ride swinley

just a photo

According to my web host’s site analytics, rideswinley has had 32,661 visits since the start of 2013. Either there is one very keen cyclist out there who keeps visiting the site because they’re bored at work, or people generally like the site.

There is a free Mars Bar for the 1,000,000 visitor, funded by me personally. Never let it be said that I never put anything back in to the community.

(other chocolate bars are available)

PS. I’m a little sceptical about those stats.

Trail Map

Whole Length of Swinley’s new Blue Trail.

Sections as follows:
1: 0:00
2: 1:04
3: 4:02
4: 5:44
5: 8:06
6: 9:08
7: 11:35
8: 13:21
9: 14:24
10: 16:18
11: 22:06
12: 22:27
13: 22:55
14: 25:23
15: 28:40
16: 29:16
17: 32:17
18: 33:29

Dear Swinley Forest Cyclist

As some of you will know, since September last year there has been ongoing work affecting the trails in Swinley Forest which was initiated by The Crown Estate (the owners of Swinley Forest).  Before this happened, a steering group (Swinley Action Group) comprising local riders from Gorrick, BOB MBC, Swinley Facebook Group and other interested parties was formed to try to work with The Crown Estate in developing new cycle trails in the Forest.  However, despite its best efforts, the group was unable to influence the design and layout of the new trails in the Forest, as The Crown Estate went forward with the design provided by Back on Track (BOT), who have experience of designing and building trails in South Wales.

A single direction cycle trail loop in Swinley Forest starting and finishing at The Look Out Discovery Centre has been put together now and together with the fire roads will be the only trail available to cyclists from April.  We understand that all the other single track trails through the Forest will be stopped up, blocked or grubbed up, as cycling on these routes will no longer be allowed.  Forest rangers will be patrolling the Forest to ensure that cyclists keep to the new marked trails at all times.

As a result of these changes The Crown Estate  have decided that they do not wish to have a permit scheme for cyclists in the future and that from 1 April 2013 they will manage all aspects of cycling within Swinley Forest.  The Swinley Forest Cycling permit scheme will therefore cease to operate after the 31 March 2013.

Swinley Forest Cycling thanks you for your support, and we hope you have enjoyed the trail development work we have achieved over the years.

Swinley Forest Cycling

Jumps Location

From Gorrick, for your information regarding the changes to cycling at Swinley Forest.

Dear Rider,

Swinley Forest Cycling

New formal cycle routes are being built through Swinley Forest to stop mountain bikers riding on unofficial tracks and damaging the protected woodland.

The Crown Estate, which owns the forest, claims unrestricted biking on informal trails is putting the forest and rare breeding birds at risk and must be regulated.

The new trails will be ready by March and bikers will be banned from riding in other areas.

I’d be interested to get people opinions on this. I think it will take some of the fun out of riding at Swinley. I never realised that this was on the cards.