Disconnect your brakes first, and make an attempt on JoeFM’s stack of KoM’s. Film it so we can see how you get round the labyrinth rooty hairpins ‘flat out’.
Hey, I never claimed to be fast.. 😉 Anyone who I've ridden with would testify to that..
I never claimed to be fast
There's your answer - go faster (flat out, no brakes is the recommendation), and you'll be transported into the magical world of funswinley* 😉
Kind of like BTTF, but with bikes.
* or the A&E dept of Frimley Park
Sounds like it could have been joefm, except he seemed like he was enjoying himself...
...and was riding a bike. 😉
Brilliant thread now.... 🙂
Film it so we can see how you get round the labyrinth rooty hairpins ‘flat out’.
I have been thinking about trying some sports photography so would be happy to help.
I’d drive 80 minutes for a sexy party .
I just spent a great morning over there today. Blue/Red/crowthorne Woods/Barosa/Red/Blue
loved it, didn’t set the world on fire, only met two other bikes.
I’m 55, get out now and again and live 30mins away so it’s perfect for me.
Just saying 🙂
It's one of the few trail centres I've been to I really liked all the big swoopy bomb hole type bits, as it's so manicured you pick up speed very quickly. I liked this bit where there are 3 downhill trails starting from one point, what's that called? I think my problem with it comparing it to Cannock Chase is the Swinley tries to hard to make a trail rather than following the flow of the land, Cannock was also a lot more beaten up with breaking bumps you could launch off. The good bits at Swinley with the big berms are good fun though and like anywhere a couple of mates are going to have a laugh.
What are these Welsh trail centres like? I presume more rocky than manicured?
I love it when people say they hate Swinley;stay away then,we don’t need you.
The ‘old’ Swinley was amazing but then people pissed and moaned that they could never find a route without a local.
Then they built some trails.
‘Can do everything there on a single speed hardtail road bike etc etc ‘ well then go for it, have a crap day.
Can’t win.
I love it there, and would happily show someone from anywhere in the world around the trails. Especially a mate.
I remember when you could ride the ancient fort that we are not allowed to ride on now,(showing my age ) edit again, nobody knew it was an ancient fort until was discovered by people in the know)
We make the best of Swinley and I’m bloody glad it’s on my doorstep.
I like Swinley purely for the fact that it's one of the few places in the South East which is still ridable in the depths of winter. Any non-trail centre riding near me is just a complete mudfest with extra slippery chalk/flint.
It's the same reason I'll be riding Bedgebury and other places this winter. Not sure how Surrey hills rides when it's wet but I'll probably look to do a guided day there just so I don't spent 5 hours lost...
To be honest, i live less than half a mile from the entrance to swinley, but since learning my way around peaslake etc i have probably ridden there twice in about 4 years? Personally i think the man made surface isnt great in the dry, and in the wet it seems to reduce your drivetrain to dust in about 5 miles.
i dont buy the whole "you arent riding fast enough" arguement either, trails dont need to be fast to be fun, they just need to be fun. though i do see the appeal to families or groups where people may have slightly less experience, due to the easily mapped out trails etc.
I just spent a great morning over there today. Blue/Red/crowthorne Woods/Barosa/Red/Blue
loved it, didn’t set the world on fire, only met two other bikes.
I’m 55, get out now and again and live 30mins away so it’s perfect for me.
Yeah if you get there mid week or really early or evenings it can be very pleasant. It's also a good place when it's chucking it down.
Otherwise it's usually packed.... often with riders going so slowly you'll need brakes on the uphills as well. (Especially when they suddenly stop). Quite often the density of beginners is so high you wait until they are far enough ahead to let you have a good run to where you calculate you'll be able to pass then a new group appears and goes in front of you...or you have to go early and catch the ones in front then have to crawl behind.
(When I say crawl I am usually with my lad...)
OR you can look for some off-piste... but no-one will tell you where it is so you potentially spend most of the time looking for it, if the OP's mate knows then it would be OK but if not then weekends it's like often the M25.
i dont buy the whole “you arent riding fast enough” arguement either, trails dont need to be fast to be fun, they just need to be fun.
What you said is true, BUT that doesn't change the fact that Swinley is much more fun (and technical) the faster you go.
What are these Welsh trail centres like? I presume more rocky than manicured?
