Hampshire Riding

So you just ride off it then, just like that, smart arse 😉 twice now I have bottled it. How did you find the ride back to the top?

No I was there around five on a orange Rocket and I was nowhere near as smooth as you down that route, I can't get that second jump right, the one which has a turn left just as you land. Bloody love it though.

Get it done while it's dry! It gets a whole lot more interesting when you've no grip.

😀 yeh kinda, I think the easiest way is to practice on bombholes, the middle bit is smoother but I know exactly what you mean about a mental block- gap jumps are mine.

The climb back up is a ball ache, don't think there's any other way to put it 🙂

Hope to be back there on Sunday evening to try again. That mental block thing is odd isn't it, with the drop offs like that I can only picture myself going otb with a gap jump I do t have any negative thoughts and u am pretty sure I know my limits on them.

Lummox, john where is that route? Looks awesome

I concur :-), if you're on strava it's known as stage 2 of the enduro. The start is a bit tricky to spot now

Cheers guys

What state will the trails be in after today's downpours? Mud tyres?? SealSkinz??

Weeeeelllllll I've been told I get my Advance1 back early next week from having the SRAM brakes changed, if I wasn't sodding off to Switzerland later in the week I'd be home and take it for a spin in QECP...

😐

Oops, sorry. Wonder if I can get the post removed, will try.

Bugger, I can't report my own post can someone else do it for me?

Have sent a mail to the moderators asking for it to be removed. I completely get your point mattbee, got all excited about some good riding and wanted to share.

Has anyone been up around Farley Mount (Winchester) recently? Just wondering how overgrown things are at the moment..

[b]Polite question[/b] - does anyone have any contacts within Hampshire Council's Rights of Way Department or anyone on the Local Access Forum?

E-mail in profile if you prefer. Thanks.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/very-overgrown-rights-of-way-what-happens-in-your-area

frogstomp - sorry can't help but you've reminded me to get over there and enjoy the descent off Beacon Hill. 😀

Edit: was just North of there today.

Sorry frogstomp haven't been but if it's like everywhere else you will be attacked by triffid like foliage

Frogstomp was up there a few weeks ago some of it was seriously overgrown had an off into a bunch of nettles as I couldn't really see the track as the weeds were chest high. That said most of the bits in the park were ok

Things have slipped. Was just getting back to some level of fitness and then I start a hideous crash diet that appears to have left me with no energy. On the plus side it's working 🙂 4 more weeks and I should be at my goal weight but by that time I will have lost significant fitness if I don't ride. Am thinking that I might have to haul my lazy ass out there and pedal despite the lack of energy. Feel free to administer a virtual boot.

I am thinking a long slow SDW ride could be in order rather than the rapid up and down of QECP.

It's gorgeous out there at the moment isn't it!

Come over to West Sussex - Kingley Vale is longer but more gentle climbs, and some fun downhill sections, and you can always do a big XC loop taking in a pub or a cream tea in Compton. One of the main reasons I use Strava is that it says e.g. 2,904 calories burned - which justifies lunch at QE, beer and ice-cream in Buriton and the cream-tea in Compton.

Ahhhh Bartimaeus, if only it were so simple :-). This deist is the one I have scoffed at when others do it, I am a hypocrite of the highest order. I have told others that it's unhealthy, unnatural, unsustainable, but here I am chasing the quick fix..........and it's working! Problem is there is no get out clause, once you enter back into normal food the fat eating process stops.

That said, if we remove all the food related content it would be a nice change to ride a new area. Where is the bests place to park the car for a low maintenance, low possibility of lostness kind of ride?

Adsdean triangle (50 52 23.72 N 0 52 10.68 W), Walderton (50 53 18.3 N 0 52 54.2 W), or Lambdown car park (50 54 26.46 N 0 50 31.43 W)... the DH trails run down to Lambdown, and the descent from the top down to Adsdean is a classic.

