cheers slimjim!
Hmmm, I'm supposed to spend the afternoon signing up new conscripts for Reading Cycle Campaign, but would be better to do some actual cycling...
reading cycle campaign, would it not be a good idea to meet several cyclists in one of the areas biggest cycling attractions then? 😉
You think meeting a load of dedicated cyclists at a popular trail center is likely to be better than standing in Broad St trying to convince people who think getting the bus is too much effort?
Now you're just being sensible!
having walked through Broad St this morning.... yes. 
Sunny friday morning bump 😀
Sunny friday morning bump
Offered the missus one of those, she declined 🙁
😆
(loling at your joke, not the fact you were denied access so to speak)
less than a week to go!
slimjim78 - Member
Bagshot, Martins Heron & South Ascot are the nearest stations, all within approx 10 mins riding of the forest (Lookout entrance).Martins Heron is probably your best bet if you can find an easy link (direct from Waterloo), failing that Bracknell station is only about 15/20mins ride and should be mainline?
Planner: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
hey chaps and chapettes,
as its getting closer and closer i was wondering if people could add their names to a copy-and-paste into your post style list? so i can get an idea of how many to expect and if we'll need 3 groups or just two 🙂
i'll start:
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon -
PaulD - fast group
Arse. Just checked the start time - 11:30 too late for me cos the outlaws are coming down. Highly unlikely to get a pass 🙁
Why do all forum rides have to coincide with family visits? Ggrrhh.
Enjoy!
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon -
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
But I reserve the right to change to the slow group if the fast guys look too serious!
Sorry, philly, I won't add myself just yet. I'm a maybe/hopefully. Having some probs.
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
I confirm my position as leading the fast group.
I will recce my route on Thursday morning and post the findings along with the 'what tyre/tube/saddle/fork pressure' for Swinley update.
PaulD
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
I'd probably join a mid pace group if one emerges. Not sure I can keep up with the whippets.
Is everybody on 3 geared bikes?
i'm singlespeeding it andy, so pick a friendly route
only been singlesheeped for a 2 weeks and the couple of times i've taken it around swinley its been fine 🙂
Wunundred! 😀
I've bin waiting ages for that one...
I shall hopefully be unicogging too. Have to be careful to avoid Babylonian Intervention on the way to Waterloo though; 32/15 is not a good ratio for trying to outrun someone with a full complement of gears down Stamford St. 😳
Furty pahnds. Still smarts. 😡
hmmmm
Sorry, philly, I won't add myself just yet. I'm a maybe/hopefully. Having some probs.
All okay kemo sabe? Anything we can help with?
I'll swap mine over this week, to blend in, and possibly be the last up the hills!
I've got a loop that takes in the following:
Lookout to Caeser's Camp (well the Green bench on the way)
Wobble though the trails to the Twister pt 1 and pt 2.
Back passed the bench and into the woods on a tricky trail between the trees double dipper with roots and a little mud.
Seagull, all the way to Star cross
Short pedal to the start of the'new' bits, and then straight across to the tank traps trail.
Climb to the top of sand Gully, and then see if anyone can get their tyres off the ground in the gully.
Choice of 2 climbs up to the reservoir.
Tight technical singletrack through the trees, and then join the forest road just by the drop offs (no I'm not brave/stupid enough to do those but happy to watch).
The wall (with a run up and prepare to get into 1st gear by the top).
Labyrinth ( probably Deer Stalker, but can do multiple routes if people up for the ride/walk back up to give the other ways a go).
Ride back to the reservoir via really nasty climb if anyone fancies it (its only a short walk)
Pump trail round the back of the reservoir,
Back up the whole nine yards and across to Caeser's camp, but a different bit, and a fun little trail that ends at the spot where Harry Potter Crew were, and the biggish drop in (wheels stay firmly attached to dirt, don't worry) and then ride back to look out for tea and cake.
I can add or reduce, if necessary. Its not all the trails by any means, but will be a good intro to those that don't know the area. If you intend to come back, I'll bring my GPS, and then post it on Trailzilla or provide it to whom ever wants the route.
