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I'm thinking about buying some winter boots, my feet really feel the cold after a couple of spells in Norway a few years back, has anyone out there got any opinions?
Sunday the 23rd of December
Bedgebury forest MTB Trail
Riders: Dave, Mike. Paul, Iain and Graeme
Photos
Bedgbury forest trail, a couple of things had always put me off going before, but the main reason was mixed reviews, was it really worth half an hour in the car, six quid for parking, only to bike round a wet muddy track!
So with 2 weeks of cold, but dry weather behind us, we thought we would give it a try for our informal pre-Christmas gathering.
The only main stream man-made single track in the South East, well it ain't Wales, and it's not as good as Leith Hill, the track is basic, and you won't find anything that's over technical, well in fact remotely technical, there are no rock steps, tight berms, very little boardwalk and certainly nothing to get a bit or air, what you do get is twisty track through wooded areas, that can be quite quick, and if you push it does do the trick.
Overall, I was pleasantly suprised, if you want near nine miles or single track, without gates, dogwalkers, etc, etc, then this is pretty much ok, especially if your into a bit of training. During the summer, if the conditions are right, and dry, this could definately be very fast and certainly enjoyable. The downside: If more money was invested, this could be a real gem in the south east, the drainage is very poor in areas, possibly making it dangerous for novices, six pound a day is a fair amount of money,
Sunday the 16th December
Crowborough
Riders: Jamie, Mark (newbie), Graeme and Mike. I'd missed the last sunday's wet ride, which after 2 rides (including a night ride) of seriously wet weather, I can't say I missed it that bad.
Anyway, this week was cold and frosty, which I think everyone prefered to the wet.
unfortunately, Mike's rear hub/cassette failed a couple of miles into the ride, so he set off on the walk home, as there was three of us left, in true team spirit, we decided to crack on without him!
Eridge woods seems to be getting better, this week we found more challenging little trails, it's a bit of a maze though, luckily enough we managed to find our way out and head over to Hornshurst wood for a nice little sneaky trail.
Mark our newbie seemed to enjoy himself anyway, and even though he wasn't used to the distance and pace, hopefully we haven't scared him off, and will see him again.
Sunday the 2nd December
Crowborugh
Riders: Jamie and Graeme Jamie was gagging to get out on his new bike, and a cracker it is too, after much debating, he decided to go for the 2008 Marin Mount Vision, and for the cost, it's a cracking bike with a stunning spec.
Rain, more rain, mud and wind that made the rain sting the face, have to admit this is probably the most inclament weather I've ever ridden in, believably, it was still a very good ride, and 3 hours on a pretty good pace, pushing it through mud made it even more rewarding at the end.
Weekend of the 16/17/18th November
Afan Forest/Glyncorrwg trails
Riders: Ian, Dave, Iain, Mike, MattD, Matt, Jaimie, Will, Graeme, Dan, Tim and Martin After our last trip to Wales in June, which was disappointingly wet, we decided that another run was in order to ride dry trails. And what a change it made, although the weather was overcast, the trails were perfect, and now the group is more experienced, we seemed to hit the trails a lot harder and faster.
Friday saw us conquering the Wall followed by the Penhyyd trail, both trails were fast, and doing the Wall first was a good choice as we were perfectly warmed up both physically and mentally to crack the flowing technical trails of the Penhyyd.
This time round we stayed in a B&B a couple of miles outside of Neath called The Green Lantern, and pretty much perfect it was, clean comfortable rooms with all the home comforts, and because it was in the middle of nowhere, it was perfectly quiet (apart from Iain's snoring that was!).
So day two, and we thought we would crack White's level first, get it out of the way and then we would roughly know how much time we had to crack some of the Skyline. So, White's Level has always been a fantastic trail, the black run making sure everyone was pushed to the limit, however, they've opened up the Energy Trail, it now means you miss out that first part from the top of the climb, but believe me, it's worth it, the new addition is fast, swoopy, with berms, a bit of boardwalk and a twisty section through a dark forested track, it's well built, and takes a bit of guts to push it hard through the rocky slate section. The next section is track/boardwalk combination and is a blast, but once you cross the fire road and hoof it down the final decent, this is where the speed and skill really kicks in, a fast swoopy section you can power through and rock steps you can bounce over or down, reaching the bottom in one piece, clearing it you just feel like you could do it all over again......
