STW Singletons Social Networking Ride at Swinley Forest – Sunday 7th February

*whispers* shhhhhhh, don't tell everyone 😉

Blimey, what a surprise, the thread has degenerated in typical STW stylee 🙄

OK bananaworld – (cool guy in a crisis) you're perfect for leading the niche pack 🙂 Keep away from him though when puddles appear!

I was extremely embarrassed by my lack of fitness and walking yesterday so would be happy to sweep for the slackers. You youngsters put so much pressure on an old girl 😉

Just so as you know who to look out for at Swinley, there's a little pic of me on the "doppelganger" thread on the Chat Forum 8)

Jeez, I'm such a minx sometimes 🙄

Weather looking good for Sunday 😀

have you purchased your permit online yet?

what time sunday? if its too wet to ride herts i may pop down if thats cool?

Tony – 10.00 am meet for a 10.30 pedal. Would definitely be cool if you could make it 8)

Guys – numbers have increased in the girlie posse 😉

ok, expect me if its wet 🙂

No photo.
No "doppleganger thread" on the Chat forum. I just tried (curious, nothing more).
Sunday clashes with the Gorrick race series.

Doppelganger thread

Well, of course this ride will be so much more fun than a race 😉

People will actually communicate rather than "outtamyway, racer coming through" behaviour.

Aleigh has a pretty impressive vocal range – guaranteed entertainment 😀

We will enjoy a civilised lunch at the Cafe where we can discuss the merits of High Rollers vs Nobby Nics 🙄

And not forgetting that we only get to ride once around the Forest then finish up at the Cafe again for tea and cake.

Pic is still there, just my usual attention-whoring 😉

No contest really, Swinley Forest is where it's at on Sunday 8)

Dez – you doing pics or Gorrick racing?

Well, if M.F. is turning up, I might not make Gorrick after all. 😯
Have a fun ride.

M.F. ? You've lost me!

We will without a doubt have a fun ride. That's what I love about group rides – everyone rocks up with the intention of enjoying themself 8)

My bike should be arriving tomorrow, so assuming that it all fits back together fine I'll be coming!

Seriously, if I pitch up (no pun intended) will I get my hole?

allyharp – good luck with the bike! See you Sunday.

cynic-al – sorry I'm a bit thick but don't understand your question?

Smooth Al – real smooth 😆

ti29er – you're in luck! The first Gorrick race isn't until the Sunday after (racing on Valentine's Day, how romantic!) so come along!

jedi – would be great if you came along!!

Took a couple of people around Swinley yesterday and the conditions were much improved since Sunday with plenty of drainage having taken place. (Ah, sand: so shite for your brake pads, but so wonderfully free-draining…)

It was a mixed ride yesterday, once again. Happily no major injuries this time and I got the route dialled (thanks, C_G, you're a great guide!) One of the people I was riding with was a girl, and she's single, but all ideas about inviting her along this Sunday evaporated after she proved to be all talk and no trousers: "I've done 87 100km elite Enduro XC races on snow-covered European mountains but my glycogen is low today so, no, I can't make it up this hill. Or down that one. And my gears are grinding. Also, I've got flat pedals on when I really should have fitted SPDs. I'm getting some cable-rub. It's no good, I can't go on as I'm not sure about the high-speed compression damping setting on my fork." 🙄

Suffice to say, I'm very much looking forward to this Sunday where we can all have a good time and just enjoy ourselves.

Woo hoo! Roll on the weekend!

(Please note: pleasure can be greatly enhanced for both partners if you bring along some spare brake pads 😉 )

C_G. / M.F (Marianne)
Have you come across http://www.FitnessSingles.com ?
Another route to networking other singles perhaps

Banana – how did you know about this week's excuses! My tux' is still at the cleaners; perhaps?
Bike is going into the LBS right now for some work, so unlikely to be ready.
Have a fun ride.

cinnamon_girl – Member
Dez – you doing pics or Gorrick racing?

Not sure what Rob's up to, so there might be a different ride in the offing*.
Quite happy to do pics as long as they're not too adult oriented 🙂

*[edit] seeing as I don't qualify for this one 😉

cynic-al – sorry I'm a bit thick but don't understand your question?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=get+your+hole

Do I really need spare pads, is it that bad?

Still in the death grips of manflu. I am struggling on trying to keep going in the face of near hospitalisation.
My rear brake is still weeping fluid, and my bikes muddy . I havent ridden for a month and don't normally plan my hectic social life more than 3 days in advance, So Yes I will be there , might try to get some tips off Jedi on going round corners and pedalling and steering and everything.

