South Downs Bikes CC Sporting Time Trial Weekend

Let's hope this doesn't happen

Something is wrong?

No mountain biker on a classic piece of forest track, as in the photo above. Is this the future?
I'll keep this short. Never sent an email out like this to our subscribers - so please take it that this is an important one.

Out having fun?

Defra the people looking after this have said public footpaths & bridleways will not be affected. The thing is if you have been on any Forestry Commission land you most likely would not have been on one of these. Most of England forestry areas comes under what is known as "Open Access" - if sold owners will have a legal right to challenge this, and even under this mountain bikes don't have a right to use tracks this is something the Forestry Commission has allowed independently of any law.
The Lakes District has already had a taste of this, with one area on the side of Coniston sold off and the local car park fenced off and shut. Not pretty.

Competing in an event?

For us the worry is areas we typically used in the past, we won't get permission (and we do need permission in England). An example is the recent Sutton Bank Open5 where we tried to contact the owners (2nd largest to FC) about a local piece of forest with tracks through it and they just would not reply. You see there is little in it for them - they see it as easier just not to allow access - multiply this across the country and it's a scary picture.

Facts

OK let's get to some facts here...

• Access: unless willing the new owners of any forest can prevent access to their forest. It is not the case that Open Access rights on foot will be retained or the Forestry Commissions concession to allow Mountain Bikes on their land will pass over.
• Saving Money: it has been suggested that the government can make some serious dosh by selling off the forest. In reality it will cost them more - private owners will be able to avoid a number of taxes as woodlands are exempt from inheritance and capital gains tax. The upshot is it will cost the government considerably more money than it will make.

What to do?

All seems bonkers really and the worry is the decisions are being made by people who don't use or appreciate the forests.

• There is a petition on 38 degrees which has gained some momentum, sign this - it's making people take notice.
• Write an email to your MP asking him or her what their thoughts are? and their take on the facts about access and money highlighted above. You can contact your MP using this link

Right here ends Open Adventure's political broadcast. Hope to see you running and cycling in forests in years to come.

Let's hope this doesn't happen.

John Davies

Brass Monkeys Round 3

On arrival at Parkhurst Hill the skies were overcast threatening rain with a stiff breeze making for a chilly start.

The Course:
A course billed with a 1000ft of climbing per lap was always going to be tough but add in boggy, claggy soil and it became a race of attrition.
Many of the racers suffered cramp including a race ending bout for Alex Davey. Aside from the pain Gorrick and the ACU had put together an excellent course with a great mix of singletrack and open trail with a bomb hole stream crossing near the finish for a bit of fun. Due to the recent spell of inclement weather the course was sodden in places and the weight of riders caused a couple of sections to be re-routed.

Matt hitting the bridge just right

The Race:
With the weather being chilly I started with plenty of layers which I thought would be discarded during the race, however, with the breeze only the gilet came off. The turnout was excellent with over 100 riders on the line for the 4 hour race and 240 for 2 hours including 14 Southdowns riders.

French Dave and Ben at the start

Out of the blocks! The usual sprint off the line into the first hill and the inevitable bunch into the single track. Even this early it was clear that the course would suffer. After the rush I settled into a steady rhythm and focused on picking off the laps.

Amanda

However, when I hit the fourth lap the course started to hit me! As the clag took its toll on my legs I found myself contemplating the passion/obsession question Ben posted in his report from round 2. I also contemplated running the course, chain suck was a major issue in the second half of the race. One guy was running a Shimano Alfine gear system. Definitely a good call for the conditions. Given My final 2 lap times I was pleased to find I had finished 15th.

The post race chat focused on the conditions but also on Goodness Shakes flavours. Vanilla won 2-1 on the line, what's your favourite flavour?