So that's what we did, we knew it was a punishing climb (from bottom to top in 50 minutes), and we could have cracked round some of the Skyline trail, but well that just seemed boring, so White's level we did, and second time around was even better now we knew the trail a bit better.. everyone, no matter what level of skill level they were at, hammered it down with that massive grin we all know and love.
So after a good day's riding, some fine tucker from the restaurant at the B&B, what better than an early night... nah, bugger that, let's hit Swansea, WOW, fantastic, a whole street of bars, pubs and clubs, about 2 degrees and pissing it down, but that doesn't stop the girls wearing, well nothing really, Will looked like a bunny rabbit hit with headlights, and boy, was there some nice headlights out!
Up next morning, ready to crack on, breakfast done, packed, Cym Carn today.. well, we were hoping, but to be honest, the weather was fowl, a light rain would be fine! But near on freezing, with heavy sleety rain lashing down, the majority thought that two great day's riding was best not spoilt by riding round in the pissing wet, endangering life and bike for an hour and a half's ride.
So, a fantastic weekend had by all, thanks to all that could make it, and a real MTB camararderie spirit was felt. Also thanks to our sponsors (you know who you are), for making sure the weekend went even better.
Photos here
The Alps, next year hear we come.
Sunday the 21st October
A nice crisp fresh morning, frost on the ground, dry conditions, glorious sunshine, just what you require for a blast around the woods on your prized set of wheels.
Photos
Eight riders today - Dave, Mike, Iain, Ian, Paul (back from his accident a while back), Will, Grant and Graeme. Mike led us around his favourite loop inside Hornshurst wood and as it was the first time some of the riders had experienced something like this, twisty single track with lots of suprises that could catch you out if your not on the ball.
As there was no stop at the Jazz this week it was a welcome coffee and scotch pancakes at Dave's house on return, things just don't get better than that!
Wednesday 18th October
Winter is upon us (almost), the nights are drawing in, and bloody hell its dark in them there woods, but that isn't going to stop us from experiencing our favourite trails in a totally different way.
High powered lights attached, we set off from Dave's at 1930, there's Mick, Mike, Dave and Graeme.
This is our first night ride for a long time, and personally this is only my second, the first being too damned muddy and we chose a trail we weren't over familiar with and ended up getting a bit disorientated.
However, this one was going really, really well, the trails were 50/50 on the wet/dry side of things but the decent downhill stretches seem to be dry, although we aren't hitting them as hard and fast as we would during the day, the obvious vision restrictions take the trail to a whole new dimension, only being able to see 15 foot in front of you (light power dependent), is just thrilling and scary at the same time.
We take in three great downhill sections, which unfortunately also requires that we take in three long hard climbs, but in the dark, without being able to see the gradient, they don't seem as long, it just goes to prove that sometimes a long hard climb is as much about mental ability as is it about fitness.
We stop mid way along the forest bridleway, which is a perfect point to take in the night sky and crack a bit of star navigation training, then crack on down the descent at a surprisingly quick pace with great satisfaction of our faces.
So is it worth spending hard earned cash on a set of lights…. Too right, and I will be soon (instead of borrowing Dave's).
Without teaching you to suck eggs! Always remember 3 things when night riding:
- Never, ever ride alone.
- Make sure your lights are charged and you know how long the charge will last.
- Always ride an established route you know pretty intimately
Another trip to Afan is confirmed for November, we could have gone somewhere else but I think everyone just wanted to go back and have a better crack at these trails for a second time.
Quote: "Becky, do you mind if I go mountain biking this weekend", "but Ian, I already said you could but you said you didn't want too!" Cranston rumbled by his wife.....!
