Gravel & Mud - MTB Rides

21/09/2024

One of my last guided rides of year . This area never disappoints it's jam packed full of mtb routes (the options are endless up here for mtb riding, just go explore) although the rain decided to turn up and completely change the trails...as a side note I recci'd this ride mid week in the bone dry and the 15 mile route took 1:38... today 2:30 😀...bloody rain!

Cheers to Dom (with electric Sram shifters..funky) riding a rather nice carbon Whyte mtb, Johnny on his trusted Vitus Sentier hatdtail and the whippet Darren on his canondale lefty carbon hardtail which I swear weighs zilch..it's so light!

Bring on the next one!

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18/09/2024

Fancy a ride this Saturday morning? - I've 2 spaces left so please get in touch if interested.

I cannot emphasis this enough but the trail conditions at the moment are absolutely perfect (I'm deffo not a mud/cold man!) , the sun's done it's job, the ground is dry and the air is warm plus you can still ride in shorts 🩳

18/09/2024

Right that's the recci completed for Saturday morning's MTB ride ... trails are sweet, loads of grip and bone dry thanks to the 👉🌞🌞🙌 it's going to be a cracking route!

So if you fancy a 15 mile/2 hr feature-dense** mtb ride then get in touch..

** Sand, roots, flowing singletrack, quiant villages, entertaining descents/ascents and of course coffee & stunning scenery.. Oh and did I mention sand!

15/09/2024

What a great morning working with William at Queen Elizabeth Country Park ‐ I couldn't have wished for a better student: his enthusiasm and eagerness was 👊👊 and his lack of fear was 😯🤞

The brief was simple: to introduce him to the mtb good stuff and where better place to start than qecp - this place has it all on offer: sweeping berms, flowing singletrack a few climbs and a handful of dedicated mtb skills areas at the base to harness your skills.

Where next, Swinley Forest, Rogate, Surrey Hills 😀

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07/09/2024

What goes up must come down ‐ top of the climb coffee stop at the Devil's Punch Bowl cafe ☕️☕️☕️

05/09/2024

I've just 2 spaces left for this Saturday morning's mtb Devil's Punch Bowl ride - if you're looking to discover amazing scenery, sand and amazing descents them DM me..

Be great to see you.

05/09/2024

The cyclo-cross season has arrived .. Hoping my proving ground of qecp will pay dividend and keep me in the pack for the upcoming onslaught in the . I did ok... 32 out of 45.

Story behind the photo: this hilly course in Clanfield was an epic course and noted as being one of the hilliest across the entire season of 10 plus races...

There were a couple of man-made hurdles mid course (about 12 plus inches off the ground) nothing to worry about normally but there's something about a cx race which depletes you of any available energy when you need it (think rubbing belly/patting head) .. Try as I might but every single lap my chainring smashed these boards to buggery!

TLDR: cx race, obstacles. can't bunny hop for s**t!

**t

02/09/2024

The start

02/09/2024

02/09/2024

Did a cyclocross race this weekend

Rnd 1 of the Wessex Cyclo-Cross League at Clanfield.

Fruity course and thanks to solent pirates for hosting this..

Rnd 2 next week at Fairthorne Manor.. Bring it on..

31/08/2024

Spds vs flats

I'm a staunch believer in riding clipped in, have done for 30 plus years but today pulled out my 2018 Orange hardtail for a spin around my local haunt qecp on flats..

Felt refreshing be be honest..

Anything new feels weird at first and this certainly did.. Didn't initially feel connected to the bike but soon adjusted and loved the idea I could hop on/hop off the bike without a moments thought!

That really was a benefit over spds (well my ones anyway): clip in clip out, clip clop here clip clop there, however the one big plus was being able to wear the same footwear that I left the house in 😁 freedom!!

Will I stick to riding flats? It's a hard no from me 😁

29/08/2024

MTB ride dates for Sept - I (obviously 😁) recommend booking up early as the trails around these parts are running superb at the moment and are best enjoyed when dry!!

* £10 per person
* max 6 people
* 2 hour ride
* British Cycling Level 2 MTB guide
* 1st aid trained

As always these rides are suitable for everyone - no big gap jumps - there's a few techincal descents but if you've got experience of a few decent mtb rides under your belt then you'll be fine..

