[Closed] Afan/FoD STWers day out ?

what sort of riding are thinking?

FoD would be good if a local could guide the good bits rather than the way marked stuff

Sorry weeksy that was a little short, what i meant was how much riding are you thinking and how fluro?!

Im Glos way so know some of the cheeky FOD stuff, but half a day is my max and a high likelihood of getting off and walking some stuff!

Im Glos way so know some of the cheeky FOD stuff, but half a day is my max and a high likelihood of getting off and walking some stuff!

Works for me

I've got no issues with that too 🙂

When are you thinking weeksy?

Im looking at the 11th or 12th oct before i can make it

Weekend after suits me and my mate.

I'm up for off piste FoD, but shifts dictate if it's to be a reality.

I 'should' be ok for 18/19th oct - lets plan on that and ill speak to 'the boss' tonight!

Aye, we'll go with that as a date set in stone.

Should be ok for me if its ok to turn up

of course mate, open to anyone and everyone as with all the little things I organise on here.

We've had cracking days out and until we got there have never met anyone else 🙂

Hope to come along for this, should be able to do a half-day of either 18th or 19th. Most of my riding is FoD off-piste so I'd be happy to guide/help guide to some of the less well-known good stuff if required

I should be ok for 18/19th.

Wilko, I was thinking of half the enduro to the top - broadwell jumps, fetter hill/henrys, then bit of road onto chizzy’s, shutcastle, D1/2/3 etc, ceri’s and then back via the cycle path?

I haven’t guided before, or done that exact loop, that’s what about 15 miles? Could always start/finish at the fountain instead

Whats your thoughts? ❓

Any requests off anyone appreciated too

FoD would be good if a local could guide the good bits rather than the way marked stuff

Happy to do a guided route if it's on a Sunday. Can't make Saturdays though sadly.

Took some Wyre Forest local lads round the FoD last Sunday, a nice 40km loop consisting mostly of nice technical singletrack off the beaten path...

Wilko, I was thinking of half the enduro to the top - broadwell jumps, fetter hill/henrys, then bit of road onto chizzy’s, shutcastle, D1/2/3 etc, ceri’s and then back via the cycle path?

I haven’t guided before, or done that exact loop, that’s what about 15 miles? Could always start/finish at the fountain instead

Similar to the route I did last weekend...

Started off with the Freeminer's to warm people up, all the way until the start of the Enduro Singletrack, then followed the Enduro course right until its final descent on the bottom part of Y2K. From here carried on up the fireroad, then back on ourselves to the start of Y2K proper, down Y2K, then across the road, up the nasty landrover track climb, up to the quarry, then "Is that a Beaver" and Henry's then Dowies 1, up to Shutcastle and down it, back to the bottom of Dowies 2/3, up the fireroad and then back up to the top of Dowies 1, down Dowies 1 again, then up and finish Dowies 2/3 then back along the Cyclepath to the centre...

Was exactly 25 miles according to my Garmin.

"Is that a Beaver"

am SO following you!

that wasnt for a local clothing company was it? - Saw the pic on instagram at the bottom of 😯 ceri's

that wasnt for a local clothing company was it? - Saw the pic on instagram at the bottom of ceri's

You've lost me...

Here's "Is that a Beaver" segment on Strava...

[url] http://www.strava.com/activities/191247486/segments/4494061354 [/url]

I won't know till nearer the time but I could be up for a drive down 😀

Ah, my bad, I got wye and wyre mixed up 😳

http://iconosquare.com/p/808757480777282729_372882780

Bum, I've just been reminded that I'm busy nearly all that weekend 🙁

v666ern and mboy was thinking along the same lines but a bit longer, in this order-ish... first half of enduro to top, over the road for mushroom trail, back onto enduro across past Worcester lodge, broadwell jumps, Henry's, up to Ellwood, marsh lane run down to the greenhouses, main Shutcastle singletrack, up to sams old trail, dowies 3, dowies, chizzys, murdocks, back into Shutcastle for alternative run, back up for bluebell run, Ceris, through parkend over to tramway, dr johns, cycle track to the ponds, cross over the road, climb up past barnhill plantation past broadwell jumps again and finish with full y2k descent back to PBA 😀 That'd be a cracking loop, and a good half days riding, at least 4 hours, or have I got a bit carried away?

