Calendar

Sep
5
Wed
Wednesdays After Work @ Croft Cycle Trail
Sep 5 @ 5:45 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesdays After Work @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom

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

Sep
19
Wed
Wednesday After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Sep 19 @ 5:45 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesday After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom
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.
 
This week we’re going to do some skills demonstrations and practice, using the features of the trail. We’ll cover the basics you’ll need for tackling technical terrain – front wheel lifts, unweighting the back well, climbing and descending safely.
 
You must bring a helmet, but you don’t need lights, yet.
Also thoroughly recommend insect repellent!
 
Meet in the Croft car park at 5.30pm for a 5.45pm start.
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.
Nov
14
Wed
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Nov 14 @ 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom
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 – just bear in mind at this time of year the whole ride is in the dark though.
 
We will do some skills demonstrations and practice, using the features of the trail. We may also venture up Ladder Lane for a bit of root and faster descending practice, or over to the pump track at Wroughton if it’s a muddy one.
 
You must bring a helmet and lights too.
 
Meet in the Croft car park for a 5.45pm start.
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.
Feb
27
Wed
Wednesday GetIntoMTB
Feb 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:15 pm
Wednesday GetIntoMTB

Wednesday rides are back with a new format.

The evening will be split into two parts:

6-7pm will be a Croft trail ride, laps of the trail (when it gets lighter we will also be sessioning some of the features)

7-8.15pm will be a local, fairly flat route, less than 10km in total.

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 at the moment.

Meet in the Croft car park for both rides

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.

Sep
4
Wed
Wednesday GetintoMTB @ Croft Cycle Trail
Sep 4 @ 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

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.