Should be about a 2, 2.5 hour ride.
sounds great Andy!
can you name the sections along the way? I have a terrible memory when it comes to Swinley and can only really 'name' Ceasars camp and the gulley.
No problem.
TBH, as long as you know where they all are, who cares? 🙂
There are more trails out there too, but some weather better than others.
Swinley seems to get sticky and stay that way, so there are some routes best left until a nice long dry spell or a really really hard frost.
The route we'll do is probably OK for most of the year.
Looks like the weathers going to be great for the rest of week, so it should be pretty dry by Saturday.
I deliberately didn't mention this weeks weather!
If it rains Raymond, check both ways before you step outside your front door, we'll be coming for you 😆
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
Cheers, Rich
You mean you don't trust the Met Office's forecasts?!
not since Mr Fish told me it was just going to be a slight breeze...
bullheart +1, anyfing we can do Lethal-D?
Nah, thanks for asking. Hoping things will sort out.
hope they do! be good to see you on sat 🙂
Planning on being there. Singlespeeding though, so put me in the slow group.
oh what the heck, may have to wheel out the singlespeed for this one..
Will try to attend .
Havent been to Swinley for months , Be nice to get some quality riding in before the mud returns .
conditions were good over the weekend, few puddles but trails generally good, bit of rain today but forecast for the week is ok... fingers crossed eh!
i dont want to jinx the weather, but:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/319
shorts and t-shirt riding!
Sign me up for the fast ride, hooray!
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
🙂
(is that really eeeevvvvryoonnnnnnne?? )
[img] 
[/img]
there should be bullheart, possible poddy's, possible toab?
muchos smaller than previous rides!
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
twas a fair few more names on the original thread, hope they're still up for joining us!
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
😆
Best put me in with the slow kids then. The Remedial Group?
Oh hang on, Singletrackmind's coming?? He'll have bin training furiously for months, just for this ride.
No it's true he will have! Ask Dez!
Elf, you can't go in the slow group, you flipping bandit! I'm in there, and I'm really properly slow.
[i]Oh hang on, Singletrackmind's coming?? He'll have bin training furiously for months, just for this ride[/i]
Yep, fit as a brewer's dog, he is 😀
I'm definitely still in with a +1 and a maybe +2. We will all be happy to run with the slow group as I have no idea what you guys idea of fast is.
🙂 good thing about the slow group is if you enter each section near the start of the group you can blast through it, just means waiting a couple of extra minutes at the end of each section
I am ultimately patient and the weather does look great :D, but at some point the draw of cake will force me to go faster....towards the cake, so choices will be
bring cake and eat it on the trail or wait for it to start talking to me through the trees
This will be the pace of the slow group 😀
xc whippet I'm not, in fact if I sat on one, I'd probably squash it, but i do like to go fast down hill (and gravity helps that happen for me more than some others)
Will there actually be a 'fast' group, or will it be the usual 'Slow', 'Slower' and 'Glacial' pace?
i'm under the impression PaulD led at a pretty decent pace last time 🙂
looking like turn out will be leaning towards 2 groups instead of 3 at the moment.
I don't believe it. for the fourth time on the trot I am going to have to miss this...a section of guttering downpipe (cast iron) fell off my house and smashed a load of roof tiles so I have a leak to fix instead....I'm ****ing destined never, EVER, to do a STW swinley ride. really really quite upset! 😥
Tenuous - some kind of group
Mrs Tenuous will be bringing last time's bump along in a Croozer for a pootle around independently, and meeting up for cake later 🙂
Yay! Cake!
I intend to go like shit off a shovel.
Best stick me in the slow group then.
another beautiful day today drying out the trails 🙂
Will have a word with fun control. Will be in slow group if allowed out.
Phil you finished the video from the last ride yet?
I'd like to come along if that's OK,
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
Phil56 - slow group
I am going to try to make it 🙂
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
Phil56 - slow group
TurnerGuy - medium group
I'm in. Putting myself down for fast group but if I turn up and there's a bunch of you there in lycra on carbon race hardtails warming up on turbo trainers then I'm going slow group!
