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There’s a meeting tonight, get yourself along.
I'm going riding somewhere else, I find it solves most of my Swinley related problems.
CE revives no income from Bikes...
Serious question, who gets all the money from the parking?
I was always perfectly happy to pay to ride when it was by permit (day or annual). I'd be happy to do so again, if it meant we see some adoption, (sympathetic) maintenance and development of the trail network.
Quite fancy making this with my kid, but no way we could get there for 9… (he’s a teenager, you see). 10 probably, at a push!
Is it all arranged for 9
Up to now there's only potentially 2 of us who have said "yes"... The rest.. have replied but are not confirmed as such.
Cheers weeksy, will check back tomorrow (if I can find the thread!)
any link or brief synopsis or a good overview of what’s available/facilities/parking/local tips etc?
Swinley Riders has most of the info you need regarding facilities, parking, etc
Swinley Bike Hub are the onsite bike shop/hire/etc place shoud you need anything
Local tips - If you are planning to visit at weekends in the morning, you really need to be there before 10am or you'll struggle to park, afternoons aren't quite so bad. Alternatively park over the road at Coral Reef. There are more unofficial trails to enjoy both inside and adjacent to the park if you know where to go. Best bet is to get a local to show you round.
If we are meeting for 9am, I could come. Depends how much we mince around blue-red-blue, as I've got lunch time commitments.
(I can bring the bike bag too, if that's convenient Weeksy)
Cheers Akers.
Ahh, love to but totally man-flued up at present and just about got the energy to type let alone propel a bike! 😉
(they)now want to bring Babymaker and Axle Run up
to spec which even without jumps if you messed up on the official trail (Deerstalker) you’d hit a tree and be in trouble...
See Here for prime example(I have no idea how embed video in here!)
Car park is owned and run by the council and that’s where the money goes (apparently)
Swinley Trees are actually Ents, I’ve had a few frisky ones suddenly move onto my line.
Lets stick with 9am then guys... I'll be starting on the Whyte T-130SX in sky blue and be by the satellite dish thing just in front of main entrance.
It looks like it should be a dry morning, though the trails won't be. Best wrap up warm, BBC forecast is 1 to 2 deg C but with windchill it'll feel nearer -3 to -4. Brrrrrr-acing!
Looking forward to it though 🙂
I'm all good with that... Wrapping up warm is easy, being wet isn't nice from rain.
I think I’m meeting an old friend up at peaslake so probably out of this one. Will let you know if plan changes otherwise, but up for Swinley another time If not.
Debating whether i should take a rest day today... Don't want to have peaked before the big event !
If you're now tapering I'm starting to worry. As this is my first STW meetup ride, have I entered an unofficial race that I don't know about!?!
Is this a "First rule of Fight Club..." moment! 😉
LOL i was kidding mate 🙂 I've got the Pilgrims of Zwift ride in 30 mins... Although, trust me when i tell you... I'm not fast, not in anyones world or imagination.
Was up there y’day and things have improved from the big thaw 10 days ago when the main trails were getting a right hammering esp the newly refurbished sections. It’s still wet though. A lot of the off piste stuff could do with being left alone to recover a bit, but the runs off section 20 are still fine.
Might be up for this. Can I just ask what sort of bikes people will ride? Don’t want to be underbiked.
Cheers.
It's Swinley, a hardtail is fine, actually a singlespeed is fine. HTH.
If I turn up (50/50, I need to finish some decorating tonight to earn my pass) I'll be on a rigid single speed fat bike, you can never be underbiked at Swinley it just makes the odd bit a little harder!
Can I just ask what sort of bikes people will ride? Don’t want to be underbiked.
Unless you turn up on a Road bike, you'll be okay or overbiked 🙂
Sadly can't make this anymore. Car shopping has been pushed forward 🙁
Can we do another when the weathers nicer?
Enjoy all!
Even though I'm not committed yet do we have a plan?
Say meet at the big listening tubes in front on the Lookout @ 9am
or are we just going to ride around looking for portly middle aged men driving Audi's and unloading Niche single speed bikes with bizarre handlebars?
or are we just going to ride around looking for portly middle aged men driving Audi’s and unloading Niche single speed bikes with bizarre handlebars?
I don't drive an Audi.
Weeksy Said
Lets stick with 9am then guys… I’ll be starting on the Whyte T-130SX in sky blue and be by the satellite dish thing just in front of main entrance.
this seems to be the planned meeting point...
T-130 for me.
Meeting at the dish things 9am.
I'm in.. green Chameleon.. will be happy to ride at the back to make everyone else look good (cough)..
Singlespeed Unicycle with Alt bars will be on the roof of my Quattro All Road S
Permission granted, see you at 9
Sounds like a variety of bikes. Threat of snow so it will have to be the fat bike and it’s the only one ready. Apologies. Will try to make it for 9.
No one needs to apologise for any bike, it's all just blokes on bikes messing about.