I might be around. If it hasn't absolutely lamped it down the week before, I'd suggest riding over on the Yat side. The route ^^^ is great and has loads of lovely singletrack but the Yat side is better in my view.

Willow1999 are you on strava? Wouldn't mind nicking the gpx of that route.
Mboy I've asked to follow
Cheers

Blimey, where are all these trails 😯

I know a few trails in the area but am a bit of a plodder so if anyone is interested in a slightly slower ride on the Sunday whilst the faster boys go out to play I'd be happy to show them some of the bits that I know 8)

Who said we're fast? Its a social day out, come join in. Waiting for someone just gives more time for chatting.

psling - Member
Blimey, where are all these trails

😆
Pull the other one Peter.
You OWN the forest. 😀

this sounds like a good day out 🙂

That's right Weeksy. Psling, we don't have to do it all anyway, we can head out and see how time goes. I'm just an average joe rider, certainly wouldn't class myself as fast.

Alex Staunton/Yat area is brilliant I agree, my favourite FoD descent is over there, but I don't know my way round as well as Parkend way. Haven't been up joys green way for ages either not sure if the dh runs are still there

Lydbrook tracks overgrown still , Horslea stuff ok

Alex Staunton/Yat area is brilliant I agree, my favourite FoD descent is over there, but I don't know my way round as well as Parkend way. Haven't been up joys green way for ages either not sure if the dh runs are still there

This, however i thought we aren't allowed to mention that or the knights will get us 😐

Who said we're fast? Its a social day out, come join in. Waiting for someone just gives more time for chatting.

That sounds much better - id love to get over to dr johns but i think if its starting at PABA out then its probably a bit far for me (MADORC ruined me)

spose us lazy'uns could rest whilst you kids @rse about on dowies trails.

PS MRS HAS OK'd IT _ IM IN! 😀

Pull the other one Peter.
You OWN the forest.

Considering that about 80% of the trails mentioned above, I first rode with you some 10 years ago or more Peter, methinks you are protesting too much! 😉

v666ern and mboy was thinking along the same lines but a bit longer, in this order-ish...

Sounds quality! I think you need to reassess your timings though, depending on how many turn up you'd have to allow for it to take quite a bit longer I think. I had a fairly quick group last weekend, 25 miles took us 4hrs 30min in all, and my Strava says well over 3hrs of that was ride time. If it was solo, or a couple of people, I'd expect the ride time to be much closer to the total time taken, but when you're shepherding a dozen people or more down loads of unfamiliar (to them) singletrack, it takes its time. Add in a couple of food stops too, and half a day has gone easily.

😉 @ ssstu & mboy!

The forest is an everchanging holy grail of trails; I just can't keep up with the newer names although it's good to see areas referenced above where we put in the original trails 10/15 years or so ago 🙂

I don't care if it takes 8 hours, I'm out for the day... so the more the merrier 🙂

I wouldn't mind coming along to,I'll check with the boss and let you all know nearer the time. Need to see how it fits in with mother -in-law duties 😕

well im fine doing a half day so you can give peeps the option of staying on or heading back then weeksy 🙂

original trails 10/15 years or so ago

ooh if we ride them are they all in black and white, like before we had the internetz 😆

Should we warn people that they 'might' see some odd things in the forest - i.e. i met mr dowie strolling through the woods just carrying a pick axe and a shovel and he's not a little bloke...anywhere else that would have been odd/dodgy, but in the FOD just normal 😯

I'm also up for joining in on this ride.