Sunday October 7th
Bit misty this morning, and you can tell that autumn is here as the temperature is beginning to drop, still, no excuse and off we set from Dave's just after eight. A new face is always welcome, and today, Stuart made his way down from Tonbridge to give us a go.
Riders this week are Dave, Glen, Ian, Stuart and Graeme. The route we decided on was the same as a our last local trip a month ago (minus puncture alley) and was just as good, (but with only one puncture), although next week we will have to try something else.
Now, according to What Mountain Bike (backed up by Dave), if you don't fall off occasionaly then your not pushing yourself enough, therefore, in the long run, you wont improve. With this in mind, myself (Graeme), going over the handle bars into a mattress of branches, then later mis-jundging a routed and rutted section and just managing to stop before hitting a fence is called a learning experience (or it could be that after my eye test today I actually do need glasses).
There was a slight panic as Dave went off the beaten track and before he know it managed to tangle himself and his bike in a stray bit of barbed wire.. luckily no damage apart from a possible torn sealskin sock.
What made a difference today was that all the walkers we passed today were actually very nice, and the very opposite from the usual frostiness we recieve, whether it will last of course we will have to see. Although coming round a corner and braking sharply to avoid a 5 year old kid, and almost giving the mother a heart attack never helps!
Seems we had a bit of a race up Mardens Hill this week, everyone digging in and feeling it by the end, we'll have to watch Stuart though, seems he's a fit one!
URGENT REQUEST: We are currently looking for a mid to late aged bloke by the name of Mick Dann, not seem for quite a while on the trails of East Sussex, if seen, please contact us immediately! |
Sunday September 23rd
Every now and again we like to crack a South Downs ride and we thought it was a bit overdue. Four entrepid riders - Dave, Iain, Paul and Graeme set off from Friston Forest , it was a bit misty coming down in the car, but now the sun was glorious and at this time in the morning (just after eight), showed the South Downs in all its glory.
The Friston Forest MTB trail could wait for another day, so we set off on a SD loop, with a nice long uphill slog up the side of Friston village which warmed the legs up nicely. Now those that say the South Downs is Boring, I think they should try the two long downhill stretches of Bourne Hill and Windover Hill, they may not be the traditional single track trails that seems what all MTB'ers are after these days, but taken at speed, they can be as scary as hell, get to the bottom and you don't know whether to crack a grin or thank the good lord for not trashing yourself on sharp flint and chalk.
We loop round from Alfriston and after a slight topigraphical error on my behalf (I'm getting a bit rusty on the old map reading), we crack up Snap Hill, Coming down the bridleway the other side we see a sign for the Friston Forest MTB trail and decide to follow this back to the car park. It's definately a trail to be revisited and the single track seems to be quit flowing and technical enough, well, enough to send Paul crashing, badly.. and there was no way he was going to make it round the trail. We take a slow ride back to the car making sure Paul can drive home safely.
It was still a pretty good 16 miles, and I think a re-visit to the MTB trail may be coming up soon. |
Have to Thank Wildside Cycles in Tunbridge Wells for saving the day, had trouble with my rear cassette after taking the wheel off to clean it, the damn wheel fell onto the patio - cassette side down, resulting with the cassette coming off in my hand, took it into the shop at half three on a Saturday, and they fixed it there and there for a fiver. |
Sunday September 9th
The best ride of the year… or perhaps the worst…
0805, and pretty sharp for once we all set off from Dave's house, beautiful weather, 4 riders (Dave, Paul, Glen, and Graeme). The trails are fantastically dry and quick, all the riding through that “summer” mud has paid off and we all seem reasonably pretty fit. We fly down our three favourite downhill sections ending up at the bottom of Broadstone Warren with what must be the biggest grins of the year, and so far, even though suffering 2 punctures we seem to hit the target time spot on for the opening of the Jazz at 1000.