I live bottom left of this map, so my usual ride returns on a bridlepath that comes out at the front door of the Woodmancote Arms. I have been known to stop there once or twice.
[IMG] [/IMG]

I concur :-), if you're on strava it's known as stage 2 of the enduro.

Glad to have been of service with my segmentisation! 😉

Looking forward to returning to QECP later this month...

Thanks Bartimaeus, if only I could map read. So if I parked in one of those car parks I could find myself some riding without getting lost or straying onto footpaths? If so I might just give it a go on Saturday morning early doors.

I live bottom left of this map, so my usual ride returns on a bridlepath that comes out at the front door of the Woodmancote Arms. I have been known to stop there once or twice.

This thread I have followed with memories! But this specific area brings back memories of little wanders with my now deceased dog from my time living and working in Funtington. Funtington also bears the birth place to both my my children!

If you went in the Fox & Hounds between 1997 and 2001 you would have met me, my wife, maybe my dog and kids, but definitely my team!

Happy days 🙂 Got back on a bike round there after 8 years not owning one!

Has anyone been up around Farley Mount (Winchester) recently? Just wondering how overgrown things are at the moment..

Went up there last week, and came back with no skin left to be stung by stingy nettles..
Never seen it so overgrown!

Morning... The drought of riding ends tomorrow... Slackalice and I will be heading out from Basingstoke and taking in some if the scenery round the hanningtons to Kingsclere and the gallops. Anyone fancy joining us drop me a pm and I'll sort out times and places for you. Won't be fast, may take in a pub and is about 23ish miles of riding, all bar about 4 or so of which off road....

Bugger! Would have liked that do but am away this weekend. Keep posting the rides though and hopefully get a few of us together in the future.

Shame that... I also always do a local ish to me ride on a Tuesday evening, usually around the 10mile mark, usually starting at about 7ish aswell....

There's nothing like a little 'break' to make one appreciate cycling so do hope you both have a great ride in a wonderful part of the county. 🙂

Some pics would be appreciated, I can only dream of the day that I'll be able to ride that area again. Actually would be interested in your route.

its a fairly easy one... would love to send you a gpx file but don't know how.....

Struggling with hills! Brief description would be good, used to ride that area an awful lot in all weathers - once got caught in sleet on the ridge!

I have to email a gpx file to you... it may or may not work....

but after trial and error I may have sorted a screen shot too

[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14579223004_7802169164_o.pn g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14579223004_7802169164_o.pn g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/odjk4S ]hanningtons[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]daftvader77[/url], on Flickr[/img]

I do so hope it's going to be a slow one!

Have spent today with migraine and cuddling the loo 🙁

Looking forward to it though!

Oh no! Can do a shorter one if you'd rather?

Oh no! This one looks good, I'll just induce some freakishly awesome skillz, stamina and Salsa HT action 8)

And I've managed to keep some food down for a few hours now 😀

migraleve (sp?) ftw
oh and 😆 at the rest!!! 😉

DV, massive apologies, only just seen your email! Am tied up with other stuff tomorrow, I'm afraid but will make time soon. Again, apologies!

no worries CFH, will likely be out again on Tuesday evening for a quick blast around cliddesden if you are up for it?

How was the Hannington ride? Recovered from illness/surgery?

I scared myself to death - first time on the full suss around Longwood and couldn't believe how quickly I was spat out on the road. 😯 Thank goodness nobody on foot or horse was around. 😀

sounds good cg 🙂

see that big drop off up there ^^^^ you know, the one i was scared to ride? Well i bagged a few hours this evening on our return from the inlaws and took myself off to QECP and i rode the damn thing..................and crashed 🙂 possible broken thumb, scraped arm, torn shorts, and my left side will hurt tomorrow. Mostly miffed about the shorts.

Everything went well, I rode off at a good speed with good body position, reached the bottom and then whoosh! the front end went from under me.

