![A Tail of Two Trails @ Croft Cycle Trail | Swindon | England | United Kingdom](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0029.jpg?fit=300%2C225)
Something a little bit different this week – a lap of Croft followed by a ride out to Shaw Forest on route 45 for a lap of there, before heading back to Croft.
This is a perfect ride for beginners, with a well surfaced, largely flat route, with optional fun bits! It’s 10 miles to Shaw and back, so that’s the minimum, plus how every many laps of Croft / Shaw Forest you want to do.
It will be dark obviously, but the route to Shaw is well surfaced and lit in places – lights are essential though, as it’s very dark in other places.
Meet in the Croft car park for a 6pm set off.
We’ll be back at Croft this Wednesday after work for a few laps and then seeing as it’s close to Christmas, we’re going to the pub!
We’ve met some great people since we started doing this in the spring, so if anyone wants to join us for a Christmas drink / bite to eat, we will be heading to the Baybury in Wichelstowe for 7pm. Everyone is most welcome – for the ride or just coming to the pub.
Don’t worry if you’ve not been before – it’s a great opportunity to come and talk to us about the club and what we do too.
Meet at Croft Trail Car Park at 6pm for riding and the Baybury in Wichelstowe for food and drink at 7pm.
![Bike Park Wales (BPW) Mothering Sunday @ Bike Park Wales | Merthyr Tydfil | Wales | United Kingdom](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Banjo.jpg?fit=300%2C300)
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.
![Cwmcarn if you can @ PS Cycles, Cwmcarn | Wales | United Kingdom](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_6649.jpg?fit=300%2C200)
Time for another visit to Cwmcarn.
This is a great Welsh trail centre, with 2 XC trails and some downhill tracks, with uplift available.
The main ride is 10am on Sunday, but we’ll be there the whole weekend if you want to join in on Saturday too.
Plan is to camp over Saturday nigh, ready to do the main day ride on the Sunday.
We will meet at 10am at PS Cycles on the Sunday for the main ride.
![Ladies BPW PAYG and Do As You Please @ BikePark Wales | Abercanaid | Wales | United Kingdom](http://swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_0403.jpg)
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 !!!
![BikePark Wales - dreaming of summer @ Bikepark Wales | Abercanaid | Wales | United Kingdom](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0184.jpg?fit=300%2C225)
![Wednesdays After Work @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Thursday-Croft.jpg?fit=300%2C225)
We will start with a lap of the Blue trail to warm up, then sees what people want to do next. The options will be to head over the motorway to Wroughton for a couple of laps of the new pump track there, do a practice trip up and then down Ladder Lane, or just more laps of Croft.
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.
You must bring a helmet, but you don’t need lights yet 😊
Also thoroughly recommend insect repellent!
Meet in the Croft car park at 5.45pm
![BPW Birthday Bash @ BikePark Wales](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/GPTempDownload.jpeg?fit=300%2C225)
A huge gathering at lunch will set us up for an afternoon of yet more trail fun!
Please note….. Helmets are compulsory at BikePark Wales and Full face helmets are advisable.
![Lydiard Park Family Picnic @ Lydiard Park](https://i0.wp.com/swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/52082377_1986080404823195_6151179086757625856_n.jpg?fit=300%2C169)
We would like to invite everyone and their families to celebrate the start of the summer.
We will meet at the children’s play area at 11am, find a good picnic spot nearby and enjoy some family time, playing games such as rounders, football, frisbee and anything else we can find in the shed!!!! We will be close to the play area, cafe, toilets and most importantly the ice cream parlour!!!
Bringing bikes is optional. We will be there to take small groups around the outside of the park, if required.
Most importantly we want everyone to come together to have some family fun.
Don’t forget to bring a picnic and a picnic blanket and/or chairs to sit on.