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weeksy : then some sections sitting at the back with a guy who wasn’t quite on the pace…
I should be a bit fitter this time 😉
So if that’s the Drop of doom, is there a name for the drop I cleared out around 2000ish?
Around 6ft I think by the time you landed, there was a couple of smaller drops along the same bank and the start of the trail that was intersected by Red 15.
That pic of my kid on the "boring" thread - is that one of the drops of doom?
So if that’s the Drop of doom, is there a name for the drop I cleared out around 2000ish?
Around 6ft I think by the time you landed, there was a couple of smaller drops along the same bank and the start of the trail that was intersected by Red 15.
That’s the one to the left at the top of the wall. I think it’s still there. Always mean to see if that trail you mentioned still exists.
The new ‘drops of doom’ are the ones they put in on seagull as described above. Can’t say they are really doom worthy though and the tabletop after has very little in the way of a lip.
Drop at the start of the corkscrew ain’t bad either, just easy to overdo it and land to flat if you have too much speed.
@weeksy I’m asking about road shoes as I’m not sure if I’ll need to walk some bits? In which case I’d stand no chance in road shoes lol
Are you going molgrips? I might strangely be looking forward to meeting you, based on my perception via your STW personality of course, hopefully you won’t be a let down
Hehe. I'd love to meet you and everyone else, sounds like a laugh, however I can't really make it sadly given it's over a 2 hour drive.
@weeksy I’m asking about road shoes as I’m not sure if I’ll need to walk some bits? In which case I’d stand no chance in road shoes lol
I know mate, which was how i based my reply. I can't see you needing to walk anything..
There is that big hill behind the mountain that is a bit of a nasty one. I guess if you're wearing road shows you're quite spritley so won't be a problem. Just don't put your foot down in the boggy bits.
given it’s over a 2 hour drive
It's just not worth it! 😆
The kid has said he's up for it. So that's cool 🙂
can I be a maybe ?
My Saturday looks free but MrsPants is doing a 10k run and it's possible that I'm doing the driving/cheering (haven't had my briefing yet)
I'm really fast, mind - I don't want you lot turning out to be shit
I’m really fast, mind
even with 5psi in your tyres and your bar/stem bolts loose 😉 ?
Good luck with that - I expect the bolts are rusted solid and valves'll be jammed with dried up jizz. I'm invincible 😀
I’m asking about road shoes as I’m not sure if I’ll need to walk some bits? In which case I’d stand no chance in road shoes lol
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">I actually tried to ride Swinley in road shoes once, so I'm going to say no. Unless you've tried to ride of road in road shoes before and already know what you're letting yourself in for. The pedals don't work with even a smidgen of mud, the plastic wears away in a matter of miles when wet and gritty, they're surprisingly difficult to unclip from in a hurry, </span>
Road shoes + mtb cleats will be fine as long as you can get up the steep bits (Nothing at Swinley really deserves being called a hill, but the gradients are quite sharp!).
@nathb I could bring a spare set of flat pedals if you're comfortable using them.
Having not ridden it since last year in anger (until a poor showing on it at CX Racing at the weekend), I thought I had better blow the cobwebs off of the Spark today. She’s a beaut on the practically cobbled roads around here 😎
Rest week next week too, so might try and do my recovery rides on it.
Hope it’s not too muddy or I’ll be off at the first bend mind you 🤣
You want to borrow some wheels with more appropriate rubber fitted?
No ta!!! Nothing wrong with Ron’s round Swinley 😉
I'm sabotaging my ride with Tyre's too. I thought I may as well use the Mavic Pulses that came on the wheels. They were fine on dry Epping forest single track, I'm not so sure they will be on the metalled sections at Swinley
Lol you're aware there's no start or finish line boys?
There is- they’re called Strava segments 🤣
I’m easy prey though. A year of steady-state road training, 90kg and zero ‘gnar skills means no
STW-O-M’s for me 😫
LOL you'd be right on the pace if you were pushing on that's for sure. You've got power and skill, I've seen both first hand.
I'm just looking forward to the cake !.
Tsk.
Last time on an STW ride I joined the self proclaimed "Fast Group" and got bored. This time I suspect there's a few ringers coming alone.
Don't trust anyone who says they are fat and slow...
Well you are a pro-trained XC race whippet.... There'll be none of them antics next weekend
Certainly not from me and Jr. We just loik da jumpz.
Now you're making me really want to come for a bit of a challenge....
At this point out im fat, slow, mediocre and am in my off season so eating loads and not doing intervals, using second rate tyres and wont be in race kit 😀
Last time on an STW ride I joined the self proclaimed “Fast Group” and got bored.
