Tried another route today with John and Charlie. I think todays is the one Im going to do as its fairly sheltered from the wind and has a nice mix of downy-upness with cracking views,water splashes,single track,double track and a bit of walking. Hopefully Charlie will post the route stats later(hint hint) Comments ?
[url= http://paul-knott.fotopic.net/c1667053.html ][img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ywuxz8&outx=640&quality=70 [/img][/url]
click the above pic for more pics.
Good pics! Which group are you leading? Will there be a wuss group?
Fingers crossed that weather stays dry.
Am really looking forward to this and meeting you all. Thanks for organising everyone.
You know there's going to be a wuss group if I'm going 😆
Im reluctant to call it the wuss group ......but yes that one. There is an option to do the"chimney" loop afterwards.
Shall we call ourselves the 'pace setters'? 😉
[url=
Map... [/url]
Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s) 2:59:10 12:56 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 2:01:58 8:48 pace
Distance (mi ) 13.84
Moving Speed (mph) 6.8 avg. 31.8 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +1,935 / -1,937
Temperature (°F) 51.5°F avg. 51.8°F high
Wind Speed ( mph) W 14.8 avg. W 17.2 max.
don't set that pace too slow though aleigh, you know about the Sedgemoor Beast & its mate?
url= http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/user/www.charlierevell ]My page for both rides... [/url]
cheers charlie ...shame it shows our detour to the gub wagon.lol nice rolls too.
[idon't set that pace too slow though aleigh, you know about the Sedgemoor Beast & its mate?[/i]
No....... I'm scared 😯 (better get a bit faster me thinks!)
does that route look ok from the stats ? There is another 3.5-4 miles to add for the chimney loop most of which are flatish or downhill.
At the January Swinley Forest Forum Ride, we had a Sick, Lame, Lazy & Marin Riders Group!!
I'm up for The Chimney ... but if it's at the end of the ride it may well be dark 😯
I reckon the Chimney loop is a must, would make it about 18-20 miles total i guess.... I think its worth a trip down weacombe too.
Need to do some sawing first tho!
weacombe would add another BIG hill so I'll give it a miss and do Triscombe after a short stop at the carpark. That should take us upto Sharki's finish time.
nice one , cant wait to see you all , defo up for the chimney loop, hope the weather holds . see you all next weekend.
Charlie
Weacombe is clear , shame it does not "flow" for me at the mo
Knottie
Who is the duty lifeguard??????????????? 🙄
Ah think that was you - Knottie et al - at the bottom of Holford as we were coming through the gate this am. Nice day if a tad windy on the top!
MrNutt, i'm am the sedgemoor beast but alas i have no mate
🙁
Knottie, 3hr loop, and after lunch what then???????
triscombe loop will add only 45mins at a very slow pace so will still be more than light enough for you CG, so fear not you will get your chance to tackle the chimney again..
im sorry Andy but you'll have to bring your own life jacket and waterproof pants.
‘err one question Knottie if your group is called the Wuss Group I mean 'Pace setters' then what’s Sharki’s tribe called?
Only I may have to change allegiance if it’s anything relating to speed & full on downhilling 😕
crispy bacon, my lot will be called 'they're doomed!'
Sharki is a great guide and is so much fitter than me . His group will do more miles and take in more combes,climbs etc.
will we?
I'm gonna take them downhilling for the first hr, then the next hr uphilling,then an hr at the burger van....and hr riding on flat grassy trails, then the race for cake finale, beacon hill trig to the car park, first one there gets the cake!
Downhilling = 1hr
Uphilling = 1hr
eating = 1hr
Flat grassy = 1hr
Then a race to Beacon hill trig point?
Flaming heck that's 3hrs riding followed by a sprint finish 😕
What time does Knotties group start again?
sharki - downhilling? Yep, I'm in but no uphills 🙄
Hold on that's perfect preparation....1hrs of eating followed by an hr of effortless riding whilst processing greasy sarnies..
However the slight flaw in that plan is the location of the grub wagon in relation to Beacon hill.......errr straight up ndog pound and stay climbing for 50mins...
You mean the 2 trees have been cut down Salad? Saves me doing it tomo!
Im going to try and ride my loop tomo, depends if we need a 3rd group or not yet, best have a lap sorted tho!
No uphills ? On the Qs , now that funny. did you view the Wuss D'oh I mean my route on google earth ?
yeah me and fuzz did it a few fridays ago, there's still a scraggy loada branches near the bottom that push you off line to the right that need brutalising...
