Calendar

Sep
30
Sat
SMTBE Ladies XC rides – Barbury Bound @ Croft Cycle Trail
Sep 30 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
SMTBE Ladies XC rides - Barbury Bound @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom
This is our first Ladies Ridegway Ride! I’m so excited to introduce our ride leader for the day, one of our regular riders, Lindsay!
She will begin the ride at Croft cycle trail, though if any ladies are from the West Swindon area she is riding from home, so you can always join her along the way!
We will then ride up to Barbury via Ladder Lane (riding up is possible, but optional – walking up will be fine!!)
The ride then takes us down Smeathe’s Ridge, via the Three Trees Cafe, where we will stop for refreshments (all important tea, coffee and cake!!) We will then head back to Croft via Chiseldon, and Coate Water.
If the weather is on our side and we all feel like an extra few miles, then we can add in an additional loop from Ogbourne St George, taking a detour up the Earthline Hill, along the ridge and then back down onto the railway path again.
This ride is approximately 20 miles with the extra detour loop.
It is not a technical ride, however it does have a few hills and will require a little bit of stamina! 
Please note, it is only suitable for mountain bikes.
May
26
Sat
SMTBE Family Ride – Swinley Saturday @ Swinley Bike Hub
May 26 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
SMTBE Family Ride - Swinley Saturday @ Swinley Bike Hub | England | United Kingdom

Sorry for the short notice, but we have a new opportunity to do a family ride at the weekend at Swinley Forest.

Swinley is a great place for all levels of cyclist, with fire roads, a great Green trail and the Blue trail, which builds up nicely.

We will start with the Green trail as an introduction, before heading out on to Blue. How much of Blue we do will depend on the ability of the group – there are some nice flatter sections, as well as nice descents, but always a fire road option as well.

There will be 2 ride leaders to guide you, but all children MUST be accompanied by an adult and remain your responsibility for the whole ride.
Children and adults must wear helmets

May
31
Thu
SMTBE Family Half Term Ride @ Waitrose
May 31 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Need something to keep the kids entertained this half term? Then come along and join us on our family half term ride!

Starting at Waitrose, we will go along the Southern flyer and up a bit of the old railway line, before descending to Wichelstowe, where there is a playground to take break. From there we will head out to Croft, to do the final section of the trail (which is fairly flat), before heading back to Wichelstowe. We will go along the canal, round the lake and back up to Waitrose (& a cafe stop if desired).

Total route is 5.5 miles, or if 3.5 miles if you want to skip the Croft trip and stay at the playground. A great route combining cycle paths and off road riding.

The ride will be lead by our Welfare officer, Davinia, who is also a British Cycling qualified ride leader and Breeze champion.

Whilst on the ride your children must be accompanied and are your responsibility at all times.

Children and adults must wear helmets.

Meet outside the front of Waitrose at 10.30am

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 
Sep
19
Wed
Wednesday After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Sep 19 @ 5:45 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesday After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom
This a very relaxed ride, at an easy pace, with lots of opportunities to develop and practice skills. Everyone is welcome and this is a great introductory ride if you’re just starting or coming back to mountain biking.
 
This week we’re going to do some skills demonstrations and practice, using the features of the trail. We’ll cover the basics you’ll need for tackling technical terrain – front wheel lifts, unweighting the back well, climbing and descending safely.
 
You must bring a helmet, but you don’t need lights, yet.
Also thoroughly recommend insect repellent!
 
Meet in the Croft car park at 5.30pm for a 5.45pm start.
Oct
3
Wed
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Oct 3 @ 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom
This a very relaxed ride, at an easy pace, with lots of opportunities to develop and practice skills. Everyone is welcome and this is a great introductory ride if you’re just starting or coming back to mountain biking.
 
This week we’re going to do some skills demonstrations and practice, using the features of the trail. We’ll cover the basics you’ll need for tackling technical terrain – front wheel lifts, unweighting the back wheel, climbing and descending safely.
We may also venture up Ladder Lane for a bit of root and faster descending practice.
 
You must bring a helmet, but you don’t need lights, just yet.
 
Meet in the Croft car park at 5.30pm for a 5.45pm start
Nov
11
Sun
Sunday Scenic @ 3 Trees Cafe
Nov 11 @ 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Sunday Scenic @ 3 Trees Cafe | United Kingdom
This is steady XC ride taking in some of the cracking scenery on the Ridgeway.
 
Starting at the 3 Trees cafe, we will head along the Ridgeway, up the side of Barbury Castle (the gentlest side!), continuing along the Ridgeway past Hackpen Hill, before the descent across Rockley Downs to Ogbourne St Andrew.
From there we will take the old Railway line back to the 3 Trees cafe.
 
So uphill first (gets most of it out the way!), a nice down and steady return for coffee and cake.
 
This will be 24km in length and 275m of climbing – rather like the short route Tuesday night rides, but at the weekend.
 
We will be taking it at a relaxed pace, so this is suitable for those looking for a starter ride on the Ridgeway.
You must wear a helmet and a suitable coat is advised (showers are currently forecast).
 
Meet in the 3 Trees car park for a 10.30am set off.  
We will also be stopping briefly at 11am to observe 2 minutes silence for Remembrance Sunday.
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.
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

Sep
4
Wed
Wednesday GetintoMTB @ Croft Cycle Trail
Sep 4 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesday GetintoMTB @ Croft Cycle Trail

Wednesdays are one of our #getintoMTB events, designed to help people get started, get back into MTB or anyone wanting a shorter, flatter ride. But there’s plenty of fun for all abilities.

The evening will be split into two parts:

6-7pm will be a Croft trail ride, laps of the trail (sessioning some of the features along the way)

7pm-8pm will be a local, fairly flat route, less than 10km in total.
PLEASE LET US KNOW BY POSTING BELOW IF YOU INTEND ONLY ATTENDING THE 7PM RIDE, so that we know to wait for you, as we leave promptly.

Under 18’s are allowed on this ride unaccompanied, as long as you have been out with us before. If you haven’t and wish to come, please drop an email to welfare@swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk so we can let you know the process for signing up to these rides.

As with all our rides, Helmets are compulsory.

Meet in the Croft Trail car park for both rides