Inspired by the Swinley Bog Index, I decided to create a “crowd-sourced” (that’s the buzz-word to describe it) indicator of what the current trail conditions in the Surrey Hills are like.

Basically, what it does is connect to Twitter, find tweets that are in the correct format, then works out an average rating.

You can see the resulting page here: http://conditions.surreyhillsmtber.co.uk

Of course, these sort of things only work if people contribute. If you’re on Twitter, here’s how to get involved:

Send a tweet containing the hashtag #surreyhillstrails followed by your rating of the conditions from 1 to 10 (where 1 = worst possible and 10 = perfect) and you can follow it with some comments if you want

e.g. “#surreyhillstrails 9 Great day riding today, trails were dry, grippy and fast!”

The Castelli Sorpasso Bibtights are the perfect piece of clothing for when the temperature drops too low for shorts – superb fit, comfort and performance – but at a price if you pay full RRP.

The blurb says they are made from a mixture of “Thermoflex and Thermoflex Core Due” fabric – in the real world, this means they have a kind of micro-fleece lining to them which is extremely effective in keeping you warm but also keeping you dry by wicking sweat away from the skin. I’ve used these in temperatures right down to around zero degrees with no problems. In the rain, they still perform well when wet and dry fairly quickly.

The most extreme test these have been through was a 3 hour ride in cold, torrential rain – the bibtights were soaked through but they performed admirably (my hands were so cold at the end, I couldn’t brake or change gear!) as long my legs were still working. They did get cold quickly when I stopped at the end though.

The “Progetto X2″ seat pad in these tights is amazing – the best out of any cycling shorts/tights I own in terms of fit and long-ride comfort. When on the bike, it feels like it’s almost not there. With a lot of pads, you know they are there – they feel like an obvious layer between you and the saddle – this pad somehow manages to almost mould to your bum like it’s part of your body but still perform the job it’s intended for. The blurb suggests this is due to its construction with the layer closest to your skin being able to move independently to the remainder of the pad. Whatever the reason, you just need to know that it just works - it really is that good.

In comparison, I also own a pair of Castelli Velocissimo Due bibshorts with their Kiss3 pad (one step down on the Progetto X2 pad). The Kiss3 is a good pad on which I’ve done a large number of kilometres and some long rides. If I didn’t have these tights with the Progetto X2 pad, I would be perfectly happy with the Kiss3. However, in comparison, the Kiss3 now feels more like a noticeable pad between you and the saddle and is more uncomfortable over the longer distances than the Progetto X2. I’m such a fan that, when I buy a new pair of shorts, I will be specifically looking for a pair with the Progetto X2 pad.

In terms of other features, the straps are waffer thin, comfortable and you barely notice them They do take a bit of straightening out initially when you put them on as they twist easily but stay in place once sorted out. The zips on the ankle opening are the one small area I think could be improved – there is no protection between the zip and your skin so there is a noticeable feeling of the zip on your achilles when they are done up. However, if you have the leggings over the top of a pair of socks, this problem goes away.

There’s some reflective piping on the zips, Castelli logos on the back of each calf and Castelli letting down the side of each thigh. There is a choice of red, white or yellow detailing with the bulk of the material being black/grey. The combination of slightly different coloured panels with understated decals makes them look good without being over the top or too in your face.

In terms of fit, again, superb for tall, fairly skinny guys like me! I suppose you would call the fit “euro” or “race” i.e. slim! They feel quite tight, but supportive when you first put them on and take a bit of tugging to get them over the thighs. I’m 6’4″ tall, 34″ inside leg and size L is perfect. Once you’ve got them on, there’s no restrictions and they feel like a second skin. On the bike, they tend to stay in place. There’s no bunching thanks to the dedicated knee panels and there’s very little movement anywhere else either, just needing the odd small adjustment every couple of hours or so if at all.

