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| Wed night rides Tilgate | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 4 2009, 06:56 PM (642 Views) | |
| Dave le Trek | Dec 4 2009, 06:56 PM Post #1 |
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Mud Lover
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As chadders has mentioned already area's around and including Tilgate are becoming almost too bad to ride on, everywhere i seem to go is just a bog. If anyone has any known routes that arn not so bad and local that would be great. I am one unhappy bunny not been out spinning the wheels. take care out there. See you soon. |
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| belugabob | Dec 4 2009, 07:19 PM Post #2 |
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Mudking
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I'm starting to get cabin fever too - not been out for a couple of weeks due to work & home commitments. I suppose that the Worth way would be more reliable as a drier route to pound out a few miles. Not sure when I can get out though - Sunday may be possible, but it looks like it's going to be Tiswas torrential time. Post back tomorrow evening, and we'll try to get something going. |
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| Dave le Trek | Dec 4 2009, 07:35 PM Post #3 |
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Mud Lover
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I agree, the worth way may not be the most taxing of ride but it is 15 miles of clean(ish) ridding and a time of 50mins or so does make it an option. I don't mind the mud, its just that where i live does not have MTB cleaning facilities, and its on the first floor. Oh well keep the faith, and don't let this weather get to you. |
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| woodsman | Dec 5 2009, 11:44 AM Post #4 |
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Bog Monster
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I'll be dissapointed if we don't see some new singletrack emerging at Tilgate Forest this coming spring, as people naturally create new ways of riding around the logging works. It would require a little local input - saw/axe carrying riders to 'finesse-it', and I'm not referring to the 'jumpy' trailbuilders and their urban town centre type - metal bins on the trail approach............. If we get a really hard frost/frozen period I will head over there to assess the damage or/and in the spring, if anyone wants to make a day of it, create some sinewey singletrack to link back onto the perimeter and other trails around the logging , let me know here - if not, then happy bogg-snorkling! ![]() For those that are intersted, here is a PDF link to the Forestry's long term plan of work/management of Tilgate. In a nutshell, they want to gradually remove most of the planted conifers that were of use before we all became dependant on plastics, and return it back to a deciduous forest. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/pdf.nsf...fdp-Tilgate.pdf |
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| Dave le Trek | Dec 5 2009, 01:43 PM Post #5 |
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Mud Lover
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@woodsman, let me know when u get chance to ride over to tilgate, would like to meet up with you and exchange ideas for ne trails and get them started. And its much better when frosty. |
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| blades | Dec 7 2009, 10:25 AM Post #6 |
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Slightly Splattered
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I could suggest that what you/ we need is a return to how the current and previous single tracks were created, long before MTB became so popular. But that would probably be far too contoversial, that all sectors of society have use of our forests, like in france and other area's of europe. But I suggest the we English are far to NIBYish to allow others the use of this natural area, even if they did pay a large fee to the FC for the privalige, and create new single tracks each and every year. Controversial, yes, open minded, I hope we all are, I'll get my hat...... |
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| mudslinger | Dec 7 2009, 08:40 PM Post #7 |
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Fairly Muddied
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I've not been out on my bike for about 3 weeks now. I'm getting seriously p1ssed off with this weather. Another evening on the turbo trainer beckons! Adrian |
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| Sniff | Dec 7 2009, 08:59 PM Post #8 |
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Couple of Spots
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well went out for a quick spin from copthorne through Rowfant worth way paddockhurst wood and on into tilgate yesterday and apart from the 1/4 mile of single track that is now a six inch deep stream (in copthorne).... what a hoot!!!! mud slde grip puddle splash slide grip slide slide slide luv it bring on the wet brown stuff.... :-) PS and from the two tracks before me i was not alone.... |
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| mudslinger | Dec 7 2009, 10:11 PM Post #9 |
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Fairly Muddied
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I saw 2 guys heading out on their bikes from those new flats on the Balcombe Rd heading towards Tilgate. This was just after 8am on Sunday morning when it was absolutely tipping it down. Hardy souls & made me feel a bit feeble for me recent lack of riding. |
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| woodsman | Dec 8 2009, 11:11 AM Post #10 |
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Bog Monster
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blades, think I kinda know what you're trying to say.......what's stopping you, why do you need to ask authorities, and pay them to use an already public access area, which is unwanted (liability to them) and a redundant confier wood plantation - it'll probably lead to boring wide tracks if you do. The best singletrack is stealth singletrack - in a less is more, handlebar weaving sort of way. Well that's how I see it |
