Zwifters assemble – Sunday Hills IRL 04/09

Now that we can socialise and meet up, I was thinking it might be good to do a Sunday hills session in real life so we can put names to faces. It got discussed a bit at Jennride and Robbo and Slowpuncheur were interested so I’m putting a bit more flesh on the bones.

In keeping with the Sunday hills theme of sociable riding on a hilly route but with a MTB twist I was thinking of doing a ride on Saturday 4th September and going round Eastridge and the Stiperstones. It’d be a decent ride with some tough ups and some of the more locals trails down (wheels on the ground but interestingly tech and steep in places). Social pace for the group but flyers can go nuts on climbs and there is a convenient pub half way round.

Assuming that the wife’s shifts don’t change I can make it.

Not sure if I’ll be able to make this due to other family commitments on Saturdays, but if I can I will try to be there.

I should be able to make this too.

That sounds like a good idea – not sure how the dates work for me but will have a look see.

On a slight segue, I’m planning on being in the SE 16th to 23rd of August if anyone fancies showing me around their patch (or the Sunday 22nd works betterer?)

It’s been a while since I’ve been on zwift but hoping to return soon.

As it stands I’m off work that Saturday so if I make a plan to turn it might spur me on to get back out on the bike.

Are there any campsites near by that anyone can recommend?

Are there any campsites near by that anyone can recommend?

If a few of us are schlepping down we might do as well to book an air bnb or something between a few of us? Seem to recall a tent pitch being about the same price as a night for two at the pub or a weekend on a boat on the coast.

I might be up for this, it would be nice to put real faces to the avatars.

Could you let me have a postcode so I can check out the logistics.
Also as a rough feel is it a good route?

I also thought about organising a northern or semi northern version, Peaks, West Yorkshire, Dales or lakes on either MTB or roadie for those that fancied it. I would be happy to act as guide especially a road ride around trough of Bowland and skirting through the Dales.

Only trouble is at the moment I’m not sure I know any availability after the end of August until then.

@kirky72

If you used snailbeach village hall as the start point it’ll not be too far off. SY5 0NX.

Depends on how many and all that jazz but somewhere around there.

And the route should be good, Eastridge and Stiperstones so a mix of handcut “enduro” trails in the woods and moorland singletrack picking up some of the better descents and then climbs that allow a bit of sociability.

2.5hrs based on low traffic levels. It’s definitely border line for me unless I can try and combine as a weekender.

Ha, just punched the postcode in and that’s not where I thought!

Some reason I’d got Surrey Hills in my head. That’s a much better run.

Annoyingly I’m working in Birmingham Tuesday to Thursday that week but there’s zero chance of taking the Friday as holiday.

Might see if I can get something booked in for the Saturday though and make a weekend of it.

@dangeourbrain – so did i! As Surrey hills isnt far from me, unfortunately the location of this ride is nearly 5 hours away. So as much as i would like to put faces to names from the suffering of zwift race days, i wont be able to on this occasion.

So a quick look see at where is where and things, would the suggested ride be likely to take in the long mynd? Thinking that might be a good idea for the Saturday if not or head over the border to Rhayader though despite only being this ___ far on the map that seems to be a long drive

So just for clarity the 4th is a Saturday so that Robbo might be able to make it and Eastridge is in Shropshire.

Saturdays rode will be Eastridge and Stiperstones, there’s enough to be going at there without straying across to Long Mynd. If anyone wanted to ride there on Sunday I can supply route but I’ll only get a days pass out I think.

Eh? Surrey Hills ride on a Sunday in Shopshire as long as its on a Saturday?

Gotta love this place 😀

Who said owt about Surrey Hills? Sunday Hills has been moved to Saturday to suit regulars previously so I do rather feel I’m in line with the rules.

@Kryton57, this all stems from the Zwift “Sunday hills” rides we were all doing over the winter and spring period indoors, hence the thread title.

God knows how Surrey hills came into it.

@Kryton57, this all stems from the Zwift “Sunday hills” rides we were all doing over the winter and spring period indoors, hence the thread title.

Which admittedly was occasionally so early on Sunday as to be Saturday. But obviously I only read the title before I replied. This is STW and that’s the law here.

God knows how Surrey hills came into it.

Possibly also my fault as I thought eastridge was in Surrey, and Google maps is hard.

