Might be able to swing Sunday as an alternative to Sat. Keen to try and get out riding this weekend as I haven't been on the bike for 2 or 3 weeks.


Not me....Not fit enough by far for anything that has 'endurance' in the title!

Yes I am interested! 45k is not a problem! its only 27 miles!!!
as long as they dont expect it done in 1 hour!

You want to start a new thread?

EDIT*

Here's a link to the 2006 route on bikely.
Total climb only 460m. The worse is in the first half of the route. I cant quite see this as endurance!
Typical swinley morning has 500m climb

Kerr

Thats the spirit Kerr - i agree hardly an endurance - Marc should be ok doing this what do you think? - Perhaps bob and gezza might consider it since its in their backyard almost. I will start a new thread.

Had a look at the times from last year.

There seems a big bunch of people that finished within a few mins on the shorter route around 3:30pm, (course closes at 4pm) taking over 5 hours!!!

Some have the same surname..hmmmm ... ... got it!!! THE PUB!!!

The longest time on the longer route was 7 hours. Thats 3.8mph ...walking pace!!!!

Me thinks that endurance maybe VASTLY overstated!


Looks fun !


Kerr

No can do working the night shift on the 22nd

what?? thats not stopped you cycling before - Can you do swinley this weekend?

Hasnt stopped me before thats correct i'll have a think about it.

Ive got work fri and sat night so sunday would be good

My weekend plans may just have been altered so Sunday may not be possible for me now.....

hey - we still need to organise the swinley christmas special we talked about - any suggestions - cant see any pubs where we normally go

I was, but i'm driving back from Scotland and then out on the beers the day before



Dec 5th?

A quick google search = The Golden Retriever Pub.

Result - looks good and we cycle not from there if i am not mistaken. The 5th is ok with me.

I can't make the 5th I'm afraid. I'm going down to Southampton to catch up with some old mates (and do some ex-girlfriend dodging ). Weekend after? Whatever that is...

Looks just the ticket. I can do 5th or 12th December at the moment. Suggest once we get a handle on when and who we need to book something.

just replaced the brake pads and changed the tubeless tyres all by myself without breaking tyre levers, shedding blood and obscenities.

So who is heading down to swinley tommorrow morning - any takers?

Went to Swinley today. rode for about an hour and came back. It was soo busy. I think all the people who were going to come on saturday came today.

The tracks were very muddy - it must have rained a lot last night. I am definately going to get some mud specific tyres after today. Did not enjoy it today.

If anyone is thinking of doing any night riding be careful - those roots a really slippery i almost came off twice on the roller coaster in crowthorne.

Does anyone know if there is a tap/hose at swinley - there used to be about 10 years ago. it would have been good wash all the mud off.

Is it good to have low tyre pressure in muddy conditions or high pressure? does it make any diffrence?

Maj

By the bike rental shop, I think.

In other news, my carbon spacer arrived and I fixed my loose headset.

Unfortunately swinley is pretty much out of bounds after all this rain.
TBH i wish people would not ride in this weather as it destroys the tracks.
(never going to happen)
When it starts to freeze and the ground firms things will happen again.
It takes a long dry spell to make the place safe again.
Night riding after all this rain will be limited to fire roads and purpose built tracks (seagul, tank traps etc).

The worst bit is leaves covering roots!

Heard good things about swampthings, But TBH there is no "ride like summer" mud tyre.
Just avoid the worst areas.

Looking at long term weather, things are going stay stormy for at least the rest of nov.
Looks like there might be a window this coming sunday.

cant complain... summer was ace!

Yep, I expect many beloved trails are a sea of mud after the weekend (and this mornings) weather. The golden rule is if you find yourself confronted with a mud bath on singletrack, ride through the middle of it! Still not ideal, but it's better than trying to ride around it which turns singletrack into a motorway before too long.

Marc, some of the "single track" - you could quite easily ride 2 bikes side by side if not 3. It was no fun man and i can understand why people go around the mud which causes all the damage. I was thinking of going to surrey hills instead -which probably would have been better because the steepness would have probably drained all the water away. Anyway i will stick to the single track for next couple weeks - need to get my strength back in the old legs.

Tell me about it....I'm hoping to get out to Swinley on Sunday (the time off the bike is now seriously mounting). Problem is I seem to have sooooooooo many things to get done between now and xmas.

As for mud in the Surrey Hills from what i'm hearing it's pretty bad here too. Roll on frosty weather (as hinted at by Kerr)

BTW all - I have just ordered a new waterproof so it will stop raining as soon as I have received it!

I know it’s along way of etc, but is anyone riding 5 or 6th Dec? Weather allowing, I’ll be at Swinners or Goring/Chilterns area one of these days.

Weekend 12/13th – is the xmas ride/pub thing still on?

Vespa...planning ahead before Christmas drinking really kicks in!

I plan to be riding at Swinley that weekend since I've not been for a few weeks and I'm on call this coming weekend.