Paul's found a new fantastic way of getting past people, on a high speed trail, just shout out loud so the person in front of you thinks there's been a crash so slows down, then, when said person has slowed down to look behind, race past… from now on I don't care what screams come from behind, I'm not a stopping! (and his pump is a real classic)
We're also thinking about creating a new section on the website,, Dave's weekly crash section, this week getting stuck in a rut (no, not the daily grind of Train, work, home, train, work, home…), but catching his wheel and sending him soaring through the sky and landing on his face, luckily no facial injuries, but a nice grazing to the underside of his arm.
Quote of the day “Your not allowed to ride on the forest”… sharply replied with “your not allowed to run on the forest” from Paul to a very bemused runner with dog!
So, back on the sadly after a large Latte/Cappuccino and Earl Gay for Glen, and we're ready for a quick sprint along the railway, through Pooh bridge and then perhaps up Mill Lane and cardiac hill… however, our luck was about to change, Paul got a bit too “into the zone” and didn't stop for the turn off from the railway line (he was a bit ahead of us..!), and after waiting for 5 minutes we decided to ring him to tell him he had to come all the way back! So we head up the usual bridleway that will take us up to Pooh bridge, everything seems ok. Glen seems to have punctured, and after kicking the irritating yappy Jack Russell that comes at us we get to the top of the lane and start changing the tube. 3 punctures in one ride, that's not too bad….. Glen puts his wheel on, and off we go… er, not quite, because it seems that while we have been enjoying the sun, both Paul and Dave's tyres were steadily reducing in pressure!… and this is where it get's messy.. it seems the farmer cut the bush at the side of the bridleway and scattered the thorns on the ground, the maths doesn't quite seem to add up, 4 riders = 4 bikes, which is 8 wheels, so how the hell do you manage 12 Punctures. Luckily we bought some tubes at Forest Row and we had puncture repair kits or we would have been walking home!!!
Graeme - 1 Puncture
Pual – 4 Punctures
Dave 3 punctures
Glen 4 Punctures
We had to call it a day and get back as quick as we could by road.
It took us 5 and a half hours to cover 25 miles, 2 and a half hours of which were stationary!
Roll on the next ride eh!! |
Sunday September 2nd
Start Point: Dave's house
Riders:Dave, Iain, Paul, Mike and Mick
Route: Crowborough - Java cafe and back
Weather: Sunny (ish).. but drying out nicely
Distance: 26 miles
Climb: 612m
Time: 3.5 hours(with cafe stop).
The Low-down: This week it was Dave's turn to do a bit of last minute maintenance when he discovered that his jockey wheel was siezed up with last weeks mud, eventually setting of
at about 8.20 though we hit the trails. The sun was out and it looked like being a corker, but by the time we got 1 mile up the road the sun had vanished and the worry was of rain.
With a time constrait this week we decided on a quick blatt over to the Java via Pooh Bridge and the railway line. An early arrival saw us take a quick extension via Bramble Tie before settling down for coffees and cakes. A high speed trek back along the railway line through Buckhurst and via Mick's Muma and Dad's. We had to persuade Mick not to stop for a coffee, a good few weeks off the bike had left him not in the best of form.
A swift ride along the Mill Lane left over the bridge an up to the Farm, not stopping at the gate... Left us all feeling it in our legs a little.
Average speed was a second best of 10.4 mph with a climb of 612m.
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Sunday August 26th
Start Point: Dave's house
Riders:Dave, Iain, Ian, Paul, Mike, Graeme, Alvard, Will and Jaimie.
Route: Crowborough - forest row loop
Weather: Sunny.. horray!!
Distance: 26.8
Climb: 900m
Time: 4 hours (with cafe stop).
The Low-down: A whole 9 riders for today. definately the most riders that have been out for a long time, and it definately makes it more interesting. The going was fair, and although the weather had been dry for a few days there were still a few damp patches here and there. It's always suprising when you do a route you haven't done in a while to find how fun and challenging it can be, especially when it's right on your doorstep. I shouldn't mention the Dave's fall... Photos
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July..