(Pokes head round door. Sees everyone having fun, and getting excited about next weekend's ride. Realises that gammy claw will probbly mean no riding for RudeBoy for a little while. Meaning RudeBoy will be all alone, while everyone is out enjoying themselves. Cries)
Aw, poor RudeBoy! Healing vibes winging their way from C-G 😀
Just a thought - whilst you lot are stuffing your faces with grub, I could have a second go at The Chimney 8)
... and ride it this time!
sounds like a lot of eating likely to take place ! I will take your pic riding the chimney to prove you survived it . So dont forget to smile .
knottie8 - sorry, am just talking bollox! The one and only time I went down The Chimney, I wussed my way down and discovered at the bottom that my rear wheel had popped out of the dropout 😯
Good job I didn't ride it properly 😉
Oh, and don't like my pic being taken either!
Girlie mtb'er from hell, that's me!!!
that told me !
Am sure you could arrange a Somerset ASBO for me!!!
Stert looks surprisingly dry, I might give that a go tomorrow, whats it like further back up near the top where it usually gets muddy?
the top section was running really well last sunday, the few boggy patches were dry enough to carry speed through, the whole trail was running perfectly and with the added bonus of a trimmed verge it's the best i've seen it for years!
Dibbs are you free for the oldfarts ride next week? at the mo monday is the chosen day but we'd be happy to rearrange so we can get more riders there for him....
I should be there on my big blue bike. Will be going slow me thinks.
Yeah - will be good to see you soma_rich 😀
Another SSD ... that makes er 3 of us 😯
Rich good to hear you've sorted things out to get free for the day..
And a few final points to mention...
I really have no idea where most of you lot are coming from...
No idea who is coming who hasn't contacted me...
and haven't the foggiest how they're going to know where to meet...
Whether they want to stay in the bunkhouse....
how much bacon and eggs and bread to bring......
If they're even aware that knottie used to race and is taking the wuss group on a 1500m 22mile endurance mission on some of the most intensly testing ascents on the hills.
But one thing i do know....it's windy up there, the sun is forcast for the next 6 days and with no rain at night the trails will be driftastic for next saturday and i'm gonna love it!
Dibbs are you free for the oldfarts ride next week?
I finish Nights in seven hours and 22 minutes and then I'm off until Saturday the 21st at 07:30.
Cool, so we can ride everyday next week then....or have you that skirting to paint? 😉
I haven't even finished fitting the skirting yet, you mustn't rush these jobs you know. Anyway whats this "paint" I'll have you know I'm using "finishing oil" whatever that is 🙄
I've just found the forecast for next Saturday, looks a bit chilly.
[url= http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/dayforecast.asp?day=6&zipcode=TA4 ]Quantocks weather 21/03/2009[/url]
****ing SNOW?!?! not again dear god!
If it snows I WILL NOT be happy!
Do we have numbers yet guys? Like REAL numbers?
Sharki... I rode Weacombe last weekend on sat and there were a good few trees in my face! Ill clear it up tomo.
I'm gonna be heading over from Barnstaple with Snaps. Haven't ridden the Qs since New Year, so intending on heading up there on Thursday afternoon to sneak some practice in. Sorry if I'm asking daft questions, but what has happened at Weacombe? Is it still rideable?
Are we still intending on having a BBQ afterwards? I'll try not to bring a pack of 8 Spar sausages and then eat everyone else's chicken (as a friend of mine did once before).
no bbq due to lack of interest, if however there's enough interest i maybe able to arrange on to be ready for when we've finished riding.
Weacombe had some trees down from the snow, it's ok now though all bar a few whipy branches..
So its still CPG @ 9am for a 10am start for both groups?
Poo. Can't make it, as Mrs M wants to go walkies - on the Quantocks!
So I will wave if I see you.
Was down there yesterday with some mates, cycling for the first time. It's a lovely mix of different types of trail.
yup all meet at cpg to be ready to ride at 10am.
Bikeshop van there at 9 with supplies and maybe even freebies!.
[i]MrNutt, i'm am the sedgemoor beast but alas i have no mate [/i]
that's because no ladies ride in your neck of the woods......yet! 😉
For the foreigners - what is CPG?
Full name?
Map reference?
[url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=314887&y=137832&z=120&sv=314887,137832&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=827&ax=314887&ay=137832&lm=0 ]Crowcombe park gate [/url] large gravel/grass car park on both sides of the road.
Bloody lovely up there today !
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Weacombe is riding oh so well unlike the big climb back to the top !
I rode Stert Combe for the first time for ages, I think they've gone over the top with the flail, its not the same when you get to Somerton and your legs aren't cut to ribbons by the heather and the gorse 😕
Tis a gorgeous day though, shame its going to be snowing next Saturday 😉
Any chance of a postcode? Streetmap is not my thang!
