Calendar

Jan
8
Sun
Bike Park Wales (BPW) Mothering Sunday @ Bike Park Wales
Jan 8 @ 6:18 pm – 7:18 pm
Bike Park Wales (BPW) Mothering Sunday @ Bike Park Wales | Merthyr Tydfil | Wales | United Kingdom

This will be an uplift day and starts at 9.30am, so be there early to get prepped, sign in etc

This is about 1 hour 30 min car drive (from swindon), so if you’re lift sharing allow time for pick ups.

Uplift ticket price is £36, but you can a pedal up ticket for £6.

You will need a helmet – they are compulsory at Bike Park Wales, and  if you are fancying the rocky reds or black runs, a full face helmet is advisable.

Tickets sell out months in advance and you will need to book your own, so get in quick on the link below.

http://www.bikeparkwales.com/uplift

Oct
8
Sun
Afan of the Forest @ Glyncorrwg Ponds MTB Centre
Oct 8 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Afan of the Forest @ Glyncorrwg Ponds MTB Centre | Glyncorrwg | Wales | United Kingdom

The big ride.

Whites Level up. Over the top to Ywal and return via Blade descent. This is an all day’r with in excess of 50km and well over 1000m of Climb.

This is an advanced level ride, being both technical and strenuous terrain. Strongly advise knee and elbow pads.

Helmet and waterproof jacket a must. Pack lights.

Would expect to be back at the ponds by 4pm

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 !!!

Jun
24
Sun
BikePark Wales – dreaming of summer @ Bikepark Wales
Jun 24 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
BikePark Wales - dreaming of summer @ Bikepark Wales | Abercanaid | Wales | United Kingdom
The weather has been a pretty dire this winter, so lets dream of summer and the announcement that BikePark Wales have a bunch of new trails opening this June sounds a perfect thing to look forward to.
 
We seem to have an unexpected Sunday free in June now, so what better thing to look forward to than BPW, new trails in the summer!
 
There are full day uplift tickets available at the moment (they sell quick though!) and you can also do Pay As You Go uplift if you don’t want to commit now. Details on both are at www.bikeparkwales.com
 
You will need a helmet (you cannot ride there without one) and pads are advised. A full face is advised if you have one – it’s not essential, so don’t worry if you haven’t got one, but it’s a good idea if you can.
 
We will meet at 10am in front of the cafe.
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
Mar
3
Sun
BPW Birthday Bash @ BikePark Wales
Mar 3 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
BPW Birthday Bash @ BikePark Wales
We are heading to BPW for a big club ride to celebrate a number of birthdays in the club!! We want as many of you to come along and join us as possible.
There will hopefully be a mixture of abilities coming so we can split up into groups to do a variety of graded rides from blues to blacks!
A huge gathering at lunch will set us up for an afternoon of yet more trail fun!
You can either choose to do pay as you go uplifts or buy a day’s uplift pass (see BPW website for details)
Please note….. Helmets are compulsory at BikePark Wales and Full face helmets are advisable.
Meet outside the cafe at 10am.
Apr
3
Wed
Wednesdays GetintoMTB @ Croft Cycle Trail
Apr 3 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesdays GetintoMTB @ Croft Cycle Trail
Wednesday rides are back with a new format.

The evening will be split into two parts:

6-6.45pm will be a Croft trail ride, laps of the trail (when it gets lighter we will also be sessioning some of the features). This week this bit shouldn’t need lights 😀

6.45-8.15pm 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 6.45PM RIDE, so that we know to wait for you, as we leave promptly.

These rides are part of our GetintoMTB series, designed for anyone just starting mountain biking, coming back after a break or just wanting a shorter, flatter ride 😊

Helmets are compulsory and you will also need lights for the ride out at 6.45pm.

Meet in the Croft Trail car park for both rides

Aug
21
Wed
Wednesday GetintoMTB @ Croft Cycle Trail
Aug 21 @ 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

Oct
12
Sat
GetintoMTB Goes to Wales @ Afan Lodge
Oct 12 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
GetintoMTB Goes to Wales @ Afan Lodge

Following on from the success of the previous Get Into Mountain Biking events we’re heading to Afan in Wales!

This will still be aimed at improvers/intermediate riders but will be a progression from the previous trail centres we’ve visited.

Meeting at Afan Lodge at 11am we will take a short ride to the start of the trails and begin our day on the blue-graded Blue Scar. At the top of the Blue Scar climb we can then decide whether to climb a bit more and do the first part of the red-graded trail Penhydd or continue straight to the Blue Scar descent. There is a fair amount of climbing at Afan but most of it is on fire roads and there will be plenty of opportunity to stop and admire the stunning views.

After lunch those with the energy can climb back up and do more of Penhydd or Blue Scar again, and there is also a small skills area and lovely scenic route with short section of blue-graded trail along the valley.

Those that are really feeling energetic and brave may be tempted to give the red-graded trail Y-Wal a go, but be warned, Wales trail gradings are harder than English ones.

Afan is roughly two hours drive away from Swindon so we will meet at Afan Lodge at 11am. Afan Lodge is further up the road past Afan trail centre, you’ll see the trail centre on your right and Afan Lodge is on the left. There is plenty of free parking here and a lovely cafe, and an old railway line cycle path links the two.

Since we’ll be in Wales it would seem rude not to stay a bit longer and go to Bike Park Wales on the Sunday! This won’t be an official club trip as such but there is a bike-friendly Premier Inn 5 minutes away from BPW which I may well find myself in that night 😀

Feb
5
Wed
MTB Wellness Wednesday @ The Bayberry
Feb 5 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
MTB Wellness Wednesday @ The Bayberry

Wednesdays have always been a relaxed beginners ride and we’re continuing that in 2020, but specifically aiming at getting you going.
So this is the perfect ride if you are just starting, coming back to riding after a break or just want to go for a pedal to lift your spirits.

The ride theme is Wellness. There are main reasons to ride – fitness, physical and mental health – but they’re all about making yourself feel better and having fun 🙂
We will been doing a gentle pace and there will be lots of opportunities for having a chat and asking about anything MTB related. I am a MIAS Level 3 Ride Leader and skills coach and am always happy to answer any questions – if I don’t know the answer, I’ll know who to ask 🙂

Rides will be about 10km and fairly flat. Nothing technical, mainly using cycle paths (especially in the winter weather!). Perfect for all abilities.

All you need is a helmet and bike (and at this time of year, lights as well).

Meet in the Bayberry car park for 6pm start.