Congratulations to James, 3rd on the day (despite gear problems from the first lap following a collision) and overall series winner! Great start to
2011 season. Congratulations to Dave and Ian Finishing 9th and 11th in their respective categories, and well done to everyone else for getting through it

Brass Monkeys Rd3 - Parkhurst Hill

               Great turnout today for final round of the Merida Brass Monkeys

James 3rd in Male 4hrs 40+

James  wraps up overall win

Ladies 4hrs 40+    Amanda D`Arcy  4th


Men 4hrs              Matt Knight         15th
                           Ben Connor         16th


Men 4hrs 40+       James D'Arcy        3rd
                           Dave Cleall            9th
                           John Davies           19th
                           Damian Redman   36th

Men 2hrs             Gary Brind            22nd           
                           Billy Turrell           36th  
                           Paddy Blake         42nd

                           Alex Davey            69th


Men 2hrs 40+      Ian Petherbridge    11th

                          Andy Goodyer       26th

                          Stephen Turner      51st

Alex Taylor's View of the Gorrick

Going into round 1 of the Gorrick Spring Series I was prepared and ready, Then like most people I was hit with man flu (what a blow). With this in mind, mentally I was not in the best place but I got all my stuff ready and set off for round 1.When I got there Steve Calland had just cruised thought to win the masters.I had put Bonty Mud X's on and after my pre ride lap I soon realised this was not the best choice, so when I got back to the car I had about 20 mins to change then to my Geax Mezcal's I put them on grip direction and I think this was a good move in the end. Going into the first corner it was quite busy, being a field of 65. We all soon found out our speed and I was with a group of 5 and kept with them. Then 2 of us broke away and stayed away, it stayed like that for the rest of the race. We past 2 more but we were caught by someone who crashed previously (he was going well). I was so pleased with how the race went I finished 20th with consistent lap times only dropping 1 min each lap. Now I can look forward to round 2 on the 6th Feb at Heath Warren Woods with a bit more confidence. I'll blog again then to let you all know how things are going.

Alex Taylor.
Looking at your photo mate you were going so fast the trees were catching on fire !!!!!!!!!!!

Gorrick Spring Series Rd 1 Crowthorne Woods

Great results from Crowthorne Woods , Steve so pleased for you on your masters win !!!!!!!

Also in the same category as Steve was Ben Connor , new to the fold but known to many of us , put in an excellent 13th and Alex Davey back racing after weeks of sickness was just behind him in 17th , many battles to come with you two I think !.

Ian I haven't spoke to yet but rumors of a strange big wheeled beast you rode was a tad heavy for your liking ? but still gave him a 6th place in the Grand Vets.

A a very big welcome back to Alex Taylor who placed an excellent 20th in a large open field with impressive times ! good to see you racing again mate .

Hopefully one of you can post a more detailed post when you can and were try and find some photos.


Open Male -   Alex Taylor 20th 1hr 36mins 08secs

Master Male - Steve Calland 1st 1hr 21mins 29secs
                     Ben Connor 13th 1hr 29mins 46secs
                      Alex Davey 17th 1hr 33mins 36secs

Grand Vet -     Ian Petherbridge 6th 1hr 35mins 02secs

All completing 3 laps.

Well Done Guys

Steve Calland

Alex Davey

Ben Connor

Ian Petherbridge

Shop Ride - 5th Jan 2011

A little different from the last shop ride but the thought of a Jayne Bishop ruby murry saw a  good turn out of 13 riders to grind through the South Downs gloop. Parham Park beckoned to start the proceedings and a little excursion into Rackham wood to shelter form the wind and rain before heading over to Amberley and up onto the Downs via North Stoke. Once on top the going got a little messy so we tried to keep to the drier trails to no avail and just put our heads down and battle our way to the SDW from Burpham up the long drag that resembled a stream. A quick drop to Springhead car park up Kithurst Hill past the burial grounds to Chantry Hill and then a zig zagging descent in the fog ending at Greyfriars road and back to the shop. One of the worst nights in shop ride history, looking forward to February.

Thanks to Jayne, Tim and Martin