Awesome ride, beautiful weather and great views and good banter, didn't hit any problems till the last few miles when slackalices rear tyre decided to try a new career as a sieve!. Absolutely nackered now. Only took a couple of pics, will put them up tomorrow. CG the wrist is doing well, will see what it's like tomorrow... Will let slackalice explain the [s]hangover[/s] illness.... 😉 😆
. Johnj... Hope you heal soon.

Thanks dv, got me out of the ironing tonight so not all bad. Sounds like you had a great ride today, nice one 🙂

john - blimey, that sounds nasty but be positive for having another go. Do hope that you're not too sore and will be able to get back out there again soon.

daftvader - sounds like a great day, apart from the tyre obviously! Good news that your wrist was fine after no doubt having cabin fever for a while!

It was an awesome ride! 😀 Great views, classic XC 28mile loop that we both covered effortlessly 😆 And then my back tyre effortlessly covered the last few miles with Stans until there was no more Stans left in the tyre, we admitted defeat and popped a tube in. Nice pump DV 😉

Frequent munching of Granola bars meant my withered state resulting from my Saturday [s]migraine[/s] sic hangover 😆 ,courtesy of stupid amounts of port the previous night, I was able to winch my way round. Thankfully, DV was up to the task of keeping me going with lots of idle banter that kept my legs mostly quiet 😀

To then cap it off with a spread of much yumminess at chez vader, i left feeling replete in every sense 🙂

Many thanks for your guiding, snippets of local information, hostelry and for being an all round "most excellent dude" DV 8)

We were talking about the next ride out to be around the Kingley Vale area, its been years since I rode around there, so our local knowledge is sparse, save the route Bartemaeus posted on the previous page. Apparently DV says that if its a gpx file, he can do something clever with it and his Garmin. Am I right in thinking the gpx files are on the QECP site if I log on there? Alternatively, any local takers willing to take us round, offer kind words of encouragement and keep my back tyre away from flint? 😉 We don't have a date yet, but sure one will appear at some point soon.

Now, onto more serious matters…. What rear tyre for my HT…..? Please 😀

I am up for joining you at kingly vale when you get a date sorted, I am no use for guiding though, sorry. As for the back tyre I have a conti king on the back of the full suss which seems ok and a nobby nic on the HT.

No worries about guiding johnj, it'll be great to have you along. I'll pester Bartimaeus, Ive met him once and even seen him countdown from three - he taught me everything I know about counting down from three, so I have every faith he'll agree to something 😉

Cheers for your suggestions! 😀

I have copious GPX files for KV which I can share - but as I'm keen to be included I will also offer to guide. Today I met a friendly family up at the top of KV, and they let me guide their 9 year old boy down the top of The Vale DH run, so I must have a trustworthy face.

A ride round kingly vale sounds great... Due to the crappy way my days off fall Sundays is where it's at for me.... Can't do the 13th but pretty much free till the beginning of August.

Thank you Bartimaeus 😀 as you know, I'll need to be guided down anything to avoid face-planting!

How about the 20th? July that is?

I can't do the 27th.

Let's do this thing people! I don't have long left round these parts, before I venture forth to the flat-lands 😀

the 20th is a possibility for me, the only challenge could be some ballet shows for my daughter so an early morning would be best for me from a selfish viewpoint 🙂

The 20th would be good for me.... Early is also good, how early?? Fingers crossed I might even have the stanton by then....

I can do ridiculously early(5-7am)or sensibly early(7-9.30am)

Can I just caveat this with the point that I haven't checked with the boss yet.

I'm a postie so early isn't an issue!!! And best check with management first 😉

And Bartimaeus!

I could do an earlyish start.

Just lay off the port eh?!? 😀

Absolutely! I'll be teetotal for the next month or so! 😀

Yeah?!?

BO//@ck$! Of all the flipping days for L to choose to go out with a friend shopping and doing afternoon tea. She is leaving at 10am so it's either stupidly early or not at all for me.