In terms of quality, again, these are top quality tights as you would expect at this price level. I’ve used them a least once a week on average over the past 7 months and they have been washed after every ride. They still look as good as new – all the decals are in place with no peeling (as always, wash inside out), all the seams are still intact. Some of red lining is showing through the seat pad area if you look closely, but I don’t think this is due to wear, more to the way they bed in as I first noticed this quite early on after I bought them.

Value – well this is difficult to assess. It really depends on how often you use them and what price you place on quality and the comfort of such a good pad. At the RRP of £150, these are an expensive purchase, there’s no getting away from that. However, you can usually pick them up for a significant discount on RRP e.g. at the time of writing, Wiggle are selling them For £97.50. Considering a cheap pair of bibtights will set you back around £50, then I would say at £100 or less they are a no-brainer. Even at full RRP, and 3x the price of cheaper bibtights, I would say there is still a case to be made for spending the extra on these, they are that good.

Further reading: Road.cc Review | Castelli Product Info

About Peaslake MTBO

TrailQuest is one form of mountain bike orienteering where twenty or so checkpoints, known as “Controls” are placed alongside bridleways, forestry trails and purpose made mountain bike trails, each with an associated score.

Participants are provided with an A4 sized, laminated Ordnance Survey map, which is either pre-marked with the Controls, or a blank map onto which they copy the points before the start.

Various categories of event are available:

• 3 Hour ride time for Solo Male, Female & Senior* entrants, and Male, Female, Mixed & Senior* teams of 2–5 riders
• 2 Hour ride time for Family** teams, and an “Open” category for all riders
• A Junior trail is also available, suitable for ages 5-9, as a simple introduction to the sport.

*Seniors are 56 and over, and a Senior team must include at least one rider in this category
**The Family team must include at least one rider under the age of 16

The aim of the competition is to visit as many Controls as possible in order to accumulate as many points as possible (different scores are associated with each Control), in the allotted time.

An orienteering scorecard is provided on which to mark evidence of your visit with a unique punch attached to each Control.

Lateness of return incurs a 10-point penalty for every minute overdue. Route planning, navigational skills and an element of tactics become as important, if not more important than speed and fitness.

Controls are placed at a variety of positions, which may include popular vantage points, our aim being to introduce you to and encourage your use of the some of the less well known or not so well marked paths. Or, of course you might just like to use the event to explore the area and enjoy the scenery.

If you would like to find out more there is even a national governing body - The British Mountain Bike Organisation.

On the day, remember to bring the following:

• bike (!)
• helmet (compulsory)
• mobile phone (1 per team for emergency contact)
• permanent marker pen to mark check points onto map
• map holder (or string to tie map around neck)
• compass (optional)

More Info & Entry

Available online at: http://peaslakemtbo.com/

The weather finally broke me around the turn of the year and, sick of having a cold, soggy bottom, I finally gave in and bought a pair of waterproof shorts to make riding in these conditions more enjoyable.

My criteria when looking were: fully waterproof, breathable & reasonably priced (under £100).

After a quick search around, it turned out there didn’t appear to be many options that met my criteria! Some shorts such as the Endura MT500 Spray 3/4 Baggy Shorts only have a waterproof panel on the bum area so, whilst they keep that bit dry from spray, they won’t keep you dry if it starts raining. Further up the price range are shorts like the Gore Bike Wear Alp-X 2.0 GT AS 3/4 Trousers which you may want to consider if you have a bigger budget or will be spending more hours in them.

Altura Attack 3/4 Waterproof Shorts

I narrowed it down to the Altura Attack 3/4 Waterproof Shorts which seemed to meet my needs, have good reviews online and, at around £70, came in at the right price.

The shorts are made from React 3 layer fabric which is waterproof and breathable. The seams are all taped and the zips on the two front pockets are also waterproofed. In practice, the shorts do exactly what they say on the tin – they keep you dry from both spray and rain which is the important thing. My only comment on the breathability is that they do seem to get a bit sweaty after a couple of hours use, although probably not significantly worse than any normal shorts.