I'll check out the calender when I get home but pre-xmas trips, work-do's and the unpainted living room (not to mention the shed roof which 'peeled off' yesterday) are starting to mount up!

Probably can't because I'm going down to Southampton for a Christmas party to see some old friends. It's been ages since I went for a ride and probably won't get out this weekend either as I moved house yesterday and have boxes everywhere. Plus, tomorrow is work's Christmas do so there will no doubt be plenty of merriment. I really need to get out on the bike or I'll die on our Christmas party ride...

Whoops, must check calender!

I went to swinley on saturday - it was very quite for some reason. I ran around our normal bike route - beats running on the road any day and my knees did not hurt either. The trails were fine. Is anybody interested in riding on the 6th? if not i will head off to the surrey hills and try out the newly improved barry knows best. It would be good to get a ride in before christmas.

If anyone's around I'll be at swinners tomorrow morning, usual place etc..

If the heavens open then i might change plan.

Brian

Brian - whoooowhoo - there is still life on this forum. Where is everyone? I can't make Saturday but Sunday I can. I think marcliam might be going out riding too. Not sure whats happening about the Christmas special is anyone still interested?

I am working this weekend, but if anyone fancies a nightride some time?

<fully expecting tumbleweed>

Kerr

Sunday - need to see if I can swap days. I'll let you know later.

Christmas special - i'm around next weekend



Always...7:15 onwards though. Give me a shout next time it's frosty

It did go quiet didn't it!

I can only ride tommorow as we are off for some pre-christmas socialising on Sunday. But looks like you guys have it sorted for Sunday. Not to worry.

It's not looking too good for me hooking up with you lot for christmas meal. Next weekend is definately off the radar as its chocker block with christmas things.

Kerr - keep us posted on any nightrides as I might try and join you, depending on what office i'm in. I think I have only managed to get one maybe two rides with the lights this winter.....

I'm going to ride Saturday as Sunday's weather is not good (sorry maj) I'll post it up in the ride section.

I still might join you - i normally have boot camp on saturdays but not sure if i am up to that to be honest. decisions decisions

OK I’m in and calling the ride ‘pootle’ is apt as last Sunday was the first time I had been on the bike in a month (and I ain’t done any running or nuffink). Will be good to get back to Swinley.

Maj – Yeah, go for it, haven’t seen you for a while.

I'm still up for the Christmas ride next Saturday... even have it pencilled in my diary. I might die though, having not ridden for a few weeks thanks to moving house and various Christmas parties. Looking forward to seeing you all. Shame you can't make it, Marc.

You can save me a roast potato!

Can we tempt you for tommorow or are you out on the lash tonight?

I've got a new recruit coming to swinners tomorrow. he's been a xc runner for years but is slowly coming over to the right side, he'll have no problem keeping up but the bike i'm going to lend him might look a bit scary

Great! Will see you in the morning....

Brian, Tim will be joining us on his fully rigid 80s retro mountain bike tomorrow. Not fit enough for bootcamp so biking it is for me too. see ya in the morning.

Great stuff!

You'll have to tell me what 'boot camp' is tommorow....

Nah, but I'm preparing to go to Southampton on the lash instead.

Guys. Another good ride today BUT I am absolutely cream-crackered. Thanks for leading Brian and Tim.

For some reason I REALLY struggled today probably due to only riding once in the last month. I wasn't expecting to have to nearly swim down some of the trails but all added to the excitement!

Now.....can anyone remember what that classic phrase was that Maj came out with today?

That was hard work today, some deep mud and puddles in places but still good to ride/catch up with the swinners crew

Maj....something like "you've gotta go hunt the....." when referring to Tim in Vienna.

Steve enjoyed it + a great comedy moment when he went crashing into a rather large puddle on stickler

btw, The photo's I took were poor but a good shot of you Marc which I'll upload.

Look forward to it

Finally some high pressure looks like developing and its bye bye to the rain and hello to proper permafrost winter.
We just got today to get through (gota cycle home in this AGAIN) and its back to sunny days (albeit chilly).

I think this will last until around early to mid next week where I think something big may happen (think white fluffy stuff).

So this weekend is the perfect window for the fair weather riders to get a last ride of the year.

Ride posted.

Kerr

Are we all still up for lunch afterwards?

Hmmm if we can resurrect this... sure! why not!

CALL TO ARMS!!

ALL SWINLEY RIDERS MUST REPORT TO SWINLEY THIS SATURDAY!!!

Kerr

Having been involved in suggesting this I had hoped to be able to attend . On Friday it was definitely not looking possible for me, come Sunday it was a good possibility that I could and now it’s looking more unlikely again (although an outside possibility I could get there for food but probably not the ride)……As it does every year xmas seems to have crept up on me.....

I'd like to ride but I have a feeling that SWMBO will indicate otherwise.

Will anyone be up for a ride on the 20th? I'm also off on the 22nd and 23rd so might seek permission for a "Secret Santa" ride.