Calendar

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.

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.
Oct
5
Thu
SMTBE Ladies Morning Motivator Ride @ Three Trees Cafe
Oct 5 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am
SMTBE Ladies Morning Motivator Ride @ Three Trees Cafe | United Kingdom

This week we will start our ‘Motivator’ ride in a different place!
we will head out from the Three Trees Cafe to Coate water , via Chiseldon and the whirly twirly bridge.

We will then go on to the Croft Trail, passed the Broome Manor Golf course. At Croft there will be chance for a lap or 2, if you would like a bit more of a technical and ‘off – road’ ride!

After Croft we will head back to the Three Trees via Coate Water and Badbury Wick.

This ride is about 14 miles and suitable for Mountain bikes and hybrid bikes with off road tyres.

If you would rather not ride the Croft Trail , then that’s no problem, there are some benches that you can have a well earned rest on!
There will of course be a coffee/tea/cake stop back at the cafe after the ride.

Oct
12
Thu
GetintoMTB: SMTBE Ladies Morning Motivator @ Waitrose, Wichelstowe
Oct 12 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
GetintoMTB: SMTBE Ladies Morning Motivator @ Waitrose, Wichelstowe | Wichelstowe | England | United Kingdom

We will start at Waitrose car park in Wichelstowe, then head along the old railway path to old town, passing Croft trail along the way for a lap or 2 if you fancy it, before heading back Waitrose. This will be a gentle ride , with the option of the Croft trail for more a more technical ride if you wish .

We aim to be back at Waitrose by 1pm.

Oct
15
Sun
GetintoMTB: SMTBE Ladies Croft Ride @ Croft Cycle Trail
Oct 15 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
GetintoMTB: SMTBE Ladies Croft Ride @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom

There have been a number of requests for another beginners/novice friendly ‘Get into MTB’ ride, so we will be going for a lovely little ride around the Croft trail.

This ride is perfect for those ladies who want to experience some off road riding, but at a more gentle pace and be guided through the trail.

We will ride the blue trail and there will be plenty of chances to stop along the way to practise any off road features.

The ride will only last for about an hour and a half, so there is plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day!

Nov
16
Thu
SMTBE Ladies Morning Motivator Ride @ Mouldon Hill Country Park
Nov 16 @ 10:00 am – 11:15 am
SMTBE Ladies Morning Motivator Ride @ Mouldon Hill Country Park | England | United Kingdom

This week’s Ladies Morning Motivator Ride will be lead by Lindsay, as I’m unable to make it.

She is starting at Mouldon Hill car park (opposite the Tawney Owl Pub) and will be taking you on a magical mystery ride around the cycle paths in North Swindon!!
This will be a shorter ride, but a fab hour of cycling!

Thanks for all supporting and joining Lindsay for this ride.

Feb
18
Sun
Ladies BPW PAYG and Do As You Please @ BikePark Wales
Feb 18 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Ladies BPW PAYG and Do As You Please @ BikePark Wales | Abercanaid | Wales | United Kingdom

As the last ladies day at BPW was cancelled due to snow , we are heading back to the lovely Welsh hills for a mixture of push ups for training, pay as you go uplifts and what ever trails we fancy !!! Starting with blue and some reds, with the option for those that are completely mad (Claire!!) to try a black !!!

If anyone can offer to share lifts, then let me know and we can arrange to share the toll costs as well.

We might have a photographer travelling we us too, to take some action shots !!!

Jul
19
Fri
Ladies Exmoor Adventure @ Porlock
Jul 19 @ 7:00 pm – Jul 21 @ 4:00 pm
Ladies Exmoor Adventure @ Porlock
This year’s ladies away trip sees us heading to Exmoor for a fun weekend of fantastic views, great riding and bags of fun!
We will be based in the town of Porlock, near Minehead and we will head down there after work on the Friday, where most of us will be setting up camp at Sparkhayes campsite (details further down). For those that don’t wish to camp, there are a variety of B&Bs and pubs to stay in – comment below if you want that option and I can suggest some places for you.
 
Friday night we will be getting settled in and have a few welcome drinks in one of the excellent local pubs.
 
Saturday is the big ride – our Seaside big one! Don’t worry, it’s not huge, 28km in fact, but with a fair bit of climbing that will gives us some amazing views of the sea and surrounding hills. We head out up Bossington Hill, which you can see from the campsite, before taking the ridge to Bratton. The return takes us via Selworth Combe, after which there will be an opportunity to visit the fantastic tea rooms at Horner and we will finish at Porlock Weir for a drink by the seaside.
 
Sunday we have two shorter rides on offer. The first is our Dunkery Dabble. Just under 10km, it does have a couple of steep bits in it, but we will take these at a gentle pace. The rewards though are some amazing views back towards the sea and some really fun descents in an idillic setting, complete with optional water crossings!
After this ride we will stop at the Horner tea rooms for a spot of lunch. If anyone needs to head back early, they can at this point, or stay on for the afternoon ride. This will be a quick 15km route from Horner out to the woods of Wootton Common and back. The way out and back are relatively flat, with the bulk of the climb at Wootton Common itself – a great way to finish a great weekend of riding.
 
All of these rides will be rides will be led by myself, supported by other ride leaders from the club, who are also first aid trained.
 
For more information about accommodation or anything else on the weekend, send an email to admin@swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk .
 
Sparkhayes campsite costs £9 a night per person and has good facilities (real showers and toilets, even a fridge).
Please email if you want to camp at Sparkhayes, as I will be doing a group booking with all the tents together.
Let me know if you don’t have a tent and want to camp, as a few of us have big tents with spare rooms in them.
 
There are plenty of food options in the town and we will probably eat out both nights, but it’s entirely up to you.
 
It will be a fun weekend and can’t wait to see you all.
Jul
28
Sun
Ladies Lakeside Ride @ Cricklade Leisure Centre
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ladies Lakeside Ride @ Cricklade Leisure Centre

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.

Feb
2
Sun
MTB Wellness Ladies Ride @ Mouldon Hill Country Park
Feb 2 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
MTB Wellness Ladies Ride @ Mouldon Hill Country Park

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.