TA5 1LJ will get you to Nether Stowey; you'll need a map from there.
i don't do maps, you should know that moses!
aleigh, you driving? I can give you a lift if you like?
Aleigh; what about, right, I come with you, and instead of riding silly bikes and getting all knackered and muddy, we sit in the cafe and eat cakes and stuff? I've got a gammy finger anyway.
What d'you reckon? S'a good plan, innit?!!? 😀
Nutt, you gots a vayn?
I've got to have me stitches out on Tuesday, but it looks like healing up nicely, and I'm desperate to get out for a good bikey. A gentle one, though, mind. With gears.
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[i]aleigh, you driving? I can give you a lift if you like? [/i]
that would be fab 🙂 i'll give you some petrol money
[i]Aleigh; what about, right, I come with you, and instead of riding silly bikes and getting all knackered and muddy, we sit in the cafe and eat cakes and stuff? I've got a gammy finger anyway.
What d'you reckon? S'a good plan, innit?!!? [/i]
it sounds like a great plan although i doubt CG or sharki would let me just sit around eating cake!
we can do all that in may though 😉 😆
hi just reporting in from high on a hills top...it's a dark and stary night.
The bike is bloody dusty and the stoopid lambs are littering the trails....ride cancelled until they've all been slaughtered....
Now really! **** it'r awesome up ere nowt but me the deer and whatever else lurks not there.
Laters....
So is there going to be different pace groups? Just seeing if it's suitable to bring Mrs Forge along?
I believe there are but sharki or knottie will be able to give more details
check out the route info at the begining ish of this thread to see if it suitable for Mrs F.
mid level route here [url] http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/another-fine-day-on-the-quantockspics [/url]
Just sharki's tour of the Qs route to write down...
If I wanted to come down the night before and stay in my van, is there somewhere suitable nearby? Would staying in the carpark overnight be possible?
I don't see why not - can't remember any signs saying not, bit remote though but I think there is a pub in Crowcombe, bit of a steep walk back to the van!
thanks Knottie just to trying to put the elevation climb into context, Mrs F has done the Moyle Hill Trail in Dalbeattie but can see how much climbing that had. Distance seems fine though.
Hi snaps - sent you an email re 661 pads.
You'll want junction 25 of the M5 if coming from the north, then follow the route above straight to the car park! Turn Right at B then you wont have to go thru the village!
You could also use this one if you get off at junction 23...
[url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=51.152594,-3.181314+to:Quantocks&geocode=FRi_DAMdiH3S_w%3B%3BFeg6DAMdVu7O_yE2J01SnoVQQQ&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&rtol=0,2&sll=51.14974,-3.181229&sspn=0.026813,0.054932&ie=UTF8&ll=51.141071,-3.199081&spn=0.026818,0.054932&t=h&z=14 ]Google Map from Junct 23[/url]
I could also meet people on a Mway junction (Probably junction 23 if your all coming down the M5) and lead you up there if you want?
Saves people getting lost on route!
you can email me if you want this on charlierevell@gmail.com, if theres enough people want to folow i'll be there for half 8ish and we'll pick a layby to meet in!
i aim to try and get some bright markers and put them up to show the way off the main roads...from either direction off the m5 you need to follow signs for minehead..it'r knowing which lane to turn off at, so a bright arrow with some writing on should help....something like next left for cake, this way for pain, turn back if you've got ssc brake pads.....see you later.
NickNoxx, yes.
On the road NE from the CPG carpark toward Nether Stowey, there's a good pull-off about 400m away, called Dead WOman's Ditch. I've stayed there in our van a couple of times (& might be there the Saturday night)
Another few hundred metres down the hill is another more secluded car park. Take a spade to dig sanitary pits with, though. Leave no litter.
Knottie,
I was planning to come down for this one ( As you know) but work has cocked up my plans yet again. Have a good 'un folks.
what moses said, oddly i slept in the car up there last night(long story) but in the cp between cpg and dwd better view of the sunrise up here, just had some breakie and saw a hot air balloon, does that mean it'r summer...
Anyway stopping over isn't generally a problem so long as its not camping and no fires, and as moses said keep it clean..
If you do fancy doing it do you fancy a night ride to the pub? It'r only about 10miles off road there and back.
So have we got 'final' numbers sharki?
sharki sent you a mail
I'm relatively new to the South West, is this ride open to anyone on here. If it is could someone summarise the meet place and time (putting kids to bed and haven't got time to trawl through), many thanks.