday night, but I will try to come.
Looking forward to either a ride or a hangover.
And will the pub be the Barge at Honey Street? It's lovely in good weather.
Moses
well it hasn't rained in devizes,so the signs look good for tomorrow!!! 😀
That is that Ro...
See you all in the morning!
Everyone get home ok? Cheers for the guiding Gilles, apart from that slog up the road near the end.
Thanks to Gilles for organising and showing us around the hilliest, grassiest, embankment-iest, tractor tracks-iest and gorgeous Wiltshire scenery 🙂
Good to meet new faces too 🙂
rusty - what slog up the road was that? Oh, the one where I managed to ride a wee bit quicker than a few of you guys 😉 Loved it!
thanks gilles for the lift.it was great to meet everyone,and a great mountain bike excursion (will be buying a map to seek out some new trails).i hope i can ride with you all again.take it easy. 😀
gpx route available if anyone requires it. E-mail in profile.
Hi everyone, yeah, great ride, thanks Gilles, for guiding us over new trails. I [b]really[/b] enjoyed the pint in Avebury, and the nettle and wasp stings are still tingling more than a little...
Very nice to meet everyone, hope to meet up again soon.
All the best.
I'm glad you enjoyed the route despite having more climbs than descents...See you all soon!
Cheers Gilles, great ride in a lovely part of Wiltshire. Nice to meet you all and look forward to riding with you all again. Maybe not so hilly next time!!! 😆
Apologies agian CountZero for stirring up that wasps nest! Hope the stings are ok.