[Closed] Total Newbie

Whereabouts in W Sussex?

Nowt wrong with a Boardman.

Queen Elizabeth Country Park is nearby and you can probably find you can ride there via small lanes and bridleways - worth getting a local map and exploring. In winter, the chalky clay gets a bit claggy in the wet, but when dry there's superb riding around the South Downs

It may be worth a look at Ergon Grips. I switched to their "Comfort Series" as a broken wrist had left some discomfort:

http://www.ergon-bike.com/en/product.html?a=griffe&w=mountain

An Ordnance Survey map is your friend:

https://dash4it.co.uk/uk-maps/publisher-brand/ordnance-survey.html

Sussex here too. As above, get your local OS map 1:25,000 and find your bridleways and little lanes heading south towards and onto the downs.

Proper paper map best, you get a code so you can view on mobile too. Handy.

Thanks for the responses.

chiefgooveguru: I'm in Cowfold on the A272 I went out a few times but its deadly. I fully expect to get wiped out of i carry on so would very much like to meet up with some folks who may be patient with a rather unfit lump of a bloke

cinammon girl, its a wierd situation. The operation is whats called a CMC replacement. Basically its a replacement thumb joint (like a minature hip joint) So Im OK holding handlebars, but changing gear is problematic. Better now but I am looking at a year before I have normal movement. I am also informed it may come out of its socket on its own account :-0

bigmojo - Member

Im based in West Sussex

What town/village do you live near on the A272? And I can offer some route advice. Also the New Blue route a QECP just south of petersfield is a good place to start for beginners
Edit: just seen your reply, bit to far into sussex for me to offer advice sorry

If you want to venture out by yourself, the Vertebrate guidebook to [url= https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/books/categories/mountain-biking/south-east-mountain-biking-north-and-south-downs.html ]The North and South Downs[/url] has some good routes. And a cheap GPS, loaded with OS maps, will help prevent you getting lost.

Have fun!

PS Vertebrate has a 20% discount until tomorrow

So Im OK holding handlebars, but changing gear is problematic

You might find Gripshift is a good option for you, as it uses the whole hand/wrist rather than just the thumb.

Welcome!

Nowt wrong with a Boardman.

2nd that, perfectly good bikes.

[s]QECP is quite local to you, just off the A3, and you're basically in the middle of the south downs national park. I suggest getting an OS map of the area and plotting some routes from the door as well as setting some time aside to visit QECP perhaps...[/s]

Edit: Scratch that, your basically on the east side of west sussex, sorry

Cowfold - so not far to Stamner Park. Lots of great singletrack over there. Or head along the downs to QECP. As Scott says - the Blue is cracking fun.

Bike rack - if you have roof bars get the thule something or other. Or better still if you have a towbar, get a towbar rack. Atera are good, but lots of the other makes are pretty good too.

You're not far by car from the South Downs, so lots of open downland paths and bridleways, plus singletrack and more in QECP in the west, Steyning directly south, Stanmer south east and Friston further east.

Definitely get a 1:25,000 OS map and start exploring the local paths - if you're polite and sensible few walkers care if you share the footpaths, not just the bridleways, and they won't kill you unlike road vehicles.

Do you have physio exercises to help with the grip strength on your repaired hand? Any loaded carries etc? Enjoy the Boardman, I had lots of fun on mine before I got sucked into upgradeitis... 😉

[url= https://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#13.20/-0.25800/50.98506/blue/ride ]Strava Heatmap[/url] will show you where other people are riding, although that includes road cycling as well as MTB. Click on Labels to show the street names.

...The operation is whats called a CMC replacement. Basically its a replacement thumb joint (like a minature hip joint) So Im OK holding handlebars, but changing gear is problematic. Better now but I am looking at a year before I have normal movement. I am also informed it may come out of its socket on its own account :-0

Yikes! I'm assuming this is your Right thumb?
As others have suggested a gripshift might make sense, possibly even running the rear grip-shifter on the Left side (as a 1x setup) so that your [I]'Good'[/I] hand can do the majority of the shifting and save that borked thumb a bit...

Wow... I cant believe how helpful you all are. Thank you so much.

Actually, I love the Boardman. My last bike did my back in but this one was all measured out properly and the chaps at halfords were really helpful. First boike ive had with suspension too which is nice.

