Swindon MTB Enthusiasts decided to see how many bikes we could get in a Vito, how many different pick up points we could find and head of to Cwmcarn for the day. What could possibly go wrong?!
Logistically, I thought was going to go badly wrong. What with picking up 8 people from different parts of Swindon at the set pick up times and fitting 10 bikes into a Vito. However everyone was at the correct place and time with big smiles on their faces looking forward to the day ahead, so off we set to Cwmcarn managing to get there at 10.30.
Everyone was eager to unload their bikes and set off up the trails. With minimal faffing, 1 downhill bike, 2 hard tails, 3 bouncers and 2 jump bikes had been reassembled and begun climbing to the toll gate road, where it was decided who was to split off for the uplift. Joe and Phil on his downhill were waved off to the top of Peddle Hounds, while the rest of set off up the trail, thinking maybe an uplift would have saved us a lung busting climb to the top to meet them. We were slightly worried as to how the young lads on their jump bikes would cope with the climb on their slick tires, especially on the freshly dampened rocky climb ahead. Incredibly they put us to shame with some quality sure footed climbing, however after a comment of “are we nearly at the top yet” and “I would rather be at school than do this”, it was clear that a swap in the afternoon maybe required regarding the two uplift passes! Once at the top we took a breather ready for the fun descents ahead.
Jon Dixon on his hard tail led the pack down, closely followed by Ed on a borrowed full sus, quickly chased down by Sean and the two lads, and me sweeping from the back. As soon as they whooshed off, it was clear we had a well skilled group that could cope on this terrain, on their mishmash of bikes. On each regroup, everyone’s smiles were getting bigger and bigger. By the return to the car park everyone had forgotten the pain of the climb and was ready for another climb after refuelling for lunch. We soon met up with Joe and Phil, with Joe proudly showing off some wounds from a table top into a berm collision he sustained in the morning session on Peddle Hounds. However he was not put off and ready to go back after lunch, to hit the same jump and land it next time.
We set out again and left the lads on their jump bikes to take the uplift to the top where we would meet up and take the trail back down. Once again we climbed but this time taking the fire roads to the top to save some time. We eventually met up with the lads on the jump bikes with the lad called Bean looking slightly shaken, after attempting the downhill and failing to slow due to only having a rear brake and crashing over a berm and having the bike kiss him on his face. However his mate was so pleased that he managed to have captured it all on video! Undaunted he joined us for the final descent of the day, while his mate went with Joe and Phil for a few more downhill runs in the warm afternoon sun. Once again Jon Dixon taking the lead, and Ed enjoying the freedom of the full sus, was putting the Kona through the corners fast and grabbing air were ever he could. The speed of the group was so much faster this time and we arrived at the bottom of the trail with grins and good memories to take back with us. Time had caught up with us and it was time to pack up and go home, stopping off for a well earned beer, and conversation on where we will venture next.
Well done chaps, Brilliant riding, Fantastic day out