Hi guys

Cant make it tomorrow sadly been getting snottier and snottier today so gonna have a day off.

Have a good ride

Alex

That's no excuse! I'm snotty and horrible too but I'm going... the fresh air will probably make you feel better. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.

It's going to be a very nice sunny day...

Wow!


Guys - I'm going to be lame and bail tommorow. I am absolutely beat and and after a week of early mornings, long hours and boredom I could really do with taking it easy tommorow and putting my feet up. Sounds like you are going to have some pretty good weather so have a great ride guys and see y'all soon.

I've forgotten what you look like - If you change your mind - well you know the time and place it would be really cool to see you - have good weekend.

Hi, forum newbie here. I've negotiated an early morning pass and signed up for the ride tomorrow (so long as its not too quick, I'm just getting back into the riding after a year or so off, the mind is willing if not the body!). I'm happier on the downs than on the ups

Will be on a black cove hustler. See you at the car park at 8.45.

Andy

Welcome to the Forum, Andy and welcome to the Swinley thread! I think a suitable motto for the Swinley ride is "Nobody gets left behind"......Well except there was this one guy who.....no only joking, you'll be fine. Usually plenty of stops to navigate, chat and get breath back except for Gezzza of course who is always looking for the nearest hill to punish himself with....


I know, I know.....but desperately need some R&R, normal service will resume shortly...... It also means i've tried to kick start Kerr's 'Something different for the Swinley Crew' thread.....

Right i'm off to bed (probably to be woken up by my baby daughter at 2, 3, 4, 5, 5.30 and 6)!

Cheers fella, hopefully I'll be OK, I'll just blame my inability to climb hills on long travel forks with no lockout!

Luckily for my my baby daughter is well trained to wake at 6.30 - 7 am, perfect as a work alarm and for early morning weekend rides

Welcome to the forum Razor. Marc summed up the swinley ride well and Like you my baby daughter is my alarm clock too.

I'll be on the ride tomorrow and riding a white scott scale.

Cheers
Brian

Andy, when you get into the carpark, go left and left again so that you're at the farthest area away from the Lookout centre - that's where we meet.

See you tomorrow.

Good ride today. Thanks to Al for guiding, I think we did some really great trails today - many of which I haven't done in a long time, if at all. Weather was brill too.

Looking forward to the next one.

Nice to meet you all today and the regular rest stops were great! Won't be about for 2-3 weeks but hope to get on the ride again soon.

Only downer was that I got stuck in traffic on the way home for an hour longer than expected

Right, it's a warm Saturday night so I know what I need.

Excellent days cycling today - The weather was perfect and nice seeing some new Faces - Al and Andy (welcome).

Al took us on to some trails which we have not done before and they were really good fun. Not sure if anyone had a satnav but it would be cool to do those trails again if we can find them.

Here are some photos - they did not come out very well - need to get a camera with a faster shutter speed and then we will be in business.

http://www.bartlettspotterhughes.com/Swinl...2009/index.html

Here is Al showing us how it was done.



have a nice weekend everyone - and see you guys again soon.

Sorry to disappear off the radar this week.
My Father passed away on tuesday in exeter hospital.
He had been ill since Dec and in hospital since Jan. He was 77.

I wasnt going to do any riding at all this week, but I came home on friday evening from the west country to find my copy of Mountain biking Uk in the letter box.
If anyone has this, read Mint Sauce.
Then phone your dad and thank him for your first bike while you can.

As a concequence I went down to the south downs and rode with My good friend Mark on Saturday.
Amazing ride, and I had a chance to thank my dad.

Im glad you guys had a great day yesterday... The weather is amazing at the moment.

I dont know if I will be about for the next week.

kerr

Very sorry to hear that. Whilst I am yet to experience the loss of a parent, I know how hard it was (and still is) for my parents when my grandparents passed away. Whether it was 'expected' or not, it's very tough to deal with and so you have my utmost condolences and best wishes.

