[Closed] STW Singletons Social Networking Ride at Swinley Forest - Sunday 7th February

LOL

Hiya both... Would sign up right now but for the fact that (shock horror) I kind've might actually, possibly, against all odds, be sort of "seeing someone" at the moment!!!

On second thoughts though, 7th of Feb is 4 1/2 weeks away, I'm damned sure that I'll have done something that makes me single again by that time... So see you there! And this time probably with silly sized wheels on my bike too... 😉

Hello m-boy! That's great news and, in the nicest possible way, hope we don't see you and your silly bike 😉 I remember the pics - it was different!

Good luck 😀

I'll express cautious interest 😐
Any bike friendly B&Bs in the area as I might make a weekend out of it & try a Salisbury plain/Purbecks ride on the Saturday or Monday.

snaps - I'll get back to you on that. If you want ideas for places to ride on the Saturday, I have a pretty good knowledge of trails within an hour's drive of Swinley. There's loads!

I'll be there!(..hopefully)

i want to be there, but cant for some reasons

A/ its way too far and
B/ I'm not allowed ..........*checks to see if that is the right answer*.............yup, not allowed

CG - You are aware it might dump more snow Sat/Sun? I can't see people wanting to travel far as it is either.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html
Click Sat & Sun just above the map to see what I mean......

Good luch though! 🙂

I may appear as a gobby female on here but in real life I'm totally different

Yeah, CG is really a gobby bloke! 😀 😉

Sorry, couldn't help that. 🙂

[i]you will need to purchase a day permit to ride at Swinley, price £2, and this can be bought online[/i]

What does this mean ?. I've never bought a permit to ride my bike before...Can someone explain, please.

Solo.

Ok, found the site now and read the blurb.

S.

Wahey, MarkyBoy, it would be great to see you and the Rig there, but, as CG said, hopefully you won't be needing these [i]services[/i]...! 😉

PP - looking into me grubby, chipped and mysteriously 'stained' crystal ball (got it off the classifieds) I can see that come this time next month the snow will be a distant memory.

that's my birthday, i'll be leading the RD birthday forum ride 🙂

Thanks for that Pete! It's a month away so anything could happen weatherwise 🙄

You might have offered some reassurance to those thinking about coming to this extravaganza!

So ... to those who are unsure ... sometimes it's necessary to remove yourself from your comfort zone cos nothing ventured nothing gained, as the saying goes.

Banana - Oops. Sorry. Misread the month. My apologies, I was just trying to be helpful. 🙂

rocketdog - is it a 29er only ride then? You guys seem to want to start a splinter group, away from us little people 😉

non of us are single though and i can't help if my birthday is on the same day! clown wheels are not compulsory

don't forget to wear adequate protection folks, Swinley can be quite rooty & rough.

;D

Think you might be missing the obvious here, the following Sunday is the 14th or St Valentines Day which would seem the ideal date for such shenanigans 😀

Agree with Pistonbroke, you really are missing a trick. Plus having it on that day will flush out all the fakers who are really in relationships as they will not be able to come 😉

the following Sunday is the 14th or St Valentines Day

too obvious by far :o)

Unfortunately that weekend should be free for me, so i might come and try a second blatt around CG's forest.

It'll just be good to get out and ride with mostly strangers for a day.

Of course all might change in several weeks so if i'm there i'm there.

Hope to be there, weather and funds permitting

I'll put it in my diary...after all whats the worst that could happen?

(Deep breath - attempting to post a post that isn't irreverent...)

Some of the lucky people on the day will be having their way guided, in the mud if not in love, by me. Whilst I've ridden in Swinley a few times, getting from one 'good bit' to another still involves, for me, a bit of meandering and guess work so...

On a couple of Sundays and/or Wednesdays between now and the 7th of February I'm going to be heading there to see if I can uncover some more direct routes.

If anybody (male, female, single, attached, under-the-thumb) fancies joining me for a spot of getting lost it would make the whole process a lot more fun. Email me or post here 🙂

Hello all,

Is this open to occasional forum folk who are "solo"?
I'd like to try and come along.
Would have to look at trains from wales as bikes and motorbikes don't travel well together.