Don't let my domestic restrictions hold you back though, get yerselves oot there 🙂

Bugger...

My sentiments exactly

20th looks doable for me. I'm not sure I understand anyone who can use the words 'sensibly' and 'early' in the same sentence, especially not when they are talking 7am... I usually plan my rides as 'morning', 'afternoon' or 'evening', with afternoon rides possibly including a cream tea, and evening rides possibly including a pub stop.

Your rides sound awesome bartimus 🙂

That sound like a brilliant plan.... But sensibly early can be 7am.... Especially when you get up at 5:30 every day.... Including days off 😥

My ride times are rather 'ish' too 😀

Cream tea's sound very appealing, do they do cream breakfast's? Or lunches? 😉

I'll endeavour to be very amenable with the consensus, so what part of the day are we talking here?

Tbf mrsvader did think it would be more hardcore to do a morning pub stop.... Weatherspoons for breakfast and a beer anyone??? 😆

Jealous now 🙁

Could have one of these
[img] [/img]

(Although, not sure if the 'Spoons sell Mikkeler......)

Ooooo. Cfh I haven't had a decent coffee stout for ages....

Well, that one isn't like the others!

Where from, how much and is it any good???
Edit... Simply beer website won't work on my phone....

5 quid for a bottle?!? 😮

right finally sorted out my photos... these 2 were taken on the ride with slackalice... [img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/14456750177_740a2dc1b2_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/14456750177_740a2dc1b2_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/o2uCap ]IMG_1633[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]daftvader77[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/14456497280_1a26a88193_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/14456497280_1a26a88193_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/o2tjZ7 ]IMG_1627[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]daftvader77[/url], on Flickr[/img]

and the rest from a ride around Dummer on parts of the wayfarers walk. massively over grown in places and several of the fast bits have had purposely felled trees placed across the trail which is annoying. The donkeys were running along with me on the way past, so thought I'd get a pic on the way back!

[img][url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/14456699708_82ba4a13a4_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/14456699708_82ba4a13a4_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/o2unaf ]IMG_1572[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]daftvader77[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[img][url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/14663223713_d3f57ddecf_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/14663223713_d3f57ddecf_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/okJRxX ]IMG_1571[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]daftvader77[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5594/14620305206_86a4d1509e_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5594/14620305206_86a4d1509e_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ogWTnG ]IMG_1573[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]daftvader77[/url], on Flickr[/img]

cheers

and is the ride happening next week??

Sunday 20th... where and what time? I'd rather 'not too early' so if you want to ride at 6am then I think I may pass. Options are to meet near KV (I can give you directions to a couple of places) or at my house in Southbourne which is 3 miles from Adsdean.

Plenty of options from a tour of the area (40k http://app.strava.com/activities/51816142) to a shorted 25k loop, or even just a ride over to Stoughton to play on the downhill trails there.

Totally at your mercy for this. I have no knowledge of the area at all. And I don't mind on the time either, but late morning or early afternoon would be good....

daftvader - thanks for posting pics! Not sure where numbers 2 and 4 are though? Watership Down area looks as lovely as ever and do hope that in the not too distant future I'll be able to manage those hills.

Didn't get out this weekend, not riding much at all lately. 🙁

Hi Cg... No 2 is, I think, at the top of a section about 3 miles after the manydown land will check on the map later, and number 4 is somewhere behind Dummer towards the Candovers can't be more specific than that II'm afraid.... Was a good ride tho, natural single speed countryside. Not many hills and none of them very steep. Did you get the gpx file to load on your gps?

OK, thanks for that. I do like the Candover Valley. 8) No luck with the gpx but I'm a bimbo and useless with technology as well as bikes!

right that 2nd photo was taken... Basingstoke land ranger at the ready... 549/559 just west ish of Hannington. hth

Got yer, cheers. A very long time since I've been there.