Take things easy for a bit but, far from your thoughts as it no doubt is, try to get out on your bike as it will help to clear your head. There are some quiet spots at Swinley which I find are good to go and sit at for a while when I'm feeling melancholic... just don't sit there on your own for too long!

I bid you strength and look forward to your company at an upcoming ride.

Max

Kerr,

Really sorry to hear this mate. As Max says, getting out on the bike can be a great way to find some time to clear your mind. Particularly when you get weather like we are experiencing at the moment.

Marc

Very sorry for your loss Kerr, I lost my last 2 grandparents within a week of each other at the turn of the year, though this may seem strange it was a relief for my Grandad to go a week after my Nan as he was 94 and just didn't want to be here anymore after losing my Nan the week before and was being very distructive. I lost my father and best friend at 63 and if there is one thing I always say to my friends is life is to short they were still many question that I hadn't asked him. All the best and take it steady.


For those that came to Swinley yesterday it was good to meet some new faces, I have uploaded the tracklog to Bikely HERE. There are also othre routes on my Bikely site but they are pretty similar.

I know that there's talk of riding elsewhere this coming weekend but the wife wants to take the little one for a walk in the forest and hang out at the visitors centre. So I'll definitely be riding at Swinley on Saturday. My thumb still isn't 100% at the moment so unless it vastly improves I imagine I'll avoid anything that might aggravate it too much.

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

I will probably prefer swinley this weekend coming.
Logisticaly this week may be better local for me.

If you feel something differenent in bounds of swinley, we could head out of the woods down to tunnel hill.
More XC ish than drops and downhills, but may make a change.

Be nice to exercise the big cog.

Kerr

I'm planning to ride at Swinley tomorrow evening (7pm set off) with a group from my LBS (Mountain High). It's an open invitation if anyone's interested and will be the first time that I've ridden with them.

Won't be around for a weekend ride now until Sunday 21st June - now half term's over, back to kids' duties on Saturdays...

Great ride on Saturday, by the way! Nice to meet some new faces.

Ride posted for Saturday. Lets hope it doesn't rain too much on Friday ... or Saturday.

No can do for me this Saturday plus the following Saturday is looking doubtful as I made the mistake of suggesting to SWMBO that she used the Spa voucher I got for her birthday and she suggested it could be then so I'm probably looking after the little one.....ar$e!

WEATHER GEEK ALERT! :

Its increasingly likley that I may not rain at all until sunday...

http://91.121.93.17/wz/pics/MS_051_ens.png

Bottom line is rain, top line is temp at aprox 1400 Meters up ... Generally looks like 10C drop over thurs/friday.

The high pressure is a bit sticky at the moment and the coming rain is getting put back a day or so... may even see sunday dry if it is really stubborn.

It does look like it will eventually change to more unsettled weather next week...sun - mon- tues onwards.

kerr

So would sunday be a better day Tux / DrBike?. The other question is can marc make it on that day

Sunday is more likely to have rain at the moment.
TBH the ground is so dry at the moment, We would need alot of rain (which is not forecast) to have any effect.

My vote is saturday ... but if others want sunday, im happy to do sunday.

Im going tonight as well. Will be by the APE sign around 6:45
Kerr

I can only make it on Saturday, OK I'll reword that, I only have permission to ride on Saturday.

Majid you could always post a ride for Sunday and ride both days

I will try and get a pass for this weekend…might involve a trade off with SWMBO though. I'll suggest a holiday; of course, this would be in the Alps or Scotland or something

Rode in Swinley last night - fantastic, but very dry and dusty with lots of loose stuff .

It never ceases to surprise me how many different trails there are.

I'll be thinking (enviously) about you enjoying yourselves on Saturday whilst I ferry the kids to and from activities - ho hum. Have fun!

Just spent all day there. I'm well and truly knackered now, but managed to get a whole variety of different trails in. I've been feeling a bit crazy in the head over the past few days and then had my interview postponed at the last minute this morning, but having a good ride has helped to clear my thinking.

Oh, I think the HP crew have started filming now...

You weren't trying to sneak in as an extra were you - or get a peek at Emma Watson?