Thank you for the links. Yes I.m Mid sussex really, although classified as west sussex

Esme, looing on Strava, there's very little near me (practlaclly black) so its a car journey first I think. But thank you soooo much

chietgrooveguru : I'll get an OS map for sure... Yes, after the op you rest for weeks in plaster, then physio with this weird plasticine stuff of different viscosities. They say it will be a year before I'm fully recovered, but at least its going in the right direction now. Its stopped me riding completely.

The CMC replacement is actually extremely common. Check it on YouTube if you arent too squeeamish.... but I warn you, its hard watching

Cookeaa, "borked" hha hah yes its my right. rather a nasty operation and you have no hand for 6 weeks after. Sadly I have to have my left done too :-(..... none of this is any good for a keyboard player as well...

Yak, yes its about a 30 min drive from Stanmer Park but worth it if there are some good routes.

I'm a bass player and suffer a fear of finger damage! Lots of good stuff in Stanmer but it gets very very muddy in the winter and even when it isn't that muddy but still wet it is not easy riding - lots of slippery tree roots and then trees to crash into. Definitely plan some visits from spring onwards though!

Wow... I cant believe how helpful you all are

It'll wear off.

How about picking up the Downs Link path to take you down to the South Downs by Shoreham. Nice and scenic, plenty of places to stop for a coffee along the way.
Or of course head north and take the path all the way to Guildford. Not too exciting but certainly safer than the roads.

Edit: Forgot to mention that Tilgate Park isn't far by car either.

[url= http://maps.the-hug.net/ ]http://maps.the-hug.net/[/url]

Try this for maps.

Have a really good look for alternative routes. A lot of drivers automatically start to cycle on the roads on which they drive without realising there are alternatives. Back streets can sometimes be linked up by snickets and alleyways that you can't drive on so would never have used.

In your situation I would also be exploring some of those farm tracks and public footpaths that would lead you onto the lanes. Whilst you're not meant to ride on footpaths most people aren't that bothered and if it's a short bit of decent ish trail you'll be fine.

I'm having a good look at the 1:25k maps on bing.com/maps and it looks like there are lot of bridleways you can use too, I reckon you could string together a few pleasant loops even if you don't get all the way to the Downs.

Actually, I love the Boardman.

Excellent!

bigmojo - Member
Wow... I cant believe how helpful you all are

Neither can I - nobody has even mentioned a skills course yet.

Nothing wrong witha Boardman, good starter bike - gripshift might well be a winner for you if you have a SRAM derailleur at the back - if not, you might need to replcase boht the shifter and derailleur, but it should take the stress off your thumb.

If you have neither towbar nor roofrack, something like the Saris Bones should fit just about any car and do the job.

Well the South Downs is great for riding, so you're off to a good start OP - all the suggestions above open up your options in the area.

For your suggestions of how to get back into it, here's mine... Treat yourself on your riding location now and then, if you can. The south downs are great and amazing in drier conditions, but a lot of the more natural / bridleway / track kind of riding can be muddy slogs in winter. A trip to QECP's all-weather blue trail, Swinley Forest or the Surrey Hills at Peaslake now and then can put a smile on your face with a bit of flowy trail riding when the local mud gets a bit much.

I don't know much about clubs or groups down your way, but a local bike shop is the usual good bet to ask.

Bike rack wise, I use a Thule carrier on the roof (the fork mounted one) - it's about 10 years old and doing fine as there are zero moving parts, but I have roof bars on the car already anyway.

Don't stress the bike brand at all! Anything that can survive the local mud is a winner - I like to think of the south downs / Chilterns areas as specialist terrain in their own right 😉

The only issue with a boardman, and in fact any entry level bike, is that you will soon have the biking bug, then sooner or later you will want to upgrade...there will be no real reason to, but you will. Happened to me, and all my mates!

Before you know it you will be on the slippy slope to N+1 and financial ruin...

If you have an Android phone have a look at Backcountry Navigator for OS mapping, the free version is worth a try but it's not dear to buy it if you like it.

And I like Justgoride on my computer for planning routes and messing with GPX files.

LOL @ Harry the spider

Route planning and refining is an intresting part of UK off road cycling.
I’m 100% certain you can string together a route or two from your door. It may include short sections of road but the art is minimising those.
You’ll need an OS map and go well prepared if your searching new routes this time if year.