Its been 3 years since i was last there and now its time to visit again. This is an awesome place to visit with some serious trails worth riding. Some tough hill climbs, but with rewarding descents.
Current weather forecast is for showers, but this is Wales, so make sure you bring waterproofs! A helmet is also essential.
The next club trip to FoD is in February. There’s loads happening in Cannop at the moment, with a new workshop, new bike shop and extended café at Pedalabikeaway. Work is also well underway on the new pump track and skills area, so loads to check.
We’re looking to venture out from the usual (although excellent) Verderers, with the downhill tracks, Dowies or Murdocks all being options.
So comment below what you’d like to and we’ll build a route for the day.
Meet outside the Pedalabikeaway at 10.30am
This ride is for any ladies wanting to spread their mountain bike wings a bit further and visit a truly great trail centre with a fantastic atmosphere and excellent riding.
There’s lots to do – the scenic Green family trail takes in the sights of the forest and the excellent Blue graded Verderers trail is jewel of the south west, with its showcase final descent that’s guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face.
A lap of Verderers will be the main event, but depending on the preferences of the group we can take in some of the family trail first, or the super fun Launchpad downhill run after.
Meet outside the Pedalabikeaway cafe at 10.30am
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.
Matt will be leading this club ride around the quantocks on the 23rd July.
Ride distance will be approx 28km with climbing in the region of 800m so a reasonable level of stamina will be required, but we’ll all stay together and obviously no one’s left behind.
This really is a great day out on the bike, great descents, with views and scenary to match, a lovely place to ride. There is a pub nr the car park for post ride refreshment. The ride is doable on a hardtail, but more fun on a full suss.
There are no shops or cafes on route so a rucksack with food and water is a must, as is a helmet.
The ride starts from Holford bowling green car park TA5 1SA at 10am
The big ride.
Whites Level up. Over the top to Ywal and return via Blade descent. This is an all day’r with in excess of 50km and well over 1000m of Climb.
This is an advanced level ride, being both technical and strenuous terrain. Strongly advise knee and elbow pads.
Helmet and waterproof jacket a must. Pack lights.
Would expect to be back at the ponds by 4pm
I’ve found time to squeeze in another weekend Scenic ride in January, going in a different direction along the Ridgeway.
The start is at the bottom of the Barbury steep side (see map posting) setting off along the Ridgeway away from Barbury to Broad Hinton. From there we amble along the valley and a potential pub stop. Then the climb back up to the Ridgeway and the White Horse trail to Rockley. Then it’s back along the valley and up onto the ridge back to the start.
The ride will be 27km in length with 350m of climbing and some beautiful scenery.
Please see map for the start point, although you can also park at Barbury and cycle down to there if you want.
You must wear a helmet and dressed according to the conditions – it’s pretty cold out there still!
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 😀