Cwmcarn yes, Afan not so much, Llandegla and Brechfa definitely not.
Anyway the OP is going to have to go to Swinley now just to see for himself, I think 🙂
How about another STW Swinley meet up? I always get lost so good to have a local lead the way, especially the off-piste stuff.
Fast doesn't make Swinley cobbles more fun. It's just masochistic.
Has it's charms though, but I date back to pre-gingerfication when the majority of my route would involve soft, some loam and a few roots. In fact if I go there these days... it still does 😉
Of the full official blue/red, I think I've only done it three or four times since it opened.
Swinley has a love-hate element for me as that's where I started properly off-roading and do thank it for getting me in to riding, and does have fun bits. Rode there for couple of years and then was introduced to Surrey Hills and then different game entirely. Realised also that climbing fitness was going nowhere round Swinley. Came on loads climbing the hills of Surrey. Tunnel Hill, Caesars and other places also take far higher precedence than going to Swinley. Even xc-ing round Frensham/Farnham/Puttenham. In fact I prefer that kind of thing and exploring to trail centres these days anyway.
As a Bird owner I can't entirely hate Swinley given the "Born in Swinley" sticker on it 😀 (though being a Zero, it's rough as hell on the cobbles there ).
How about another STW Swinley meet up?
Last one was arranged by Weeksy, who didn't turn up. It rained, I died, etc. But I'd be up for another one! 😀
I'd be up for one. Never managed to wake up in time for the last few
The hub do a Thursday night ride.
It starts at 7pm though, so I have never managed to pull my finger out and get there in time...
Couldn't make it to the last one, but the STW Swinley Snowduro edition back in March was fun. I'd be game for another group ride.
The snow was pretty good fun and the route was great. I really haven'y been out much lately so will be hanging on at the back if we arrange something. Still would like to do another though.
It starts at 7pm though
That would kind of exclude the 2 hours there and back folk... 😉
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deadkenny
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<div class="bbp-reply-content">Has it’s charms though, but I date back to pre-gingerfication when the majority of my route would involve soft, some loam and a few roots. In fact if I go there these days… it still does
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Gingercist!
Forgot about the 'black bit' in the trees. So that's two/three braking points?
None of the ginger surfaced track needs any thought whatsoever.
I did turn up to the one before that in the snow though 🙂
I'm more than happy to arrange another. See incoming thread in 2.
Yo! 😀
(Can you entitle it "The Swinley is Boring Meetup" please)
Forgot about the ‘black bit’ in the trees. So that’s two/three braking points?
None of the ginger surfaced track needs any thought whatsoever.
You should come along if weeksy organises a group ride, bring protection though we don't all want to get pregnant being in the same space as your awesomeness.
(Can you entitle it “The Swinley is Boring Meetup” please)
Needs more alliteration
None of the ginger surfaced track needs any thought whatsoever.
Well given that it's killed at least one person, I would disagree.
It's what you make it. If you trundle it's rubbish. If you're fit and fast it's good.
If you’re fit and fast it’s good.
No, it's still rubbish. 🙂
would rather stay in bed than ride Swinley. been a few times as I thought I'd give it the benefit of the doubt first time round.......nope it was still as dull.
Fine if it's on your door step I guess but wouldn't travel any distance for it.
It’s what you make it. If you trundle it’s rubbish. If you’re fit and fast it’s good.
But if your totes amazeballs boom gnarly sick to the power of rad then it's just a waste of your tyre rubber. Just ask Joe
Thread revival - further thoughts on Swinley, as the first (and only) time I rode there before today was a year ago when I didn't even have my own bike and had only just started getting back into MTB. Now that I've ridden a few more trails, both trail centres and decently built trails in woods, I've got a more rounded opinion. First some pics:
Oct 28th, 2017, on a hire Marin budgetcoilnodropperhardtail:
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And today, on my own Vitus Escarpe:
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For me, Swinley is a 1hr 15min drive, is it worth it? After today, no.
I did the whole blue, red, then blue - I know there's off-piste but I'm not into jumping and this is a review of the main trails. The surface causes half the issues there, most of the blue route really needs resurfacing, and not with the cobblestone stuff. It saps momentum at every opportunity, there's holes everywhere and it's not going to get any better as the sand washes away and leave the cobbles behind. The blue route has potential to be a decent flow trail, but you can't keep up any flow unless you like your HR at 170-180+ all the time, which for me just isn't fun. Make it more open and flow better with the ability to get some speed, and with a smooth surface, and it would be soooo much better.
