This is a nice relaxed fun race over 20km round Swinley Forest on the edge of Bracknell. It’s an Enduro race, with 7 timed downhill stages that are timed, but a more relaxed pace transferring between them. Should be great fun for all and a great opportunity for first time racers.
We have a number of club members of all abilities, men and ladies, taking part, so why not come join us?
More information here: swinleyforestenduro.co.uk
Weather looks good this week, so come along to Croft and have a cycle with us.
As well as doing a few laps, there is a nice beginners loop we can do from Croft, with only gentle uphill and 3.5 and 7 mile options which we’re happy to do if there’s demand for it.
Davinia will also be there if anyone wants to do Ladies only groups.
For the next Tuesday evening ride, we are going Urban 😉
Starting from Coate water cafe (next to the diving board), we will head to lydiard park via the cycle route 45 and do a lap once there. After that we will head to shaw forest and again do a lap around there! Then move onto moulden hill country park, do a lap and then head back to the Sun inn pub next to coate water for a nice refreshing beverage 🙂
Approx 20miles.
Please bring a helmet, NO HELMET, NO RIDE! Please also bring some lights and wrap up nice and warm.
Look forward to seeing you there folks 🙂
Something a little bit different this week – a lap of Croft followed by a ride out to Shaw Forest on route 45 for a lap of there, before heading back to Croft.
This is a perfect ride for beginners, with a well surfaced, largely flat route, with optional fun bits! It’s 10 miles to Shaw and back, so that’s the minimum, plus how every many laps of Croft / Shaw Forest you want to do.
It will be dark obviously, but the route to Shaw is well surfaced and lit in places – lights are essential though, as it’s very dark in other places.
Meet in the Croft car park for a 6pm set off.
This weeks Thursday ride will be lead by me and going from the Tawny Owl.
Will be heading out towards Coate Water before looping back via Lydiard Park. Route will be about 20 miles and will be riding at leisurely pace.
Lights and helmet required.
Its been 3 years since i was last there and now its time to visit again. This is an awesome place to visit with some serious trails worth riding. Some tough hill climbs, but with rewarding descents.
Current weather forecast is for showers, but this is Wales, so make sure you bring waterproofs! A helmet is also essential.
There are some great spots of riding at Swinley, but if you stick strictly to the Blue and Red trails you’ll a) miss some great off-piste stuff and b) have to churn through some really dull miles to get to the good bits!
So this ride is to show you the best bits – starting on the Blue trail, but then picking up some of the off-piste used on the recent Enduro race to connect up to the best of Red. That will take us to the bottom far east corner, where the downhill trials are as well and after a play in that area, we will take a more leisurely ride to pick up the fabulous Tank Traps section, before ending with the best of Blue to take us back to the hub. Should be 20 miles in total.
This ride contains blue and red graded trails, so bare that in mind – it’s Swinley not the Alps, but the bits of red we will be doing are definitely red grade.
See you at the entrance to the Blue trail at 10am.
As well as leading SMTBE rides, I am also a Breeze champion, and I am leading a combined Breeze ride, with a RideSocial bit in the middle.
I have put together a few of my favourite routes with an adventurous twist in the middle! We will start the route at the Three Trees Cafe , then take the cycle path through Chiseldon and then head to Coate Water via the ‘twirly whirly bridge’. We will ride round the back of Coate Water and head out onto the roads by the Broome Manor estate. After a short section of quiet road we will pick up the cycle path again down the side of the golf course and head onto Pipers Way and to Croft. This is where we will stop for a short break from the Breeze ride and if you want to join the ‘Ride Social’ at this point, then that will be the adventurous twist – a lap of Croft!
We will then continue the Breeze ride, head back to Coate Water via Broome Manor and stop for coffee or toilets if required. After Coate, we will take the Badbury Wick route back to the Three Trees Cafe, which is all quiet country roads. Once back at the Three Trees Cafe we will stop for a much needed hot drink and a cake!
Meet in the Three Trees Cafe car park for a 10am start.
2018 Identiti Bikes Southern Enduro Champs – Minehead, Exmoor – 14th & 15th July 2017
Tickets available here: HERE.
Timing:
Professionally Timed by Action Sports Timing
More info: http://www.actionsportstiming.co.uk/
Price: £60 Early Bird price until 20th Jan (£65 after)
Venue: Minehead, Exmoor
400 online entries available, no entries on the day.
- Fantastic prizes for the top 3 riders in all categories. Plus some spot pizes
- Identiti AKA frame for the faster Male and Female
- Free parking for all riders, spectators, friends and family. (Please car share where possible)
- Large race village with On site shop.
- Full mechanical support for all riders.
- Full medical support.
- Food and drink on site.
- Free Camping
- Beer tent & Band TBC
Stages: There will be 7 timed stages, which will be added together for an aggregate time to decide the winner in each category.
On Saturday afternoon you will race one of the stages (Seeding stage)*
Your result on that stage will reflect where you start on Sunday. On Sunday you will be set off in categories in seeded order.
There will be start times for each stage.
*Seeding stage counts to your overall time.
All stages will be over a mile long and around 100m to 150m in elevation/drop. Estimated stage times are about 2 minutes to 4 minutes long.
Categories:
- Male Elite age 18+
- Male Senior age 18-29
- Male Master age 30-39
- Male Veteran age 40+
- Male Supers Veteran age 50+
- Male FUN age 18+
- Male U16s age 14-15
- Male U18s age 16-17
- Female Elite age 18+
- Female Senior age 18-29
- Female Master age 30-39
- Female Veteran age 40+
- Female Supers Veteran age 50+
- Female FUN age 18+
- Female U16s age 14-15
- Female U18s age 16-17
- Hardtails age 18+
Elite: Riders that are sponsored or in PRO, Expert and Elite in other races or Top finisher in age categories in previous Enduro’s
Senior, Master, Veteran, Grand Veteran: Riders that are not sponsored and with medium skill level or Top finisher in Fun in previous Enduro’s
FUN: Riders 18 and over that are new to racing or new to the sport
U18: Riders under the age 18
WOMEN: Riders that are female
HARDTAILS: Riders 18 and that are racing on a Hardtail
Timings:
Saturday
Marshals briefing 9.30
Riders briefing 9.45
Practice 10.00 to 15:00
Seeding 15:00 to 18:00
Sunday
Marshals briefing 9.30
Riders briefing 9.45
Start of race (first rider) 10.00
Prize giving 16.30
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.