Holmbury Hill and Pitch Hill, Ride in the Surrey Hills Options

[mbElf]

I would join you guys this weekend but i'm on family stuff this week oh well, maybe next time.....Holmbury & Pitch is one of those areas I've read about and want to ride.

see you at swinners next weekend..

Vespa - its pretty good - different type of riding from swinley - long climbs and long descents. you'll love it. its a bit of a trek for your though

Marc, James - excellent ride today. Good turn out too. Really enjoyed it and look forward to doing it again. Next time - i will be faster i hope but legs were just like jelly.

Nice meeting you Stretch - and an advance welcome to the forum.

The yoghurt puts were definately different but i can't figure out why. Its not the entrance - i think they were a bit longer or did we do them twice before.

What was the trail with the smooth pine needle carpet called - that was awesome - i wanted to do that again.

thanks once again - and look forward to the next ride.

Marc, James - if you have one day free one weekend - would love to explore this area - there must be some really cool stuff waiting to be found. Let me know if you are interested.

cheers

Maj

[Gezzza]

You will be pleased to know that I'm hurting 6-7 weeks and no action = unfit.

I'm defiantly going back to the surrey hills fantastic XC there, Marc I'm jealous.

So whens the next ride????

[marcliam]

Marc, James - excellent ride today.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Nice meeting you Stretch - and an advance welcome to the forum.

Yep good to meet you Stretch. Hope to see you out on a Swinley ride soon.

The yoghurt puts were definately different but i can't figure out why. Its not the entrance - i think they were a bit longer or did we do them twice before.

There has been quite a bit of work over the summer on YP's (like the new bermed turn at the end) but the basis route has remained the same. I think I might have also taken you down Doc at the Radar Station (aka Petite Filous) last time which is the left hand turning before you enter into the new YP entrance. This is a shorter version of the YP's.

What was the trail with the smooth pine needle carpet called - that was awesome - i wanted to do that again.

Not sure....found it doing some exploratory riding with Chris. It may be known as 'the Gimp' to some people. Freaky bit of trail that and great doing it in a big group because you can all take a slightly different line.

Marc, James - if you have one day free one weekend - would love to explore this area - there must be some really cool stuff waiting to be found. Let me know if you are interested.

Definately...I fancy concentrating on Pitch Hill where I know there are quite a few trails hidden but never found them (have a feeling some of them are quite DH'y.

You will be pleased to know that I'm hurting 6-7 weeks and no action = unfit.

I'm defiantly going back to the surrey hills fantastic XC there, Marc I'm jealous.

So whens the next ride????

I was still at the back for a lot of the ride (despite being the one leading )

Up for another forum ride though in a couple (or so) of weeks time....

It was a good ride for me except I have found that the SPD's (and couple of recent 'incidents') have sapped up a lot of my confidence on things I would ride previously without too much problem.....

[bobosola]

Thanks to Marc & James for a really great ride yesterday. I've had some not-so-good rides of late and yesterday was a real tonic to lift me up again and remind me what good terrain is all about. I do think you've got the best riding in southern England there. Much as I like Swinley, I think I actually prefer the tougher climbs and longer, more technical singletrack in the Surrey Hills, especially now that the summer poseurs have long gone and it's not too crowded. I took half a dozen very average photos: 14 MB Zip file here if you are interested.

[mbElf]

Thanks to Marc & James for a really great ride yesterday. I've had some not-so-good rides of late and yesterday was a real tonic to lift me up again and remind me what good terrain is all about. I do think you've got the best riding in southern England there. Much as I like Swinley, I think I actually prefer the tougher climbs and longer, more technical singletrack in the Surrey Hills, especially now that the summer poseurs have long gone and it's not too crowded. I took half a dozen very average photos: 14 MB Zip file here if you are interested.

Thanks for photos bob, average? they are really good - excellent camera by the way - ever thought about mounting it on your helmet and taking a movie instead?.

anyway - look forward to the next ride - SDW???

[marcliam]

Thanks for photos bob, average? they are really good - excellent camera by the way - ever thought about mounting it on your helmet and taking a movie instead?.

anyway - look forward to the next ride - SDW???

Thanks for the pics Bob (are you going to fire them up on Facebook?)