Aside from the surface, it seems like there's been a requirement to get as much trail as physically possible with not much thought for flow or rhythm. There's a few sections where it's a climb, that's fine. Then 20m later it's a sharp descent for 10m, then a sharp climb, and repeat over and over. Or sections where off to the right is a really nice vally, you think 'oh, here we go...' only to find the trail goes downhill for all of 30m, then back up, then down a bit more, and finally a 20m short descent, and you end up popping out onto the fire road halfway up the valley. Much elevation, little use. Now, I get there's not much elevation, but it's not been used effectively. The amount of pedalling required is just so OTT as well, you could probably make half the red trail into new blue sections and leave the red with the proper climbs and descents.
I know they've recently re-built the babymaker trail and tabletop, but not all of us are into breaking arms/legs/jaws/collarbones... 😀 And the 'new' drops (can't remember which section they're on) aren't great, you cant get much speed up and they have the lip on them which bucks you upwards.
My local trail centre is Bedgebury, and I can now confirm it's better than Swinley. No momentum and energy sapping surface, the same elevation gain for a few less miles, and half the time to complete it (I can do Bedgebury in under an hour) and although it's not exactly mountainous there's a handful of really good sections which are fun and worth repeating. Swinley has maybe 2 sections on the red, and the 'final' descent on the blue which are good fun.
I'd rather pay the yearly membership to Bedgebury, it's a 40 mile round trip vs 120 and 45 minutes away, I'll use there as my winter trail centre knowing that it can be ridden in all weathers.
So yeah, sorry about the thread revival - but unless it's for a group ride I don't see myself going back to Swinley any time soon. That's my thoughts now I've actually got some experience as a mountain biker. On a plus, the parking is cheap! 😀
Interesting! I rode there for the first time in 6 years yesterday and had a great time!
I used to ride there every week (10 years ago). I fell out of regular riding when the first two kids came along, then they terraformed it and I found it had lost its magic - then the third kid came along and it was game over! I stuck to only night rides in the Surrey Hills for the last few years - I like the open spaces and generally more natural trails.
However, with a day off yesterday and a morning free to ride I thought I’d give Swinley a go for old times sake. It makes me realise how important it is to have some variety in your riding. I can ride up and down Box and Leith hills all day - but actually felt more tired than I have for ages at Swinley (probably for the reasons you outlined above). It showed me how unused to constant pedalling I am - and I had to think a bit to clear some of the features, (made a right meal of the Labrynth too).
So, I think there is definitely a place for it - maybe not at the weekend though - I suspect I would spend more time letting people past me than riding!
P.S. those ‘new’ drops (the only really big ones) were too much for me! I was glad to take the ‘diversion’.
P.P.S. It sounded like my rear suspension was bottoming out by the end of the ride - which would be fine - if I had rear suspension...
If the flatter sections had more flow and a better surface it would be so much better, you only have to look at places like Leeds urban bike park:
Or the new QECP Blue section:
to see how a great blue route can be. You don't need much evelation change, just a bit along with some well places berms/rollers and a nice smooth surface.
Granted, Swinley is good for improving fitness, this was my HR data for the ride today:
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Average of 169 and that was only because of the few rests I needed to get the HR down a bit! It would have been mid-170's average if I had no rests!
The drops are OK, I'm fine with drops of a couple of foot so long as they're well designed. The ones at bedgebury are the same, short run up and lip pointing upwards which is the last thing you want when you're going slow!
Couple of foot? Those drops are at least a couple of meters! In fact - the longer I looked at them - the bigger they got - might have been 5 meters by the time I carried on down the trail 😉
On a plus note - I found I can still roll all of babymaker without fear of leaving the ground (and there were no teenagers s****ing at me this time - I guess they all grew up and had to get jobs by now.
Tank traps confused me - I’m sure there used to be a forest there - looks like the surface of the moon now!
Looking at those stats did you take a bike or run round?
Looking at those stats did you take a bike or run round?
