Whoops, yeah, thanks Huw, perfect pre xmas mid ride snack (Maj - you missed out because you were late )

fellow rider dropped out of surrey hills ride tomorrow.
Will be checking the site early. Anyone out in Swinley saturday morning? Or know surrey hills and want to ride there?
Text on 07903 183992 - many thanks.

I'm sure that normal Swinley rides service will resume shortly. Might be up for this Sunday coming providing one of our 'guides' is available.

Im only free on the 23rd/24th in jan, So Im adding in a ride for 23rd now.
can be changed to 24th (sunday) by popular demand.

Kerr

I am up for a ride then, not been to Swinley for ages. Hopefully should have sorted my headset bearings by then, anyone recommend a good place to buy bearings from ??

I'm anticipating to ride at the weekend was thinking Saturday but Marc said he'd prefer Sunday, so it's more likely to be the latter unless we have a majority the other way. I'll confer with SWMBO later but I'm overdue a ride since I was cooped up over Christmas/New Year.

I've put a ride in the calendar for Sunday. I subsequently checked the forecast and it looks like we'll be riding whilst it snows.

I guess that we'll have a consensus of opinion nearer the time on whether we venture out or not, with this in mind - if you intend riding make sure you sign up and that I have your number.

I’ve just been reading about the conditions at Swinley on STW. It seems that the fire roads are all but impassable with hub deep snow and the singletrack is doable but very slow going. There’s talk of freewheels freezing too.

Sounds intriguing and fun.

Looking forward to it.

WOOOOO HOOOOOOO

It looks vaguely rideable.

Clicky

Looking like great fun! I'm signed up but if I still can't get this dam car out of our road the obviously i'm out. Metcheck seems to be showing sleet around here at on Sunday. Metcheck seem to be showing sleet for Saturday and Sunday at the moment (in RH4 anyway)

I'm off to buy a new flask today just in case.

Who's bringing the flapjack?

I imagine that the best ploy is to aim for trails that have tree cover under the assumption that they'll be protected from the snow - although that's probably wishful thinking.

After an hour of digging and being pushed I eventually got the car out of our road to drive into town. Also found the button which switches off all the emergency systems like anti-skid, traction control, etc which helped amazingly as they were interfering with actually being able to drive the dam thing on ice/snow. Unfortunately I was unable to find a space on the main road to leave my car as a lot of people have had the same idea and so its now back on our road.

At the moment though it is looking unlikely that I will be along tomorrow and may just head out local. Will make a final decision later.

Your best gear is recommended as the wind has started to get up and the windchill is making it pretty darn nasty out there (another good reason to stay in the trees)

I just went outside and it's frickin' cold out there. My car won't even start at the moment (probably cos it's been sat out in the cold since Wednesday without going anywhere.

If it's like this tomorrow I might err on the side of common sense and stay indoors in the warmth and comfort of home.

If you do venture out I have read that one way of freeing up a frozen freehub is to pee on it..... (maybe i'm reading the wrong sort of publication?)

No its true, seen it done but beware they can freeze again pretty quick.

It all depends on what you've been drinking I suppose

Beware the yellow snow!



I'm not flying tomorrow lads, got a damn product brochure to finish by the afternoon. If you get out, have fun and take care.

I would love to be out riding.
But i have a broken bike

Jealous

It was fun today, conditions were pretty good, not much wind (if any) and the snow was just right for riding on (and also made great snowballs too). I've posted some shots on my blog for those who are interested to see what it was like. For the curious here's a shot of Chris


I think that Chris got the prize for the most time spent lying in the snow including a classic where he fell off to the left, remounted and then went straight off on the right . Where the warden had been his hid truck it was pretty much plain sailing, but where the snow was broken up it was a bit sketchy (especially going downhill), we even managed to break a fresh trail in the snow going from the bottom of rollercoaster/tobogan run up the back way to the Club House. We went down Deerstalker (rather gingerly on my part) and found the back wheel was sliding around of it's own accord on some of the bermed corners.

Was a great ride. Giggling like an idiot is one of my favourite things.



What happened? was it too light?

I haven't even considered asking for permission to ride this weekend, the big thaw that's been going on over the past day or so is going to mean the trails at Swinely will be pretty awful. Hopefully things will be a bit better for Kerr's ride the following weekend.

Kerr - Is 'interglacial' a prediction that we are going to have more snow after next weeks ride?!?!

No it was because its between 2 snowboard Holidays.
But there is more snow predicted next week.

Kerr

I'm looking forward to Saturday's ride and fingers crossed for a hard frost

Anyone else signing up

Not for me, I'm off to west Wales it see my parents. I'll probably take the bike and have a quick blast around Nant Yr Arian too.

WOO HOO. free draining rocky trails for me.

Huw...I keep looking at Cotic's website and i'm in danger of popping up in buying advice if this continues!

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT

I'm thinking about it, but it depends on the weather and what info I can get on trail conditions.

I've had a request to ride the following weekend but opportunities are going to be limited for me very soon (wife is booked in for a c-section on 12th of Feb for #2 child), so I might see if I can play the doting husband card and relinquish riding for a month or so after the birth and squeeze as many in over the next 3 weekends.

The big countdown Andy! Sounds like you'll be trading in muddy rides on the trails for pooey nappies in the night for a while.

I'm still signed up but to be honest things not going as well as they could be at the moment so may be ducking out of this one....

Word on the street (well the STW) forum, is that conditions at Swinley aren't good. Tank Traps has been closed off and a number of the other trails are suffering. It's also forecast to rain all day Friday.

No can do here, I'm afraid. I'm going to be doing job hunting this weekend... Talk about deja vu.

Bad stomach!

Might have to pull ride

Watch this space

will post later and text those signed up.

kerr

Kerr - no probs from my side.

I'm still on the fence (figuratively speaking) so let me know what you decide (via SMS).

Sorry guys, I'm going to bail this one.....

Kerr - Hope your stomach sorts itself out.

Andy - Watch out for splinters on that fence.

See you all soon.

Me too :-( sorry for late notice

Looks like 3 or 4 of us of of us will be doing Sat 30th if anyone else is up for it? I've posted in the calendar. Gotta rush now (off to see Avatar in 3D), will check back later. See you in the morning!

I'm in. see you in the morning.

Rode over to Swinley this afternoon - the ride getting there nearly killed me! Had a trundle around and can report that the trails are an absolute mud-fest at the moment. Still, had a good time having not been there for so long. Totally knackered now though! I'm out of practice.

Oh, also, they've shut off a few trails if you go right from the Lookout. They're filming something but I don't know what.

Agree Max - i went there yesterday and it was hard work (tired legs) so I rode the crowthorne side as it was marginally better.

I see the film crew (or other 4x4's) have churned up the fireroads too!

I was there this afternoon. It wasn't too bad. Wasn't all of the of the churning up caused by a cross country running race or something?

Posting this with much advance notice.

I'm hoping to be able to ride on Saturday 20th. I've not been out for a while but need to get some "dirt action". I'll also have a couple of things to celebrate so I hope to see some of the usual crew (apart from Chris who broke his finger on the last ride).

All clear on the calender so count me in!

I'm in.

Me too.

It's now in the calendar too.

Saturday 20th Feb, meet at the Lookout at 8:45 for bike assembly and chit chat. Then we'll try and squeeze some cycling in before retiring to the cafe for some well earned nourishment.

I'll be there too

I bust my ribs snowboarding (getting better rapidly) so I may or may not come along.

Kerr

Kerr - Really sorry to hear that. Wishing you a speedy recovery!!