Maybe see you there?

I'll be more certain closer to the time.

Chris

snaps - Member
I'll express cautious interest
Any bike friendly B&Bs in the area

Wahey! 🙂

this bike ride will be a good laugh if nothing else 😆

Who has put those ridiculous tags up there ^^ 😯

Name and shame please, we don't want people getting the wrong idea 😈

bananaworld - you're doing very well there 😀 Shall we do some route planning together then? Wednesdays would be good, less folk around getting in our way and I won't get you lost either!

Everyone else - thanks for responses and looking forward to meeting you 🙂

CG=supermodel 😯 Oh-My-God 🙄

Just a thought - are there any rad dudes or dude-ettes who like to get air? We have a jump gulley and the natives love to watch the action 8)

It can be incorporated into the Grand Tour 🙂

Here's a little linky that you may find useful:

http://www.gorrick.com/swinley/index.php

Nearer the time I will post up all the information but just post up here if you need to know anything. E-mail in profile if you prefer.

This is getting very exciting 😆

If anyone wants a lift from South London, I'll be coming from Upper Norwood and will have space.

A lift from Upper Norwood you say, Neil? Well, well, that would be awfully handy. I'm in mighty, mighty Mitcham so perhaps we could arrange something...? (wahey, the matchmaking is underway!)

Although, having said that, I do understand if a lady should have a need of a lift: clearly getting her there would be the priority 😉

This is indeed getting very exciting!

Come on peeps, roll up, roll up, if you don't ask, yer don't get!

Come on peeps, roll up, roll up, if you don't ask, yer don't get!

PMSL

That was exactly what I told myself fairly shortly after I met the reason I'm not quite as single as I was this time last month... It worked! 😉

George, you need to get yourself up to Worcester ASAP mate... Malverns with a bit of snow on is bloody marvellous fun on a bike! Hehe. Besides, I have nothing to do being as I'm still very much underemployed, bring some hub geared and possibly clown wheeled wierdness up and we can go scare some sheep! 😛

In fairness might end up coming on this ride anyway, no matter what happens... Having had a brief chat with her tonight (based on everyone referring to her as my "girlfriend" even though I've only perhaps seen her 6 or 7 times inside the 3 weeks since I met her) I think she's equally as much of a commitment-phobe as me, which I think technically makes us both still single, but "seeing" someone exclusively if you get my drift... Will have to see how the money situation is with regarding getting down for this ride though, currently still unemployed, VERY close to my overdraft limit now and staring down the barrel of having to rapidly sell off stuff to be able to eat and pay my rent soon! 🙁

I think she's equally as much of a commitment-phobe as me, which I think technically makes us both still single, but "seeing" someone exclusively if you get my drift...

But by the sounds of it you subconsciously want to go on the STW singles ride...

if he's still tempted she's clearly not the one

if he's still tempted she's clearly not the one

Who knows! I only met her 3 weeks ago...

But by the sounds of it you subconsciously want to go on the STW singles ride...

To go and see some old friends and ride some trails... Would anybody actually go on this ride to "pull"? It's supposed to be a meeting of likeminded single people given the chance to ride without a load of smug relationshiped up types am I not mistaken CG?

Actually, scratch that, I can think of one or two people that would go there to pull (not me I hasten to add!), but seeing as the demographic will invariably be 95% male, perhaps it should be renamed the "STW Big Gay Love In"... Maybe that would deter a few more men! 😉

perhaps it should be renamed the "STW Big Gay Love In"... Maybe that would deter a few more men!

Nah - the thought of some girl on girl action would have the opposite effect I'm sure 💡

"STW Big Gay Love In"

I beleive the "Singletrack Singleton Sausagefest" is the approved term 😉

Given the demographics will this be a couple of foxes being chased by a pack of slavering hounds?

