Ride Reports

Ride Report: Kingley Vale 3rd Oct

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Snack Stop

Snack Stop

I’m not usually the person you want doing the ride reports for the simple reason, as Rob will attest, I can’t remember most of the places I go to! But I have actually done this route with Rob before and a lot of it is familiar from years gone by. Here goes with memorable moments from Saturday’s ride.

Started with a hard, grassy climb up the Vale, into granny ring almost straight away; the quick, chalky descent out of the Vale was rudely interrupted by a maggot infested, decaying deer carcass. Constant strong winds make conversation difficult on the top of the downs.

After a brief snack stop sheltered by a big log, I’m sent down a fun, superfast, rutted, drop off the downs, on the way down I almost run over a pheasant and am almost run over by a rampant, Yeti wielding Paul; an evil road climb back up onto the Downs follows. We make our way to Harting and can see Portsmouth from the top of Beacon Hill; only one person cleans the vicious climb up to the top of Beacon Hill (me!) and then I’m impressed by the speed Brian, Pete and Paul come into view after the big descent down the other side.

We leaving Harting by way of a weave through a nice, meandering tree lined alley; and make our back up to Kingley via Stoughton and a rare tubeless puncture. I think this is Alice’s first big-type ride and she does well to keep with us, downing the Tangfastics to keep the energy up. A big climb follows and we head for the Kingley Vale downhill course.

The DH is a nice well-crafted series of big berms, kickers and bigger jumps,  not being the jumpy types Rob and I head for the bottom, enjoying the berms and wait for the rest. There are some nice features to play on, which Pete, Brian and Paul make the most of. Paul gives Alan a bit of instruction and encouragement and Alan then frightens himself with the speed with which he approaches the big wooden jump but he decides to stop in a cloud of dust and leaves it for another day!

A great, old school style ride, with a good bit of man-made trail as the final cherry on top. Back in the car park, Rob hands out some free ales and everyone heads home very happy!

 

Ride Report: Whiteways August 09

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Off Piste

Off Piste

Extreme Gardening:  Whiteways Ride August 09

Hectic single track, a tree stump, braking, lost it, over we go (only the third time today).  Felt quite safe for a fall – must be something to do with the adrenalin rush – also felt shunt moving me forward.  Metallic noises (rider behind forgivingly non-vocal).  More metallic noises (likewise newest rider).  Sorry guys!

My abiding memory of my first  Brighton MTB outing? – not at all.

I’d seen the network of bridleways in the forest area west of Whiteways on the map.  It looked interesting.  I hadn’t seen the Brighton MTB site and the Whiteways meet until the day before.  Great thing the interweb.

On Sunday I was belting down single track created specially for bikers out of forest.  I’ve seen such things in the Grizedale Forest in the Lake District, but they seem a more commercial thing.  The single track was technical and exciting to ride.  The heavy rain the day before helped!  Scrapes one and two were over fairly promptly after the start.  No damage done and it felt as though I’d got the hang of it.

Where did we go?  No idea at all.  In the car park before we set off, I mentioned the bridleways I’d seen on the map and was a bit mystified by the response, “We won’t be using them!”

Some parts were very overgrown and speed was the only way of making sure the branches and brambles didn’t get a complete grip and slow you to a standstill.  This results in scratches and blood, but Savlon cream was on tap.  Later we rode tracks we were told were very overgrown!

I was probably the oldest biker on the day and definitely suffered several decades on some.  But someone was always with me to ensure I didn’t drop off the back and get lost.  Four hours into the ride I was given a gel shot by another friend (note to self: I must remember people’s names).  How I’ve avoided gel shots all the years, I don’t know.  True to predictions, the shot gave me the boost I sorely needed to get me to the end.  The group was friendly, fun and – most importantly – forgiving of a less fit and able rider (thanks all round).

The mystery for me is not where we’d been but more how the ride leader gets to know the single track routes.  I’m only guessing here, but this may be explained if they are one of a band of dedicated extreme gardeners, locked away in the forest creating bike paths, complete with tricksy bits.  And that, I’m sure, is quite another story.

Thursday Evening Newbie

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Night Riding

Night Riding

I have been lone riding for a couple of years and just recently starting looking to join a MTB group – then happened across Brighton MTB whilst out walking in St Leonard’s Forest.

After chatting to a couple of the guys, I met up with the whole group on a Thursday night ride at Stammer Park. I was warmly welcomed by all & learned that there is a good mix of abilities and ages, with around 10 riders in total (more at weekends).

The group has set up some brilliant single-track trails around the stammer park area, which luckily (I think!) are not well known enough to be wrecked by inconsiderate riders…. The jumps and rolls are enough for intermediate riders to handle at slower pace, but have enough about them to be challenging for advanced MTBers if taken at speed.

