😆
Muke - of course, you will be more than welcome. I'll be leading the sick, lame and lazy ... and Marin riders in case they get picked on 😉
Rudeboy - you ain't riding in my posse! Nah, I'm not in the cool gang anymore ... unless that's where the knitting circle hang out!
Dez - we need to have a chat beforehand 😉 See me before we start, I'll let you have a copy of the route and the chances are you will know most of it anyway. My bike loves being photographed ... it's just the old girl that's on it that doesn't!
[i]chances are you will know most of it anyway[/i]
Now that's funny! I get lost going home from work most days 😀
it's your age dezb 😉
CG - I still havn't brought my Permit online yet. Can you confirm what time the permit office opens on Saturday morning please? If we are meeting at 10am to ride for 10.30am there should be time for me to buy it in the morning before we start?
Matt
It opens at 10 so you've got time.
Hi cinnamon_girl really looking forward to Saturday.Any confirmed numbers yet...especially in the very very slow group that I will be in?
mrseight - haven't a clue how many will turn up, you can never tell with these things! Don't worry, Auntie C_G will take care of the sick, lame, lazy and Marin riders group - I know where I'm going and it definitely won't be quickly 😀
[b]ON TOPIC - PLEASE READ[/b]
Permit - buy online and save time otherwise Visitor Centre (with loos) opens at 10.00am, as does Cafe where you will be able to get hot drinks to take out. There are no car parking charges, hurrah.
Don't forget to collect your discount voucher from me, I'll be wearing a ghastly green STW jersey on top of loads of layers!
We will definitely be riding in groups from the start so you need to think about which category you fall into - either fast, strong intermediate (2 groups), intermediate and erm, sick, lame, lazy and Marin riders led by me.
This will mean that people will stay warm and not have too much hanging around. Each group leader will be using their expert trail knowledge to put together a challenging and enjoyable route.
We will aim to be back at the Cafe at around 1.00 pm where hot food and drinks can be purchased together with massive slices of cake. We will need to sit outside so either pack a warm top in your backpack or retrieve one from your car.
More riding after lunch for those who want even more fun. If you wish to change group after lunch you can of course do so.
Current trail conditions - most of the white stuff has now disappeared but the trails are running really well and fast. Ground is still hard so you won't need full-on mud tyres.
What bike for Swinley? All welcome especially niche! A lot of people use a singlespeed, some use 29ers etc. There are hills but they tend to be small and short, a few roots, some aggregated trails - a mixture really.
Phew! Have I covered everything? If I haven't, just post up 8)
Dear Aunties CG and Aleigh:
I'm sorry, I'm going to have to wimp out. Something has come up. I was really looking forward to meeting you all (well, some of you) again. Later in the year, I hope.
Moses
Oh, that'a s shame Moses cos I know you like Swinley.
Not sure if Aleigh would like being referred to as Auntie 😉
Auntie indeed! Tsk 🙄
Metcheck are forecasting 2 degrees, some sunshine and a southerly breeze. Sounds good to me, just glad to see the back of that easterly wind!
Any questions, just post up or send me an e-mail, address in profile.
Can't wait til tomorrow and looking forward to meeting everyone. It's going to be such a fun day 😀
I am SOOOOO excited! I'll be able to lean out of the window of the van, swear at cyclists, and make lewd and suggestive comments to young ladies passing by. Better get me copy of the Sun, then...
Can I just confirm where we are meeting? Is it at the Look Out car park, and is there only one? I haven't been before.
r6ymy, yes the Lookout Carpark, there is only one, entrance is pretty much directly opposite the entrance to the Coral Reef/Tennis Courts at the top of nile mile ride.
Ian
r6ymy - There will be the standard issue Big Bike Bash staff car parked somewhere obvious.
[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=yuf9wf&outx=800&quality=70 [/img]
I can't make it tomorrow but have been out in Swinley this morning - pretty much everything is frozen solid so it's more like riding on rippled concrete. It's fast too, but wear something warm!
WCA, what a cheap car. Could you not afford a decent one? Shame...
at least he's got one 😉
😯
Ooh, nasty...
I'll just nick yours.
yeah yeah
Cheap and decent. Apparently the market for large 6 litre V12 Coupes is a bit depressed at the moment. Somebody has lost over 90K in depreciation in just 45K miles!