Mark - you need to chill out a bit. Take each date as it comes and stop jumping ahead 🙂

Just to reassure people, this is definitely not a "shag on the singletrack" ride 🙄 It's for mountain bikers, who happen to be single, and who want to meet others whether for a relationship or social networking ie going to pubs, gigs etc.

I honestly do not want people to be put off from coming along - everyone is at a different place in their life. You know what I really like about this Forum? Have been on loads of group rides, and you can guarantee that I'm the oldest by a mile, but you ride bikes and folk accept you for what you are 8)

Actually, it's also encouraging that a few of the guys I've ridden with are coming along, so that has to be a vote of confidence, right?

Anyway, there's a few pics from today of Swinley here:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/conditions-at-swinley-4

c_g - have you considered putting this ride up on Shecycles?
It may balance things out a bit.

Hi Bunnyhop. That's an idea, shall have to re-register though.

I'm finding it really frustrating that people are viewing this as some sort of desperate situation with desperate people. I genuinely hope that people don't get put off from coming along and in fact I have been answering e-mails from people that are concerned 😯

>I'm finding it really frustrating that people are viewing this as some sort of desperate situation with desperate people.

Envy is not an attractive trait.

Mark - you need to chill out a bit. Take each date as it comes and stop jumping ahead

It's not me Elaine, it's my mates! If it goes past a first date with me and a girl, it seems they all brand her as my GF! get constantly questioned "where's your GF", "when you seeing your GF again" etc... Does my head in! Just had to warn her what they are all like in advance for if/when she meets them...

TRUST ME, I am taking each date as it comes...

Your mates are just taking the piss Mark, that's what they're [b]for[/b]. I hope to make the ride, because Swinley is a good place and STW rides are always great fun. I think it'll be just like any of the others, TBH. I'm out with mates I've not seen for 3 months the night before, so the likelyhood of a coherent sentence is slim 🙂

bananaworld - yhm

MBoy - agree with Rich, it's a man thing probably!

Rich - hope you can make it birthday boy 😀

Just a thought - does anyone have a van? Am currently caretaker for a nice banner that was made for the Swinley 'Monsoon Ride'. Unfortunately I was told off for hanging it up outside the Visitor Centre so if it could be draped across a window, that might help.

Or does anyone have any other ideas?

Thank you. 😀

a red light?

I say we hang the banner again! That jobsworth who got all huffy can go swing (the same jobsworth who complained at us later for washing our bikes and getting his precious WET & OUTDOOR floor wet).

If that's a bookable offence and we can't get it (the banner...) up then perhaps we should just meet outside the visitor centre (look out for the group of shy-looking funsters, all ready to get lost!)

Glad your relationship is status is all defined and explicit, MB, thouh perhaps, if you want it to go further, don't mention that you're even considering heading into the woods on a singletons' ride... 😉

bananaworld - didn't realise there was a second ticking off! Bet they loved us then.

Alternative is to choose a couple of trees in the car park, I can put a little ladder in the car. Just need some 29er blokes to assist so you will do nicely! And, Mark, you gotta come 😉

Your mates are just taking the piss Mark, that's what they're for.

LOL

Nah they're not, that's the worrying thing!

if you want it to go further, don't mention that you're even considering heading into the woods on a singletons' ride

Haha. Honestly, don't think she'd care! She'd guess it was 95% blokes anyway... Besides I've already told her most Sundays I go out on my bike... She's probably more likely to either laugh, or ask me to take a video camera with me, than be bothered about it!

Mark, you gotta come

Will do my utmost. More than anything though, this is totally dependent on me being successfully employed by this time... I'm working on the basis that leaving the house costs money (which is something I don't have right now!), so I'm not leaving the house very much at the moment! Certainly not in my car if I don't have to... 4 weeks time til this ride though, hopefully will have something sorted by then...

What do people think about wearing a sticky label with their name and forum name on? Would not be compulsory obviously!

So, is singletrackmind (Rob) planning to attend?
I'm always single when I'm out on my bike. Does that count? 😉

This thread is useless without pics!

[i]What do people think about wearing a sticky label with their name and forum name on[/i]

permanent marker on the forehead would be better and stop people putting other names, i mean what if 23 simonbarnes turned up?

