Leaving Asda Walmart @ 7pm heading up to the Jovial Monk pub for 7.15 for people who want to start at the finish.
From there out to South Marston via Blunsdon and Stanton Park. A couple of laps of Nightingale woods, before heading back for refreshments @ the Jovial Monk.
Helmet, lights and warm clothing required. All levels catered for.
Nobody gets left behind.
John Jefferies is leading something a bit different this Thursday.
Leaving the Sun Inn @ Coate Water at 6.30 pm, we will head to chisledon via the the curly bridge, heading out to Marlborough on the old railway line.
Aiming to get to the Royal Oak pub for 8pm. an hour spent having food and refreshments before heading back at approx 9pm.
Will be expecting to hit coate on the way back at approx 10pm.
The ride will be approx 30 plus miles leaving from the sun. Lights and helmets a must. Will be a 10pm plus finish
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.
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
From the 3 Trees we will head out on the Ridgeway out to the bottom of Barbury Castle. This is further out on the Ridgeway from where we will drop down into the beautiful Vale of Rockley. A short sharp climb takes us to the top of a byway down to Ogbourne Maisey and then home along the old railway line cycle route.