In terms of other features, the knee section is slightly pre-shaped and the bottom of the legs have velcro adjusters. The crotch area also seems to be made from a slightly thicker fabric. Lots of boxes ticked so far then. The waist has one popper, zip fly and some elastic velcro adjusters. There are no belt loops.

Looks wise, well, the choice is black or….black! There’s a bit of reflective grey detailing but that is all. This doesn’t bother me as these are shorts that are going to be worn in the worst of conditions, so black is a good choice.

In terms of fit, they seem slightly odd when you try them on as they come up large on the waist but quite slim across the crotch! I’m a 33″ waist and the medium is spot on for the waist with the velcro giving some adjustment in both directions for future changes in waistline. I also tried the large on which gave a baggier fit around the crotch/legs but were huge on the waist. In use, the tighter fit across the crotch actually works quite well when in the saddle. Although the shorts are 3/4 length, I have long legs (34″ inside leg) and the bottom of the legs comes up above the knee when in the saddle with knee bent.

Waterproofed pocket zips

In terms of washing, just turn them inside out, chuck them in the washing machine at 30 degrees (use non-bio washing powder/liquid) and they come out good as new. There’s not much in the way of decals to come off, but what is there is still intact so far.

The 3/4 length has the added benefit of keeping your legs fairly warm on colder rides, particularly if there is a cold wind. If you pair them with some longs socks, then your legs are effectively covered but you still have the freedom of shorts and a bit of ventilation compared to using full length trousers or tights. The only other point of note is that, like most waterproof fabrics, they make a “rustling” noise as the fabric moves and rubs which can be quite noticeable if you’re pedalling through some quiet countryside.

Overall, I think these are a great addition to your riding wardrobe if you want something reasonably priced that will make riding for a couple of hours in the rain/mud more comfortable and enjoyable. Go and try them in a shop though to make sure you get the right size.

Events

The events available to enter consist of two duathlons of different lengths and a 10km trail run:

Entry for the full duathlon also includes entry into the sprint duathlon if you wish to do both! Competing in the sprint will give you a head start in the full. Additionally, the top 3 from the sprint will have a further head start in the full.

Routes

• Bike: Garmin | Strava
• Run: Garmin | Strava

Elite Athletes

The organisers have announced that three elite UK athletes will be racing the duathlon:

• Richard Stannard – GB Cross Triathlon Champion 2011
• Jez Cox – Top UK off road duathlete
• Sam Gardener – Top 10 World Xterra triathlete

Volunteer

The latest newsletter from Friends of the Hurtwood says that they still need volunteers.

We need approximately 40 volunteers to help set up and marshal the event. Set up will begin at 6am and everything should be finished, including clean up, by 1pm. We are asking volunteers to sign up for either the early 6am shift or the later 9am shift. Each shift is around 4 hours, food and drink will be provided. Adults and responsible teenagers are welcome; all will be given instructions on what to do and where to be
along the course.

No contact details are given though, so I guess just contact FotH via their website.

More Info & Entry

• More Info
• Entry

Hour long slots are available starting at 9am – contact howard@pedalandspoke.co.uk to book.

I’m selling my 2009 Specialized FSR XC Expert (size large). It’s an ideal first full suspension bike and has served me well over the 3.5 years since purchasing it from the Guildford branch of Cycleworks at the end of August 2009. The reason I’m selling is simply that I’ve just bought a new bike, so I need to make space for it!