I'm looking forward to it. Just stuck some air in tyres as it's not moved since NYD, bit of a check, put seat post on charge, will scoot in and lube chain etc. All good
Oh.
Went to lube chain. My cranks don't move lol. Not a problem, bottom bracket dead. 2 min swap.
Oh. My tool doesn't fit! The swingarm is in the way on one side!
I'll be on the Parkwood!
Didn't know Whytes had press fit... 😉
Lol HT2 race Face. Last time I used it, it was a mud bath at Swinley, it seems to have died after that.
Bought this.
Parole applications filed in triplicate, good behaviour delivered along with copious amounts of tea, and permission has been obtained.
I'll be there at 9.
portly 30something man cheapskateing and riding in from muzzys kebab van on a niche single speed bike with bizarre handlebars?
There is still a chance I'll be there as my other riding buddy may not be able to make our planned ride now. If so I'm the one in the bright orange helmet riding a mint coloured filing cabinet.
I'm not allowed to cycle at the moment but mrs Kilo will be there, not fast but slow and steady, like a diesel or the first generation of terminators
Excellent mate. Well, excellent for her, not for you.
My peaslake ride is still happening so won't be there. Have a good one.
I might be around later but with chatterbox in tow.
I literally just landed at Heathrow.... and have another flight tomorrow morning so I have some unpacking/packing stuff to do... but at least the bikes should be ready to go. If not for work we'd have been @FOD tomorrow 🙁
We could also end up at Peaselake but I'll drop Weeksy a text if we are at Swinley and perhaps just say hello at a trailhead or something if it works out.
Good ride? Sloppy as plop out. Running late as usual so did not get out till about 10 (headset bearing seized so had to do a quick swap out). Tried to look out for you guys (based on bike descriptions!) but no joy. If you saw someone on a mint blue 29 plus looking cold wet hungry and angry that was me 🙂 hopefully meet up next time. Always up for a social ride (or a fast xc burn).
Good ride, hell yeah 🙂 Was absolutely ace !
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/801/39964722355_d8d1d8498e_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/801/39964722355_d8d1d8498e_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/23TxDBa ]2018-03-17_01-44-33[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/40150105194_3d1e3b31d0_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/40150105194_3d1e3b31d0_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/24aVMt1 ]2018-03-17_01-44-23[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Sure, some of the trails were a sloppy mess.. But overall they were running really well. Was brilliant to meet up with the forum guys. Apologies to Frogstomp for not recalling meeting previously. Tiger is as per his name, a bit of a beast ! He's got some power in them legs that boy that's for sure !
Mrs Kilo is my new man-crush... She's awesome beyond words. Never heard anyone enjoying trails so much with her screams and whoops. The courage to attack things that would normally see people bail on.. Awesome... Top riding.
I'm very unconvinced by the Fat-bike thing, esepecially the SS version, that just seemed hard work for no real gain (Sorry mate)
Couldn't have been a more STW meet 🙂 Singlespeed On-one Fatty with weird bars, another Fat thing, Santa Cruz Chamelon, how about a Yeti.... an On-one, sure, we'll have another of them too 🙂 Not sure what we needed to make it more STW, maybe a Cotic and a Bird just to top it all off.
Lessons i learned today...
1. I much prefer my Whyte on Swinley. Sure, you can ride it all on a HT, hell, you can ride it on a rigid... Doesn't mean i want to !
2. Non-lockon grips do NOT work in the wet .. I think i pulled the grip off the bar 10 times and it was seriously affecting both my speed/comittment in just about every trail afterwards 🙁
3. My DH/Skills are not up to my XC/pedalling. That's where it seem i need to focus my attention if i want to get quicker, couple of times i got caught on a descent on the blue and i don't think it was just down to my grip issues, simply, the guy behind was a quicker rider on the way down... This saddens me a bit in honesty.
Thanks to all for turning up gang, exceptional !
Good ride everyone! Nice to meet you all.
By the time I rode back to the car at Ligh****er, I'd lost several gears. Thought it was slipped cables but turns out all the mud round the derailleurs (and the rest of the bike) had frozen solid.
If anyone wants a GPX of the route let me me know.
Cheers,
Akers (Nick) - Black Yeti, Orange Montaro. 😊
Some footy-grophs (shout if you don't like and I can delete, sorry forgot to ask)
Really enjoyed that, thanks for sorting 🙂
'Duuuuuuroo!!!
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I’m very unconvinced by the Fat-bike thing, esepecially the SS version, that just seemed hard work for no real gain (Sorry mate)
It was bloody hard work today. It doesn't really do so well on the constant bumps of swinley and the single speed is just a self inflicted masochism layered on top of unfitness.
On the other hand, it's in the shed and won't be needing any washing or maintenance, or after the next ride, or the next, or the next 🙂
My DH/Skills are not up to my XC/pedalling. That’s where it seem i need to focus my attention if i want to get quicker, couple of times i got caught on a descent on the blue
Downside of zwift, although I could have done with some more in my legs on the climbs!