I am sure it does rain down there but I have been there twice this year and both times it has been like riding on concrete - very fast and very enjoyable.
I was just wondering what is it like after some good old winter rain ?
Is it a sticky clay mess to avoid or still good.
Mud on the Quantocks!!! are you mad? 😆
generally ok but it can ruin some trails - stert into somerton and willoughby spring to mind.
small beer for how much will remain reasonably unaffected.
Still enjoyable and can give a different challenge with sketchy cornering. Was there 2 weeks ago when it was like a monsoon, the lower half of somerton can be a little slower but only at the bottom where it shallows out, Frog combe was still reasonably quick and five lords was still one sweet trail. The main thing I noticed was their seemed to be quite a few fallen large branches seemingly from the weight of the rain and them being rotten. Their was 1 large tree which had fallen across the twisty descent off dead women's ditch which needs someone with a saw to clear it.
That load of roots at the top of Frog's a bit sketchy in the wet, and you have to pedal to carry on moving downhill in Slaughterhouse when it's wet but most of it's pretty resilient.
yeah, i think it's slaughterhouse that i'm thinking of not willoughby. it's the bit as you drop into the trees and the trail is almost bench cut as it drops down to a right hander. the mud almost stops you dead.
like i say though, small beer.
Surprisingly good area to ride in the wet on the whole actually.
totally confused as to where you are all talking about.
I was riding in [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=314965&Y=139480&A=Y&Z=120&ax=314965&ay=138980 ]this area[/url] between cromcombe & holford,
Somerton is miles away or is that just a local name for a trail.
All good to know though for when I next pop down.
Somerton is miles away or is that just a local name for a trail
It's a combe, as are Stert, Slaughterhouse and Frog. They're on the 25k, maybe not all on the 50k though.
Stert into somerton is the red line on your map to the left of black hill, its my fav descent. Also slaughter house is whats called black ball hill on your map. Dead women's ditch is the car park and is on your map, the descents (theirs 2) are across the road in the trees. Frog combe (their is 2 descents either side of the gorge) is the tree line between black hill and robin upright's hill, 1 is the black line into the trees the other peels of the red line on the other side of the trees. Some of these can be viewed on youtube so you can get a visual for next time your their, or seek out sharki's guidance as he will show you round if he is in the area. (can be found on this forum occasionally.
mud is never an issue on the Qs (im local so should know), it gets wet though . Stay away from the triscombe/Aisholt common side is probably the best advise. The main trails over there will be ok but the single track does get tacky. I use larsen TTs all year round with no problems. The secret to not pedaling down slaughter house is to enter the woods fast and hold on tight. The entry to the single track side of frog is always a bit slippy but doable none the less. Have faith in your tyres .
More sandy than mud. Take your pick around the forestry commission and ridgeway in wet weather.
I'm a local too and I must say I don't ride the Q's much in the winter when its wet as it's about twice the effort and I can't be bothered to clean my bike after!! I'm just lazy though!! It does get a little sticky which makes climbing hard work at times, not in all areas though. You'll be alright if you plan your route well.