Calendar

Jun
30
Thu
Thursday Night Social Bikes and Butties Ride @ Jovial Monk
Jun 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Every Thursday night there is a social ride out from the Jovial Monk pub in St Andrews Ridge. The ride is between 16-20 miles, depending on that week’s ride, but always at a pace to suit all those that attend.

After the ride there’s chip butties on offer for £2 a pop – well you’ll have earned them by that point!

Helmet’s a must. Lights also still required at this time of year, but if you don’t have any drop us an email or message – we’ve normally got a spare set knocking around for the evening.

Eating butties

Jul
7
Thu
Thursday Night Social Bikes and Butties Ride @ Jovial Monk
Jul 7 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Every Thursday night there is a social ride out from the Jovial Monk pub in St Andrews Ridge. The ride is between 16-20 miles, depending on that week’s ride, but always at a pace to suit all those that attend.

After the ride there’s chip butties on offer for £2 a pop – well you’ll have earned them by that point!

Helmet’s a must. Lights also still required at this time of year, but if you don’t have any drop us an email or message – we’ve normally got a spare set knocking around for the evening.

Eating butties

Jul
14
Thu
Thursday Night Social Bikes and Butties Ride @ Jovial Monk
Jul 14 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Every Thursday night there is a social ride out from the Jovial Monk pub in St Andrews Ridge. The ride is between 16-20 miles, depending on that week’s ride, but always at a pace to suit all those that attend.

After the ride there’s chip butties on offer for £2 a pop – well you’ll have earned them by that point!

Helmet’s a must. Lights also still required at this time of year, but if you don’t have any drop us an email or message – we’ve normally got a spare set knocking around for the evening.

Eating butties

Jul
21
Thu
Thursday Night Social Bikes and Butties Ride @ Jovial Monk
Jul 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Every Thursday night there is a social ride out from the Jovial Monk pub in St Andrews Ridge. The ride is between 16-20 miles, depending on that week’s ride, but always at a pace to suit all those that attend.

After the ride there’s chip butties on offer for £2 a pop – well you’ll have earned them by that point!

Helmet’s a must. Lights also still required at this time of year, but if you don’t have any drop us an email or message – we’ve normally got a spare set knocking around for the evening.

Eating butties

Jul
28
Thu
Thursday Night Social Bikes and Butties Ride @ Jovial Monk
Jul 28 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Every Thursday night there is a social ride out from the Jovial Monk pub in St Andrews Ridge. The ride is between 16-20 miles, depending on that week’s ride, but always at a pace to suit all those that attend.

After the ride there’s chip butties on offer for £2 a pop – well you’ll have earned them by that point!

Helmet’s a must. Lights also still required at this time of year, but if you don’t have any drop us an email or message – we’ve normally got a spare set knocking around for the evening.

Eating butties

Sep
12
Tue
Ridges, Ruts n Rockley @ The Bayberry
Sep 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm
Ridges, Ruts n Rockley @ The Bayberry | Swindon | England | United Kingdom

Up through Wroughton and over Hackpen. Ruts to Rockley. Half 4 mile, Ogbournes to either Seathe’s Ridge or Gypsy Lane (time and legs dependent) Ladder Lane back to the Bayberry.

We will change the route if the weather turns out bad, but  waterproof jacket is very strongly advised anyway – it’s not exactly been predictable recently.

You will need a helmet and lights too.

Sep
26
Tue
Tuesday Night Ride: Downs and out @ The Bayberry
Sep 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday Night Ride: Downs and out @ The Bayberry | Swindon | England | United Kingdom

Keeping an eye on the weather and ground conditions. Heading out onto the Downs, possibly via Kings/Clouts Wood for some messing about. Expect around 500m of climbing and 30k over 2.5 hours (think Verderers x 2 without the exciting descents). Lights, lids and Jackets!

Jan
24
Thu
Thursday Social Ride @ The Jovial Monk
Jan 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Thursday Social Ride @ The Jovial Monk

Thursday’s ride will start from the Jovial Monk Pub on St Andrews Ridge and led by John Jefferies.

Planned ride is weather dependant. There may be a more urban ride if it’s too wet and cold. We will leave @ 7pm and head out through blunsdon, stratton & Stanton woods to south marston ind est. from there through a nice little single track to south marston. A bit of road to Nightingale woods for a lap or 2 then back to the Jovial refreshments. It may be cold and wet, so dress appropriately.

A helmet, lights and a serviceable bike required.
Nice steady pace to suit those in attendance – nobody will be left behind.

May
24
Fri
The Peaks Weekender @ The Peak District
May 24 @ 8:00 pm – May 27 @ 12:00 pm
The Peaks Weekender @ The Peak District | England | United Kingdom

The Peak District is simple awesome for mountain biking – stunning scenery and brilliant riding.
I’ve done lots of riding up there and am putting together some of the best in one long weekend.

We will be based in the Hope Valley, which has a great selection of campsites, B&B accommodation, cafes and bike shops. Personally I’ll be camping and will make a recommendation for a campsite after sampling a few, but there are plenty of great B&Bs for anyone that doesn’t like camping.

For the riding, we have 3 days:
A scenic starter, along the Monsal Trail. Starting at Bakewell Station up to Blackwell Mill and back. This is a former railway line that has been converted into a bridleway, using all the old features, including a number of viaducts and 4 tunnels through the Peaks. This gives us the chance to soak in the gorgeous scenery along the route, as well as a stop to enjoy them with a drink.

Day 2 is an epic XC ride starting in Hope and heading over Mam Tor out towards Derwent Water and back. The views on this route are even more stunning than the previous day, but the riding will be amazing too, with some epic descents – this one isn’t flat! 😉 We will be doing 25-30km with 1200-1500ft of climbing (depending on the weather), but the pace will be relaxed.

The final day will be a trip to the brilliant (but short) Lady Cannings trails, which we will use to end a 10km loop of the local Blacca Moor, which is another Peaks “must do”. That should see us finish at lunchtime, on the Bank Holiday Monday.

If you are planning on coming, please register either on the Facebook group event or by sending an email to adrian@swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk – just so we know to keep an eye out for you before setting off anywhere.

Jun
21
Fri
SMTBE Saunter to the Summer Solstice Sunrise @ The Bayberry
Jun 21 @ 2:30 am – 8:00 am
SMTBE Saunter to the Summer Solstice Sunrise @ The Bayberry

Debbie had this great(!) idea to ride over to Avebury to see the the Summer Solstice sun rise, in order to do this we have undegone the club ride leader training as we’re the only two barmy enough to want to do it at the moment. Excitingly this will be our first event as ride leaders so more than a good enough reason to get out of bed and join us 😀

The plan is nothing more than to cycle to Avebury to see the sunrise and then back (always maintaining a group), the pace will be slow and steady to suit those in attendance and suitable for all abilities and fitness levels. It is approximately 15 miles out and a similar distance back (the exact route will be reccied Thursday 6/6 and once done this event post will be amended to suit so stay tuned for further details).

Due to the start time and off road nature of this route you will need lights, a bike in good working order and of course a helmet. It would also be a good idea to bring water and something to eat, there may be food/coffee for sale there but this isn’t guaranteed.

Sunrise times…
London 04h43
Stonehenge 04h52