Will need to see if I can get a green light from the handbrake first though...

18/19th.

, I'm out for the day

Call me fick, but wot day iz we talkin bout?

Whichever suits the most people really I guess.

I'm easy and can sort either.

I'd like to make this too, agree with Alex, a run down some of the Staunton trails would be good, dead end down per chance? 🙂

I'll keep an eye on this 🙂

I think that's me buggered, wifes just informed me she's on a spa weekend then, so I'm on kiddie care. Pants.

Yeah I guess 4 hours was an estimate based on me doing it alone. Could maybe do 2/3rds of that loop I described before lunch, then anyone wanting to head back can go along cycle track back to PBA, anyone up for more can go via tramway, dr johns and maybe the alien trail?

Or if someone wants to lead a Staunton/Yat etc ride instead I'm good with that, awesome stuff that way too 🙂

Apprehensive on heading out that way, happy to head that way if the designated locals ^^^ say its ok, just thought it wasnt 'public'

Most of that isn't approved by the FC but that's not something people bother about round here.

Is it decided on Sat or Sun yet? Or are we staying out that long it starts Saturday & ends Sunday?

Oh & is there anywhere that does better cake than PBA on route?

Lets have it as a list then

I'm Sat or Sun. I'd lean slightly towards Sun if pressed, but it's not a deal breaker.

We're only having 1 cake stop ? 🙁

At this point, either works for me, but I would prefer Sunday I guess

The cafe at Dean Forest Cycles has half-decent cake, fully-decent ice-cream and pretty good toasties. There's also the Fountain Inn at Parkend for a pub lunch option for those that fancied it.

Oh & is there anywhere that does better cake than PBA on route?

you should really check out RD's instagram feed, this man KNOWS good cake! You might have to bring some with you chap.

So FOD locals , mboy et al i know 4/5 tracks at staunton, but havent ridden there from PABA. Which day suits you and can you sort a loop?

What's Instagram ? what's RD ?

Or are we staying out that long it starts Saturday & ends Sunday?

Hell yeah! Now that would be fun... :wink :

In all seriousness, don't let me be the one to put a handbrake on proceedings, but Saturdays are generally a no go for me. Sundays I can fill my boots!

@ psling, be good to ride with you again mate... To be fair I've only learnt the names (all unofficial of course) of these trails since using Strava. Other than Dowies, until I first logged on to Strava it was just "up that bit" and "turn right there" and a "hidden left there so don't go too fast" etc...

OK, lets go with Sunday then, that's several preferences for Sunday up to now...

Sunday 19th Oct.

9.30am for a 10am start ?

So FOD locals , mboy et al i know 4/5 tracks at staunton, but havent ridden there from PABA. Which day suits you and can you sort a loop?

Not familiar with Staunton myself. Have probably ridden there a number of times over the years, but all pre-Garmin/Strava sadly...

Loop wise, I'm happy to delegate to someone else, but if it falls back to me, I've got a very good 20-25 mile loop (can be altered to include/exclude Shutcastle and an extra Dowies run based on time and/or people's exhaustion) that is pretty robust.

But then again, I'm excited at the prospect of somebody who knows the FoD a lot better than I do showing me some new/old trails that I'm not familiar with! 🙂

Happy to guide a Parkend based loop, starting PBA, the one I described on the last page of the thread. Mapped it out quickly this morning and its approx 33 miles. We could do about 20 miles of it pre-lunch, then there's the option of heading back to PBA, or anyone feeling like they want more to do the extra 13 or so, incorporating tramway, Dr Johns, alien trail, y2k etc.

weeksy - looks like you may need another weekend so you can do Monmouth way and another for Dowies 😀

I might be up for this, keen for a guided loop around parkend.

10am better for the NWAlps contingent

I want local cake though not BYO!

Oh & rigid forked HT or FS for this?

