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Becoming a bit if a regular saturday morning meet as Shaz, Gareth and I had a play in Queens Wood followed by a cup if tea in the caf..

Whiz round the wood then practised wheelie drops into the disused dog pond and then pedal assisted front wheel lifts out.

We were accosted by an ederly couple feeling their need to share their lack love of riders with us and telling us what a shame it was the wood allowed cyclists. unfotunatley in London I find this so common place and it is their type of pressure why so many parks and woods being shut to cyclists.

Thankfully Queens Wood is a rare london gift where you can cycle anywhere and it was bitter sweet informing them of such and directing them in the direction of Highgate Woods where they would be more welcome as cyclists like so many places are banned.

Shame that so many of this generation feel this way when so many of the young generationspend a disproportionate amount of time sitting infront of the TV getting obese.

Then on to a clearing for bunnyhop and manuals where Gareth did a trackstand perfectly after only being shown how 20 minutes earlier. Super impressed mate

Right rant over

It is a shame there are so many walkers who feel the same way as the 2 you guys met.
Personally i think there is no real conflict area and the walkers and mountain bikers can and should get on. In my experience walkers and us bikers get on fine but i have heard of some real nasty walkers.
Saying that i am sure some bikers are not courteous and polite to walkers or just ignorant of thier obligation to walkers and horses.

I make it a point to get fellow bikers to practice proper etiquette coz lets face it, as the new kids in town, some walkers and horseriders are just looking for an excuse to put us away.

Bye
Buster....

Folks,

Headed down to Swinley this morning with Gareth (i4_uk) and met up with Tom (Tomallan) some of his mates (the two Dave's and Travis) from the friendly EppingHardCru folks..

Tom led the way for a really varied route taking in lots of sweet singletrack covering berm after berm. Some decent short downhill routes with tabletops, switchbacks and tree stump city. We sessioned these a few times and managed to ride up the climb. Also some challenging but do-able climbs were thrown in for good measure.

Few technical probs and couple of stacks but overall pretty incident free. We all watched Tom take some decent drops which the rest of us shy'd away from (rain, mud, not enough travel, balls, you know the story).... )...next time!!

Tom promised us it drains wells in Swinley. This isn't true but not entirely a lie...as it is a sand _base_ although it is muddy as hell the ground holds well. It pissed down and was a little sliddy but that only added to the buzz!

Swinley is quickly becoming my favourite around London place. We rode for about 2.5 hours and the time flew. Dave mapped the route on his Garmin and will pass it on. Then I will post and do a decent write up of the route as it is definetly one to do.

Need to get more commuting in during the week to train more for the weekends.

Rained most of the time but a great day..amazes me not more people bike!! .

Yep excellent ride.....

The weather added to the fun of it and I think every one left with a big .

This was my first proper outing single track.... down hill and tech terrain and am gonna have to be making it more of a habit.

The Google Earth Map of the route and elevation/ speed data should be with you now...

Cheers to all 4 a great Sunday Ride!!

Early one morning, as the snow was falling, I heard a devil saying...GET OUT AND RIDE!!!!
After dusting off the cobwebs and checking over my trusty steed, the decision to ride yesterday at Cwmcarn was made monumental just by knowing the bad weather was left behind in England.
Reaching the gravel pit at the _base_ of the mountain, the car rocked in the wind, but the brilliant sunshine and bright blue skies made up for the zero degree temp.
The climb is as hard as ever, but I've conquered it now as previously have been reduced to a blubbering mess due to my own inexperience and confidence.
The third part of the climb has now been made more friendly; redirected away from the meandering tree roots on the steep incline, obviously still steep, but more flattened out and easier to negotiate. I'm sure this will continue to improve as the trail beds in.
The last part of climb, riding past all the tall firs was made more surreal by the snow falling around us, but with sunshine on our faces.
On reaching the summit...Hmmmm...black or red?? Blowing an absolute stink at this point...and the snow gone... it would have been rude not to even have a peek at what the Black has to offer.
I've never mangaed to have the confidence to attempt a run off the wooden slat kickers, but hey, today was the day!
After having a look and ponder, I took my 5 firmly in my hands and rode to my uncertain journeys' end.
With my new friend "Speed" I approached, pulled back and took off!!... Think I'm still in shock on the feeling,the damn right adrenline rush being airborn makes you feel. And erm.. how easy it was:_b_link__: So of course it would have been rude not to session this LOADS of times. Oh and I did allow Tom the chance to have a go...shame the few packs of burly men who arrived didn't want to attempt and went round the outside
Time to get down!
I love the red run descent, so made my fastest and most enjoyable descent to date.
The rest of the decent is still just so cool, enough up and downs, whoops and doops to keep your legs burning and you forearms pumped. Lovely surprise just before the final descent where you cross the road, takes you across and on and over a wooden kicker, berms and away you go!! Again my speed, confidence and grin factor up 100%
I chose my bike at this place and with my new forks it was a decision well made.
Cwmcarn still an epic ride. I love it.

Just get out and ride...wotever the weather