Trail Conditions - 9th Jan 2005
Did a nice 22 mile loop today, from home, taking in a bit of variety and getting as far as Woodcote (note to northerners: Woodcote is at 600ft above sea level, which is what we south eastern types call "fairly high up").
Some of the usual places are pretty horrible. This (dreadful camera phone) photo was taken a few weeks ago on the singletrack running west from Mapledurham. Well, I call it singletrack...
Streetmap Link - Mapledurham "singletrack"
Things have improved slightly on this, but it's still in poor shape. Not a suprise, mind. This path gets hammered by a lot of walkers and horses. Fun in summer, a slog in winter.
There's some dreadful gloop in a few spots in College Wood too, mostly by the pond. I don't think I've ever really seen this bit dry out. Elsewhere in the woods, it's mixed. Most annoying are the numerous motorcycle "traps" built by some mysterious "stickman". Most are hoppable, but some just comprise too many logs over too much trail to be passable. So, of course, the trails are just widening around them. They have a minor motocross problem in these woods, but this is stupidity. I had some fun dismantling the worst ones, but they'll be back next time as usual.
The singletrack through the golf course isn't bad - not as fast as usual but still rideable. The Hardwick descent is in great shape. Streetmap is going terribly terribly slowly at the moment so I'll stick some links up later.
In short - stay off the popular stuff and dream of spring. And consider a singlespeed...
Some of the usual places are pretty horrible. This (dreadful camera phone) photo was taken a few weeks ago on the singletrack running west from Mapledurham. Well, I call it singletrack...
Streetmap Link - Mapledurham "singletrack"
Things have improved slightly on this, but it's still in poor shape. Not a suprise, mind. This path gets hammered by a lot of walkers and horses. Fun in summer, a slog in winter.
There's some dreadful gloop in a few spots in College Wood too, mostly by the pond. I don't think I've ever really seen this bit dry out. Elsewhere in the woods, it's mixed. Most annoying are the numerous motorcycle "traps" built by some mysterious "stickman". Most are hoppable, but some just comprise too many logs over too much trail to be passable. So, of course, the trails are just widening around them. They have a minor motocross problem in these woods, but this is stupidity. I had some fun dismantling the worst ones, but they'll be back next time as usual.
The singletrack through the golf course isn't bad - not as fast as usual but still rideable. The Hardwick descent is in great shape. Streetmap is going terribly terribly slowly at the moment so I'll stick some links up later.
In short - stay off the popular stuff and dream of spring. And consider a singlespeed...
posted by Jon Hall at 7:57 PM
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