Epping Forest Epics

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

Dan,
How many do we need to make the bunkhouses (?) a viable option? I could try and get a couple of mates interested if that would be enough people?

As for travel, I work in West Drayton (near M4 at Heathrow) and last time went straight from here on Friday night. The traffic was not a problem and if the B&B does not mind a later arrival by us, I think it is the best option. You get a good full night's sleep and can get up, breakfast, etc. on Saturday and get straight out on the trails?

Although it can get very wet and muddy, it's not the same ride-ruining mud that you get in Epping, it's a sloshier, bike-ruining mud instead!

Take a few spares if you have them, too. Saves paying top whack at the Centre's shop....

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Too many trails, not enough time!

Dan the Man · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Leytonstone

Gary,

the bunkhouse at Brynteg House has accommodation for 6 so if you can get some additional bodies i reckon that would be great.

However at £240 for the whole weekend starting on friday night - i reckon that is also the best option even if there is only 4 of us as it is only £60 each.

I'll call them tonight. Dan
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Never lose faith in the colour of the sky.

Dan the Man · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Leytonstone

Folks i have booked the Ivy bunk house which is 2 miles down the road from the bike centre in Afan, is self catering, near a pub and has secure bike storage.

See the link on Lefty's reply on page 1.

£235 for the weekend and i have been asked to put £60 in the post as a deposit. This works well IMO if their are four or more of us but gets expensive if there are only three! Now that i have put my hand in my pocket i would be greatful for as much notice as possible if anyone has to bail out.

Things are looking good.
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Never lose faith in the colour of the sky.

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

Nice one Dan!

Thanks for doing that. Or I could see us sleeping in a tent.....

I have 2-3 possibles although not sure of the fitness levels of two of them, they may be worse than me! Shocked

The other guy's much younger and I'll struggle to keep up with him!

Is the bunkhouse 2 miles from Glencorryg (sp?) or the other one?

They charge for the bike washes at the centres and you have to queue (2 at Glencorryg and 1 at the other place (name?) so I'll be taking my pump-up pressure bike-wash thingy with me too (better than it sounds!).

Am I going to be the only HT guy again?

I'll take my travelling tools for any evening fixes so bring any specific parts and we should save a few quid in an emergency.

Note also that we'll have an hour's less kip on Saturday night as the clocks go forward.

Bugger.

Looking forward to trying out my new bits in Wales!!
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Too many trails, not enough time!

lefty · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 119

Dan the Man · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Leytonstone

The bunkhouse is in a little village called Cymer about 2 miles south of Glyncorrwyg.

I went for it as the other places i checked out were all booked up until June!! The owner gave me her number and said that she is cool with us arriving between 10.30pm & 11pm - which is probably the earliest i can get there from London. unless i take the afternoon off.

The place has 3 bedrooms - 2 with double beds and a pair of bunks, the owner said that the sofa's are cumfy too. Based on this i have a feeling that 4 or 5 is probably the optimum number unless you guys are happy sharing a double bed!

I'm taking my E5 and a bag of tools and spares too. My own fitness is not great at present as only been out 4 times this year due to poor weather and injury. Will hopefully be up for a big ride by the time the weekend rolls around though.

Am really looking forward to this ride guys.
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Never lose faith in the colour of the sky.

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

I have to work til 5pm and am based in West Drayton (UB7 - just North of the M4 at Heathrow). If you are all leaving earlier and can meet me there, that would be great!

If you are leaving later, I can hang on there for you or meet at the next services out on the M4 (not sure where!)?

I suppose it depends quite a bit on who I might have coming along as well by then?

I am commuting again tomorrow (32 miles round trip) but really must get out this weekend for some off-road antics or I am going to be even more useless by the time we get to Wales!
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Too many trails, not enough time!

Dan the Man · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Leytonstone

Gents,

i checked with Ivyhouse today and they have received the deposit and we are all booked in & ready to go.

Good ride on saturday, sorry i had to bail early but had family committments that were non transferable - John it was great to meet Charlie, Shelly & Chris, would be good to hook up with them again sometime.

I willhave more of an idea about what time i can leave on friday later in the week so will keep you all posted.