No-one was left behind & the advice given about upcoming trails was excellent. I could tell that the experience levels were good, as all the riders chatted about everything riding orientated whilst mid ride (lights through to bikes, through to events) & gave some good tips on techniques and equipment. (Decent lights and a good helmet are pre-requisites for night riding with these guys).

Even with the off I had toward the end of the evening – (I was warned by Sam to mind my head….) I had a cracking time (hope I didn’t hold anyone up!!) and will definitely join up with them regularly.

Cheers Fellas!

Rob

Ride Report: Saturday 1st August

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Procession

Procession

3 weeks ago I had some kind of brainstorm about my present physical activities as I spend a lot of time behind a computer and my belly is getting bigger, hands thinner and head heavier. Outcome of that was the decision to buy an MTB! And so it happened.

2 weeks ago I bought my first MTB bike and searched the internet for places where I could go and start learning and riding. I came across Brightonmtb.org and here we go…….. a bunch of enthusiastic riders, who will never leave you behind, are willing to help with everything related to MTB and most importantly doing 3 rides per week regardless the weather. I contacted them and a couple of weeks ago joined for my first ride. I have no skills whatsoever but my first outing with them was a nice fluent ride (in my opinion).

Saturdays are “made” for less experienced people (none in my case) with a focus on practicing technical riding skills rather than a fast and furious ride. We slowly rolled through some hand-build tracks in the forest, practising techniques how to get over simple obstacles like small rocks, logs and fallen trees. The guys took me to a nice spot for bit of jumping practice (one foot high jump). After a couple of demonstrations and words of encouragement I had a go and a few attempts later and I managed to “jump” and land safely on both wheels at the same time. Great, first success!

The whole session took about 2 hours and 30 minutes, the guys were great, the weather was good (at least in the morning) and the whole experience was positive so I am looking forward to next Saturday and possibly even Thursday, to try to add some speed to it.

I also realised that wet roots are not MTB rider’s friends.

Cheers.

Oh and one more thing. It seems to be that right now I am the only one non-UK MTB learner in this group so if there are any more foreigners who would like to join. Just do it (Nike) – no problem at all.

Martin Pelikan

Thursday Evening Ride: A Different Perspective

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'Ill-in-the-head' trail

‘Ill-in-the-head’ trail

Now that shouldn’t have happened now should it? … I’m flat on my back looking at the tree canopy as my fellow riders check I’m OK… The evening had started so well too.

I would be in Brighton for a three-day conference at the University; an enquiry on Singletrackworld had been met with a number of responses recommended a spin with the guys from Brighton MTB on Thursday evening.

Continue reading →

Just another Saturday

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As this was an extra trundle only four of us pulled on rain jackets and spun out over thee grass. My choice of dry weather tyres seemed challenging as I spun on the very first, tiny slope. Neil was on a borrowed bike and immediately had to cope with two problems. The Suntour fork was somewhat bouncy compared to his usual fare and we could not swap the pedals as despite all our efforts they were well and truly stuck. Neil claimed that they were greased but Hercules would have failed to get them off.

Straight into single-track, then instead of a fire road climb a new trail to try.

Eventually after a few linked trails we arrived at the logroll. It looked a bit slippy and was despatched with ease by some but Neil who rides every obstacle with ease on his Commencal explored the absolute limit of a hardtail and a bouncy fork.

A slip, a slide, a bounce, a rear wheel easily a metre in the air with the forks fully compressed as he managed a virtual handstand.

Anyone who was not either a gymnast or a madman would have bailed off but he landed albeit with less grace than usual. He did not want to ride it again so probably not a gymnast.

More trails, a short climb, a fast run trail, another new trail, some minor repairs and a super twisty trail. We met up at this point with alone rider who joined us for a trail or two. It is always difficult to ride a new trail for the first time but newbie Jim even managed the big log in Sanatorium so hopefully he will join us for a full ride next time.

A bit damp, a bit slippy but fun for all.

I will change tyres now as obviously summer is over.

New Faces

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For those of us with grey in our hair this used to be the name of a talent show, and on Thursday night’s showing the stream of new talent continually joining us is going to make life harder for some of us. Even the ride organisation will need reviewing  if we always get twenty hardy souls on a dark, winter’s night. Continue reading →

Ride Report: Glentress May 09

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Pete at Glentress

Pete at Glentress

With the European Cup Rugby final was being played in Edinburgh this year and with the Irish sides going well around Christmas time, match tickets were acquired around Christmas time. It would be nigh on criminal to visit Edinburgh without taking in some of the famous Scottish trails.

So it was on the Friday morning of the bank holiday weekend that we arrived at “The Hub In The Forest” bike shop at Glentress to collect our hire bikes. Glentress is part of the 7 Stanes network of trails in Scotland and being located just an hours drive from the city, near the town of Peebles makes it the most accessible for weekend trips. I’d opted for a LaPierre Zesty demo bike, while my buddy went for one of the well specced Genesis hard tails that make up the shops standard hire fleet.