Spec

• Frame: FSR XC M4 tubing with new rocker design. Bolt on cable guides, Sealed cartridge pivot bearings, Replaceable rear derailleur hanger (Disc only) and 120mm travel
• Rear Shock: X Fusion 02RC, Custom tuned for Specialized, Rebound adjust, Compression adjust with lock-out, 7.5×1.75 inch, 2 bearing upper shock mount
• Fork: RockShox Recon 335 SL, 120mm travel, 32mm alloy stanchions, Alloy steerer, Disc only, Turn Key damper, Rebound adjust with LO, Air spring
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore, 34.9mm clamp, Top swing, Bottom pull
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-M772 Deore XT Shadow, Long cage
• Shifters: Shimano SL-M531 Deore, Trigger
• Chainset: Shimano FC-M521, Hollowtech, Octalink spline, Replaceable rings with alloy outer, 170mm
• Chainrings: Shimano 22/32/44 Tooth Chainrings
• Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-ES25, Octalink spline, 68mm x 118mm
• Cassette: Shimano HG-50, 9-speed, 11-34 Tooth Range (replaced Nov 2011)
• Chain: KMC X9, 9-speed with reusable Missing Link (last replaced Sep 2012)
• Pedals: Shimano 505 SPD, Reflectors and cleats (replaced with DMR V8 flats)
• Front Brake: Avid Juicy 4 RSL Hydraulic Disc Brake, Alloy backed organic brake pads, Tool-less reach adjust, Cleansweep rotor: 203mm rotor
• Rear Brake: Avid Juicy 4 RSL Hydraulic Disc Brake, Alloy backed organic brake pads, Tool-less reach adjust, Cleansweep rotor:185mm rotor
• Brake Levers: Avid Juicy 4RSL Hydraulic
• Handlebars: Specialized XC low rise, butted alloy, 640mm wide, 8 degree up, 8 degree backsweep
• Stem: Specialized 3D forged adjustable rise, 31.8mm clamp, 3D forged 105mm
• Headset: 1-1/8 inch Threadless, Loose ball bearings with seals, Black steel cups
• Grips: Specialized thin lock on grip (replaced with brand new Lizard Skins Charger grips)
• Rims: DT Swiss 445D, disc, 24mm, Double wall, Pin joint, Eyelets, 32 hole (front wheel rebuilt on DT Swiss XR400 rim)
• Front Hub: Specialized Hi Lo disc, CNC flange, QR, 32 hole
• Rear Hub: Specialized disc, Sealed cartridge bearing, High/low flange with OS contact side, 32 hole
• Spokes: 1.8mm (15g) stainless, Black, Alloy nipples
• Front Tyre: Specialized The Captain Sport, 26×2.2 inch, 60 TPI, wire bead (replaced with Nobby Nic 2.25)
• Rear Tyre: Specialized The Captain Sport, 26×2.0 inch, 60 TPI, wire bead (replaced with Nobby Nic 2.1)
• Tubes: Specialized Ultralight 26×2.0 inch, Presta
• Saddle: Specialized MTB, 7mm cromo rails, 143m
• Seatpost: Specialized 6061 alloy, Black, 30.9×350/400mm, Setback head, 2-bolt micro adjust
• Seat Binder: Alloy collar with QR, 34.9mm clamp ID
• Accessories: Protective clear coat, Derailleur hanger, Reflectors, Owners manual

Sizing

The bike is size large. To give you an idea, I am 6’3″ tall with 34″ inside leg and I would say I’m at the top of the bike’s sizing – I rode it with the seat tube in its maximum position. The official Specialized sizing for the bike says a size L suits a rider height of 5’10 to 6′ 3″ (178 to 191 cm).

Geometry

• Seat Tube Length – Center to Top: 483mm
• Top Tube Length (Horizontal): 625mm
• Top Tube Length (Actual): 628mm
• Chainstay Length: 424mm
• Bottom Bracket Height – Low Setting: 335mm
• Seat Tube Angle (Actual) – Low Setting: 71°
• Seat Tube Angle (Effective) – Low Setting: 74.5°
• Head Tube Angle – Low Setting: 68.5°
• Wheel Base: 1159mm
• Standover Height: 732mm
• Head Tube Height: 140mm
• Handlebar Width: 640mm
• Stem Length: 100mm
• Crank Length: 175mm
• Seatpost Length: 400mm

The original page for the bike on the Specialized website is here: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/archive/2009/fsrxc/fsrxcexpert
There is also the archived page for the bike on the Evans website here: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/fsrxc-expert-2009-mountain-bike-ec016446

Extras

The bike comes with:

