Where We Ride
Our main biking playground is obviously Epping Forest. We also organize the odd away day and trips further afield. A few guys are also into a bit of racing and go to some of the local events around.
Epping Forest
Yep our regular Saturday rides are here in the Forest. We meet up at Chingford Main Line Station at 10.45am for a couple of hours riding before circling back for cake and tea. If anyone is still feeling keen and strong then its off again for a smaller loop. Nowadays we tend to ride the single-track that threads its way through the forest most of the time. The bridle ways are faster and fun cycle routes but are used by a lot of the other people in the forest including horse riders and dog walkers, so we head off under the tree cover into the windy single-track.
In the summer it can be fast and furious but unforunately all winter the tracks become very wet and muddy and riding is a hard slog. In fact to be honest it can be wet in places all year round. The London clay under the top layer of ground makes an impervious barrier to the rain that it not sucked up by the trees. That said if we actually get a summer as hot as this year and it dries out fully the riding is fantastic. All that twisty stuff, drop-offs, hard little climbs and roots jutting out really keep you on your toes, or your backside if your not careful.
Awaydays
A few times a year on a pretty adhock approach we organize riding somewhere other than the forest. In the past these have included the North Downs, The Chilterns and Thetford Forest.
We also travel to north Wales to the fantastic trails at Coed-y-Brenin a couple of times a year.