Re: SDW - Let me know what your plans are Maj as I may well be up for it. Although I need to think about getting a new waterproof jacket as the SDW tends not to be as comfy cosy as the north downs or Swinley when the weather turns....

[mbElf]

Re: SDW - Let me know what your plans are Maj as I may well be up for it. Although I need to think about getting a new waterproof jacket as the SDW tends not to be as comfy cosy as the north downs or Swinley when the weather turns....

I want to do the sdw before it gets too cold - bob/gezza when would be a good time?. SDW is your neck of the woods.

I have been looking for trails on the surrey hills - are the yoghurt pots same as bomb holes? the are some excellent clips on youtube and i am keen to find some of those hidden trails - they look awesome.

[Stretch]

Hi all

Marc, James, thanks for a wicked ride on Saturday. Although I have ridden this area a number of times before, you gave me a new appreciation of the North Downs! God this is a beautiful country!!

Uhm, I am super keen for a XC cycle at Swinley this weekend, and I will defo be there at 08:30, probably with another inexperienced mate of mine tagging along! It is really good to meet some real nice blokes to cycle with.

All I want now is a Handjob, a Cove Handjob that is! I am contemplating building a new bike, but with Gary's advice, i think buying a ready built at my level is a better option.

Sweet

Stretch

[mbElf]

Hi all

Marc, James, thanks for a wicked ride on Saturday. Although I have ridden this area a number of times before, you gave me a new appreciation of the North Downs! God this is a beautiful country!!

Uhm, I am super keen for a XC cycle at Swinley this weekend, and I will defo be there at 08:30, probably with another inexperienced mate of mine tagging along! It is really good to meet some real nice blokes to cycle with.

All I want now is a Handjob, a Cove Handjob that is! I am contemplating building a new bike, but with Gary's advice, i think buying a ready built at my level is a better option.

Sweet

Stretch

Stretch - look at the trek ex8 - really good bike and the frames have a life time warranty. might be worth posting something in buying advice section. welcome once again. 8.30 might be a bit early. We gather at 8.45 for 9.00 but sometimes its a bit later. no one gets left behind.

[marcliam]

@Maj – There’s quite a bit of Holmbury, Pitch and Leith Hill vid’s posted on the net (You Tube, etc). There’s a guy on this forum who has videos posted on You Tube under the name ‘Butahada’. I think I have a link on one of my old blog entries (on this forum) to some other videos.

Many of the trails are known by different names by different people e.g. Barry Knows Best (the one that drops us onto the road into Peaslake) a.k.a. Golden Birdies or Yoghurt Pots a.k.a. Parklife a.k.a. Rollercoaster Some of the old videos of Yoghurt Pots will look different because you used access the ‘pots’ from a completely different route closer to the summit of Holmbury Hill off the side of the iron age fort. It was a lovely fast steep entry but caused a LOT of problems with English Heritage. You also used to have to ride through all the gloop (or yoghurt) in the pots until the Hurtwood Volunteers had done the work to let you ‘wall ride’ them.

Bombholes could be referring to YP’s but there are various ones dotted around the place. Could also be referring to some really cool ones over Winterfold way…

@Stretch – The best (and only!?!) way to ride Swinley is a forum ride. Have you checked out the Swinley Forest thread on this forum for details of next ride….

[torihada]

@Maj – There’s quite a bit of Holmbury, Pitch and Leith Hill vid’s posted on the net (You Tube, etc). There’s a guy on this forum who has videos posted on You Tube under the name ‘Butahada’. I think I have a link on one of my old blog entries (on this forum) to some other videos.

C'est moi. Link in my signature to some Leith Hill video.

Was up at Leith this Sunday. 16 of us! Beautiful weather. We rode Personal Hygiene, Donny Darko, Windy Willows, Summer Lightning, Deliverence, Golden Birdies and others I have no idea the name of or location; big bomb holes, some greasy north shore, lots of doubles and some massive gap jumps; one 25 footer - I only watched. Saw the ambulance, helicopter and para medics out for one guy; white as a sheet and I think unconscious (head injury) at the top of the sandy bridleway that takes you down to the Rookery. Hopefully he's ok.