Dan
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Never lose faith in the colour of the sky.

lefty · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 119

House update .. looks we have exchanged and are confident we will be able to complete tomorrow.... YAY. Thus im pretty much certain to be able to come.

What this does mean is that as of Wednesday evening I will no longer have internet so wont pick up any updates on here.

No worries about shooting off Dan... it was the slowest ride ever back to Snaresbrook... we kept stopping to chat / fall in the mud.

See you all soon

Cheers

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

Dan,

Do you want to PM me your mobile number (I forgot on Saturday) so we can sort any last minute stuff? I'll send you mine in reply.

I have had no luck with extra bodies so will I be picking people up from my end of town? If so, how many? If I just have the one to take, I'll leave the rack and just put the 2 bikes in the car,as it's easier, safer and more secure.

If I will be waiting a while for the rest to get out this way, I could do the food shopping while I wait? If I get a list of what people want, it will save time in Wales. Or should we just find a 24hrs Tesco when we get there? My car is an Astra, what size is yours, so we have an idea of how much we can squeeze in?

Have not been well this week (migraine, etc) so no chance to ride at all on the commute. I am hoping that this means that I'll be rested, not rubbish!

Cheers,
Gary
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Too many trails, not enough time!

Dan the Man · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Leytonstone

Gary,

this week has been pretty damn hectic - not even a chance to clean my bike since saturday (will need to do tonight) and looking like i won't be able to get away much before 5pm (earliest) from work so will be a 6pm dept from east london tomorrow.

I reckon your idea of doing a shop while waiting for us to get around to the M4 services would be great as will definately save time and shopping arguments enroute. I would suggest getting some pasta, chicken & sauces, fruit, beer and nuts bars of some sort for dinner friday as I reckon we'll probably do a pub on saturday night and eat out.

I have an audi A6 and the boot is big enough to sleep in so will try and get one of the bikes in there rather than have all three on the rack. I'm also going for the rested rather than rubbish approach as haven't managed any exercise since saturday.

Dan
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Never lose faith in the colour of the sky.

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

Dan,

I have sent you a PM with my mobile number, etc.

I'll pop out after work tomorrow and get enough healthy, filling food for a dinner for four for Friday night, plus some extra nibbles for general snacking and for the trails? Also some energy-boosting breakfast stuff for Sat/Sun morning, milk, butter, bread, etc and the beers for Friday with the grub!

Let me know if there is anything else that I've forgotten that I need to get?

Cheers,

Gary
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Too many trails, not enough time!

lefty · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 119

Move complete.. no internet as such but someone local has left theres unsecured so i thought id hop on for a bit Smile

-- cheeky

Gary.. yea dude pick up some food im always hungry so dont hold back. Remember to keep note of the spend so it can come out of the communal budget.

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

Guys,

I've looked at places to meet you (Jon, I assume that you are coming in Dan's car?) and Services are few and far between.

Reading is a long way out and Heston is in the wrong direction for me and requires me to go back to the Chiswick Roundabout and come back!

So I have a 2-option plan:
1) Meet you at the roundabout at the junction of the M4/A312; If you pull off the M4 and take the exit AFTER the A312 (Heathrow/Hartington bound) which is almost on the slip road to get you back on the M4 Westbound towards a Park (Cranford?) and wait just on the road before the bridge, I'll meet you there.

2) After the M25 Jctn, take the 1st junction exit (Datchet/Colnbrook) at the Honda Building R/bout and head south (1st exit off r/bout), then 1st Right into 'Hillrise' and I'll meet you there.

P.S. I have Bluetooth so you can call me anytime.

In case you don't get this, I'll text you later to cnfirm,

Cheers,

Gary
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Too many trails, not enough time!

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

So.......

what weekend in April are we going again? Wink

Top weekend guys, only downer being Dan's nasty stack at Penhydd.

Oh, and my new hydros blowing a hose before we'd even reached the start on Saturday!

Am definitely up for some more of that action so let me know when you are too and I'll try to get fitter so you don't have to wait so long on the climbs!

Thanks all round, especially to Dan for organising it,

Gary
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Too many trails, not enough time!