• All the original manuals
• Original sag meter for rear shock setup
• DMR V8 flat pedals fitted (well used, recently re-greased!)
• Nobby Nic 2.25 front (4 months old) / Nobby Nic 2.10 rear tyres fitted (< 1 year old)
• Pair of Bontrager Mud X 2.0 winter tyres (used for 1 winter)
• Pair of Specialized Fat Boy 1.25 slick tyres (used once for the London to Brighton in 2010)
• Six spare Specialized inner tubes (four 26×1.5/2.2 and two 26×1.25/1.5)
• A brand new pair of Lizard Skins Charger lock on grips just fitted (unused)
• Spare mech hanger
• Spare set of Ashima multi-compound pads

Condition & Service History

The bike has seen a lot of use over the 3.5 years I’ve had it and therefore has some wear, tear, scuffs and marks as you’d expect from a bike that has been well ridden (all detailed in the photos below). However, it has been well looked after & maintained and still rides very well:

• Full service every year (receipts provided) – last done September 2012
• New front wheel built by Beyond Bikes in 2010 (receipt provided)
• Rear cassette replaced Nov 2011 (receipt provided)
• Front fork serviced April 2012 via Beyond Bikes (receipt provided)
• Chain last replaced with service in September 2012
• I have fully cleaned and lubed the bike so it’s ready to ride

Asking Price & Viewing

Asking price is £400 ovno. This reflects the condition of the bike and my need for a quick sale. Bear in mind that the spares I’m including are worth over £150 alone!).

Available to view in central Guildford. Collection only. Payment by cash or PayPal only. The bike will also be advertised on various bike sites and on eBay.

Use my contact form if you’re interested.

Photos

2012…The Riding

2012 was the year I did the most cycling I’ve ever done, fuelled largely by buying a road bike in late 2011. This has, undoubtedly, improved my general fitness and definitely my speed, particularly on the climbs, on the mountain bike. The “darkside” isn’t all that bad – I’d highly recommend getting a cheap road bike to anyone who MTBs.

I also managed to GPS every ride I did this year, so I have some nice end of year stats to share!

Total Distance: 3,109.4km (~ 2x Land’s End to John o’ Groats. By comparison, the Tour de France is 3,497km over 3 weeks!)
Total Time: 180hr 22m
Total Elevation: 45,737m (~ 5x Mount Everests. By comparison, the Tour de France has over 21,000m of climbing in 3 weeks and Wiggo reportedly did 100,000m of climbing at a peak rate of 10,000m per week to prepare for the Tour!)
Total Rides: 125

Avg rides/week: 2
Avg dist/week: 60km
Avg time/week: 3.5 hr

Distance (km) by Week

Distance (km) by Month

Longest ride: 123.5km

Biggest week: 04-10 June: 216.6km, 9h 3m, 2,225m
Biggest month: June: 496.9km, 21hr 43m, 6,256m

3 weeks where I did no cycling at all.

Overall, I’m quite happy with this and it gives me something to aim to top in 2013. Slightly disappointed by the average rides per week dropping to 2 as this was up to 3 or 4 earlier in the year but has been really hit by the bad weather in the second half of 2012.

2012…The Olympics & Tour of Britain

The Olympics were the big highlight of my year with both the road races and time trials going through Surrey. The final stage of the Tour of Britain also passed through the Surrey Hills and finished in Guildford this year.

Men’s Time Trial: Wiggo on his way to Gold!

Women’s Road Race: North Downs & moody sky

Men’s Road Race: Team GB Leading the chase

Tour of Britain Stage 8: Cat 1 Barhatch Lane Climb

You can see the full photo albums of these events on my Facebook page:

London 2012 Men’s Road Race
London 2012 Women’s Road Race
London 2012 Men’s Time Trial
Tour of Britain 2012 – Stage 8

And what of the much talked about Olympic legacy? The anecdotal evidence was that there are more people cycling in Surrey and this has been backed up by Zig Zag Road on Box Hill coming 5th worldwide in Strava’s top segments of 2012 (3rd for cycling). The RideLondon Classic & 100 events will bring thousands of amateur riders and a pro-level one day race to the closed roads of Surrey once again next summer.

