This is our first #getintomtb event of 2018 and is aimed anyone starting off mountain biking, or coming back to it after a break.
We will being laps of the Croft Trail in Swindon, which is a great trail for starting and progressing on a mountain bikes. There will be 2 ride leaders with mixed and ladies only groups.
Club coach (and maintenance instructor) Gaz will be there to run through the M check, so you can check your bike is ready for the trail before setting off. We will then take you round the trail and point out some of the features along the way. Don’t worry, everything is optional, but we will be there to encourage you 🙂
Please bring a helmet and suitable clothing (if it’s raining you will need waterproofs).
We will also be holding a “Questions Amnesty” where you can ask anything you always wanted to know about mountain biking, but were afraid to ask, anonymously. Ask your questions here.
We’re super excited to see Swinduro back early, with a ladies only event! See all the info from the Bike Hub below – you don’t want to miss this! Tickets launch 0900 Wednesday 17th January.
The infamous “swinduro” is back earlier in 2018 to hold a womens only event at Swinley Forest. Swinley Forest holds some of the finest all weather mountain biking trails in the South East of England.
The Swinduro spirit is for every rider to have a great day of riding, set in an amazing location and enjoying the MTB Basecamp. Basecamp will have a BBQ, a prosecco bar providing some post event hydration, coffee stalls all wrapped up and supported by our mainline sponsor Fox Head Clothing who will be onsite with female specific Mountain Bike Clothing, lifestyle clothing and loads of goodies!
To make this an extra special event, as part of the event entry fee riders will get:
- A 20km event taking in the best Swinley has to offer with 8 special timed stages
- A special female only coaching day to prepare for the enduro to be held in February
- A Fox Head Inspired goody bag at event registration
- Parking within the Forest for free!
- 50% off focused swinleyfit PT packages online to prepare for The Fox Head Female Swinduro
- Total Cost for Coaching Session & Race Entry £42.50
The swinduro women event has a course designed that will allow first timers to the pinners to come, ride and enjoy the day out. The course will be challenging for all levels of skill and experience. If you are looking for an event to try riding with others, to kickstart the year ahead all mixed in with a laid back vibe – then join us at the swinduro women enduro, hang out with friends, make new ones and enjoy the atmosphere!
During the event we will also be hosting the inaugural “Mini Shredders” Championships – this is a 5km, 3 stages only enduro style event for riders up to the age of 12 – we want to see as many shredders as possible on the day! The Mini Shredders Champs will take place close to base camp, and allow for spectators to watch the event at close quarters.
Race Entry Categories
The Fox Head Female Swinduro will have the following categories:
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- PRO age 18+
- Senior age 18-29
- Master age 30-39
- Veteran age 40+
- Supers Veteran age 50+
- FUN age 18+ (Sport / Fun Category for new comers and those that prefer not to race in age category)
- U18s age 12-17 (12-14 to be accompanied by an adult)
- “Mini Shredders Enduro” U12’s (3 stages only – 5km in length – to be accompanied by an adult)
We’ve got another weekend session at Croft coming up.
This is a perfect opportunity to try a mountain bike trail if you haven’t before, or just to reintroduce yourself if it’s been a while (it’s been a pretty grotty winter!).
We will have at least 2 ride leaders there, doing ladies only and mixed groups of all abilities.
We will meet in the Croft Car Park at 10.30am
Please bring a helmet
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
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.
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
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 😀
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.
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.