At Swinley? It’s not possible! There’s fun around every one of the 2567 corners.
Bailing sorry, I’ve hurt my neck and haven’t bought a bike yet. Have fun folks!
So, are there two rides? I can make Sunday.
Not sure root. I'm free within reason all weekend
Let's have a list and see if we can round up numbers
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Sun 10:30
Weeksy
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Crosshair
Sun 10:30
Weeksy
Let’s have a list and see if we can round up numbers
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Sun 10:30
Weeksy
Posted 1 hour ago REPLY | REPORT
Let’s have a list and see if we can round up numbers
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
Sun 10:30
Weeksy
Let’s have a list and see if we can round up numbers
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
-------------
Sun 10:30
Weeksy
Root-n-5th/Sam
Stay 1030 theotherjonv probably
that was meant to be Sat btw
Let’s have a list and see if we can round up numbers:
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
theotherjonv
Cokie (hopefully)
————-
Sun 10:30
Weeksy
Root-n-5th/Sam
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
theotherjonv
Cokie (hopefully)
DezB & DezB Jr.
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
theotherjonv
Cokie (hopefully)
DezB & DezB Jr.
Giles
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
theotherjonv
Crosshair
Cokie (hopefully)
DezB & DezB Jr.
Giles
Looking good then guys. I may be 5 mins late but ill text Crosshair if that's the case, i've got a motorbike MOT booked at 9:30am but should only be 20 mins. We're then 20 mins away from Swinley, so hopefully in theory i'll make it on time.
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
theotherjonv
Cokie (hopefully)
DezB & DezB Jr.
Giles
kelron (Stephen)
I know JonV knows some of the old school stuff, as does my mate who's coming along who posts on here but only very rarely.
There's the bit that SteveXTC often talks about regarding Camel i think and some jumpy bits ? I'm far from a jump god, but wouldn't mind knowing where it is if any of you others know ?
Sat 10:30
Weeksy
Kilo and Mrs Kilo (depending on how her Achilles injury clears up)
Kryton/Steve
theotherjonv
Cokie (hopefully)
DezB & DezB Jr.
Giles
kelron (Stephen)
jimdubleyou (getting train that arrives 1017)
Glad you reminded us about the train 🙂
I know JonV knows some of the old school stuff, as does my mate who’s coming along who posts on here but only very rarely.
There’s the bit that SteveXTC often talks about regarding Camel i think and some jumpy bits ? I’m far from a jump god, but wouldn’t mind knowing where it is if any of you others know ?
I 'may' be able to make the ride in some capacity now. I have to drop my kids off for a Brownie trip in Twickenham for 10am so it depends if I can can straight off and the traffic / car park gods are good to me, and what time I need to be back for the pick up.
My 'off-piste' knowledge is not as good as it used to be, but in no particular order (disclaimer - some of these trails (mainly the ones near r16 and NE WSwitchbacks) are not recognised and off limits)
- Camel Trail (plus others that go off the top of the hill, one line which was used at the first Swinduro) - at the top of the steep hill before the Clubhouse area turn right (instead of left) and follow the route into the woods, the trails are off the top of this hill. Camel is obvious (well used), the other trails are off to the left of Camel.
- Clubhouse - if you are standing at the top of the hill with the official Red trail to your left (which is deerstalker) and go round the trail entrances clockwise you have - Deerstalker, Old Deerstalker (a first Swinduro stage), Babymaker, Babystalker, Axle Run (needs to be cleared), Bikini Carwash (needs to be cleared).
- Crowthorne Woods - hard for me to provide directions, but if you head into the singletrack next to Pips Seat, there is loads of singletrack (nice natural, but not really downhill/fast). Eventually, if you go the right way you will stumble across the Corkscrew. There are also some other OK sections around Crowthrone Woods if you explore
- New England Switchbacks - these are part of a trail which crosses a fire road with a bank on either side. Access via some Singletrack (200 yards up the singletrack you come to the top of the hill, where you can either go straight down and across the fire road or start with the switchbacks, which are on your right) which starts at the end of the first long flat fire road section on Blue. Instead of turning right (and almost back on yourself) into the woods on the official trail, you almost carry straight on.
- Loamy steeps - at top of hill before Red 16 explore the woods to the right above the banking, if you were looking directly down the long gravel hill from the reservoir.
- Swinduro stage (not sure which one it was, just know it was used) - at top of hill before red 16, to the left before the r16 entrance there is a wide access into the woods (not a fire road) - follow this in and there is one of the old Swinduro sections on your right (used to be a stump sprayed orange as a marker)