![Lydiard Park Family Picnic @ Lydiard Park](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/52082377_1986080404823195_6151179086757625856_n.jpg?fit=300%2C169)
We would like to invite everyone and their families to celebrate the start of the summer.
We will meet at the children’s play area at 11am, find a good picnic spot nearby and enjoy some family time, playing games such as rounders, football, frisbee and anything else we can find in the shed!!!! We will be close to the play area, cafe, toilets and most importantly the ice cream parlour!!!
Bringing bikes is optional. We will be there to take small groups around the outside of the park, if required.
Most importantly we want everyone to come together to have some family fun.
Don’t forget to bring a picnic and a picnic blanket and/or chairs to sit on.
![Ladies Exmoor Adventure @ Porlock](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_0233.jpg?fit=300%2C225)
![Ladies Lakeside Ride @ Cricklade Leisure Centre](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/64635684_2165649260200026_8721815518488559616_o.jpg?fit=225%2C300)
Debbie will be leading a gentle novice friendly ride around the Cotswold Lakes.
This is non technical and will be at the pace of the slowest rider. It is designed to suit ladies new to mountain biking and those who want a steady ride.
There will be a cafe stop 3/4 of the way round, but feel free to bring any snacks and water.
Helmets compulsory and this is not suitable for hybrid bikes, due to the possibility of mud on the tracks.
Meet in the car park to the Cricklade Leisure Centre for a 10am start.
![MTB-Marathon - Hope Valley @ Hope Valley College | Hope | England | United Kingdom](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/fullsizeoutput_537d.jpeg?fit=300%2C225)
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
![MTB Wellness GetintoMTB Weekend starter @ Croft Cycle Trail car park](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0086-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200)
![MTB Wellness Ladies Ride @ Mouldon Hill Country Park](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/81497902_2583803225050907_4573892831663357952_o.jpg?fit=300%2C230)
This is a Ladies Only ride, led by Davinia.
We meet at Mouldon Hill in the car park and then follow route 45 South past Shaw Forest and pick up the West Swindon Round to Lydiard Park. We will stop at Lydiard for a drink and maybe a cake! Then back continuing on the West Swindon round and back up the old railway line to Mouldon Hill.
This is a very gentle ride, and is no more than 9 miles.
It is aimed at beginners and upwards and is for every ability.
It’s a chance to get back on the bike, have a chat and feel happy!
You will need a helmet, bike and yourself!
This ride is suitable for all mountain bikes or hybrid bikes with off road tyres.
![CANCELLED - MTB Wellness Ridgeway starter ride @ Three Trees Cafe](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_0046.jpg?fit=300%2C228)
CANCELLED – apologies, but due to the storm, we are having to postpone this ride till next month. Please see the new event (Saturday 14th March) for full details.
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The second weekend MTB Wellness ride is a gentle introduction to the Ridgeway.
Starting at the Three Trees Cafe, we will head along a flat section of the Ridgeway to the Barbury shooting club. From there we have a fun (gentle) descent to Draycott, a short stretch of road and a byway through to the old railway line, which will take us back to the Three Trees for refreshments.
12km and less than 100m of elevation, this is a perfect “get out in the countryside” ride for all abilities.
You just need a helmet, a bike and yourself. 🙂
Meet in the Three Trees cafe car park for 10.30am start
I’m going to start with the last ride I did – a scenic route from Wanborough to Aldbourne, going out on one ridge and returning via a parallel one.
![🙂](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/teb/2/16/1f642.png)
![MTB Wellness Rockley Ride @ Three Trees Cafe](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_2751-scaled.jpeg?fit=300%2C225)
The May MTB Wellness Ride is great scenic and fun route out past Barbury, through the Vale of Rockley and back via the old railway line.
A similar distance to the April ride, the loop is 27km and 270m of climbing.
We start at the Three Trees Cafe and ride out on the Ridgeway, up the side of Barbury Castle and continue along the Ridgeway to the top of Hackpen Hill.
With the bulk of the climbing out of the way, we will descend through the Vale of Rockley, which has a great entry descent and normally lots of Red Kites overhead in the sheltered valley. There’s an option to pop up into the woods of Rockley for the small drops, or just to take 5 and enjoy the scenery.
From Rockley we start the climb at the beginning of Four Mile Clump, but quickly turn right for a long fireroad descent to Ogbourne Maizey, before picking up the old railway line back to the Three Trees for post ride cake!
As always the ride is based around taking in the great views and having a good time.
There is a free car park next to the Three Trees, as well as the cafe car park.
We will ride out from the Three Trees car park at 10.30am
I will be there before that if you’ve got any questions about your bike, riding or the ride – I am a MIAS Level 3 leader and coach and cytech technician too.
![May Day Aldbourne cake run @ New Calley Arms](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_4623-scaled.jpeg?fit=300%2C225)
Like cake?! (final one is optional!)
We will stop at Aldbourne for a drink and cake at Time at the Forge, before heading back over Fox Hill and down through the Hinton Parva Coombes and back to Wanborough.
There’s nothing technical on the route, so just the hills to contend with.