But if someone wants to organise a Surrey Hills one I’ve only ridden there once, thought it was ace but guess I missed all the good stuff.

It has the advantage of only being over tube stop from the mall too…

I can neither make the Saturday or Sunday in Shropshire or Surrey that weekend I’m afraid. What about behind the Nationwide on a Monday for a ice cream Sundae with @Kryton57? 🙂

This is a great idea @mrhoppy. I can’t make it though!

And @kirky72 I’m definitely interested in a Northern version. Keep us posted.

Where abouts would be a good place to stay in terms of post ride refreshments? (not specifically on site but more in terms of not having to get back in the car if there is a pub stop after the event)

Bridges might be the best place, good pub that has accomodation on site. Failing that mebbe in Shrewsbury itself, we’re a bit rural round here, there’s plenty of choice of pub and decent curry places.

If there’s not too many of us riding then we can always start a few minutes up the road in Stiperstones and finish at the pub there.

Bridges has the advantage that if anyone wants to ride long Mynd the next day you can ride straight out of the pub.

Well in true STW fashion I’ve ended up reading the advice then outright ignoring it*, I’m booked in at alberbury, looks like there’s a few tightly packed contours in crigion to go at for an hour or two in the evening or Sunday.

*I’ve emailed bridges but nothing heard yet, so might switch down there in due course.

Would love to join you as Long Mynd + Stiperstones are local to me – well a 20 mile cross country hack anyway, in fact I’m riding over on Saturday for a few beers and food then a bivvy on the Mynd somewhere.

Unfortunately on the 4th I’ll be at a music festival in Manchester.

Can recommend Bridges, or the YHA next door, or there are some camping pods at Marshbrook, or a campsite in Ratlinghope itself, loads of options

Stiperstones pub is great, good cheap food and ale, the shop next door is a proper Aladdins’s cave.

I’m going to make a concerted effort to turn up to this meet up.
I need to work out what my allocated shift is on the Friday. Hopefully not a late shift.
Not sure if I’ll stay over but I’ll go for a pint of orange after.
Looking forward to riding the bike somewhere new…

Having ridden past it the other day the campsite in Ratlinghope (pronounced raatchup if you don’t want to sound like an outsider) looked pretty good, reasonably close to a good pub in Bridges and also a good base for riding the Mynd if you wanted to make a weekend of it. Failing that there is one at the S end of the Mynd in Marshbrook, also decent pub and a bike shop, you can ride straight from there onto the Mynd too, at the Minton Batch end.

There is a hill climb on the Burway on Sunday too if anyone wanted to go nuts, closed road and everything.

I thought I ought to try and put a bit more info up and see if we can’t get things a bit more sorted what with it being a week to go.

From scanning back it looks like @robbo1234biking @oopnorth @forge197 @dangeourbrain @retrorick and @kirky72 have all said you might be able to ride.

If we meet at the Snailbeach village hall (SY5 0NX) around 10.30 ish that should allow us to get round for a lunch stop at the pub just over half way. Snailbeach is arse end of nowhere but there are toilets and a reasonable car park. Probably 3-4 hours of riding ish plus a lunch stop.

Sounds good to me!

@mrhoppy do you have a gpx of the route? Cheers

Oh and money related – do I need change for parking and does the pub take cards?! Got used to never needing cash over the past 18 months!

I do, it’s about 33km 1000m ascent ish, but the last 5km can be skipped depending on how people are going. If anyone wants it ping me a PM with your email and I’ll send it over.

It’s probably a bit on the wooded side to run the leaders beacon for this ride.

I’m 50/50 with my attendance at the moment 🙁
I haven’t been on the bike for a while now, so that’s a concern!
I also have a 10pm work finish on the Friday evening 🙁
I will update my chances of turning up as the week progresses.

Rick.

Parking is a voluntary donation box, pub should take cards, little local shop is probably cash only but drinks but imagine prices from around 20 years ago.

Sorry @mrhoppy I’m out now with the medical issues, no biking for me right now.
Shame I can’t be there.

Cheers – I’ll look down the back of the sofa for some change! Looking forward to it.

I’m out now with the medical issues, no biking for me right now.
Shame I can’t be there.

Ah balls Oop I’d missed that, get herself sorted and we’ll see you about when you’re back firing.

Sounds good looking forward to this.

@dangeourbrain setting up a WhatsApp incase of stuff, do you want to ping me your details and I’ll add you in.