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| lindihopper | Dec 8 2009, 01:02 PM Post #11 |
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Lightly Sprinkled
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Stop being such a bunch of softies and just ride through the mud I was out at an adventure race on Sunday - run, bike, kayak, bike, run - which was very muddy and very very slippy but once you've got freezing cold wet feet you start to have fun :rolleyes: I can't make wednesday evening this week but hope to be in tilgate at some point in the next few days. |
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| blades | Dec 8 2009, 04:37 PM Post #12 |
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Slightly Splattered
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Hi Woodsman Obviously I'm talking about the once a year organised enduro event that has been taking place in Tilgate since the late 60's, slightly longer that MTB I believe. The reason it is organised and hired from the FC are many, but the organising clubs are sanctioned by the ACU, and therefore have to carry large insurance policies for each event. This relationship with the FC has been going on even longer with forests all over the country, but here in the SE, many of the MTB races use tracks created by organised enduros, again for many years, Yatley, Bagshot, Blackwood, Iron Hill, West Harting Down to name a few. Anyhow, I agree, lets see how things go, land access is a contentious issue for all, but what I'm totally against is illegal riding in the forests, which seems to be on the rise. Perhaps this is a symptom of the lack of legal available places for off roaders to ride. Cheers Steve
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| woodsman | Dec 8 2009, 05:42 PM Post #13 |
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Bog Monster
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I hadn't really thought about the motorcycle event held there Steve, never had a problem with it personally, without my initial youth interest in off road motorbikes, I quite probably may not have got into mtb! Can't grumble at once a year, and I think on safety grounds it is a good idea to close it off for that event. I think we were talking about different aspects of two wheeled use, no surprise we didn't quite share the same view. Happy motorcycling, and I'll see you soon on one of the Tilgate evening mtb rides no doubt. Cheers Pete |
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| blades | Dec 9 2009, 04:37 PM Post #14 |
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Slightly Splattered
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Yep, should be able to start again next week, myself and TinTin have just picked up some LEDhelmet units, need to get the batteries and chargers sorted on Saturday. We are still waiting for the bar mounted lights from the states, but hoping the helmet lights will get us going Cheers Steve |
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| Chadders | Dec 10 2009, 08:40 AM Post #15 |
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Mud Connoisseur
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Hello all, I'm back. Some good points by all above. Tilgate is getting very very muddy. I am lucky enough to have the singlespeed as an option which does make winter riding a lot easier on the bank account as I'm not ruining the Pitch. We definately need to get up there in the Spring or as Pete mentioned after a good freeze and asses the damage. I'm going to be controversial here!!! We are all aprtly to blame for the state of Tilgate. I ahve been riding there for a good couple of years now and not once have I been down there with a shovel and 'replaced my divets' as it were. We all have to look after these precious strtches of natural-ish singletrack because unlike the man made trail centresd if we don't no one will. I think a few 'onthe quiet dig days whilst the ground is still soft early next year might be just what the place needs. So I propose a pootle to East Grinstead and back next wednesday evening. This will give us all a good oppertunity to put a plan together and for those idiots like dave and I there are some nice little features in a car park just at the end where we can perfect some winter jumping skills. If anyone has any other ideas then let us all know. Chadders |
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| blades | Dec 10 2009, 09:48 AM Post #16 |
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Slightly Splattered
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Worth Way sounds like a good idea next week, expect myself and TinTin to pop along to try our new lights out, also like the idea of getting the spades out in Tilgate, perhaps during the xmas hols? Cheers |
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| belugabob | Dec 10 2009, 01:25 PM Post #17 |
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Mudking
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Sounds like a plan - apart from the fact that next Wednesday is the Muddy@rse Xmas Night ride. Decisions, decisions! |
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| woodsman | Dec 10 2009, 05:52 PM Post #18 |
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Bog Monster
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Perhaps we can do something over the hols then. I wouln't mind 'etching' that bit of route we did with Alex, which conected us back to the perimeter singletrack as a starter.
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| blades | Dec 14 2009, 09:22 AM Post #19 |
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Slightly Splattered
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Is this ride happening, or are you all doing the Xmas night ride, if the latter, what are the detail, where, when, how long and tough Cheers |
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| Chadders | Dec 14 2009, 02:39 PM Post #20 |
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Mud Connoisseur
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I'll be there. I don't really have time to get down to the Christmas night ride. Anyone else is welcome of course. Meet at 1900 as usual if thats OK? |
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