[marcliam]

C'est moi. Link in my signature to some Leith Hill video.

Was up at Leith this Sunday. 16 of us! Beautiful weather. We rode Personal Hygiene, Donny Darko, Windy Willows, Summer Lightning, Deliverence, Golden Birdies and others I have no idea the name of or location; big bomb holes, some greasy north shore, lots of doubles and some massive gap jumps; one 25 footer - I only watched. Saw the ambulance, helicopter and para medics out for one guy; white as a sheet and I think unconscious (head injury) at the top of the sandy bridleway that takes you down to the Rookery. Hopefully he's ok.

Always liked your vids specially this one which heads down to my village.

Even though Leith Hill is the closest of the hills to me I seem to spend more time riding Holmbury & Pitch, some of this because a lot of the Leith stuff seems a bit more 'extreme' droppy stuff. (Deliverance for example has always scared the bejaysus out of me!)

[torihada]

Always liked your vids specially this one which heads down to my village.

Even though Leith Hill is the closest of the hills to me I seem to spend more time riding Holmbury & Pitch, some of this because a lot of the Leith stuff seems a bit more 'extreme' droppy stuff. (Deliverance for example has always scared the bejaysus out of me!)

Cheers. Got some video from Sunday with the nutters clearing the 25 footers. I always enjoy the finish down to the Rookery; that last drop-off (glorified big step), hit at speed allows you to travel for about 10 feet before touch down. I assume you live in Westcott Heath? We never go to Swinley as to get there we have to drive past Leith Hill. Some of the guys I ride with join the Nirvana XC/Freeride rides on a Wed, so they know quite a few of the less publicised trails.

There's some pretty hairy stuff around Leith, but deliverance is ok, as long as you don't touch the front brake, spot your exit and make sure its a straight line. The trail below Deliverance (Golden Birdies/Waggle Dance?) is where I had my biggest smash so far. Its the tame trails that really get you.

[mbElf]

Torihada, you're videos are awesome - thanks for uploading them. I did not realise summer lightening went on for such a long way. Thats the only trail i found on leith hill and i only did half of it Makes me want to give leith hill another try.

[marcliam]

I assume you live in Westcott Heath?

I'm down one of the roads on the opposite side to Nirvana.

I did not realise summer lightening went on for such a long way. Thats the only trail i found on leith hill and i only did half of it Makes me want to give leith hill another try.

Torihada's video shows the piece of singletrack (after the end of Summer Lightening) that runs alongside Wolvens Lane (a byway) all the way back down to the Rookery in Westcott. A really nice run when it's dry, a few claggy bits when it's wet + very sandy so great at wearing out components in the winter! Really steppy, rocky, rutty end just before you get to the road, great fun!

[torihada]

I'm down one of the roads on the opposite side to Nirvana.

Aha! I've probably been one of those annoying incomers blocking up your road for our early morning Sunday rides. Smashing location. So much on your doorstep. Very jealous. Do you ever get out with the Nirvana guys?

[marcliam]

Aha! I've probably been one of those annoying incomers blocking up your road for our early morning Sunday rides. Smashing location. So much on your doorstep. Very jealous. Do you ever get out with the Nirvana guys?

I don't mind the fact that there's loads of bikers round here, always makes me think 'oooh I fancy a ride' plus it's great to live somewhere that other will travel to because they really appreciate it.

As for the Nirvana guys...nope never go out with them but that's another story.....

[mbElf]

I don't mind the fact that there's loads of bikers round here, always makes me think 'oooh I fancy a ride' plus it's great to live somewhere that other will travel to because they really appreciate it.

As for the Nirvana guys...nope never go out with them but that's another story.....

The nirvana guys look real hardcore - check out their youtube videos.

I am still hunting around for a decent website that has some gpx files - absolutley zip. still there must be something out there...

[marcliam]

I am still hunting around for a decent website that has some gpx files - absolutley zip. still there must be something out there...

You will struggle....

[torihada]

Here's some more video, from last Sunday: Leith Hill Video

16 of us out, it was like riding in the pelaton. Sadly some of the best sections (to ride) look lame on the video (and so aren't included) because I was wearing my full set of chicken wings and ran round the rooty drop offs, table and gap jumps. I need to go to jump school.