Calendar

Jul
25
Tue
Tuesday Night Ride – The Sugar Hill Gang @ The Bayberry
Jul 25 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tuesday Night Ride - The Sugar Hill Gang @ The Bayberry | Swindon | England | United Kingdom

Leaving the Bayberry we will head up through Coate and Chisie via the flying club to sample the delights of the Sugar Hill climb. Back around Liddington Castle and home via the Old ridgeway and Ladder lane.

There are 2 tough climbs on this ride. Pushing up is of course permitted. 33km distance and 400m of climbing on the route, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. The route may be altered (made easier, not harder!) to suit the riders and weather conditions.

LIGHTS are now a must and as always a helmet.

Jul
26
Wed
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Jul 26 @ 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom

Our usual Wednesday visit to Croft will incorporate some skills practice this week.

After a warm up lap, we will do a development lap. This will involve doing a lap of the trail stopping at certain obstacles to practice our skills: rock gardens, cornering & small jumps. There is also an option to practice drops if anyone fancies that too.
After that we will finish with a quick lap to blend all the practice together.

Meet in the car park at 5.45pm

You will need a helmet, but not lights.

Aug
2
Wed
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Aug 2 @ 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom

Our usual Wednesday visit to Croft will incorporate some skills practice this week.

After a warm up lap, we will do a development lap. This will involve doing a lap of the trail stopping at certain obstacles to practice our skills: rock gardens, cornering & small jumps. There is also an option to practice drops if anyone fancies that too.
After that we will finish with a quick lap to blend all the practice together.

Meet in the car park at 5.45pm

You will need a helmet, but not lights.

Aug
6
Sun
FoD for All (Happy Andy Day) @ Pedalabikeaway
Aug 6 @ 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
FoD for All (Happy Andy Day) @ Pedalabikeaway | England | United Kingdom
One year on from a cracking (if eventful!) trip to the Forest of Dean, we’re going back again 🙂
 
This is a general day with several ride leaders, with options for everyone.
 
We will do at least one lap of Verderers, check out the skills area and at least a run down Lauchpad, with some other DH runs if people want too.
 
Davinia will be leading a ladies group too and we will do some skills practice on the great facilities at Cannop.
 
Meet outside the Pedalabikeaway Cafe at 10.30am
 
Helmets are a must (if Andy’s coming he’ll show you why!)
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.
Nov
4
Sat
FoD Family Ride @ Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean
Nov 4 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
FoD Family Ride @ Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean | England | United Kingdom
We’re going to do something a bit different for the next family ride – an away day of sorts.
 
Just down the road from Pedalabikeaway in the Forest of Dean, is Beechenhurst, the activity & picnic centre with a child’s playground and sculpture trail amongst other things.
 
So we will park/start at Beechenhurst and pick up the Green family trail (which is on former railyway lines, so nice & flat), out to the Cannop ponds, looping back to Pedalabikeaway for a go on the family skills loop and pump track (& visit to the cafe), before returning to Beechenhurst.
 
Total route is 5 miles, but with the option for as many loops of the pump track as desired – it always seems to be the kids’ favourite!
 
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.
 
Meet out the front of the Beechenhurst lodge at 11am.
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.
Dec
5
Wed
CANCELLED – Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Dec 5 @ 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
CANCELLED - Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom
APOLOGIES EVERYONE, BUT TONIGHTS EVENT IS CANCELLED
Sorry, but due to ride leader unavailability (due to sick child!), I’ve had to cancel tonight’s ride. 
=========================================

We’re back for a Wednesday Night session at Croft.
The trail takes on a different vibe in the dark – loads of fun still with a bit of extra spice that comes from riding with lights 🙂
The tight nature of the trail keeps you on your toes too!
 
We’ll be taking easy as usual for Wednesday nights, so perfect if you’ve not been night riding before and going round as a group boosts the available light too.
 
Needless to say you’ll need lights for this ride, a helmet as always and current forecast suggests waterproofs as well.
 
Meet in the car park at 5.45pm
Dec
28
Fri
Xmas Motivator @ The Three Trees Cafe
Dec 28 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
We haven’t done a midweek motivator ride for ages, so, this isn’t one either!
But it’s close – a fairly short XC ride to release those endorphins and get you from Christmas to New Year.
 
Starting and ending at the Three Trees Cafe, we’ll head out on the Ridgeway, up the gentler climbs to the top of Barbury Castle. Then over the top, down Smeathes Ridge, back along Smeathe’s Bottom and back home via Gypsy Lane and the old railway line.
Nothing too taxing – 19km and 195m of climbing, a couple of fun descents in there too. 
 
You’ll need a helmet and appropriate clothing for the weather.
 
We’ll set off from Three Trees at 9.30am
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.