Calendar

Jul
22
Sat
Impromptu Swinley Hidden Gems @ Swinley Forest
Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Impromptu Swinley Hidden Gems @ Swinley Forest | England | United Kingdom

Last minute rain dodging suggests Swinley tomorrow! Still a few showers forecast, but looks the driest option overall, so if anyone wants to join us, we’re going to do our “full off piste” route.

About 15 miles, taking in the best of the Blue & Red trails, some Swinley enduro off piste sections & some forgotten, but still good, sections of trail.

Good opportunity to check out of the less well known, but hidden gems of Swinley.

Meet by the trails entrance at 10am.

Make sure you bring a helmet & probably a coat, as showers are forecast.

Aug
19
Sat
Swinley Enduro Training @ Swinley Bike Hub
Aug 19 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Swinley Enduro Training @ Swinley Bike Hub | United Kingdom
Swinley Enduro is rapidly approaching, so we’re going to do a full on training event.
 
We will follow last years course fully, stopping to have a look at some of the trickier bits along the way. Although this year’s course is secret and will have an additional stage, we’re pretty sure some of last year’s stages will be included again.
 
Meet outside the Swinley Bike Hub at 10am (so we can bug Tristan and try and get him to spill more of this year’s course details!) 
Sep
7
Thu
Swinley Enduro Practice Thursday @ Swinley Bike Hub
Sep 7 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Swinley Enduro Practice Thursday @ Swinley Bike Hub | United Kingdom

Swinley Enduro is nearly upon us!! So I’m getting another sneaky practise in while the kids are at school!! We will be following as much of last year’s route as we have time for.

If you fancy joining me, then let me know as I can lift a couple of people.

Remember to bring pads and a helmet.

We will meet outside the Swinley Bike Hub for a 10am set off.

Oct
29
Sun
Swinley Monster Mash Up! @ Swinley Bike Hub
Oct 29 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Swinley Monster Mash Up! @ Swinley Bike Hub | United Kingdom

2 days before Halloween, so let’s go and play in the woods – always turned out well in films 😳
This will probably be one of our last trips to Swinley of the year, so we’re going out with a bang and will ride the best the forest has to offer, taking in as much of it as I can pack into 1 loop!
I’ll be keeping the distance to about 15 miles and we’ll be doing some old favourites, best of the regular trails and some bits you might not have seen before 😉 it will be an intermediate level ride, with some technical bits, but there are walk around options for anything you don’t fancy doing – it’s all friendly fun, promise!

Meet outside the Swinley Bike Hub at 10am
(you’ll need a helmet and some knee pads are probably a good idea too)

Feb
17
Sat
Swinley Best Bits 2018 @ Swinley Forest
Feb 17 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Swinley Best Bits 2018 @ Swinley Forest  | United Kingdom

The first “Swinley Best Bits” of 2018.
These are Red grade rides that take in some of the best best of the Blue, Red, old trails and downhill trails into 1 loop.

This is at the upper end of Red grading for its technicality, as although the distance will be under 20 miles, the terrain is challenging, with everything from fast flowing singletrack, jumps, to some loamy off camber roots and reasonable sized drops. If you are confident on Red trails, you will be fine.
You can read about a previous Best Bits route using the link below. The exact route on the day will depend on how we get on (adapted for the weather and riders in the group essentially), but this gives a good idea: http://swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wheretoride/routes/swinley-big-best-bits/

Please bring food with you, as we will be out over lunchtime and there are no facilities in the woods.

You must bring a helmet (no helmet, no ride) and knee and elbow pads are recommend too.

Meet outside the Swinley Bike Hub and 10.15 for a 10.30am set off.