2012…The Weather & The Logging

Pitch Hill Destruction

It’s not just our perceptions, it’s now official, 2012 has been the wettest year since records began! The year started off with a drier than average first three months which, coming on top of a second unusually dry winter in a row, resulted in hosepipe bans and drought warnings. Ironically, pretty much as soon as the bans were brought in, it started raining…and seemingly hasn’t stopped since! In fact, there’s been so much rain, that the “south east now has enough water to get through two dry winters”.

We’re fortunate that most of the mountain biking around here takes place on the fast-draining Greensand Hills of Pitch/Holmbury and Leith and the chalky North Downs, but the natural trails are struggling to cope as anyone who has been out riding recently knows. Well built and maintained trails such as BKB and Yoghurt Pots remain rideable in all conditions thanks to the sterling work of Hurtwood Trails whom I help out each month on their Sunday morning dig days.

This was also the year the loggers moved to Pitch Hill and promptly churned up many of the bridleways and destroyed some old trails like Rollercoaster and T0. Whilst these two trails have become rideable again, the bridleways still remain impassable.

2012…The Purchases

Best Buy: Tricky one…but probably my Garmin Forerunner 310XT with heart rate monitor – I got it as an Amazon Black Friday deal at a bargain price and, combined with the optional cadence sensor, it’s a brilliant piece of kit that gives you all the stats you could ever need, plus you can use it for both running and cycling.

Worst Buy: In terms of value, probably my super-bright Fluxient front light – it’s very good, but I’ve only done two night rides with it.

Other stuff worth a mention: The Castelli Sorpasso Bibtight and Castelli Trasparente Due Winter Jersey have kept me going in some low temperatures on the road bike and the Gore Bike Wear Fusion 2.0 GT AS jacket I picked up in a sale in August is a brilliant piece of kit – keeps you bone dry and is super-breathable – I wouldn’t pay full price for it though!

2012…The Demos

I demo’d a number of bikes in 2012 but, in what is becoming a bit of a running joke, I didn’t actually buy a new one (sorry bike shops!). The plan is still to buy a full sus 29er though.

2013

Here’s to another great year of riding in the Surrey Hills – see you on the trails (and maybe the roads!).

What?

The Crown Estate is investing in the creation three trails totalling 24.2km, one green,  one blue, and one red graded. The question still up in the air, and not addressed in the announcement, is what will happen to the existing trails? The inference is that they are a a problem, so it’s not unreasonable to suggest that it’s likely some/all of these will be blocked off.

Why?

“With a conservative estimate of over 170,000 cyclists using the site each year, the sheer volume of unrestricted mountain biking is having a detrimental impact on this protected environment which has been designated a Special Protection Area by Natural England.”

If you’ve ever ridden at Swinley you’ll be familiar with the situation in the forest. There are a huge number of unmanaged trails littering the whole forest. In some places, the trails are clearly causing large amounts of damage (the trail creep on some parts is simply ridiculous!) and the proliferation of trails in some areas is an eyesore. There is clearly concern that this is having an environmental impact too although I’ve not heard environmental concerns and Swinley mentioned together previously. I like a good choice of trails as much as the next mountain biker, but things are clearly out of control at Swinley and have been for some time.

The trails are better in the (almost self-contained) Deerstalker/Labyrinth type area where there seems to be some effort to build and maintain trails and the denser trees tend to keep people on the trails and it would be a big own goal if they blocked/destroyed these. There are also a number of trails (Seagull, Stickler) where it seems material has been imported and used to build trails with a raised trail bed to address drainage issues. I don’t find these to be particularly fun to ride.

What would make this project a success?