Seems I've been a bit lazy after coming back from Afan, but to be honest, nothing much has happened, everyone's been busy earning the bucks so that we can get everything back to the norm after the punishment of the Welsh hills.
Paul's been training, and so has Ian (on the sly), and all we need to to is have a weekend where we are all free where we can get away again.
A good ride in Lieth Hill for Paul and me (Graeme), now we know the route thanks to Iain Anderson, we try and vary it so we find some new territory, and it seems there is a lot of it around.
It's a bit embarassing.. and I'm still waiting for my handlebars! |
Injury report
Seems that our guests in Afan had a bad weekend, in true style, a photo before a patch job was in order, 8 stiches, impressive!
Ouch
Ooooh
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Friday/Saturday/Sunday June 22nd/23rd/24th
Start Point: Afan Forest Trail Centre
Riders:Dave, Iain, Ian, Paul, Mike, Graeme.
Route: The Pehyyd, Wall, Skyline and White's level trails
Weather: Cloudy and wet, 16c
Distance:
75 miles
Climb:
2500 metres
Time: The weekend
Click here for the write up on this fabulous weekend.
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Sunday June 10th
Start Point : Westcott Green
Riders: Dave, Iain, Paul, Graeme, Mike (Dave's bro') and Mike (newbie)
Route: Leith Hill and Holmbury Loop
Weather: Sunny 25c
Distance: 18.2 Miles
Climb: TBC
Time: 3 Hours
The Low-down: The classic route round, although with Iain being our guide this time we didn't get graphically confused. After slight rain overnight, the conditions were perfect, the sandy trails were compact and the weather was superb. once again a fantastic ride, this place really is the best in the south east of England.
Incidents: Mike (newbie) falling off on the Barry Knows Best trail, but we can forgive that.. he's got a hardtail, there was no sympathy however for Dave, who fell off on the same trail and came off the worst! |
Sunday June 3rd
Start Point : Dave's house
Riders: Dave, Iain, Paul, Mick, Alvar, Sam.
Route: Crowborough Trails
Weather: Sunny 21c
Distance: 25 Miles
Climb: TBC
Time: 4 Hours
The Low-down: A good turnout for a beautiful day. Nice to see Alvar making a first Sunday outing. Some great fun on the down hills and the Java didn't disapoint either with cracking cofee and cakes and buns on offer!
Incidents: Getting accosted by a woman on a horse for riding of her forest, even though it was a bridleway! Dave being the only faller of the day (best he gets his act together for Afan in 3 weeks time). |
Sunday May 20th
Start Point : Nirvana cycles, Westcott
Riders: Paul, Graeme and Iain
Route: Lieth Hill and Holmbury Hill loop
Weather: Sunny 20c
Distance: 20 Miles
Climb: Not recorded
Time: 3 Hours
The Low-down: Leith Hill is a fantastic Mecca for MTB'rs, loads of trails, nice single track and more bridleways that you can shake a stick at. The 'Barry Knows best' trail is just fantastic. As Iain had to back out of the ride due to sickness, we made are own original way round with the aid of a map borrowed by said sick man. We also managed to ride the summer lightning trail which is more a subtle twisty single track affair. As we ran out of time, we had to hot foot it back to the car from Peaslake on road, but having just seen a modeltastic woman riding a hardtail, our spirits were in good health.
Incidents: Getting surrounded by girlie students at the end of the Barry knows best trail because they were lost and trying to stop my legs from shaking after the adrenaline rush of the trail. |
Sunday May 6th
Start Point : Dave's House
Riders: Dave, Iain, Ian, Paul, Will, Graeme
Route: Crowborough Trails
Weather: Cloudy 15c
Distance: 12 Miles
Climb: 463 metres
Time: 2 Hours
The Low-down: After last weeks 30 miler it was deemed that a quick sprint and training ride was in order this weekend.
Incidents: Me falling of after some idiot had created a mound on a trail that wasn't there last week, Ian turning up with a 16lb hardtail and us trying not to laugh as he bounced down the trails. |
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