As above really, I am looking for riding that I can do in this god awful weather. Weather is really driving me mad and I can't stick another weekend of eat/sleep/read another paper, eat another cake because I am bored and not motivated to get out on my bike. Yes, I know I should grow a pair.
Riding time is getting more limited (because of work) and I am expecting a baby (or the wife is) in a month or so. I really want to make the most of what I time I have available to get out and ride something semi-enjoyable. So I would like to get out and ride (but not do 3 miles in heavy mud that I did at QE2 the other day).
The local good spots (or places I know) for riding are:
Hindhead
QE2
Peaslake/Surrey Hills
Swinley
Does anyone have any better suggestions? Peaslake does seem my unimaginative default option, because it is about 30 mins away and I sort of know my way round (enough for a couple of hours).
Any thoughts or pizzle taking comments much appreciated. I am based Hindhead way, not far from the A3.
Feel your pain ,
but I reckon if I lived 30 mins from Peaslake ,I'd be fairly happy.
Best draining place in the sarf east.IMO
Get out and explore while you can - avoid the hotspots/puddles.
I'm 30 minutes from Epping however........ 🙁
On the bright side it's forecast to be windy next week.
Thanks Senor J - I know I am lucky to live circa 30 mins from some top riding and certainly don't mean to be ungrateful. There are some sandy/well drained tracks in the area that I know round Peaslake, which does mean I can ride without getting bogged down in mud. The trail pixies also do a good job there in my opinion. I suppose I am just dreaming of dry trail/variety/big hills... It is my fault for reading the 'Pass Storming' thread.
What is Aston Hill like for trail/xc?
Aston Hill is dreadful in the wet and the Xc loop isn't really much.
I seem to be spending most of my winter at Woburn Sands or Chicksands. Reasonably dry but the sand does destroy drivetrain/brake pads.
I've spent my winter at Woburn too. The sand is a killer, but apart from the odd bog, it's reasonable all winter.
Aston Hill is ok as part of a ride ,Princes Risborough to Ashridge & back for instance.
From my limited experience south of the M40 seems to drain better though.
The Chilterns'll be clarty for a little while yet.
Stay were you are. honest.
There's loads of other riding near swinley - the tunnel hill trolls would be the folk to ask for guidance.
expecting a baby
Get used to not riding then 😆
Only joking, it's the best thing you can ever do- makes your life more worthwhile and they will melt your heart!
I too live in the SE and i too am fed up with mud. Iv'e been doing lots of street/ tarmac rides just to get out.
However if it's not windy give [url= http://www.cyclopark.com/ ]Cyclopark[/url] a go. Dosen't get too muddy and it's just down the A2. Worth a couple of hours.
It's on an exposed hillside though so it's a bugger in windy weather 😉