I'd say FS. I'm sure you could ride your rigid down the planned trails (I wouldn't want to mind for the record, I'm an FS wuss all the way), but I reckon you'll enjoy them a fair bit more on an FS.

If this ride is Rigid friendly then someone needs to be having a word with the route planner.

OK, so I don't want 10' gap jumps... but I'd like a little bumpy stuff please 🙂

Right-o I'll dust the FSer off

Although, saying that it needs FS kinda makes me inclined to use the rigid just because....anyone prepared to carry my broken body from the forest? Me & the FoD have a history when it comes to concussions

OK, so I don't want 10' gap jumps... but I'd like a little bumpy stuff please

are you sure, we have some if you change your mind...for the record i havent and wouldnt...saw some lads last week who'd all cleared it but the last guy hit the stump on the run out...fine but shaken! 🙂 😯

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z3otkhkjcjz5b19/AAAqhjMxdtMe7gewN31b9lcia?dl=0

My point was really that you can ride a rigid down anything with enough skill. If you want lumps, bumps, kickers, jumps, gaps, drops, steep bits, roots, chutes, berms, flat corners, off-camber, loam, loose, hardpack etc (EDIT and families of wild boar) this ride will be for you. Just bring whatever bike you're most comfortable with for a days mountain biking 😀

My point was really that you can ride a rigid down anything with enough [b]skill[/b].

Now you've ruined it

^^^ 😀

Nic from the local bike shop rode that gap. I've ridden up to it 😉

But Al, Nic has demonstrated a few times that he is mental 😉

What do you reckon fella, think we could get Matt in on this for a decent loop?

BTW - if you can't wait and want to race in FoD this weekend (while it is dry!) enter the Enduro (plug plug)
http://www.fodmbe.org.uk/dean_enduro_mtb.php

Alex, would you mind posting up your Thursday ride, its what i was thinking of with a bit of shutcastle added in...at least we've got a discussion point to work from

no probs if not, or if anyone else wants to offer up a map they'd be happy to guide

Can I join in please? Heard good things about the FOD but only ever rode the trail centre stuff along with a few of the DH runs.

Course you can mate. Open to all. 🙂

Mark - there's a couple of bits on that route that aren't entirely legit, but feel free to use it as a base. Drop me a mail to explain.... FoD was superb yesterday, perfect conditions. Obviously it's been lamping it down every since 😉

Well after all that messing and a long thread, I can't even make my own day out !
Apparently we've got a Christening to attend.

Please carry on without me lads.

Well after all that messing and a long thread, I can't even make my own day out !

oh dear 😆

Im still up for this, Mboy do you want to lead?

Well after all that messing and a long thread, I can't even make my own day out !
Apparently we've got a Christening to attend.
Please carry on without me lads.

Brilliant!

Oh well...

Just to reiterate, people definitely want to ride this on Sunday 19th Oct? I'm more than happy to lead in the absence of anyone that knows the local area better than I do, but I'd be thrilled to bits if someone with vastly more knowledge of the trails than me would like to show us around... 🙂

Sunday 19th Oct.

9.30am for a 10am start - Lets meet outside the cafe at Pedal a bike away. Ill be the chimp with stickers on my helmet and the all black cube stereo (without any stickers).

Can we have a roll call so we know whose coming and on what bike - i know what rocketdog looks like (beardy) but id rather not have to wear a carnation! 😳

Im happy to guide a ride over to dowies and back ~ 15-20 miles if anyone else wants to guide a longer route please state now as we've lost our leader! 🙄

Can we have a roll call

well thats gone well...have a good ride everyone - catch you again

sorry mate 🙁

No problem with me matey, i've got the day booked so i shall be enjoying the rainy local trails!

Let me know when you get a free day and you can come down again 8)

Not intended as a thread hijack, as I can't make the 19th, but I'd be up for being guided around the FOD sometime. Can anyone do weekdays? I'm free on the 23rd and 24th Oct?