I'll admit I'm not the fittest of people, but yeah the average speed is slow, mainly due to a lack of anything resembling momentum through the cobblestone puddle and pothole-fest that is most of the blue and red route! :p
It can be draggy, esp given how moist it’s been but are you really complaining about potholes, riding a full suss bike with big knobblies off road?
Yes, because I love a bit of 'gnar' - roots/rocks etc that can be taken at a bit of speed, or technical sections. But this is neither - it's (mainly) the blue route on which the surface has broken down, and that combined with the cobbles make what should be a smooth, flowy trail into a slow, boring, hard work, mess.
Just to add, these are my thoughts and obviously some people love it there - but for me, as I have another all weather trail centre that's got a better surface, just as much descending/climbing but in a shorter distance, and is closer, Swinley loses to it. Bedgebury is pretty far from the pinnacle of MTB trails, and some people will hate it, but it's the best (only!) place guaranteed to be ridable through winter here, as any 'natural' trails just turn to a flint, chalky, muddy mess. (Still yet to see how Surrey Hills rides after days of rain). It's a shame the parking/annual cost is so high, but it's only 18 miles away so vs swinley at £25 per visit (fuel + £2 parking) the annual £87 membership with use of the bike wash isn't so bad. Go 8 times per year and it's cheaper than Swinley.
Swinley is chattery by the standards of some trail centers, but its not that bad, I'm quite happy on a rigid bike. They're limited to the ginger cobbles as the material has to come from within the forest and the whole area is made of that alluvial sand/pebbles.
Rode GT last month and even that's no longer quite the big bmx track it once was.
As always, if you find Stickler boring, try riding it at ten tenths.
It's not worth £25, where are you driving from South Wales?!
The surface is fine when it's new, the newish blue last downhill section is great, one of the best bits IMO - likewise red 25, those are great. It's the flat sections where the water has nowhere to go where the surface has gone to crap.
Stickler, that's the last but one red section, right? Before you go down the fire road to 'tank traps'? If so, I just kept thinking 'when does it end?!?!?!' on that section. My fitness is not good enough to ride that at five tenths, let alone 10.
Ha, not south Wales, why the hell would I drive to Swinley if I lived in south wales!? 😛
Maidstone, Kent. 60ish miles down the M20/M25/M3, so 120 mile round trip which for me at 30mpg (3.0l AWD car) is £23, plus the £2 parking.
The blue route has potential to be a decent flow trail, but you can’t keep up any flow unless you like your HR at 170-180+ all the time
I'd agree with that. As I said earlier, it gets better the faster you ride it, and the converse is also true - ridden slowiy the blue at least isn't great. But I actually enjoy how hard it is to keep flow, because it makes for a great physical workout. A bit like lifting heavy weights off the ground - it's hard, but satisfying.
I rode it a lot on a rigid bike a couple of years ago, and yes it was rough - but I started to learn all the lines for the bad bits so I didn't have to slow down. Of course, we all have different skill and speed levels and we are free to like or hate any trail, all our subjective opinions are valid. Mostly though I take exception to the people who consider themselves good riders but say Swinley is too easy to be fun 🙂
My fitness is not good enough to ride that at five tenths, let alone 10.
Stickler is designed to be ridden fast, and test your pumping/ berm riding skills and to get as much trail as possible into the small space they are allowed to build on.
I have the same issue as you, I can do some of it properly, but usually I’m blowing out my arse by the shortcut and take a rest.
Stickler, that’s the last but one red section, right? Before you go down the fire road to ‘tank traps’
Stickler is one of the last blue trails, pancake flat with lots of berms and a bridge, fun fast but dull bimbled.
I think I know the red trail you mean and I don’t like it either, short annoying climb at the start.
I ride there a lot but Its usually on my way home from work, so as you say it’s a cracking workout. A few repeats of the trails around Clubhouse, (Labyrinth, Deerstalker etc) a couple of runs on Red 15, absolutely none of the off piste near it obviously and you can cut out the bits you don’t like to save the legs a bit.
I usually include the bits I’m not keen on for the excercise as it’s still better than being on the road
Ahh, yes - blue 10. There's a point where the trails converge and you can go sharp right which cuts out a fair bit of the trail, that's where I ended up going today. That was one of the sections, I seem to remember, that wasn't holding up too well under the water.
