2 days before Halloween, so let’s go and play in the woods – always turned out well in films 😳
This will probably be one of our last trips to Swinley of the year, so we’re going out with a bang and will ride the best the forest has to offer, taking in as much of it as I can pack into 1 loop!
I’ll be keeping the distance to about 15 miles and we’ll be doing some old favourites, best of the regular trails and some bits you might not have seen before 😉 it will be an intermediate level ride, with some technical bits, but there are walk around options for anything you don’t fancy doing – it’s all friendly fun, promise!
Meet outside the Swinley Bike Hub at 10am
(you’ll need a helmet and some knee pads are probably a good idea too)
The first “Swinley Best Bits” of 2018.
These are Red grade rides that take in some of the best best of the Blue, Red, old trails and downhill trails into 1 loop.
This is at the upper end of Red grading for its technicality, as although the distance will be under 20 miles, the terrain is challenging, with everything from fast flowing singletrack, jumps, to some loamy off camber roots and reasonable sized drops. If you are confident on Red trails, you will be fine.
You can read about a previous Best Bits route using the link below. The exact route on the day will depend on how we get on (adapted for the weather and riders in the group essentially), but this gives a good idea: http://swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk/wheretoride/routes/swinley-big-best-bits/
Please bring food with you, as we will be out over lunchtime and there are no facilities in the woods.
You must bring a helmet (no helmet, no ride) and knee and elbow pads are recommend too.
Meet outside the Swinley Bike Hub and 10.15 for a 10.30am set off.
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:
-
- 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’re going to be camping down at the excellent Sparkhayes campsite in Porlock – just round the corner from both the town and from the beach.
The campsite has electric hook ups, a shower/toilet block with washing up facilities, a kettle and small microwave. There is also a communal fridge and freezer.
The cost is £9 per person per night, with an additional £4 a night for the electric hook up.
Let us know if you want to stay and we’ll do a group booking – we will be there from the Friday night to set up as well, but people are welcome to join on the Friday night or Saturday morning.
Don’t forget the Saturday and Sunday rides that are part of the weekend.
2018 Identiti Bikes Southern Enduro Champs – Minehead, Exmoor – 14th & 15th July 2017
Tickets available here: HERE.
Timing:
Professionally Timed by Action Sports Timing
More info: http://www.actionsportstiming.co.uk/
Price: £60 Early Bird price until 20th Jan (£65 after)
Venue: Minehead, Exmoor
400 online entries available, no entries on the day.
- Fantastic prizes for the top 3 riders in all categories. Plus some spot pizes
- Identiti AKA frame for the faster Male and Female
- Free parking for all riders, spectators, friends and family. (Please car share where possible)
- Large race village with On site shop.
- Full mechanical support for all riders.
- Full medical support.
- Food and drink on site.
- Free Camping
- Beer tent & Band TBC
Stages: There will be 7 timed stages, which will be added together for an aggregate time to decide the winner in each category.
On Saturday afternoon you will race one of the stages (Seeding stage)*
Your result on that stage will reflect where you start on Sunday. On Sunday you will be set off in categories in seeded order.
There will be start times for each stage.
*Seeding stage counts to your overall time.
All stages will be over a mile long and around 100m to 150m in elevation/drop. Estimated stage times are about 2 minutes to 4 minutes long.
Categories:
- Male Elite age 18+
- Male Senior age 18-29
- Male Master age 30-39
- Male Veteran age 40+
- Male Supers Veteran age 50+
- Male FUN age 18+
- Male U16s age 14-15
- Male U18s age 16-17
- Female Elite age 18+
- Female Senior age 18-29
- Female Master age 30-39
- Female Veteran age 40+
- Female Supers Veteran age 50+
- Female FUN age 18+
- Female U16s age 14-15
- Female U18s age 16-17
- Hardtails age 18+
Elite: Riders that are sponsored or in PRO, Expert and Elite in other races or Top finisher in age categories in previous Enduro’s
Senior, Master, Veteran, Grand Veteran: Riders that are not sponsored and with medium skill level or Top finisher in Fun in previous Enduro’s
FUN: Riders 18 and over that are new to racing or new to the sport
U18: Riders under the age 18
WOMEN: Riders that are female
HARDTAILS: Riders 18 and that are racing on a Hardtail
Timings:
Saturday
Marshals briefing 9.30
Riders briefing 9.45
Practice 10.00 to 15:00
Seeding 15:00 to 18:00
Sunday
Marshals briefing 9.30
Riders briefing 9.45
Start of race (first rider) 10.00
Prize giving 16.30
Next week’s Tuesday Short Ride is a special short ride and we will be leading a ride that will include parents and children under 18. This ride will be about an hour and a half and children must be capable of riding 20-25k and be confident riding up hills and off road. We will be going up onto the Ridgeway, so this is a great chance for those that have been to Croft to go for a longer ride up into the hills.
This has been a long time in the pipeline and we thank you for your patience whilst we have been trying to arrange evening rides to include kids.
The All inclusive Tuesday ride will hopefully take place every 6 weeks, so keep an eye out for the next one.
Please note: children under 16 MUST be accompanied by a parent, children aged 16/17 can be unaccompanied, but written permission and contact details must be e-mailed to :
welfare@swindonmtbenthusiasts.co.uk
As with all rides, helmets are compulsory and lights and suitable clothing are also required.
We will start and end the ride at Croft, however I will be parking at the Bayberry pub and will ride over at 6.45pm. If any others who don’t have kids with them want to join me, I will then be riding back with a slightly detoured route from Croft to the Bayberry for an after-ride beverage.
Everyone is welcome on this ride and you don’t need to borrow a child to attend!! This is the short ride for this week and it is designed to include everyone, as it has been very much requested.
Myself and Adrian will be leading the ride and we are both DBS checked and hold outdoor first aid certificates. I am also a primary school teacher and Adrian is a MIAS Level 3 Ride Leader.
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
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.