I would say Bath, admittedly not because I know the riding well or that its a lovely city (Which it is) but mostly because its right next to Bristol which as an awesome place. Trails there are pretty much responsible for getting me hooked on riding.
I'm totally biased though as i went to university there... and have never been to any of the other choices.
Dave
Loughborough was a good place to live and the uni was great (97-00) from what I remember. Climbed when I was there but have been back to visit people as a biker.
Although there is not much there it's close to a lot of places for a weekend. Peak, N Wales, S Wales if the motorways are clear.
In the end of the day go for the best education/course you can get and the social side will look after itself. Uni sport means lots of people in one place trying to do the same thing so transport gets easier.
Is the Climbers Vs Bikers [s]Piss Up[/s]serious competitive event still running? I think I still have the video of year 1.
Come to loughborough. I was the student XC captain there last year (i'm not there this year but will be returning for the 2013-14 year). Rather looking forward to it!
For sports science and sports facilities, you're not going to find anywhere better. If (when 😉 ) you get in- come!
I'll start with the important stuff...
Night life = pretty good! The union has 3 clubs in, town has plenty, we've always got music artists performing dirt cheap (although we had "sam and whe whomp" last week... we dont talk about that).
Cheap drinks. Who dosnt want to spend their sunday night downing Jaegerbombs for £1?
Campus = gooood.
Girls... well, there arent quite as many as at other uni's (although still plenty!), but 90% are sporty and in pretty good shape 😉
Well thats the whole prospectus covered. Now here's a ton of infor about the cycling club.
The cycling club is basically what has made uni at loughborough for me... awesome bunch of people, awesome characters, awesome socials, and people riding everyday.
Local XC riding is ok, a few hills to train on, and some nice techy (as far as natural riding in the midlands goes) riding in places. Big local dirt jumps where the DH/DJ crowd live.
Cannock chase is an hour way for awesome XC. Sherwood pines too. Few spots towards sheffield as you said, but these are more DH oriented.
Some of us enter the midlands races (FNSS etc). Good fun, and cheap!
Road is fine, fairly flat on most routes but the peak district isnt too far away and we do day rides over there occasionally. And a cupcake shop conveniently en route for the social rides 😉 Just got a GB junior girl in the club this year!
Rides cater for everyone- social ride that everyone enjoys for a bit of club banter. Faster rides once you get to know who you can keep up with/keep up with you 😀
Few trips throughout the year, wales (only 2-3 hours away), lake district etc for road and XC. Then there's BUCS (the inter-uni competitions). Oh BUCS! Most fun racing i've ever done! An awesome way to get into a new discipline if you havnt tried it as well- i'm now looking for a DH bike after competing DH last year on my trail bike 😀 It includes XC, DH, Road, TT, CX, Track, and for the past few years we've hosted a crit on campus.
We go over to the manchester velodrome to get accredited on the track side of things as well.
I haven't written that much since my essays last year. Beer o'clock then.
Any questions, fire away
Try Aberystwyth uni as its got nant-y-arain only a few miles down the road 🙂
I know this because my lads there and when i go visit him we do nant
Oh and regarding the placement thing that Loughborough don't offer for your course- if you do a few summer/holiday time internships or work experience, then thats several placements done anyway. And you have them in time to help your grade in 2nd year.
Jon Pybus who won the race isnt there anymore- he's graduated. Also races for GT- top lad! I won the sport race, should've raced the elite but oh well!
