Epping Forest Epics

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

Hi Everyone,

I'm in London for the next four months from Boulder, Colorado and was hoping to find people to ride with. I brought my cyclocross bike (didn't realize there was such a mountain biking scene here!) and would love to join in. I'm not sure what the pace of your rides are, but am hoping there's room for a seasoned mtn biker on a fully rigid bike!

I'm living in Bethnal Green - looks like I can bring my bike on the tube from Leyton to Epping, but not sure how best to get from Bethan Green to Leyton without getting run over in traffic... any and all advice is welcome!!

thanks,
Jilayne

The BIG GT · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 126 Location: Derby

Jilayne,

Welcome to the UK and welome to the forum!

You should not need to worry about riding your cyclocross bike in Epping as, although it can be great fun and quite rooty, it's not so extreme that you really need any suspension.

Front suspension helps, of course and full suss will keep you comfortable if you have a tender behind but I have ridden many times on my own or with mates and a couple of times with the Epic guys on my old rigid MTB and it was fine apart from my wrists aching a bit!

It's a good, social pace but we don't leave anyone behind and we have a good 'tea & cake' stop at High Beach before returning. Rides vary in length depending on how boggy the Forest is but we usually ride for about 20-25 miles.

I'm afraid that I can't help you with travel info from that side of London, I'm out West.

Because of this I've been slacking in my attendance over the last few months Embarassed

Keep an eye on the Rides section though and come along one weekend,

Gary
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Too many trails, not enough time!

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

Thanks Gary - that is very helpful. I'll see if I can gather some info from the local bike shops on the best way to get out there and hopefully join you all soon!

Jilayne

GTDave · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject:

Jilayne, check out the 'cycling' link on the 'Transport for London' website, more specifically the 'journey planner' below:

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/...yclingActive=on&cycleType=107

Enter your start point in Bethnal Green, and Leyton as the destination, and it will show you the best cycle route to take.

I suspect it will involve a leisurly cycle that takes you along the union canal, and should take about 20-25 minutes max.

Dave

www.eppinghardcru.co.uk
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....06 G T Avalanche Pro..&..On-One Inbred Single Speed...
EppingHardCru

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

oh, for the love of the London Transport website and Google map/satellite pictures, I have the whole 6km from Bethnal Green to Leyton Station figured out (it will probably take me less time to ride it than it did to check out the route via Google mapping!)

So, are you riding this Saturday? And once I get off the tube at Epping, how do I get to the Bike Shed?

- jilayne

lefty · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 119

Dont go all the way to Epping. We actually start at South Woodford

Here

http://www.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&...&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1

Just south east of the station where Pulteney Rd meets George Ln is where we all meet Smile

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

thanks - even better, that's close enough to just ride there and not bother with the tube.

now, if I can just remember to ride on the correct side of the road, I'll be all set! ha ha ha

Robo · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:53 am Post subject:

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

I'm in Bethnal Green, actually - I thought I would need to catch the tube and Leyton is the first stop you can bring you bike on it. But, after checking the maps, I can see that everything is much closer than I realized!

Robo · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:06 am Post subject:

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

yeah, the tube is pretty direct, but it looks like you can't bring your bike on the tube at the Bethnal Green station - so I'll have to ride part of the way in any case
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tube-map-bicycles1b.pdf

That's all right, it will be a good warmup.

But the real question is - will you all be riding on this Saturday? (how do you deal with the weather, or is it simply - ride: rain or shine!?

j

Robo · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:30 am Post subject:

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

well, I tried to make the ride today, but got completely lost on the way there. (the tfl suggested cycling route was crap - had a million turns in it, instead of a less complicated, more direct route!)

I did figure out a more direct route, so I *should* be able to make it tomorrow. Let's hope so anyway.
- jilayne

Robo · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:03 am Post subject:

jlovejoy · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

cool - I'll check out those links.

I did try to make it Sunday, but was still a bit late (you all must leave at 10am prompt?) No matter, I found some trails off Snaresbrook Road to both sides. It was nice to finally get on some dirt and the trails were in great shape.

I hope to get out this Sunday (probably afternoon) and Monday (anytime) if that works with anyone else's schedule, let me know!

jilayne