Good for you. Coming out on Saturday too?

Probably...

Kerr,

I looked at that and couldn't make head nor tail of it, even with a basic understanding of German.

I've checked 3 different sites and have got differing forecasts. The BBC are predicting heavy rain on Saturday with temp of 16c (but I have to admit that their forecasts are never the best), Weatheronline are predicting slightly cloudy in the morning and bright sunshine in the afternoon and Metcheck is showing a max of 12c with 8.3mm of rain at 10am!!!

I wonder if my new waterproof jacket will arrive by Saturday?

The weather forecast is looking more favourable so my cursor is hovering of the new rides section…..

I might see you in the morning.

Brian

Certainly looking increasingly optimistic. Maybe even have a few sunny spells.

It was really dusty on wednesday. It could do with a little sprinkle to just bind some of the looser bits together.

I nearly ditched on tank traps and babymaker when the front wheel shifted (at speed) in the loose dust.

Midges are now out in force

Cya in the morning

Kerr

Just got back from a little 40mile spin, looking forward to tomorrow come rain or shine

I'm helping a freind move house so I can't make it. have fun all, and i hope it stays dry for you.

Good ride yesterday!
Bit damp, but we all secretly love wet roots

kerr

Glad you enjoyed it Kerr - a bit of rain was probably good to keep the dust in check. I got roped into moving my niece from uni otherwise i would have joined you guys. Whats the plan for next weekend? Swinley or somewhere else

Also, any chance of doing a beginners ride sometime soon - got some guys who have never been trail riding and would like to give it try.

A 'bit' of moisture often makes the trails feel a lot better to me and wet roots can add to the excitement factor!

I should be OK for a ride next Saturday. Happy whatever the location although I don't want to be doing anything too 'epic' as I've not had much outings recently and work is murder!

Maj - On the beginners ride - How many were you thinking? We could always do it as a normal ride and then depending on how things go the group could split into two if necessary?

Really enjoyed it yesterday, another top ride.

I won't be able to ride next weekend as I'll be on call (for the first time).

Depending on what the weather does over the next week ... if we get some dry weather I'll see if we can arrange a Chilterns ride for the 20th otherwise it'll be Swinley again (as it's holds up a bit better when it's wet).

Don't you mean the FEAR factor!



There are only 4 people. I think they should be ok cycling with us but i am just a bit worried if they fall off and get hurt or something. i am going to feel really bad. I have been kind of nagging them but I think they will love it though if they just gave it try.

Any plans for Redlands ride anytime soon. Can't wait to hit those yoghurt pots again.

Maybe wait until the weather gets a bit better before you bring them along (this week has been a pretty wet one). It will make the ride easier for them and therefore more enjoyable.

Im Happy to lead on a new riders ride if you want.

As you know I get up there often enough. Others might find the time at swinley precious to lead new riders.

I recon a sunday morning ride. Starting 10:00 so they can get day passes and hire bikes if need.

Depending on fitness a 2-3 hour ride should suffice ?

with chat time, finish 1pm?

Kerr

Well I attempted to re-start the Surrey Hills thread and there was a distinct lack of interest. So being short of time due to work and admitedly having lost a bit of my riding Mojo (due to this) I haven't pushed it.




Hang on a sec...When you first came out with us the conditions were about as bad as they get! Seriously though - a good point....



Depending when, I'm happy to come along to offer support, etc....

Saturday 13th june?
Normal ride?
8:45?

Kerr

weather for sunday looks better but saturday would be ok too. I'm up for it.

Feeling tired, lack of mojo and out of shape but.....yep Saturday should be OK

Probably can't make Saturday. Going to Reading with the family. Sunday though, that's a day I can do.

p.s. Been there today and trails are already dryish bar a few puddles here and there.

I am more than likley to do both sat and sunday, but sunday Im prob going to head out of swinley and get some miles in.

Ill start a new ride for Sat morning.

Kerr

Can't do this weekend, but will be around for a ride next Sunday (21st).

Have fun!