MUD FOR IT
Forum ride Swinley Forest 24th October 2004
The spiritual
home of the southern riders, Swinley Forest’s
single-track has established it as a Forum favourite. The
last ride of the autumn as the clocks go back next week and
winter
tightens her grip, but for one day the gods smiled and we
were rewarded with a mild day with some sunshine. For this
one even
the Smudger had pointed his car away from Cannock Chase and
instead headed south the other riders were: Robcoll, All
the gear no idea, Gruffbear, Jester, HelenF, VD (it stands
for
Victorian dad) accompanied by VM and SVC the youngest rider
to join us on a ride. A nice statistic to note is that on
every Forum ride we have attracted at least one new rider! Robcoll’s Stiffee was making
its first outing since returning from a respray and he
had already managed to scratch
the paintwork!
With the nice weather as forecast showing up everybody was
making the most of one more day in shorts, apart from Smudgey,
who had been very busy on a certain auction site and sported
a pair of fox trousers that a ‘downhiller’ would
have been proud of, subtle is not a word to describe them.
With the final faffing done it was out of the car park and
onto the trails led by the Bear whose knowledge of Swinley
continues to grow as even today on our third visit he had
yet more new trails for us to enjoy. The puddles on the fire
roads gave some idea of what was to come as we made our way
to single-track heaven. Thick mud and lots of it the first
bomb hole had its own garden pond in the bottom which All
the gear and Smudge managed to navigate. The mud also made
the first climb of the day interesting as we snaked our way
up, the final section had all of us beat despite the best
efforts of some of the gang. Gruff did warn us about the
drop off coming up a short while later complete with some
of Swinley's finest tree roots as HelenF made the first comedy
dismount of the day. Swinley then delivered yet another gem
almost a chute of loose stones with a root drop off included,
manic grin inducing it most certainly was as Gruff led us
on via a nice little drop which saw VD have numerous runs
at it only for his fingers to engage the brake at the last
moment dropping the seat nearly made the difference in the
battle but the drop won out.
A favourite last time was the ‘Corkscrew’ today
it had the added factor of mud which really added to the
challenge of getting round without a dab and kept the forum
riders hard at it. It was just a short ride to another Swinley
favourite, a dinky little drop off but due to the rock at
the edge and an ever obliging tree root, requires a tight
line to get it right and just begs you to have another go
whilst you brain tries to tell you that you have done it
once, this time could be the one that gets you.
Robcoll had a date with destiny to fulfil, a certain double
drop off that had got the better of him on the last ride
at Swinley, without a shadow of doubt Rob rolled in and duly
nailed it down tight. The drop off produced a few comedy
dismounts as Jester found himself in the bushes on the first
attempt but went on to do it twice. VD the master of the
rolling stop also introduced himself to the bushes a number
of times before claiming victory himself.
Smudge in his hip and trendy downhiller trousers followed
the Bear a little too closely off the first part and subsequently
ended up indulging in a spot of tree hugging as in his
words ‘the second one came up a bit fast’.
Electing on Gruffs advice to
climb back up the drop and therefore miss a vicious climb
saw a particular muddy section
of single-track that would have blended in well at Cannock.
The Victorian family chose at this time to make a move for
the Visitor Centre and with a suggestion of lunch the rest
of the group ended up racing down the fire road to the car
park. Did I mention it was a bit muddy, well following the
first session a trip to the bike wash was required on our
return to the car park in order to preserve everybody’s
drive trains, a bargain at 50p. Bikes restored to near normal
and relubed it was time for a spot of lunch, Gruff posing
for a portrait shot and the man in yellow aka All the gear
no idea assuming the mantle of the Forums resident ‘Jeyboy’.
There was a spot of boys reliving
their childhood on the ride out, with Gruff rubbing Jesters
tyre ooeer! Wonky riding,
dodgy wheelies and bunny hops. The Bear took us around some
of our favourite sections of single-track with HelenF managing
another comedy dismount as we made our way through a tricky
section. In addition Gruff had kept the climbing for this
session as our legs found out. There was another section
of new single-track which was extremely rooty and even more
fun ridden the opposite way. A quick game of hide and seek
followed as Rob got into position for a few riding the trails
photos and it was time for a final blast along part of the ‘whole
nine yards’ before mobiling in to the visitors centre.
With the bikes hosed down once more Helen headed off to brave
the train home, whilst Rob produced a mobile bar from the
boot of his car to finish off the day nicely, with the fat
nicely chewed and washed down with a beer, it was time to
head for the motorway as the heavens opened.
Next Forum ride is at Cannock
Chase on the 14th of November and is attracting a lot of
attention and is looking to be
the best attended of the year so what are you waiting for
visit the Forum and put your name down to ride with ‘Mtbuk
the riders place to be.
Words by Jester
for photos of the October Forums day out at
Swinley Forest
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