It’s difficult to know exactly what the Crown Estate hope to achieve by this, but we can take some good guesses:

• Reduce the environmental impact of mountain biking by shifting the majority of mountain bike users off the current trails and onto these new trails (this is mentioned in the announcement)
• Increase mountain bike visitor numbers to the Lookout (it is stated in the announcement that they want to create a “centre of excellence”)
• Similarly, increase the appeal of Swinley as a mountain biking destination to as wide an audience as possible (by building a range of trails catering to all abilities and user groups from families to beginners to more advanced riders)

• The new trails must be long enough, fun enough and challenging enough to ride to keep me coming back!
• The trails need to be well-drained, rideable all year round and maintained in future
• Not all of the existing trails should be junked
• Trails need continually developing in future – it’s not good enough just to stick 1 new red trail in and then not expand on/enhance it

Image: bikeradar

What does it mean for the Surrey Hills?

The attempt to manage the impact of mountain biking by building purpose built trails will no doubt be watched keenly by land owners/managers in the Surrey Hills. In some ways, the two areas are similar:

• Large increases in mountain biking over the past few years, driven by the close proximity to London
• A network of unofficial “natural” trails that have formed over the years
• Limited maintenance to the trails
• Multi-point access to the land

However, in other areas, there are significant differences:

• Swinley has one landowner and is managed by an organisation with significant finances who can decide and fund something like this. The Surrey Hills have a number of different landowners and managers who all have varying opinions on mountain biking and how to manage it (although they are trying to be brought together via the Surrey Hills Mountain Biking Working Group). This makes decision making slow and painful as the agreement of all stakeholders is needed to move a project forward. More importantly, funding for any projects in the Surrey Hills would most likely have to come from grants.
• Swinley has an existing commercial angle with the Lookout (visitor/education centre, cafe etc) and Go Ape in residence, charging for cycling permits and, more recently, car parking charges. There is currently no organised commercial angle to mountain biking/other visitors to the Surrey Hills as there is no single hub or visitor centre that can exploit this (not to say this couldn’t happen). Peaslake is probably the closest thing to a hub/destination with Pedal & Spoke, the Village Stores, Hurtwood Inn and a large car park. Mountain biking does clearly support a thriving number of businesses local to the Surrey Hills though.
• The approach to mountain biking and restrictions on trail building in the Surrey Hills (however much you disagree) actually shows a huge benefit to the area when compared to the mess that has evolved at Swinley. Trails across the Surrey Hills generally remain pretty tight, there isn’t a huge proliferation of trails (some people will argue that there are still too many) and they are generally well hidden and not too “unsightly” for other users and have limited environmental impact.
• Swinley want to actively encourage moutain bikers to visit whereas, in the Surrey Hills, there are opposing views on this
• Surrey Hills are a designated AONB, Swinley is a SPA.

Image: moredirt

Possible outcomes

If the investment in the new trails at Swinley are judged a “success” by onlookers from the Surrey Hills, what may we see follow as the consequences?

• Increased stakeholder collaboration towards the award of grants to build new trails in order to remedy some of the current issues (be it environmental or user conflict). Indeed, this actually already happening on Leith Hill – the last minutes available from the mountain bike working group show fairly advanced discussions over an application for a grant to fund the building of a purpose built trail to link the Tower to the start of the existing Summer Lightening trail. A couple of tweets (here & here) from the CTC after the latest meeting in October confirm things are still progressing on this front. Whilst, no doubt, the Leith Hill project was intended to, and still will, be used as some kind of proof of concept/benchmark, the developments at Swinley are going to happen considerably quicker (they are due to be completed by March 2013).
• Building trails isn’t something to be scared of! Landowners/managers, who don’t want to (or be seen to) attract more mountain bikers by building new trails need to realise that the cat is already out of the bag on the Surrey Hills as one of the best places in England to ride. Building some purpose built trails linking key points in the area may attract a few new rider but it isn’t going to suddenly cause an explosion in visitor numbers. However, new trails would help manage some of the issues that have arisen.