Sep
1
Sat
SMTBE gives you Hope (MTB Marathon) @ Hope Valley College
Sep 1 @ 10:00 am – Sep 2 @ 5:00 pm
SMTBE gives you Hope (MTB Marathon) @ Hope Valley College | Hope | England | United Kingdom
The final MTB Marathon event of 2018 is in the fabulous Peak District, centred around the Hope Valley.
These are excellent events for all, with 3 distances available – 25km, 50km and 70km, with a shared start, so we can all ride out together, before splitting off if people want to do different distances.
There is free camping at the Hope Valley College, so lets make a weekend of it.
The marathon is on the Sunday, but there are 2 events on the Saturday too: a Hopetech Women’s social ride in the morning (normally 15km at a gentle pace) and a night Marathon event in the evening, with 2 distances: 20km or 40km.
We will be camping the whole weekend and are happy to take people off for a play at Lady Canning’s or somewhere else near by on the saturday for a warm up, if the other events don’t take your fancy.
 
You can get more information and sign up for the marathon here at: www.mtb-marathon.co.uk 
Dec
28
Fri
Xmas Motivator @ The Three Trees Cafe
Dec 28 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
We haven’t done a midweek motivator ride for ages, so, this isn’t one either!
But it’s close – a fairly short XC ride to release those endorphins and get you from Christmas to New Year.
 
Starting and ending at the Three Trees Cafe, we’ll head out on the Ridgeway, up the gentler climbs to the top of Barbury Castle. Then over the top, down Smeathes Ridge, back along Smeathe’s Bottom and back home via Gypsy Lane and the old railway line.
Nothing too taxing – 19km and 195m of climbing, a couple of fun descents in there too. 
 
You’ll need a helmet and appropriate clothing for the weather.
 
We’ll set off from Three Trees at 9.30am
Jan
6
Sun
White-Horsing Around Scenic Ride @ Foxhill Car Park
Jan 6 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The first of my scenic rides for 2019 will be a round trip along the Ridgeway to the Uffington White Horse and back.
 
Along the way we’ll take in the stunning descent through the Hinton Parva coombes, a beautiful climb (honest!) from Bishopstone to the Ridgeway and the delights of Weathercock Hill.
We’ll be taking it easy to appreciate the scenery, covering about 27km in distance and 400m of climbing.
 
Meet at the Foxhill car park, just past The Ruji Restaurant.
 
You must bring a helmet and appropriate clothing, as well as snacks/food for the duration, as we will be out past lunchtime.
Jan
19
Sat
Saturday Scenic Broad Hinton @ Bottom of Barbury Castle
Jan 19 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

I’ve found time to squeeze in another weekend Scenic ride in January, going in a different direction along the Ridgeway.

The start is at the bottom of the Barbury steep side (see map posting) setting off along the Ridgeway away from Barbury to Broad Hinton. From there we amble along the valley and a potential pub stop. Then the climb back up to the Ridgeway and the White Horse trail to Rockley. Then it’s back along the valley and up onto the ridge back to the start.

The ride will be 27km in length with 350m of climbing and some beautiful scenery.

Please see map for the start point, although you can also park at Barbury and cycle down to there if you want.

You must wear a helmet and dressed according to the conditions – it’s pretty cold out there still!

Aug
31
Sat
MTB-Marathon – Hope Valley @ Hope Valley College
Aug 31 @ 10:00 am – Sep 1 @ 6:00 pm
MTB-Marathon - Hope Valley @ Hope Valley College | Hope | England | United Kingdom
We did the MTB-Marathon in Hope last year and loved it. The whole series are brilliant events, incredibly well organised and supported with fabulous routes too. And free camping as well!
So we’re going to do this excellent final round in the amazing Peak District in 2019.
Although the main event is on the Sunday, there are also a Ladies Ride on the Saturday morning and a night marathon on the Saturday night, which has a choice of distances and light hire available from Exposure Lights.
On the Sunday 3 distances are available – Mini (25km), Half (45km) and Full (65km!). Bear in mind it’s in the Peak District, and the hills are big too, as well as the distance!
We’ve got members booked on the Half, but all routes start out together.

Full details here:
https://www.mtb-marathon.co.uk/events/1st-2nd-september-2018-hope-valley-peak-district.html