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I live in Medway in the South East and I'm looking for new winter riding spots near me that aren't frankly shit as soon as the dank months set in, can anyone recommend something I haven't tried before.
Spring and summer we have some lovely local trails that spur off the North downs situated near the Bluebell hill and Boxley.
Unfortunately for 6 months a year these are just utterly unridable due to the clay based soil that we get in this particular portion of the downs, if its not deep energy sapping mud that if riden destroys the trails further then its treacherous chalk even with the slightest of duey morningings that can catch you off Guard when hurtling down at speed off camber.
Anyway I'm tired of traveling to the surrey Hills or redlands for an hour and a half each time to get my fix (although it is superb there)
Sevenoaks areas like the "kraken" on the Montreal Estate are a great option but logging work and local bureaucracy has pretty much pushed riders out.
Bedgebury is great for a mid winter ride but although perfect for my gravel bike its Abit tame for the big bike these days.
Also the trails near Barham outside of Canterbury are ok but worth the drive down often I'm not so sure.
Anyway
Please people
Help me out, I can't be alone here, there's got to be some good spots with decent soil that i can ride that isn't in Surrey or Wales.
Thanks.
Sorry, I'm afraid you've listed them all. I'm pretty close to you and don't bother trail riding any more round here. I just tend to ride for fitness or do cyclocross for wild times.
Apparently you are 1 hour 35 minutes from woburn. It gets we but stays rideable
Sorry to say, but that's just the way it is there. This year has been a bit wet so got sloppy early. It's not for 6 months though.
Get out on the cross or road bike if you can and hope it freezes.
Sorry, I’m afraid you’ve listed them all
Yep, pretty much this.
I'm in Maidstone, the north downs is a chalk ridge line so is horrible in winter.
Bedgebury is ok for a hour blast but seems to be getting even more sanitised every year.
Honestly, Surrey Hills and Covert Woods are the best spots nearby to me.
Also the trails near Barham outside of Canterbury are ok but worth the drive down often I’m not so sure.
For me they are pre lockdown there was regular group or shop rides there, there's about 15-20 or so decent trails all about 1-2 minutes long, with a fire road climb back to the top. Not a huge amount of elevation but the trails are excellent.
Friston forest is another of my faves but again not in winter, as it gets very muddy there.
I've got a few variations on local loops from the door on bridleways for an hour 2 which is perfect for the hardtail. Then for something more trail it's covert or Surrey. Then for 'proper' riding I make sure I get away plenty of times per year.
If I had to only ride within 90 mins drive I'd probably not bother. Luckily we live in the UK so even Scotland is not that far away, and places like FoD or South Wales is doable in a day trip.
Forget about twisty singletrack and take to the streets. Ride down stairsets, bunny hop onto benches, treat walls as skinnies, drop off ledges, learn some trials skills. Link up different sections of urban riding with whatever muddy tracks there are nearby. That's what worked for me in Thanet anyway.
I'm the opposite side of the Surrey hills from you, but suffer similarly with claggy mud and chalk in the Chilterns.
I just ride the CX bike a lot this time of year. There's only so many laps of Swinley I can do. And the Surrey Hills (and even the army ranges) feel like they're just a little far to justify regular drives.
Another Maidstone rider here. I bought a gravel bike, 6 years ago, for this reason. At the moment I can’t think of anything decent that won’t be an absolute mud bath.
At least the gravel bike keeps me riding, on the tamer, more hardwearing trails.
That's what I thought tbh.
Embrace the slop, savour the good days and warmer months.
Or move to california lol
Thanks guys
I'm west of you and it's a similar story. We've got QECP, which holds up OK, but the natural trails are either clay or chalk and therefore not much fun. I just pack away the MTB and use the gravel bike from Nov to April - some of the secret lanes around here could qualify as red routes and there are a few bridleways that are passable in the winter. But I can't be doing with trudging around at 5mph on the MTB.
I'm a bit further north to get IP but still in Kent. It's all very muddy here too. Only been on 2 outdoor rides in about 2 months. Just been doing Zwift instead.