More controversial outcomes that may occur:

• Some form of commercialisation of mountain biking in the Surrey Hills? A, *gasp*, visitor centre?! God help us! The harsh fact is, Surrey Hills landowners are currently receiving a zero returns from mountain bikers. It’s not inconceivable that one or more of the more forward thinking/commercial minded landowners might view something like this as an income opportunity although, no doubt, it would face considerable opposition from locals. Another thing to note, from what I have read in various places, is that purely mountain bike focussed visitor centres don’t actually make much/any money! Pure mountain bike centres and the trails, such as those found in Wales, are often built off the back of government and EU grants for regeneration and probably wouldn’t be commercially viable otherwise. Hence why, in many successful, mixed-use centres, you have additional attractions such as Go Ape and midweek usage such as educational centres for schools to visit.
• Some kind of visitor centre would necessitate a strategy to increase visitor numbers (to make it viable) and the range of visitors, both mountain bikers (through the building of trails targeting different levels of ability) and other visitors (walkers, families, educational visitors and other commercial attractions such as Go Ape). Again, this is where conflicts will inevitably occur. On one side you have some groups of landowners and outside commercial interests. On the other side, you have other groups landowners and local opposition. Somewhere in between, you have the Surrey Hills ANOB who have an interest to a greater or lesser extent on both sides.

Interesting times and I’ll certainly be paying Swinley a visit next spring to check out the new trails and see what has happened to the current trails.

I’ve been using the Endura MT500 long-sleeved top for around a year now and would consider this as a must-have piece of kit in my cycling wardrobe.

The jersey is made up of a number of different fabrics – the front of the sleeves are a wind-resistant type fabric, the under-arms thinner to aid breathability and the body section seems to be nylon with a very thin, fine fleecy type lining. The results are remarkable in terms of how warm this thing keeps you but it is also breathable and wicks sweat quite well! I’ve used it in temperatures ranging from about 12-14°C down to freezing just by using different base layers underneath. If you wear it in temperatures above 12-14°C because it feels cold when you’re starting your ride, you will soon be un-zipping and/or taking this jersey off. Fortunately, it’s fairly light and not too bulky, so easily rolled up and tied around your waist.

The jersey isn’t waterproof, but sees off a light shower ok. It also dries extremely quickly too. I tend to stuff a super-small waterproof into one of the back pockets of the jersey if it looks like there’s a chance of rain. Similarly, if there is a strong, cold wind, a thin windproof layer outside the jersey and you are all set. As always with dressing for outdoor pursuits, it’s all about layering and this jersey fits right into that process.

In terms of fit, the cut is good but an area that could be improved. I’m 6’4″ tall (with long arms!) and slim – wearing a size L. The sleeves are an excellent cut – not too tight but not too baggy. The main body is pretty good too although slightly on the baggy side. However, the waist has a more generous proportion and is not really in keeping with the rest of the fit. My waist is approx. 33″ and the waist on this jersey is not tight enough for the gripper material on the inside of the bottom edge to actually do anything. When I replace this, I might look at the size M to remedy this but that may be too small in other areas. Try before you buy as always (pop into your local Evans).

Other features worth a mention are the two rear elasticated “stuff” type pockets – useful for a waterproof/food/other bits. There is also rear zipped pocket that is supposed to be waterproof (have not confirmed this). On the front of the jacket is a zipped chest pocket with a glasses cleaner (microfibre type material) and an opening through through to the inside of the jersey to route a headphone cable. Reflective material is limited to a strip across the rear of the jersey under the pockets.

As I said, I’ve had this jersey for around a year now, so it has had considerable use and has been washed numerous times. The only sign of wear is a bit of scuffing on the upper rear of the garment. I’m not really sure how this has occurred as I don’t usually ride with a pack, so perhaps it’s from the washing machine. Either way, it’s a small area and barely noticeable. Otherwise, it still looks in excellent condition.

Overall, a great addition to your mountain bike wardrobe. If they sorted out the fit on the waist, then it would be hard not to give this full marks. I’ll be buying another when my current one come to the end of its life.