saint_stevo Posted 28 October, 2009 Share Posted 28 October, 2009 any enthusiasts on here? Used to ride a lot as a nipper, looking to get back into it now i have resigned myself to ending my football career i need something to keep me from having to go shopping at weekends! Anyone know of any good circuits locally? Have been told there is an excellent track in bracknell just wondering if there was much closer to home (southampton). Also best place other than e bay for a decent second hand hard-tail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballfan Posted 29 October, 2009 Share Posted 29 October, 2009 the New Forrest is great for ridding, very flat if you are just starting off and lots of nice pubs to visit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 29 October, 2009 Share Posted 29 October, 2009 any enthusiasts on here? Used to ride a lot as a nipper, looking to get back into it now i have resigned myself to ending my football career i need something to keep me from having to go shopping at weekends! Anyone know of any good circuits locally? Have been told there is an excellent track in bracknell just wondering if there was much closer to home (southampton). Also best place other than e bay for a decent second hand hard-tail? The ride around the Lookout and Caesars Camp is a good one. Marked heath and forest trails. Not that unlike the Forest in terrain though, so I'd stick with that. If you wanted to think about pootling up the M3 and making a family day out however there is 'Go Ape' the Discovery Lookout Centre and 'Coral Reef' leisure pool all virtually on the doorstep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted 29 October, 2009 Share Posted 29 October, 2009 http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/Mountain_Bike_Holidays/Mountain_Bike_Holiday_in_Neath_Port_Talbot.htm One of the best days I've ever had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 29 October, 2009 Share Posted 29 October, 2009 the New Forrest is great for ridding, very flat if you are just starting off and lots of nice pubs to visit There are some good short sharp climbs but generally the Forest is pretty flat and ideal for a hard tail with a standard fork designed for light offroading. There are some good tracks and paths if you want to follow them. But now the Forest is a National Park they're getting a bit stricter as to where you can go. If you fancy going a bit further further afield, try this.... Although I don't think a hard tail would cut it on this!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 29 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 29 October, 2009 Quality stuff! Now i just need a bike (still trawling e-bay) and my damn knee to hurry up and repair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 29 October, 2009 Share Posted 29 October, 2009 Quality stuff! Now i just need a bike (still trawling e-bay) and my damn knee to hurry up and repair! If it's an oldish bike be prepared to replace chain/cassette/chain rings/head set as these might be a bit worn. Generally though, a good way to get a decent bike. Cycling is good exercise for a damaged knee as it is relatively low impact. Well, it is on the road, probably not quite so throwing yourself down bumpy Forest trails.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 29 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 29 October, 2009 Yeah i expect to, done all that in the past anyways so shouldnt be a problem. hmmm yeah i am on a exercise bike at the moment, not sure the physio would be too pleased if i was DH'ing just yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 30 October, 2009 Share Posted 30 October, 2009 The Itchen Navigation from Mansbridge until you get to Bishopstoke is NOT good for off roading. Chock full of stinging nettles and brambles on a path that is no more than a foot wide in some places. I am scratched and stung to bu**ery. After Bishopstoke though it is fab. And you can always stop for some lunch or a beer at The Bridge at Shawford.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 30 October, 2009 Share Posted 30 October, 2009 If you want to play around for an afternoon or get used to your bike, head up to Lordswood. If you deviate from any of the gravel paths, you can usually find some decent-ish singletrack through the woods. It's a popular destination for the university riding club and they, plus some others, have made varioud jumps and other obstacles in the past. They do just as regualrly keep getting dismantled by the authorities though. One word of warning, you can geta lot of kids from the estates hanging around in there or bombing through on their scooters. There have been reports of bike muggings as well so you take your chances! Once you want to do longer (half day / full day) rides, you need to head to the Winchester area, or towards Queen Elizabeth Country Park, or towards the Purbecks, or around Salisbury Plain. There's good stuff to the west of Winchester, around Farley Mount, and good stuff to the east, starting from Cheesefoot Head and roughly following the South Downs Way etc. There's plenty of info on the web though so have a good search. Here's one link with route ideas to start you off. There are books called Rough Ride Guide which do one of the local area with plenty of good rides in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Bob Posted 30 October, 2009 Share Posted 30 October, 2009 If you want to play around for an afternoon or get used to your bike, head up to Lordswood. If you deviate from any of the gravel paths, you can usually find some decent-ish singletrack through the woods. It's a popular destination for the university riding club and they, plus some others, have made varioud jumps and other obstacles in the past. They do just as regualrly keep getting dismantled by the authorities though. One word of warning, you can geta lot of kids from the estates hanging around in there or bombing through on their scooters. There have been reports of bike muggings as well so you take your chances! Once you want to do longer (half day / full day) rides, you need to head to the Winchester area, or towards Queen Elizabeth Country Park, or