After a short bit of faffing we hit the trails. Our plan for the morning was jump straight in at the deep and take on the black route. From the main car park the red and black routes share the same climb up the higher Buzzards Nest car park. This climb as we would find with all the climbs is conducted on a very smooth trails with loads of switchback corners, so you simply spin your way up. It’s a very efficient way to climb and a lot of height can be gained rapidly.

The trail designers have also done their best to break up the monotony of the climbs by adding small optional features such as log rides every few hundred metres, a neat and enjoyable trick.

At this point the red and black take separate paths. The black continues with some long flowing singletrack through the woods with some rock drop-offs and rooty sections.

The next section is a long, long climb to the highest point of the trail. We were now out on open hillside and with the clear day the views were incredible. From here the only way is down, and what great sections follow; bermed corners, table top jumps, log steps, rocky sections, rooty sections, everything is crammed in here in quick succession. It was all technical but all rideable.

At this stage we made a choice to skip the Deliverance loop, basically a ten minute descent to the valley floor following by a 40 minute climb back out. Lightweights? Maybe, but it was nearly two and we were starving. Back to the upper car park where we get chatting to a few bikers from Glasgow, at which point we realised that these are the first riders we’ve seen since leaving this car park 3 hour earlier. Amazing.

Then a blast down the final red/black section to the main car park. We would get to know this section very well because it is used every time to get back to the main car park but it is fun and flows so well. We ended up doing it three times over the weekend and each time we we’re quicker. A quick toasted sandwich in the very nice Cafe and we were ready to head out again. Conscious that we had more riding and drinking ahead of us we opted to head for the skills area and freeride park rather than taking on another loop.

The skills area was interesting, without being spectacular consisting of a range of typical trail obstacles of various difficulty. This didn’t stop yours truly managing to have a nasty impact between head and wood whilst demonstrating for the fourth time how to ride a skinny log. Feeling lucky to have gotten away from my scrape with just a graze on my neck from the helmet strap we headed to freeride park.

The freeride park is a complete blast. We spent an hour or so sessioning various features like jumps and north shore. That’s the thing about Glentress everything here is designed to improve your riding skills whilst having the best fun. Where did the day go it was by now nearly 5 and we had to get the bikes back to the shop.

Despite a heavy night on the town we were back for more bright and early at 9.30am. I picked up a nice Santa Cruz Blur for this day while my buddy stuck with the Genesis. With the match kicking off at 5pm this would be a shorter day so we headed for the Red trail.

Again the early sections are mostly about getting you up to a height. At the top the descending begins with the Legendary Spooky wood section. Pretty much every rider we met over the weekend spoke about Spooky Wood with reverential tones. Were they over hyping it? Hell no, we weren’t disappointed. Spooky wood consists of 13 or 14 huge bermed corners linked with singletrack featuring bomb holes, drops and loads of jumps. Less technical than the black meant that you could turn on the style a bit more here. This is without a doubt some of the most fun you can have on a bike. With our confidence of riding this type of terrain sky high now the last few sections were dispatched with ease and we headed back into Edinburgh still grinning from the buzz of it.

So what are you waiting for, get yourself to Glentress. You’ll get the same feeling you had when you were 8 years old on your first BMX. We did anyway.

And for the record the Irish side Leinster won the cup so the weekend couldn’t have been better really.

Pete

Ride Report: Firle Beacon Sunday 10th May 09

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Mark takes off

Mark takes off

The sun came out and the wind died down on cue for the 10.30 start from Firle Beacon car park – my second ride with Brighton MTB. A small group of four today, but each born in a different decade – that age gap most apparent during the inevitable end of day climb from Alfriston when child of the 80’s Chris running single speed burned into the distance, only to come back down again to check with the stragglers for directions (or was it just to have another go). Chris was in training for the Clic24 next week – good luck Chris!

From Firle Beacon we dropped down and headed south across the Cuckmere
River then on into Friston forest for a bit of single track action – all trails perfectly dry and compacted. Couple of close calls on the stump-ridden lower section. James enjoying his new Fox forks. After a much needed coffee in the visitor centre we took part of the Friston red trail and followed it up to the top of the forest then peeled off to take a look at the unofficial downhill sections – tiptoed down a short run then loitered around a dirt jump before throwing caution to the wind. James then followed – like me a relative novice who hasn’t seen enough broken bits to know when to step back.

We mucked around in a bomb hole for while the aim to make it around a tree located half way up one side. After this a slog up to join the South Downs Way above the Long Man for the most spectacular views of the day, then a long fast descent into Alfriston, (pies from the Local Village Stores to be recommended).  Lovely place though Alfriston is, the only way is up – and we eventually made it back to the car by about 4.30, sore (Body Geometry  –  my a**e!), slightly sunburned, but with the feeling that you only get after a great ride. I’ll be back for more of the same.

Mark