Calendar

Sep
9
Sat
Family Ride: Picnic and Pedals @ Croft Cycle Trail
Sep 9 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Family Ride: Picnic and Pedals @ Croft Cycle Trail | England | United Kingdom

We are basing ourselves at Croft for this family ride, riding lots of different parts of the trail.

It will be a very relaxed and enjoyable afternoon, where you can arrive at anytime after 11am. There will be numerous rides going on throughout the afternoon and you can join in with as many or as few as you like! We will cover a variety of abilities and for all age groups, starting at short rides around the paths of the trail for those that are just starting out, to sectioning areas of the blue trail and for those children that are ‘pros in the making’ we will be heading out on both the blue and red trails.

In between these rides there is chance to come and join us for a picnic lunch and I will bring some fun outdoor games for the children to play whilst they are waiting to ride as well. So why not come along with the family, bring a picnic and have some off-road biking fun!

Please note that you will be responsible for your child/children at all times and will be required to accompany them on all of the rides

Sep
19
Tue
Tuesday night ride – Aerials, Bridges and Ladders @ The Bayberry, Wichelstowe
Sep 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm
Tuesday night ride - Aerials, Bridges and Ladders @ The Bayberry, Wichelstowe | Swindon | England | United Kingdom

A fairly long Tuesday nighter at 37 km with the customery 500m climb. Weather looks fine so if we get way smarty we should still be back in time for a pint. There are some short cuts should time be against us. Route is Hodson, Aerial mast climb, Rickety Bridge down. Shooting club (not Gypsy lane Climb) Ladder and home. Jacket, helmet and lights a must.

Nov
4
Sat
FoD Family Ride @ Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean
Nov 4 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
FoD Family Ride @ Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean | England | United Kingdom
We’re going to do something a bit different for the next family ride – an away day of sorts.
 
Just down the road from Pedalabikeaway in the Forest of Dean, is Beechenhurst, the activity & picnic centre with a child’s playground and sculpture trail amongst other things.
 
So we will park/start at Beechenhurst and pick up the Green family trail (which is on former railyway lines, so nice & flat), out to the Cannop ponds, looping back to Pedalabikeaway for a go on the family skills loop and pump track (& visit to the cafe), before returning to Beechenhurst.
 
Total route is 5 miles, but with the option for as many loops of the pump track as desired – it always seems to be the kids’ favourite!
 
The ride will be lead by our Welfare officer, Davinia, who is also a British Cycling qualified ride leader and Breeze champion.
 
Whilst on the ride your children must be accompanied and are your responsibility at all times.
 
Meet out the front of the Beechenhurst lodge at 11am.
Jan
9
Tue
Tuesday Night Ride – Wet n Windy again @ The Bayberry
Jan 9 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm
Tuesday Night Ride - Wet n Windy again @ The Bayberry | United Kingdom

The usual Tuesday night ride onto the Ridgeway. The weather forecast looks wet and windy yet again, so we will be riding harder pack trails and a bit of urban – all subject to change according what weather actually transpires.

You must wear a helmet, bring lights (strong enough for the dark of the Ridgeway) and appropriate clothing (warm waterproofs at the moment).

If you have not been on a club ride before and are not a club member, you are welcome to join us to see what it is like before joining. Details on the benefits of membership and how to join can be found by clicking here.

Jan
10
Wed
SMTBE AGM @ The Plough, Wanborough
Jan 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
SMTBE AGM @ The Plough, Wanborough | Wanborough | England | United Kingdom

We are holding our AGM on Wednesday 10th January at 7pm at The Plough in Wanborough.

This is your chance to have your say on the running of the club, vote for committee members, see the club’s finances and for the committee to show you our plans for 2018. We have what we think are some good ideas that we would like feedback on, but would also love any ideas you have. Don’t hold back – we might not be able to do everything straight away, but as long as we know, we can start to plan. 
 
Non-members are welcome to the meeting, but only members get a vote. 
 
If you can’t make it to the meeting, but have an idea you would like to share, please email us at ideas@swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk 
 
 
 
Look forward to seeing you there! 
Aug
16
Thu
The Family Shred @ Flyup 417 Bike Park
Aug 16 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

This is a bringing your kids somewhere fun trip!

The 417 Project is only half an hour from Swindon and has some great trails and features for developing skills for all ages, although you need to be confident riding off stabilisers and over small obstacles.

There is a small outdoor trail aimed specifically at kids, with bermed corners and small ramps to go over, which is a great place to start.

That is right next to the bottom section of the Blue trail, which is great for progressing further – the more you progress, the further up the hill you go basically.

Inside one of the barns is a Velosolutions pump track too, which is great for everyone in all weathers.

Above that is also a Leisure Lakes bike shop, which does an excellent range of kids specific clothing and protection.
Oh and the cafe does amazing food, coffee and milkshakes!

Children are welcome on this event, but you will be responsible for your own children at all times, including making sure they are capable of riding whichever trail they decide to tackle.

It costs £8 entry for adults, or £5 for under 12s. You can book in advance online at https://417bikepark.co.uk

Helmets are compulsory at the bike park – they will not let you ride without one.

We will meet at 10am in the car park.

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.
Oct
3
Wed
Wednesdays After Work at Croft @ Croft Cycle Trail
Oct 3 @ 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.
 
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 wheel, climbing and descending safely.
We may also venture up Ladder Lane for a bit of root and faster descending practice.
 
You must bring a helmet, but you don’t need lights, just yet.
 
Meet in the Croft car park at 5.30pm for a 5.45pm start
Feb
15
Fri
@ The Tawny Owl
Feb 15 @ 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm
 @ The Tawny Owl
This year’s AGM will be held at the Tawny Owl at 7pm . To discuss items on the agenda from the club accounts, voting on election of the committee and future plans.
It is open to members and non-members, but only members will be able to vote, so please make sure you have an up to date membership.
If you wish to have any comments to raise on the night, we will have a slot for it, but for smooth running of the evening, if you wish to put forward suggestions prior to AGM or you cannot attend, please PM or email Andrew@swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk 
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