There will be no pics taken on this ride!! Sorry!!

The invite is extended to all single STW folk from all over the country. Simon would have to leave his camera behind 😉

YGM

There are indeed 2 Simon Barnes on this forum, so they could both easily turn up.

Not keen on the name tag thing, sorry. Surely you can just ask?

i found out on friday i will be officially single 6 weeks after the 10th of march, can you postpone until then?

Rich, won't be compulsory. Honest!!

I won't make anyone do anything against their will 😉

rocketdog - divorce or something?

I am looking foward to this ride but please, no name tags - feels slightly contrived.

Slight thread hijack. On the subject of other southern rides, I don't want to commit to leading a Herts-based ride as, if I like Surrey, I will probably stay there. Fed up of riding alone in Herts!

😉

don't think i can make it to this ride for various reasons (but "not being single" is sadly not one of them!)...

permanent marker on the forehead

Why stop there? With a sowing needle and a little ink we can all have EXCLUSIVE STW tatoos!

And why no photos...? Boo hoo, every ride should have a group photo! 😀

More seriously: anybody fancy heading to Swinley this Sunday (17th) for a spot of getting lost? There was a race on nearby but it's been postponed because of the weather and I'd got meself all psyched up to ride (slowly, in the 'Fun' category). Well, I say let's go against their wise wisdom and head to the woods anyway! What's the worst that can happen...?

Well, if I lived nearer I'd 'crash' the ride as it sounds like it's going to be such fun! I'm not single but can remember what it's like.

Remember, feel the fear and do it anyway! All the hesitant riders out there, just go along, it's sounds like a great big hug.

And, yes, we want a group photo!

well the main reason i won't be going is that it's not that local; not sure that it's worth the solo drive from manchester on the off-chance that some of you might not think i'm a ****t!

Hey, I'm quite sure noone would think that of you xherb, if you fancy a northern branch of the 'youngish and free riders' then I could sort something out, I know a few eligible souls.

[img] ?w=300&h=225[/img]

I suggest a candle on the dash of the vans/cars so you all know which riders are concerned by this thread.

Yes Dez, I prolly will be going,as Single(for longer than i care to remember)trackmind i see this as a winter training ride for our SDW effort in May. You wanna lift? You can be photographer and 'sell' the piccys to various special interest magazines ( like STW ) to fund a few payments on your new motor.
As long as there isn't a clash in my hectic social diary between now and then , mind you i am off to Val D'tossere in a few weeks with my planks.

xherbivorex - would you like me to start up a thread asking about a Northern version? It would be nice to ride in the Peaks 🙂

bananaworld - I DETEST having my pic taken but am happy to take one of the rest of the group. Happy?

Singletrackmind - look forward to seeing you again!

Everyone else - if you want to wear a name badge - fine, if you don't - that's fine too. Anyone that's unsure about this? It's a ride with like-minded people. Give the morning session a go - you don't have to commit to a whole day.

New Year equals new attitude 8)

[i]You wanna lift? You can be photographer...[/i]

Not sure if that's allowed! But I promise riding (ahem) pics only 🙂

[i]i am off to Val D'tossere in a few weeks with my planks. [/i]

Lucky bugger.

OK Dez, you're allowed. Usual rules apply - none of me thank you and I get to approve 🙄

Must try and persuade RudeBoy to come, your shot from last January was so funny 🙂

OK, message received loud and clear about name badges. Will bring stickly labels along anyway [s]and of course it would help me very much cos I'm old and forget names[/s]

my name is on my bike

Wish I'd seen this earlier. Would have been good to attend. But have signed up for a DH day at Rogate with the guys and gals from Muddy Moles.

ecky thump, anyone would think this was a come to get engaged to a stranger ride? someone wants to start a NSA swingers ride thread!

I would like to come but can only offer go between services, so happy to relay messages from either sex, "my mate fancies you" and the like.

I can supply a van for the banner:

[img] [/img]

will be coming in from the west on M4, so where is the banner?