Do I really need spare pads, is it that bad?

truthfully no….just depends on how much of a mad rider you are 😆

Well, the November ride was extremely wet Karin, but I think about 30% of our group needed new pads after that one. Swinley is pretty sandy in places I guess. Will pack a couple of pairs, since I was on the backing plate both front and rear last time 😕

can i turn up and hang around at the back if i promise not to talk anything other than bikes and not about affairs of the heart?, as the scheduled NW ALps ride has disintigrated as most of the members seem to be stuck in Dusseldorf this weekend 🙄

bananaworld – well done! I'm such a good teacher 😉 You didn't tell the young lady about the ride then!

Ti29er – pic is Dita.

singletrackmind – oh it does sound as though you are suffering 😥 Do join us but keep your distance cos we don't want manflu as a souvenir 😉

Dez – thanks, pics would be great. Obviously if anyone doesn't want to be included in any, they will need to say at the start. True to form, I don't want to be snapped.

rOcKeTdOg – you are putting me in an awkward position aren't you? Bad luck about your ride being cancelled, what's the attraction of Dusseldorf then? I will be organising another Swinley ride in the Spring to which you and your partner will be more than welcome.

One of the people I was riding with was a girl, and she's single, but all ideas about inviting her along this Sunday evaporated after she proved to be all talk and no trousers

LOL, whilst that might have put you off, I can't see many of the guys off here being put off by the all talk no trousers approach, you should have invited her! 😉

rocketdog, you possibly got space for a littl'un on your way down? I'm only just off the M5 at Worcester, looking for a lift if possible as my car isn't in the rudest of health at the mo…

Brake pads wise, well… More than one person didn't even manage half a ride before their brake pads had worn through last time. I had to replace mine before the day ended, but several other people were riding around brakeless for some period of time! It was crazy!

I'll shove some in my camelbak – they don't weigh much

if its too wet for herts i will deffo come down 🙂

can i turn up and hang around at the back

no……that's my job 😆

lol 🙂

LOL at Cynic-al – surely you don't have to drive hundreds of miles to get laid mate ? If you are who I think you are that is.

hels – Member
LOL at Cynic-al – surely you don't have to drive hundreds of miles to get laid mate ? If you are who I think you are that is.

Sounds like an offer 😉

Not 100% I can make it as we have some last minute visitors coming – they aren't exactly our visitors so I should be ok to say "see ya, I'm off ridin"

Aaaaagh, paranoia is pushing down on me with it's weighty foot!

What if I get a group lost? What if my route's really rubbish? What if the GPS decides it's all too much and packs in thus leaving me to rely on <gulp> memory? What if I'm too slow? What if I talk bollocks incessantly and irritate the heck out of everyone?

The pressures of responsibility!!

I'm a slacker at heart and enjoy such pursuits as stopping to smell the roses, taking photos of interesting trees and 'racing' in the 'Fun' category. Having just picked up my dried frog pill prescription you'd think it would be ok but the burden is still all too much so I'm going to have to resort to sneaky tactics:

Look everyone, it's really not worth driving hundreds of miles to ride in Swinley, which has no hills, just on the off chance that you might meet someone who can see past your beard and your singlespeed. Get your HRM and racer out and go training instead. Honestly, it'll be much more fun. 😉

(You were right, MB!)

Well, hopefully the reality of Sunday will prove to be a jolly time for all now that this tirade has lowered everyone's expectations. See y'all there! (If I can muster the courage…)

What if I talk bollocks incessantly and irritate the heck out of everyone?

LOL

No danger of the "what if" factor mate… I take it as a given that you will! 😉

Anyway, now that I've given you some abuse… Can't find your phone number mate, if you still have mine, RING ME ASAP… Preferably whilst you're still at work… Could do with asking a favour off you if you're still there…

EDIT: Just found your phone number… Expect a call in a bit I should think…

I saw this and thought of you….

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/coulsonmacleod/product/love-makes-the-ride-worthwhile-limited-edition-art

Enjoy the ride!

Bananaworld "…dried frog pills" – are you a Pratchett fan too?

Have road tested the Blackberry & Ginger Gin, and can confirm that the experiment has worked 😆 Not sure if the hip flask is allowed on a non niche bike tho…

blackberry and Ginger, that sounds wonderful!