Anyone else done the Salisbury Plain Challenge and wondered why??!!?….all …..the…….. way……… round?

I propose a Southern Hants Ride to mark the New Year! I have routes, and would like to get a good gathering of like minded cheeky trail riders to signal in the next year.

It would mostly be singletrack, with twists and turns and not so much in the way of wide doubletrack.

Could make this all official I suppose and offer different lengths of route. It won’t be technically challenging. I would say it will be muddy, and slippery chalky fun.

Let me know if you’re up for it, and I’ll start planning…

i’m local and might be interested…. 😀

good man!

May be up for this… depending on where in the country I end up… but if I’m back home…

Yup. interested.

Well that’s 3…

It’s perfect 29er & Singlespeed country, you can happily get away with a 34 16 combo.

I may be able to spring some interest form a local shop too…

Was also thinking of trying to set up a pub stop? Or secret stash some mulled wine on the way round…

Hi Andy,

I ride with a fairly large group in Winchester (WGV), we are out tonight so will see if there’s any interest.

What date are you thinking? and what sort of route?

WGV?

I was thinking we could start out of town at the park and ride nr stcross.

From there, up through silkstead, Olivers Battery to Scout camp. Follow Bridleway to Crab Wood, and then skirt round the side of Sparsholt to West Woods. Play in there and either cirle round past Crawley, back down the A272 singletrack. One bad road climb to Olivers Battery again. Over to St Catherines and up to Cheesefoot, then cirle back to car park.

It’s one idea, but you could add to it…..

Could well be up for this.

Suitable for a cross bike?

absolutely, but you’ll need nobblies or an uncanny knack of staying upright in slippery winter chalky adhoc sliding fun

34:16? West Wood? January?

I must be doing something wrong!

If there’s a pub involved the Newforce crowd might be interested

Winchester Gentlemans Velocipede Society (not my choice of name)

There’s certainly no shortage of routes to choose from, could even leave the decision until late on and tailor it to the weather conditions.

Do you live in Winchester?

I’ll see what I can do. THis is looking like a done deal! I’ll start talking to the pubs in the area. On the route could be:

The Plough Inn (Sparsholt)
The Milburys (South Downs Way: with knee wobbly well)
The Bridge Tavern (Shawford: Site of the death of Victor Meldrew)

Android, just south

Live in Southampton so would also be interested. Keep us posted.

(If I managed to escape the in laws in time)

the bridge is way too poncey these days. ashtray of chips for a fiver!!

the bell in st cross is good since the new owners… 😀

Our usual mud friendly pubs are;

The Running Horse (Littleton)
Queens Head (Near the College)
Chestnut Horse (Easton)
The Trout (Itchen Abbas)
The Dolphin (Hursley)
Roebuck (Near my house!)

Give me a shout if you ever want to join us, we’re out tonight at 8pm and Sat mornings at 8am.

I may well be interested. I doubt it for tonight, as my lights aren’t charged. What sort of pace and distance do you go at?

The Bell could be a good call, as I usually pin it down the bridleway from BadgerFarm (avoiding dog apples) on my way to the pumping station to join up with the singletrack around St Catherines. There’s enough outside seating, and they might be up for some mulled wine/beer and cake munchers

Usually somewhere between 15-25 miles, pacewise, varies on who is out and conditions and the route, so hard to say. Some of us get fairly fast and furious at the front, but we usually stop for straglers. Probably around 10-11mph I don’t have a computer on my mtb so net sure.

Let me know about Saturday, and next monday. I could be up for an early week night ride…

We meet outside the Roebuck, 8pm Monday and Saturday at 8am. I won’t be out this weekend, but there will be crowd there who will make you welcome.

Good to know, Thanks

I really like the sound of this cos I miss the Hampshire trails. Alas, currently waiting for surgery. 😥

Would really like to know the route you end up doing.

CG, let me know when you are better, and we’ll arrange Winch reunion rideout, and you can show us all the cheeky trails you know so well…

Ummm Bluebell season?

Thanks Andy. 🙂 Looking at 6 months before I get back on a bike so that could work out well. 8)

You need to persuade DezB and singletrackmind as they know a cheeky trail or two!

Whhhhhhhhhhhhhooooooooooooooooooooooo
+1 add me to your list . Although i am skiing in Jan as per…

ok, thanks for that.

I hope this is nothing to do with your bike vs car incident.

I’ll send you the routes, and you can edit if you like 😀

Sounds possible. I can drive up from Southampton in my truck with room for four people and bikes if anyone is interested.

Someone remind me nearer the time please.

Clavical V Tarmac , i tink .
Hope they pull the collective finger out and get it sorted before March / April CG .

Separated shoulder plus collarbone. Metal work needed. 🙁 February apparently and am such a miserable cah right now.

Andy – yes, do send some routes – gpx is fine.

I reckon I’d be up for this too.

Just being north of winchester i’m well up for this as long as it doesnt clash with a mtb/cx event on a sunday.
wouldnt mind getting a regular week ride in round this way too

Yeah,I’ll be up for this, I’m just north of Winchester as well.

Need to get some decent lights before I go out for any night rides though.

Blimey, quite a few takers already!

Right that’s my winter evenings sorted, organising this ride…

As the bell is my local, count me in too.

Ok, CG I’ll sort the fox files soon.

Anyone friends with the Bell’s landlord?

Preference on dates? Could do 1st or 2nd Jan?

What sort of length, considering it will be cold, I suggest about 40-50k?

Do we want one cheery group or split into tiers…?

I’d be up for that ride

Marvellous

Anyone friends with the Bell’s landlord?

yep 🙂

emails in my profile.

2nd jan would be better. 1st is likely to be spent feeling funny. 😥