towards the Purbecks, or around Salisbury Plain. There's good stuff to the west of Winchester, around Farley Mount, and good stuff to the east, starting from Cheesefoot Head and roughly following the South Downs Way etc. There's plenty of info on the web though so have a good search. Here's one link with route ideas to start you off. There are books called Rough Ride Guide which do one of the local area with plenty of good rides in. I did my Mountain Bike Instructors course at Queen Elizabeths. After 3 days of very sensible riding, completing the course and getting my qualification we were then given permission to cut loose and do some knarly down hill stuff. First run down I lost the front end and one of my SPDs locked in resulting in a spectacular 'bike & rider still connected wipeout' and 2 broken ribs! How silly did I feel! The New Forest is a great place for recreational riding with some great technical stuff and hairy jumps if that's your thing. There's a lovely circular route starting from the main car park at Godshill which has always been one of my favourites. If taken easy with a pub stop on-route it will take an afternoon to do it. I have ridden full suspension bikes for a few years but made a return to hard-tails last year and got myself a new Marin Eldidge Grade. Unless you're doing some pretty knarly stuff a hard tail is definately your best option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 30 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 30 October, 2009 reeeaally want a bike. The right one just not on ebay just yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 30 October, 2009 Share Posted 30 October, 2009 reeeaally want a bike. The right one just not on ebay just yet! Surely you can find one here that you like ? http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categorydisplay_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_165607_langId_-1?cm_mmc=GooglePPC-_-Kids%20Bikes-_-Generic%20Kids-_-kids%20bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 30 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 30 October, 2009 would rather nail my appendage to a burning building than give halfords my money Plus i have a tight budget... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 30 October, 2009 Share Posted 30 October, 2009 You can ride down at Bere Forest, their is a special area set aside for MTB's opposite to the Hundred Acres car park (take the road from the A32 at Wickham Church and head towards Southwick and it's one of the turnings on the left after about 2 miles (it's signposted) and and if you're just on a fitness lark get a map out and you can find some fairly decent offroading around the Meon Valley on footpaths and bridlepaths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 30 October, 2009 Share Posted 30 October, 2009 First run down I lost the front end and one of my SPDs locked in resulting in a spectacular 'bike & rider still connected wipeout' and 2 broken ribs! How silly did I feel! Ah ... the classic "foot locked in pedal" manouvre. Best executed when there's plenty of people to laugh at you as well. Been there a few times recently actually! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 31 October, 2009 Share Posted 31 October, 2009 First run down I lost the front end and one of my SPDs locked in resulting in a spectacular 'bike & rider still connected wipeout' and 2 broken ribs! How silly did I feel! I feel your pain!!!! Fortunately I've never had my foot get stuck in an SPD, but years ago I did a similar thing with a strap on a racing bike. I always used to lean down and undo the left one (a motorbike thing; left foot always went down so you could keep your right foot on the back brake when stopped). I had the old lean down/free the strap technique down to a fine art but one day missed it at some traffic lights. Me and bike in a slow motion fall in front of several dozen shoppers and motorists....Suffered severely ruptured pride and a compound fractured self esteem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbul Posted 31 October, 2009 Share Posted 31 October, 2009 If you want to play around for an afternoon or get used to your bike, head up to Lordswood. If you deviate from any of the gravel paths, you can usually find some decent-ish singletrack through the woods. It's a popular destination for the university riding club and they, plus some others, have made varioud jumps and other obstacles in the past. They do just as regualrly keep getting dismantled by the authorities though. One word of warning, you can geta lot of kids from the estates hanging around in there or bombing through on their scooters. There have been reports of bike muggings as well so you take your chances! I wondered who built them. Me and nipper were using them a lot in the summer, went back to one that we liked and it was flattened. We were really gutted. Always good for a few burnt out cars too besides said local yoof tearing around on scooters. Oh well, back to Bassett Bumps!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 1 November, 2009 Share Posted 1 November, 2009 I wondered who built them. Me and nipper were using them a lot in the summer, went back to one that we liked and it was flattened. We were really gutted. Always good for a few burnt out cars too besides said local yoof tearing around on scooters. Oh well, back to Bassett Bumps!!!! If you look around the internet, lordswood is spoken about on quite a few websites amongst the mountain biking fraternity. Many people seem to have claimed to built a trail or obstacle up there at some point, but I think the general opinion is that the uni mountain biking club played a large part in it. They've certainly considered the area their local stamping ground in recent years anyway and seem to head up there fairly often. I must admit, I've not gone up there myself, although plenty of my friends have used it. When I ride, I prefer to cover some distance as opposed to just playing around on jumps etc, but I may take my wife up there soon to help her get used to her bike again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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