To book... Fill out the the form in my bio 👆👆👊👊 (if you've seen this on Facebook please DM me)

Other upcomming rides: 5th Oct Surrey Hills, 19th Oct Ringwood, 2nd Nov Stoughton / Kingley Vale

If you have any questions please ask.

tracks

25/08/2024

Ponies, cows, miles of gravel tracks & a disused WW2 airfield.
. Must be the New Forest and in particular RAF Beaulieu Airfield.

Sun, pain, fun and a little bit of history 👌

20/08/2024

At a loose end this Saturday and fancy an MTB ride around the glorious Devil's Punch Bowl?

I've just 2 spaces left so if you'd like to join the fun please complete the 'rider info' form in my bio above and let me do the rest..£10 per person

Any questions please ask.

Ride safe... Ed

18/08/2024

I'm 48 years old, ride a hardtail and as I'm self employed very reluctant to take risks no matter how inviting the Trail ahead is.. Bust body = no work.

However I was super chuffed to get inside the top 10 of a section of the Blue decent at qecp..

Think Strava is bust 😁

17/08/2024

Qecp is my local and ride this place tons.. 1800 ft climbing over 14 miles yes please. Mini bpw!

It's just fab... Blue - red - blue if anyone is interested. That's a proper xc work out! In fact I rarely see anyone else on the red trail.

The trail collective have done an awesome job on the final blue decents. It's really smooth, rollable and enjoyable now!

I donate but really should participate in the 'dig days' they do as this is where the hard work really is!

Fab park!!!

15/08/2024

Who doesn't welcome a brand new place to ride off-road & explore aye! Cannock Chase, feels like it's up north but it's only a 3 hour drive from the South Coast and slightly north of Birmingham. Heard about this place and was keen to ride it!

It's fully signposted: blue, red, black and orange runs so you won't get lost and venture down runs which aren't your bag!

Get it done!!

15/08/2024

Buddy/forced camera operator! Do love an F-bomb too

Cannock Chase is an absolute joy to ride! Get it done..

15/08/2024

Cannock Chase - reminds me a little of the Forest of Dean & Swinley Forest - totally worth the 3hr drive up to go ride it!

03/08/2024

Fancy joining one of my taster MTB rides 👇👇👇

* 17th Aug - Liss Forest
* 24th Aug - Devil's Punch Bowl
* 7th Sept - Thursley/Shackleford
* 21st Sept - Surrey Hills / Winterfold

My 'Taster rides' let you experience some these awesome areas to ride & explore with zero hassle.

Rides are £10 per person (max 6 people) and are 2-3 hours long.

I'm a British Cycling qualified MTB guide & qualified bike mechanic so you're in safe hands.

If you have any questions please ask me or to book a place filll out the 'rider info' form in my bio 👆

30/07/2024

Black Down, Haslemere 👇

30/07/2024

This is highest point in the South Downs National Park ‐ Black Down, Haslemere, 280m.

Can see why..it's up up & up!

Ridden here a few times before, you simply can't beat the view point once at the top.

Very similar to the view that awaits you once you hit the top of Pitch Hill (Surrey Hills).

Warmed up climbing the rocky ascent in the punchbowl (part of the KAW I believe) then onto the foot of Black Down for climb no' 2.

Love riding these parts!

28/07/2024

Enroute to Hurn Forest... Moors Valley Country Park. Ringwood.

28/07/2024

Longest straightest gravel track in the New Forest?

Even typing this I'm considering handing in my MTB card 😁 no berms/drops/black runs.. Not today!

Hurn Forest west of Ringwood and it's just a great traffic-free place to ride and once linked up with the Castleman Way & Moors Valley Country Park it offers a shed load of options for a decent 3 hour off-road ride.. It's got my vote! Pubs, cafes. Yes!

I'll be putting on a ride here early September - details to follow

27/07/2024

Love a Saturday morning chill ride - catching up with a buddy a Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

The big surprise was getting told off (like proper old-school told off) for cycling on the South Downs Way by a walker 😁
.. Obvs did a u-turn and whipped out my OS map but she wasn't having any of it..

Oh well.. Happy riding 😁

20/07/2024

Heading to Liss Forest this weekend to explore..

20/07/2024

I knew it, they knew it.. carbon hardtails rule 👌