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
Phil56 - slow group
TurnerGuy - medium group
MrBlobby - fast group
you need not ask permission, just throw yourself on the list and any buddies or partners you want to bring with you 😀
The last time i was at Swinley was actually on the last stw swinley ride with the pic on page 2! i took the cx and was a fun ride for sure, when was that anyway?
i think i have the green light to attend this so put me down.
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
Phil56 - slow group
TurnerGuy - medium group
MrBlobby - fast group
dobo - fast group
I added you to the list for you 🙂
I'm out as we're going to cornwall 🙁
Hope you all have a good time and i'll be up for the next time!
Mrs Tenuous will be bringing last time's bump along in a Croozer for a pootle around independently
Actually, if anyone else wants a super-slow, super-easy ride along the fire-tracks, then I will lead that group. Highlights no doubt will include the lake, Caesar's camp, probably [u]both[/u] upper and lower star posts and the play park watching our kiddies zoom around on ice-cream fuel.
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
Phil56 - slow group
TurnerGuy - medium group
MrBlobby - fast group
dobo - fast group
Tenuous - some kind of [non-pootle] group
[i]Pleurr [aka Mrs Tenuous]- pootle group[/i]
😀 love the idea of a super-pootle group!
are there any requests for what time people need to be back to the look-out by?
if the weather stays this nice make sure you bring lots of liquids!
i've had a hair-cut dez, i've pre-empted your quif attack x
Spoilsport.
needed to make myself pretty
Oh poo can't make it - have fun in the sun won't you 🙁
Off to the cycle show and a family visit. Haven't ridden off road since the accident. Anyone planning on going to the bomb craters - watch the jump at the bottom 😆
Just done my recce and am very pleased.
Trails are perfect....really hard to find any puddles!
Weather should hold until the ride, so do not fit trailrakers or similar.
I was on a full-suss with Kenda Kharisma Lite 1.95" tyres and they were on the money.
All my route is dry and fast-flowing (except the climb up to the Labyrinth).
Remember there is no water available in the forest and we should be out for approx 3 hours (route will be revised if we have issues).
I have a friend coming along who will be happy to sweep for my group and knows the trails very well.
Any other issues you may want to discuss offline, mail me on paul.r.davisAThotmail.co.uk
PaulD
As I am the only one that has said 'medium group' I reserve the right to join whichever takes my fancy on the day 🙂
Just been out around Pitch and Holmbury and it is quite difficult to find much mud.
Gutted I have to miss this. Have fun in the sun everyone. I'll be sweating it out in a suit in the exciting city of Leicester 😐
I'm with TurnerGuy
Hi, I'm a long time lurker but would love to join with the slow group if that's ok? Steve
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
Phil56 - slow group
TurnerGuy - medium group
MrBlobby - fast group
dobo - fast group
Tenuous - some kind of [non-pootle] group
Pleurr [aka Mrs Tenuous]- pootle group
sjw77 - slow group
Posted on the original thread but won't make it this time. But me and some friends will be up for this another time.
Not going to be able to make this one after all guys... Too much on, and need to make some headway clearing out a load of old crap!
Shame as it looks destined to be nice weather, and I've not really ridden Swinley when the conditions have been that great before!
philconsequence - slow group (still recovering from bad shoulder, honest guv)
mrsconsequence - slow group
AndyRT - slow group
Thisisnotaspoon - fast group
PaulD - fast group
raymond - fast group
slimjim78 (+1 buddy) - slow group (my buddy is slow, not me. honest)
Elfinsafety (too lazy to copy and paste)
Turboferret - undecided on group (not ridden for a while, and will be SS) attendance 75% likely
DezB - fast group
Singletrackmind - fast group (presumptuous, I know)
kevsterjw + 1 - slow group
Phil56 - slow group
TurnerGuy - medium group
MrBlobby - fast group
dobo - fast group
Tenuous - some kind of [non-pootle] group
Pleurr [aka Mrs Tenuous]- pootle group
sjw77 - slow group
Bullheart - slow/medium/fast group
agreed on the recce, trails were stunning last night
what a fun way of rounding off the summer! i love riding 🙂