Mixed weather for Mountain Biking

Following a half term break from Bridgwater College I was straight back to practial sessions on the first day back. Continuing with the mountain biking training sessions for the Level 3 Public Services students I headed back to the Quantock Hills with the 'C' group.

The weather foreast was true to its word. Heavy wintery showers on higher ground with sunny spells and winds gusting 30mph+.

We headed out from Lydeard Hill car park taking in some nice open trails, forest tracks and short sections of technical rocky terrain.

The students all did really well in the conditions and are setting themselves up nicely for the assessment at the end of the module.

A Soggy day on the Quantock Hills

It was a very wet and soggy day on the Quantock Hills today with the 'A' group of Level 3 Public Services students from Bridgwater College. However, it was a lot of fun and the students enjoyed the experience. The pictures are a little blurry because it was hard to keep moisture off of the lens.

We covered around 8 miles starting from Dead Woman's Ditch and going via Crowcombe Park Gate, Triscombe Stone and Ramscombe before heading back to the bus. 

The aim of todays ride was to look at different types of terrain and group management in preparation for their assessed ride in April. The day finished by thoroughly cleaning and lubricating the bikes at the Cannington centre before returning back to the college main site.

Mountain Biking on the Quantocks

 

It was great to get back out on my mountain bike again with some friends on the Quantock Hills. Recently I have been very busy and days off have been non-exsistent.

 

we met at Crowmcombe park gate at 08.30, a gentle frosting on the ground and an amazing sunrise (forgot to take a picture).

 

Simon, Simon, Steve, Josh, John, Kev and I just went for a gentle trundle around for a couple of hours. Simon Fallows riding his new Orange Gyro 29er for the first time!

 

We took in a couple of trails that I intend to use for the 2015 Quantock Quake before returning to the vans at 11.30. Only a short ride as everyone had other jobs to do but great to get out.

 

Simon Hogg brought along a demo Scott Spark, Kev wanted to have a quick blast on it to try it out hence the picture of Simon pushing up hill. Not a usual image, he simply couldn't ride Kev's bike with its bent crank arm!!!!!

 

We must make this a more regular occurrence boys??

Dodging the Rain on the PVT and Peregrine Falcon spotting!

Having seen various weather forecasts for today we nearly cancelled the days biking trips for Year 8. The forecast predicted Heavy showers all day and following a soaking yesterday the students weren't keen for another.

We did however in the end take our chances and this turned out to be the right call. A small shower early on in the day followed by sunny intervals.

Today's session was pretty much a mirror image of yesterday apart from a different change over point with the climbing who opted to go indoors. This meant the climbing group were bused to Goodameavy for the exchange.

Both groups enjoyed the mix of easy tarmac on the Plym Valley Trail (PVT) and off road across the moors near Clearbrook.

With the afternoon session blessing us with a little more sun we were able to stop for 20 minutes at the Peregrine Falcon Project for a really good look through the National Trust telescopes at the new chicks and the juvenile male from last years hatchlings. The last image in this post was taken of this young male with my camera through the lens of telescope.

Overall a good day and a good decision to head out regardless of the forecast.  

A soggy day on the Plym Valley Trail

Today I have been out with 2 groups of Year 8 students from Plymouth College. We parked at the National Trust car park at the southern end of Plymbridge Woods.  Group 1 cycled along the Plym Valley Trail all the way to Clearbrook before taking on a short loop of open moorland. The last section of the ride contoured along the access track to Dewerstone Cottage where we met group 2 following their climbing session.

After a swift stop for lunch I handed Group 1 over to Gavin for some climbing and took group 2 from him to cycle the mornings route in reverse. 

With both groups we stopped at the Plym Valley Peregrine Falcon Project where the National Trust staff gave a short talk on the birds and the project before letting them see the three 5 week old chicks and the adult male through the telescopes.

Both groups had a good time despite the very heavy showers (pictures taken during the sunny spells). Both the cycling and climbing groups had very soggy days.

Last day with PMC at Lanhydrock

Today was day 3 of 3 mountain biking with Plymouth College year 9 students as part of their activities week. 

The group today were a physically fit bunch that were up for all the trails. We started as per the last two days by cycling around the gentle green (Lodge Trail) trail to familiarise the group with the bikes and followed this up with the simpler of the 4 blue trails (Bazley's Trail) and a session in the skills area. 

After lunch I took the group to the far side of the centre for a run down the Timber Trail (Blue) and those who felt confident raced each other on the red graded 'Saw Pit' dual track before making our way back for one final session in the skills area where we had a time trial.

Tomorrow and Friday I am still working for Plymouth College but with Year 8's. The plan is to cycle the Plym Valley Trail to Shaugh Prior where we will swop with a climbing group.

Quantock Quake 2014 - Entries Open

Following the success of last years event I am proud to announce that Discover Moor and Active Adventure South West have teamed up to bring you the 2014 Quantock Quake.

Entries have now opened and places are filling up fast. The event this year will take place on the 7th September and start at 10.00.  Entry fee - £27.50 per rider.

There is a slight change in format this year with the short route remaining at 20 isn miles but the long loop being extended to around 35 miles.

If you would like to enter and take on the challenge of 20 or 35 miles off road cycling in the stunning Quantock Hills please follow this link:

www.quantockquake.co.uk

Once again the event will be supporting Exmoor Search and Rescue and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, a percentage of the entry fee will go to these two worthwhile and important charities.