Great time to buy some propper heavy metal.
There have been so many posts on this thread either 1 of two things is going to happen. Either nobody is going to turn up or everyone which would be worse as there would be one hell of a tail-back on the trails. Good luck, I will be avoiding Swinley like the plague on Saturday, no offence:p
Pretty much everything is frozen solid so it's more like riding on rippled concrete...
Oh good.
Ive just dusted off the bike, all seems good, sit on, rear shock compresses a lot, mmm maybe more weight gain than I thought, get off, shock stays down. I forgot that RP3s don't like cold weather. Plan B then dig out the Orange hardtail....My name is Muke and tommorow I shall mainly be standing up.
Looking forward to tommorow, maybe we need a roll call to see how many people are going and how many actually turn up ?
Need a lift as I'm currently car-less and we're not sure if the Ipswich contingent are fit enough after the great Christmas cold/flu experience. (Lift dependent on rest of party being fit!)
fauxX4 - i am guessing about the same number of people will turn up at Swinley as on a normal Saturday but there will be a lot more chatting and faffing and cakes. Then groups of riders will head off rather than one great big group.
C_G is an intellegent woman (is that an oxymoron? ;-)) and won't arrange a disaster.
[i]I will be avoiding Swinley like the plague on Saturday, no offence:p [/i]
no offence taken but you'll be missing one hell of a laugh! 😆
[i]C_G won't organise a disaster[/i]
I had forgotton aleigh was involved. Better bring extra sloe gin
😉
wca, just so you know i will need 3 litres for my camelbak 😆
Really wish I could join you all and put faces to names! Have a great time and where can we see the pictures?
Is Rudeboy still invited? He hasnt been temporarily banned from this ride by the mods has he?
I for one support Rudeboy all the way and look forward to meeting the guy. If he is as amusing in the flesh as he is in his post we will get on like a house on fire.
Go Rudeboy...
Matt
Plus obviously watching Aleigh consume 3 litres of sloe gin and ride afterwards would be pretty entertaining!
300 posts! Congrats!
Aleigh; won't Lambrini be more your thing?
(Reminder to self: wear full body armour and stab-vest, and stay out of range of Aleigh, tomorrow...)
'Nothings gonna change my love for you..'
bikey- really appreciate that, thanks. I think the 'transgression' has all been sorted out, now, thank God! BTW, I'm not as tall, in real life...
I'm just looking forward to meeting old faces, and new ones, and having a good time. As for the riding, well, I think the social aspect is more important to me, tbh, but Swinley is loads of fun, so I'm sure it will be a blast.
Will come over to say hi, but will probably ride "Hors du groupe" if that's OK. See you after for cake though.
[i]Plus obviously watching Aleigh consume 3 litres of sloe gin and ride afterwards would be pretty entertaining! [/i]
Who said anything about me drinking it after? I'll be drinking it whilst riding! 😆
Lambrini is for wimps rudeboy - something you'd know about ay? 😉
Oh and you'll need more than body armour if you even hesitate in playing that song near me!
CG has said there will be 5 groups in different parts of the forest BTW 🙂
not yet!
Pics will (hopefully!) be on my Fotopic site, soon as I'm physically able.
I'll individually email everyone who turns up with the link 😉
Perhaps you could post the link on here as well?
What a silly suggestion!
fauxbyfour - actually I have been rather offended, being a sensitive soul 😳
There won't be any significant tailbacks on the trails cos I don't envisage any sensible folk being out tomorrow. We have so many trails at Swinley to choose from, they're not just in the one area you know! Come and join us!
As you can see WCA has paid me a massive compliment and has total confidence. Thanks WCA!!
Rudeboy - you better stay outta my way tomorrow, I don't want any more dribbles on my new girlie 😉 Will you be on the ss?
Aleigh will deffo be entertaining us tomorrow, how strong is this stuff WCA?
nickc - you could always join a group for either a morning or afternoon session?
Look forward to meeting everyone!
Everyone else - do come over and say "hi"
With this many people coming it will be like a dry run of the Big bike Bash, just without the beer festival, live music, camping and silly competitions.
Cinnamon_girl - have a great time tomorrow. Have you warned the cafe to bake extra cake?
Can't be there myself, so to everyone who's going, have fun.